Smallest case capable of housing serious custom watercooling?

hughythomas

hughythomas

hughythomas

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Hey guys,

I need some helping choosing the perfect watercooling case for my gaming machine and hope that the community on here can lend a hand?

I currently have the following:







Bitfenix Prodigy (with 180mm fan installed in front)
Asrock Z77E-ITX
i5 2500k w/Antec Kuhler 620 Push/Pull Scythe GT 1850rpm (4.4Ghz 1.4v)
MSI Lightning 7970
1TB 3.5" HDD
Samsung 240GB Pro SSD
Corsair AX860 PSU

Now, I also went out and bought (a few months back) the following custom watercooling gear in order to help curb the noise and cool the components:

XSPC EX240 Rad
OcUK 10w DDC Pump & EK-DDC X-Res 100 CSQ Value combo
7970 Lightning block

I also have a bunch of compression fittings and left over tubing from my main TJ-07 rig.

My problem is I want to get both the CPU and GPU on a custom loop but also wish to have 4x 2.5" (2x SSDs and 2x HDDs) for dual booting various OS. This is an important factor.

I was hoping of two 240mm radiators in the Prodigy (one in the front and one at the top) but it seems, after some research into this, its fairly impossible unless one does not mind externally mounting stuff. The Antec Kuhler 620 does not seem to be cutting it and my CPU has shutdown a few times and restarted the computer - once I checked temps I could see why...

My plan was to at least put that EX240 that I'd bought in the front and setup a custom loop for the GPU only. Obviously, I would lose the HDD cage and install a mechanical 2.5 HDD along with my SSD in the side door. Unfortunately, I do actually need 4x HDDs now...

So guys - is there an alternative case that can handle all of my requirements whilst remaining compact enough for me to lug around to my friends house on a regular basis?

Lastly, the 7970 Lightning albeit fast is not quite hardcore enough for my modded Skyrim so I was looking at the newly priced 7990 instead. Obviously, I could use some of the money from the sale of the 7970+block in order to help fund that particular purchase as the way I see it, you cannot get Lightnings for less than £400 most of the time (its an original one not the Boosted Edition btw).

Sorry for the long post but I hope I have covered all the relevant details.

What would you do in my situation? 350D? Fractal Arc Mini R2? Give up all together?!
 
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skyrim doesnt work with crossfire so a 7990 isnt going to work.

Just watercool in the prodigy, can get a 240 and a 200mm rad in there easily.

a 780 might be better but have you tried turning mods off in skyrim incase a conflict is causing your poor performance? i have this current issue.
 
This probably won't be helpful...

The limiting factor with small, watercooled computers is volume for radiators. You end up with most of the box full of radiators and still wanting more. Your best option is to let the system run hot - as radiators work better at higher temperatures - but neither cpu nor gpu like being at 90 degrees all that much.

A solution when looking for small + cool/overclocked, albeit an expensive one, is available via thermoelectrics. The premise is to run one loop between cpu, gpu, cold side of the thermoelectric, and a second loop between radiator and the hot side. The aim isn't for sub zero temperatures, just to have the water running though the radiator significantly hotter than that running through the cpu block. Something like 30 degrees room temperature, 35 degrees cold water side, 60 degrees hot water side.

I didn't it was a good plan, but it is feasible.
 
Something Else said:
Just watercool in the prodigy, can get a 240 and a 200mm rad in there easily.
Click to expand...

Ahh that's an interesting idea.

Phobya do a 200mm radiator correct?

My concern with putting a radiator in the front was that my card (as you can see from the photos) is already pretty much touching the front intake fan (a Silverstone Air Penetrator). And thats before even thinking about getting a 7990 which I am considering for the performance increase.

Surely a front radiator with fan + 7990 in a Prodigy is not doable given the length of the case?
 
I think the 350d is quite limited due to roof room. Take a look at the cm690, that should take a pair of 240's and isn't massive :)
 
Prodigy?

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Carbide Air 540?

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Fractal Define Midi V2?

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Just saying. You can find examples everywhere, but the smaller the case, the more work.
 
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Nice find(s) man.

The more I look at the 350D the more I think it is the one for me.

I'm not sure I'd be able to fit a 7990 with watercooling radiator at front in a Prodigy?
 
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