Watercooling in a p280..

Pabl0

Pabl0

Pabl0

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6 Apr 2006
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Heys guys,

I've never done anything watercooled before and such don't know much about it.. I've tried to do some reading up but it can be quite confusing and a lot of different guides conflict with each other..

I've got a Antec P280 with a 3750k and a 7970 (HIS - reference board)

I'd like to keep the case as its brand new basically and i like the look of it, can i get a good system in here without massive trouble?

Also if you could spec some kit as i really don't know brands, hoses pumps or anything?!
 
Should I just get one of the kits and and then think about adding another radiator and vga block in the future...

Maybe the overclockers v8 or v10?
 
I was like you about 6 months ago pondering whether to go watercooling or not and whether stuff will fit. My advice is, just go for it! Don't think and ponder too long and once you get started take measurements and find if things will fit and if they don't you can always make them fit like i have done in my Mini P180 case.

As to whether you should get a kit or not, yes and no. If you're going to get a kit make sure you get a XSPC or equivalent kit. I would avoid kits like EK because the fittings they use are quite small compared to your average norm. You would end up swapping them all out eventually and replacing the pump if you're to upgrade stuff like adding more radiators and getting more restrictive blocks/adding new blocks for more gpu's etc. Getting the more expensive kit with the high end fittings and blocks will work out cheaper in the long run.


back to your original question, you should be able to fit watercooling in your p280 case quite comfortably i would have thought with all that room inside. Start by taking measurements and routing an ideal "loop" and see where the pump could sit and where the rads would be and whether you should get a kit with a bay reservoir or a tube style reservoir and weigh the pro's and con's. It's all a learning curve :), best to go ahead and try it yourself.
 
Yeah think I'll get a 360 rad if I can shoe horn it in the top... Will get a second rad once I get a vga block.

Temps aren't to bad but they creep towards 75c on IBT on my silver arrow so I'd like that does to 55-60 maximum really, achievable?
 
Yeah thats achievable if you just have the cpu in the loop and no gpu. Will run quite chilli in fact! You could run a dual loop if your aim is to keep cpu temps down :)
 
Well I went for a 240 kit and I'm going to get a 360 rad once I get a gpu block and swap the 360 to the top and the 240 to the front intake area..
 
sounds good! show us some build pics when you get started on it all :). Might also want to start a project log thread for your build to get support and advice.
 
Depends where this radiator is going to go? But it doesn't matter how you do the loop as the temps will be the same. It is however important to make sure the pump comes before the reservoir and more importantly directly under it so the coolant in the res can naturally flow into the pump by mavity. But since you have a bay res and pump combo that won't matter, just make your loop as neat as possible.


I would go for something like this...


Res -> pump -> cpu block -> radiator -> back to res. I would also put your bay res on the same height level as your cpu block if possible so it's all level.
 
I have a pic somewhere with my rig in a 280 you can get two rads in there, one on the top and one on the fan bracket in the middle, does a good job.
 
Nah there won't be any problems at all provided you don't do many twists and sharp turns you won't loose too much pressure. Besides with a pump like the D5 you could throw more at it and it will still carry on working perfectly normal.

I think with the vario version of the D5, you can adjust the rpm to suit your needs and noise level.


If you're going with the picture in your last post, will your gpu fit if you mount the 240 on the side of the HDD cage?
 
Jay85 said:
Nah there won't be any problems at all provided you don't do many twists and sharp turns you won't loose too much pressure. Besides with a pump like the D5 you could throw more at it and it will still carry on working perfectly normal.

I think with the vario version of the D5, you can adjust the rpm to suit your needs and noise level.


If you're going with the picture in your last post, will your gpu fit if you mount the 240 on the side of the HDD cage?
Click to expand...

Hrm, i'll have a look with the rad tomorrow but i'm pretty sure i could squeeze it in..its the aftermarket cooler that adds more length not the PCB..

There shouldn't be to many tight turns with the 240 rad it should all fit quite nicely..

dazzerd said:
I have a pic somewhere with my rig in a 280 you can get two rads in there, one on the top and one on the fan bracket in the middle, does a good job.
Click to expand...

that would be great if you could get a pic, finding it hard to see some water-cooled P280's
 
Well I got it in the top nicely and all sorted, though I do want a 360 at least maybe 420 rad in the top and the 240 at the bottom. It's a shame the 280 doesn't have an intake in the bottom and a 360 up top might be a very tight squeeze and certainly wouldn't get a push/pull..

Looks like I'll sell the p280 and get a Elysium..
 
Wow you're going for bigger still? I would be trying to keep it small and snug :p but that's just me.


Any pics of your build?
 
The problem is I can't physically get a 420 rad in with the res and pump and dvd drive, not even a 360 as the top cut out is on for 240mm so there no fan mounts etc.

The p280 really isn't very big, with only 3 drive spaces it also can't mount a fan controller without loosing the drive which would be a minor annoyance..

It's a nice case but I want a good size rad which would have to be mounted on the back so all in the actual footprint won't be much smaller the Elysium if you see my drift.

Not yet but I will get one going at some point, I have some pictures on the phone but I tend to jump in and get it all done fast and forget picture taking!
 
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