My First Custom Water Loop, Compatibility Check

euphoria4949 · May 20, 2013

Hi guys,

I'm gonna be taking a dive into custom water cooling for the first time shortly, CPU only at first as my GPU's don't get crazy hot unlike my CPU :-\
Now I have read the WC sticky and I picked up a few great bits of info, but I want to check with a few seasoned WC experts if my current selection of Res, Pump, Rad, Tubing and Block are compatible.

Ok, so I will be cooling an i7 3770k on a Z77 Sabertooth in a Antec 1100 case. I've "Crudely" mapped out where the parts would go, but I'm unsure on a couple of things such as the pump and res placement, something in the back of my mind is telling me the pump needs to be above the res. Am I imagining this, or is this correct???

Here are the parts:

Rad = XSPC EX240 Crossflow Radiator
Res = Bitspower Z-Multi 150mm Water Tank
Pump = EK DCP 4.0 Pump (12v)
Block = XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock
Tubing = XSPC HighFlex Hose 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD, 19/12.7mm

And here is my awesome picture lol

faalin · May 20, 2013

best case scenario the res should be the highest point in the system. Air will travel to the highest point and your will want the res to be the highest point, if not it will take a long time to work all the air out of the system as it will be trapped in odd places.

If you can try and mount the rad as an in take right to the front of the case. Having it in the middle of the case will only circulate the air around inside the case not alowing it to get the best cold air it can. Most people dont like to mod their cases but if it were me i'd pull out the harddrive rack and mount the rad as a push/pull as an in take in the front of the case.

I'd run a bay res in the top bay down to the top hole on the rad, out the bottom of the rad to the pump then up to the cpu.

euphoria4949 · May 20, 2013

Hi thanks for your reply,

I get what you mean about the air, I reckon it will get trapped in the CPU block :-\
I could move the res to the top and hang it from the top so it would be about 7cm above everything else. Edited pic below, Please ignore the PINK tubing.

I did forget to mention I can't use a bay res as I only have 3 bays and all are filled and I need them so removing one or two isn't a viable option.

Also regarding the rad going at the front as a direct intake, the only way would be to completely remove the whole rack which would mean no space for my SSD/HDD's. The only other thing I could do would be to have 2x 120mm rads, one at the front as a direct intake but leaving me room for SSD/HDD's and one 120mm rad at the back, then both could be push/pull.

faalin · May 20, 2013

Having a cylinder res layin on its side is going to be very hard to fill and if not done right will cavitate the water putting air bubbles into the water. If your dead set on that res then i would try and mount it to the back 120mm fan standing upright using the bottom for inlet and outlet. If you want to do the inlet on the res on the top you ill need a fitting with a tube on the inside to drop the inlet below the water line.

euphoria4949 · May 20, 2013

faalin :

Arhh right I wasn't aware of this. I was purely going for a tube res in that position for the cool look lol. Thank you for that, I will reconsider the res position.

Actually after a few more hours of thought and measuring, I'm gonna stick to the original Rad placement. Although, granted it would get cooler air through it if it was positioned right at the front of the case, but there really is no way to do that without completely removing the entire HDD/SSD bays, which would mean having to get a HDD and SSD mount and mounting it next to the PSU.

I'm thinking that even with it positioned 6" inside the case it will still get a very decent amount of cool air from outside as the 2 front intake fans and the 2 rad fans are AP-31's, the 5400rpm Gentle Typhoons.

Can I also ask peoples opinion on where would be the best place to put a stop valve or would I need more than 1 for easier draining and maintenance???

Also as I'm a WC n00b, would these fittings be the correct type for this setup??
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-099-XS&groupid=962&catid=1529&subcat=2586
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-213-XS&groupid=962&catid=1529&subcat=1852

faalin · May 20, 2013

those fittings will be fine but make sure you get some clamps. Not sure on the tubing size you are thinking of using but here is a link so you have a idea. you can always run off to the hardare store and buy some worm style clamps if looks dont matter.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-097-KA

as for draining your system you can buy a t-block and mount it right before the pump http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-216-XS&groupid=962&catid=1529 on the leg of the T add a valve so whenever you want to drain the system all you have to do is screw in another streight fitting with some tube on it and open the valve to drain off all the fluid.

euphoria4949 · May 20, 2013

faalin :

Right I got ya. Thank you, that seems like a really good idea for draining.

rubix_1011 · May 20, 2013

I have a feeling that your case isn't going to fit everything as nicely as your drawing is showing. Your vertical Rad+Fans are easily going to push into the area where your pump (green) is located.

euphoria4949 · May 20, 2013

rubix_1011 :

It shouldn't do. I have meticulously measured and if the rad dimensions are correct, it should have a 3cm gap between my Gfx card and the rad, which would leave a 15cm by 10cm area at the bottom for the pump.
I was really worried about it fitting but I found a Antec 1100 case owners club and quick a few of them have installed this rad in that spot.

rubix_1011 · May 21, 2013

Hopefully that works out for you then. Once you start factoring in tubing size and bends, you will want to make sure you are triple-checking clearances as part of finalizing your specs, ordering and build. Good work, though.

rubix_1011 · May 21, 2013

Hopefully that works out for you then. Once you start factoring in tubing size and bends, you will want to make sure you are triple-checking clearances as part of finalizing your specs, ordering and build. Good work, though.

euphoria4949 · May 21, 2013

rubix_1011 :

Thanks rubix_1011 appreciate it,

Any doubts I had about it fitting have been squashed, as I had a someone on OCN who believe it or not has the exact same case, Mobo, Gfx card and ram as me, and he has the exact same rad installed in it, and in the position I was going for =)
LOL what are the chances. He's sent me pics and it is tight but it will fit

Thanks again,
Cheers

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