Liquid cooling for space-reasons, but not for $200.

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SmallerRidley

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I've made the terrible mistake of deciding to build a briefcase computer, and I'm just now realizing that AIO watercoolers aren't generally designed to mount in the same plane as the motherboard and still fit within 3.5 inches vertically.

The only part in the liquid-loop is a 4770k, which may be lightly overclocked in the future. I'm not planning on using a video card big enough to need water cooling, and I have several case fans for blowing air over everything else.

The loop I currently have is a CoolerMaster 120m, which would fit perfectly if I could put 45-90 degree bends and shorten the tubes by about 3 inches, but I'm not sure how I'd reconnect their tubing with those ridges.

If modding that cooler wouldn't be feasible, what can I fit in 2-3 inches of head-room and plenty of horizontal space? I've been poking at forums and guides for a week or so, and I'm not finding anything suited for less than 200-300W TDP, which is well over what I think I'd need.
 
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Spectre694


I couldn't really find anything without either going too big or expensive,
if you want a reservoir this...
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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Modding the AIO is not a good idea and I do not recommend trying they aren't designed to come apart and then be put back together.
What case are you using so we can try to come up with a better solution for you.

The reason you cant find anything for a smaller TDP is because a 120mm rad (smallest size that can reasonable be found) is good for around 200-250W of disapation
 
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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That actually sounds pretty cool if you don't mind I would like to see the mock-ups.
 
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SmallerRidley

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Yes, I got a flexible riser cable for it, and there aren't a lot of configurations I could work out aside from that and flipping over both the motherboard and the videocard, because the cable isn't long or flexible enough to get very far. The GPU fan points down out a vent in the bottom of the case.
 
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SmallerRidley

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The non-crossflow one would work nicely. For a pump, is there a good option cheaper than this:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14980/ex-pmp-181/Alphacool_DC-LT_Ceramic_12V_DC_Pump_Plexi_Top_-_Installed.html?tl=g30c107s153

I'm also not sure I'd have room for much of a reservoir.
 
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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Pretty cool man. you get to test it yet?
 
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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Feb 28, 2014
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I couldn't really find anything without either going too big or expensive,
if you want a reservoir this might work http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14981/ex-pmp-182/Alphacool_DC-LT_Ceramic_12V_DC_Pump_Plexi_Top_Reservoir_-_Installed.html?tl=g30c107

Since its so small and in a brief case so you might be moving it you may not want to do a reservoir and just a T fill port(small hit on temps) instead. maybe something like this http://www.frozencpu.com/products/20912/koo-373/Koolance_G14_Brass_Inline_Drain_Valve_Fitting_-_4_Port_VLV-XUTX4B.html?tl=g30c101s460
 
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SmallerRidley

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I've installed the operating system, but I haven't been able to run it for more than about 5 minutes because the CPU gets up to 90 C fairly quickly. I'll probably take some time to undervolt/underclock and see if that helps while I wait for parts to show up.
 
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SmallerRidley

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Double good point on the reservoir, and thank you very much for the drain/fill port suggestion. I'll do some shopping tonight and get a parts list, and at some point I'll get more pics of the build put together.
 
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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Sounds good to me. Just keep updating when you get a chance I would like to see how this progresses.
 
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SmallerRidley

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Apparently hardly anyone makes 1-fan kits with smallish pumps anymore, but Phobya's should work out:
http://www.aquatuning.us/product_info.php/info/p16020_Phobya-Pure-Performance-Kit-120LT.html

It's a 60mm thick radiator, but it plus the fan would fit just inside the limit by putting it right over the vent hole, and it has ports for horizontal and vertical in/outlets, which is nice. A thinner radiator would've been nice to allow it to be an outlet fan for the rest of the case, but oh well.

http://i.minus.com/iqrCwArjxIoOg.PNG
http://i.minus.com/ib0Wgvng7PqoMW.PNG

Is there a particular reason frozencpu is $20 more expensive?
 
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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Ya those kits are hard to find now probably because of the AIO's not sure though. Looks like a pretty good plan to me though.

For frozen CPU not really they have the most stuff usually but their price seems to be a hit or miss type thing though their shipping is usually good enough to make up for it not always though.
 
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