Help choosing the right water cooling pump/res

[marknicholson23]

I am moving my build into the Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic case and my current water cooling pump won't mount anywhere on the front side of the case as it is currently mounted to the back of the case as can be seen in this image https://imgur.com/a/530GT

So I'm going to upgrade my pump/res combo also as I've been having leaking issues with this one. I will be using the bottom of the Lian case for the 2 SSD drives and I'm looking for a pump/res that can mount vertically and stand on the bottom of the Lian case just in-front of the fans and radiator (here https://imgur.com/a/MPyQIVi), uses SATA power, and if possible can have the tubing connect from the top and bottom like the loop that I currently have. The Enermax NeoChanger fits this criteria but it has some pretty mixed reviews about it having design faults, and the Thermaltake Pacific PR22-D5 fits the criteria, apart from it uses 4-pin Molex power. Also the EK pumps look good and you can get a vertical pump bracket, however all the EK pumps appear to be molex also.

Any help in a solution or finding a pump/res that is reliable would be very much appreciated.

 

[rubix_1011]

I wrote the review on the Enermax NeoChanger, I actually quite like it.

The Thermaltake is almost the same product, just using a Laing D5 pump.

EK pumps are also Laing pumps.

You can easily get a Molex to SATA connector: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=molex+to+sata

 

[devbiker]

The only caution that I would have with using a Molex-to-SATA connector is to check on the current rating of the pump. Molex connectors actually supply more current on the 12V and 5V rails than SATA (5.5A vs 4.5A) ... so there may be a reason that they use the molex adapters.

That said, it's likely that 4.5A is plenty of power. But check to be sure if you go with one of the molex-powered pumps.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

there is very little difference between D5 rebrands.
the problem of molex is easily solved by:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/30Pcs-180-Cap-SATA-Power-Pierce-Type-Female-Connector-For-PC-Computer-ATX/272855288452?hash=item3f87714a84:g:QXMAAOSwC~dZwl43
As for the reservoir, top and mounts, I like the Singularity Computer's one. they are the most versatile (can be used both with direct res mount and with tube) and looking very good.
https://www.singularitycomputers.com/product-category/watercooling/reservoirs/
https://www.singularitycomputers.com/product-category/watercooling/pump-components/
https://www.singularitycomputers.com/product-category/watercooling/reservoir-mounts/

 

[marknicholson23]

Nice find with the SATA to Molex converters, I did a search for converters but not sure why the flood of all of those never came up in my search - was maybe just being blind!

@devbiker - Where would I usually find the rating of the pump, as in what is the rating usually labelled as on their spec sheets?

@n0ns3ns3 - How dot he 30Pcs 180° Cap SATA caps work? Does the molex 4 pins go in the side that has 5 plugs like of and the SATA the other? Never seen these before. The singularity ones do look nice, but seem to lack any vertical mounting that connects to the bottom of the pump rather than its side. As I will have no side space to mount the pump in the Lian case as it will be next to fans on the rad and won't have any mounting points directly to it's sides.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

1. you just cut he wires from molex and put them into this connector if you are too lazy, https://www.ebay.com/itm/SATA-15-Pin-Male-Power-Connecter-to-4-pin-Female-Converter-Adapter-Changer-2018/112907334876 this one works like you said.
2. you can always mount it on rad or fans. there are 3 of them on the side towards the front in your case. just look at the first image, it's mounted to radiator
https://www.singularitycomputers.com/shop/watercooling/protium-d5-pump-top-frosted-acrylic/

 

[marknicholson23]

1. you just cut he wires from molex and put them into this connector if you are too lazy, https://www.ebay.com/itm/SATA-15-Pin-Male-Power-Connecter-to-4-pin-Female-Converter-Adapter-Changer-2018/112907334876 this one works like you said.
2. you can always mount it on rad or fans. there are 3 of them on the side towards the front in your case. just look at the first image, it's mounted to radiator
https://www.singularitycomputers.com/shop/watercooling/protium-d5-pump-top-frosted-acrylic/

It wouldn't be a case of being lazy, but more so not confident in doing it right. Am I correct in thinking that I won't have space to mount the pump to the rad as there will be fans screwed into the fitting on the rad and the Lian case has glass on the front so only leaves one side to put the rad in. Apologies if I'm being stupid here but trying to get it all right before buying.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

There is more than enough space.
rad 30-45mm + fans 15-25mm + pump/res (singularity) 60mm = 105-130mm.
the case is 275mm wide. so internal compartment where you mount the rad should be 230-250mm wide.

 

[marknicholson23]

There is more than enough space.
rad 30-45mm + fans 15-25mm + pump/res (singularity) 60mm = 105-130mm.
the case is 275mm wide. so internal compartment where you mount the rad should be 230-250mm wide.

I maybe should have used the word depth rather than space. As in the rad itself will be occupied by the fans so there will be no fitting space left on the rad to mount the pump to. I've not seen a pump mounted on top of fans that are on a rad. I'm essentially wanting go to down something like this https://www.facebook.com/LianLiHQ/photos/a.102098029945234.3719.100644210090616/1029169843904710/?type=3&theater where the fans are exhaust on the side vertically and the pump in front, but I'm not sure how they've mounted that there.

 

[rubix_1011]

That looks like it has a pump with a vertical mount which requires you drill through the side of a case to secure with mounting screws. Most tall, cylindrical reservoirs have the ability to mount vertically or horizontally which requires the mounting brace to rotate and secure to the case accordingly.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

it looks like the res/pump is mounted on rad.
there is no problem to mount the pump on fans or rad. it's the same spacing and mounting.
have a look here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OwoFkAU4G4
btw, they did a lot of truly awesome builds.

 

[rubix_1011]

To me, it looks like the reservoir mounts are on the front panel, it's just too dark to see the screw mounts. Maybe it just happens to be an optical illusion, and I only see what I think I see.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

^^ that makes two of us XD

 

[rubix_1011]

I've been using the Swiftech MCP50X with the optional heatsink and acrylic reservoir for the MCP35X/50X for my watercooling 'reviewing' loop. I really like that setup since the heatsink comes with standoff legs that allow a small fan to be mounted under the heatsink as well and can be mounted to the case floor, if you want.

EK had a really cool 120mm mounting bracket for the A120 Gaming kit that I also liked...bolted to the bottom of the pump/res combo and you could mount up to a 120mm inlet at the case floor.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

^^ there are plenty 90 mounts that can be used.

 

[marknicholson23]

I appreciate all the replies and ideas guys! The Singularity gear looks really nice and wondering if this list will work.

Pump - https://www.amazon.co.uk/XSPC-Laing-Vario-Pump-Screwring/dp/B074G3WXCP
Pump Mount - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-revo-d5-pump-mount
Bracket - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-uni-pump-bracket-120mm-fan-vertical
Pump Top - https://www.singularitycomputers.com/shop/watercooling/protium-d5-pump-top-polished-acrylic/
Pump Cover - https://www.singularitycomputers.com/shop/watercooling/protium-d5-pump-cover-black/
Res - https://www.singularitycomputers.com/shop/watercooling/protium-medium-200mm-black-polished/

Prepare yourselves for some top MSPaint diagram. https://imgur.com/a/cYMy9lX
As can be *clearly* seen in the above image, would that work mounting that weight onto the screw points of a fan or will it not hold the weight/block the airflow too much?

 

[n0ns3ns3]

That's expensive pump !!!
https://www.kustompcs.co.uk/cooling/water-cooling/pumps-reservoirs/pumps/alphacool-vpp655pwm-single-edition/
you can use that adapter from molex to sata i posted in a "lazy" comment.

for cover i see no reason to pay 70, when you can pay 14: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Barrow-multicolor-D5-MCP655-series-pumps-are-designed-aluminum-heat-sink-conversion-kit-Red-Black/32719115163.html

As for the top and res, have you seen frosted acrylic? it looks very nice if you take the time to install 3mm leds in both top and res. the frosted acts as light diffuser.

And you can mount the pump/res to the radiator/fans. it's exactly where i thought.
just use those
to hold the res https://www.singularitycomputers.com/shop/watercooling/reservoir-mount-ethereal-single-60mm-billet/
to hold the pump https://www.singularitycomputers.com/shop/watercooling/reservoir-mount-120mm-back-plate-black/

 

[marknicholson23]

Nice find on those cheaper parts, thanks for that! Found 2 images of the LEDs used in the frosted acrylic and it looks real nice. But wouldn't know how to do the LEDs myself. Any links that could help me with the LED installation, and particularly how to do a clean job of it.

Any idea on the bracket, pump and res sitting on top of a 120mm fan, or that a bad idea?

 

[n0ns3ns3]

i used those
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-20cm-3mm-5mm-8mm-10mm-Pre-Wired-Lamp-Light-Emitting-Diode-9Colour/152263236434
with those
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PK-OF-10-FEMALE-4-PIN-FAN-POWER-CONNECTOR-BLACK-INC-PINS/221915645352

optionally, you can do it beautiful with those:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5size-Black-2-1-Heatshrink-Tube-Tubing-Sleeving-Heat-Shrink-2-4-6-8-10mm-5M-Sale/273068615025
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Color-3mm-Encryption-Braided-Cable-Sleeving-Sheathing-Auto-Wire-Harness/262961536427

I made few of them on each connector.
2 for CPU block, 4 on GPU block, 2 on res and 4 on pump top.

I don't understand your question about pump bracket, IMO you'd be better using those i listed in previous post to mount the pump/res on the radiator.

 

[marknicholson23]

That sleeving is great, I could do that. Have you got an image of your set up with the LEDs to give me an idea of how tidy it looks?

I'm meaning that I can't mount it to my radiator because the fans will be mounted to the radiator. So the fans will be in the way of the radiator and the res.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

I'll do the pictures when I'm finished, waiting for some parts.
the mounting is not a problem. it's pump/res -> fans -> rad -> case.
you use the same screw going through the bracket and fan to the rad.

 

[marknicholson23]

That's brilliant. I never saw that in your post before and the image on their site explains everything I was wondering this whole time! Wish I'd found that whilst going through their site for hours. Thank you for that, a great help! I'm assuming the current rad screws I have for the fans are ample size for the res mounts too?

 

[n0ns3ns3]

most probably they are fine. that's depends on the fans you are going to use.
You can always buy longer M4 screws in any HW store and cut them.

 

[marknicholson23]

Thank you all for your help, its been brilliant.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

you are welcome.
don't forget to share results when you done.
If you planning to use singularity computers pump top and res, don't forget the mounts. I listed them above and you need both of them.