Looking for a 478 block with a 14mm clearance (watercooling 360)

I'm planning to watercool my 360, but I'm having trouble finding a waterblock to go on the GPU, as there is a mere 14mm clearance between mainboard and DVD drive. The GPU uses a 478 style mounting (so I'm told).

I hope to use a Corsair Nautilus 500, which uses 3/8" (same as 10mm?) tubing.

If all else fails I can machine a very simple block, but I'd prefer to find one that's small enough, as it will no doubt offer better performance than anything I can make

Any advice or links would be appreciated. Thanks

edit: A lot of people use a koolance block such as this for the GPU, if this helps you get an idea of what I'm after. It's a shame this block uses a mere 6mm barbs, and is probably crap

Looks like I'll be machining my own block then

There are a few companies that make complete cooling kits for the 360, that includes a cpu block, gpu block, etc.

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g30...er_Cooling_Kits-360_Liquid_Cooling-Page1.html

Maybe they have some detailed pics of the blocks, or list what they are. I'll post more if I find more.

Yeah, but that's boring

I'm quite interested in machining my own block now, out of aluminium

Thanks for the reply

I can't see the 360 creating that much heat exhaustion so the 6mm barbs on the koolance should be fine.

Lets see the custom block!

Yeah, I know that WCing it isnt necessary at all, and that stock aircooling with a few mods is more than enough. But I want to mod this 360 and I have no experience with watercooling so this makes perfect sense

I'll be following this guide, however I dont have a drill press, and I'm guessing it's too hard to drill straight with a hand drill.

I'm going to have to find somewhere that will let me use a drill press. I might be giving my old school a ring to beg the tech teachers

Use copper. For a piece so small, the cost difference (if any) will be negligable. Not to mention the copper offers better performance.

Well, it's mainly because I can get a cheap block of aluminium off eBay whereas I cant find copper blocks anywhere.

I dont know if its possible, but I think i have a good idea. Start with a copper 1U server type CPU heatsink with the 478 mount, then either cap it with some epoxy and lexan top, or solder a copper top on it, and add your nozzles. The water should disperse out and flow inbetween the fins, I think it might work quite well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835114023
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835110013
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835166062
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106097

I think one of the above should work well and be easy to mod.

That would be quite restrictive to flow, and wouldnt be as leak proof as one machined solid block. When it comes down to it, the 360 doesnt put out that much heat, a basic aluminium block should do fine

Thanks for the ideas though

I'm now looking at the prospect of drilling the wholes using a hand drill It seems highly unlikely that my old college will let me use equipment due to health and safety

You could actually even cut/machine out some of the fins to increase flow. I think it would be easy to solder and leakproof with some epoxy though.

BTW, with the solid block, copper might be alot easier to machine, cut and thread then aluminum as well, and be easier to seal at the barbs, since it is a softer metal, and boasts much better thermal properties.