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First Custom Water Cooling Build

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Johnlava

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2014
Hey guys, So this is my first water cooling system I'll be using and my first custom build. I recently just finished building my first PC for gaming. For CPU cooling I decided on a custom water cooling loop.
Currently My setup is:
Case: Rosewill Blackhawk Mid-Tower
Motherboard: MSI Z97 U3 Plus
CPU: Intel i5 4690k w/Stock cooler
Ram: 2 x 4gb G.Skill Ares
PSU: EVGA Supernova 750 B2
Graphics: (Upgrading to Gigabyte G1 GTX 970 Soon)
Hard Drives: 1x Crucial 240Gb SSD 1x Seagate 1TB HDD
Drive Bay: 1x Asus DVD Burner

So, after doing my research this is how I'd want to design my loop.
Case Modding.jpg
(Credits to: http://www.overclock.net/t/1181034/small-mod-rosewill-blackhawk)

So far this is my current system setup, modified to fit 2 x 120mm radiators with the Hard drive rack hidden in the drive bay.
My PC update 1.png

There is still room in the drive bay for a reservoir.
Front case.png

These are the parts I decided on for my build. What do you guys think?

Reservoir: Swiftech MCRES-Micro Hi-Flo Reservoir (SFF) - 3/8 & 1/2in (Rev 2)
http://www.xoxide.com/swiftech-mcres-micro.html
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Pump/Water Block:
Swiftech Apogee Drive II CPU Waterblock & Pump - Intel 1155/1366
http://www.amazon.com/Swiftech-Apog...-1&keywords=Apogee+Drive+II+Pump+&+Waterblock
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Tubing:
PrimoFlex Advanced LRT 3/8in. ID x 5/8in. OD Tubing - Brilliant UV Blue
http://www.xoxide.com/primoflex-advanced-lrt-3-8in-id-x-5-8in-od-tubing-brilliant-uv-blue.html
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Fitting:
XSPC G1/4" to 3/8" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting (Chrome)
http://www.xoxide.com/xspc-g14to38ld28-odcompressionfitting-chrome.html
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Radiators:
( 2 x ) 120mm Slim Radiator for PC Water Cooling - by Glorious PC Gaming Race
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120mm-Slim-...76248?pt=US_Water_Cooling&hash=item35d8f93098
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Fans:
( 2 x ) Corsair Air Series SP120 (CO-9050014-WW) 120mm PWM High Performance Edition High Static Pressure Fan (Twin Pack)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181040

This is my first build so I'm very open to criticism of what I might mess up.
 
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The problem is that the 220-x couldn't be mounted in my intake. It would technically fit since its only 248mm or something, but I thought it had to be positioned on top of the CPU?
 
:welcome: to OCFs OP.

I just want to note to you that the first picture is a AIO mod setup. Technically its not custom cooling because a mod is used with AIO parts. Pretty cool but not the best way to do things. lol That pump I am sure isn't going to last long.

Have you read the water cooling stickies? Just want to know where your knowledge is at before we continue. Don't want going back and forth teaching the basics.
 
I read through a couple of stickies such as:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/277130-29-read-first-watercooling-sticky
Others too, but I haven't gotten into the math too deeply. (Math scares me)

I have a pretty basic understanding of the theory behind water cooling. I did actually realize the first picture was an AIO setup with the antec kuhler, I was actually talking with the guy who modded that case. I was just using the picture as reference for what I'm trying to accomplish. What I'm really not getting is space management for water cooling in my case. The setup I referenced would fit perfectly especially with the water block/pump combo. Then the reservoir fits snug in the drive bay. I'm concerned about using another setup that couldn't hide anything else in the drive bay, and the pump or reservoir would be massive. Especially a problem with the Gigabyte G1 GTX 970 which is over a foot long.

I am aware that the Apogee drive 2 may restrict my ability to expand and implement graphics cooling. Or maybe it can actually support it? Either way I'm really only concerned about CPU overclocking.

I also have heard "Just go get a different case" too many times and I'd really like to keep my blackhawk because I like it :x.
 
After seeing your case I noticed its not so water cooling friendly with out some mods done to it and noticed your case had been modded.

Here's a image I found that I think can help you.

af8fb487_1.jpeg

Honestly, with that much rad in this case for example, assuming the space internally is almost identical to this CM case, can handle say a CPU + 2 970s in SLI since they are very efficient while running silent.
 
That actually does help me with some ideas of expansion! I still kinda like my original plan with the dual 120mm's though... For now I wouldn't be looking into a GPU water block anyway. (Too much start up cost all at once) Also I'm not 100% sold that I would want to get rid of my Asus DVD Burner drive. I'm guessing there's a drive bay reservoir up top, and the pump is beneath it? I guess I can always get a 240mm Radiator up top if I ever wanted GPU cooling too. Would the Apogee drive 2 support that?
 
That looks like its a dual bay reservoir/pump combo. That still leaves you with a single bay reservoir for your DVD burner.

What is your budget on this and what do you only want to cool now but have the option to cool (?) down the road.
 
I was willing to spend about $300 on the water cooling setup. Currently, I just want to cool my CPU which I will be overclocking. I'm not against future GPU cooling but most likely that won't be for a while if ever. Then again you never know until you buy something and want to expand. Anyways let's just focus on CPU cooling and not worry about GPU expansion that hard.
 
Should be more than enough to get your started for CPU cooling.

I'd advise on figuring out what rads can fit in that case. Measurements are going to be key here so you're sure before ordering. That also includes the top of the case for future proofing as well.

As for the reservoir and pump, I'd advise going with a dual bay reservoir + pump combo since there's limited room.

You could do this by buying a custom water cooling kit or buying everything individually. That is up to you. Personally I like buying them individually as I did my first time water cooling.

The main thing here is the case. What radiators will be compatible. Also, I would go the 120.1 x 2 route as shown in your first image. All you'll need is a 120.2 for CPU only.
 
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