Hi all!
I am a noob at all of this so be gentle, but feel free to tell me anything you see that doesn't make sense or you'd like to know why I picked something. Last time I made a watercooling build was about the time fish tanks went out of style for water cooling. Yeah, that long ago. I didn't do a good job then, but hopefully this time around... And yes, I am actually making two identical builds, apart from coolant color. My wife wanted a new computer while I was at it.
Without further ado, here's the current plan for the build!
The general idea is to go black with plexi / nickel blocks apart from coolant which is undecided atm. We'll see how it goes in practice but that's the general thought.
General non-cooling parts
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Primo - Big, honking Full Tower with loads of room and prepared for water cooling.
PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 1600W - Should be plenty of power for what I'm putting in it.
Motherboard ASUS x299-Deluxe - Nice 10 PWM board with loads of goodies.
CPU: Intel i9-7900x - 10 cores. Overkill? Yes. But I can always... Nah, I won't lie. I just wanted it.
Memory: 64GB (4x16GB) Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000MHz CL15 DDR4. - Do I NEED 64GB today? Does anyone? Video editing 4k ? Maybe (I don't do that). I am a software engineer but 10 cores and 64GB of memory is overkill, even for me unless I run VMs. Loads of VMs. At the same time. Yeah, overkill.
Graphics cards: 2x MSI GeForce 1080 Ti EK X in SLI - I'm sure I absolutely need it to pull out that extra FPS.. Yeah, I'll keep telling myself that.
Storage: Samsung 960 EVO 1TB - Apart from the whole "it's awfully expensive", it's probably the sanest choice in this build. I can always add some rotating disk or an SSD for storage if I need it.
Monitor: ASUS PG348Q 34" 21:9 Ultrawide gaming monitor - Absolute joy to use for software development. It's the only thing I bought that I can actually use yet.
Cooling bits and bobs:
CPU Block: EKWB EK-Supremacy EVO X99 - nickel - Nickel base with plexi top. Hope to replace it with EK's Monoblock for the x299-Deluxe when it comes.
GPU Blocks: The one that comes on the graphics cards. Nickel base/plexi top/black backside - Fits the general build and I don't have to void warranty to install it. Easy choice.
Pump/Reservoir combo: Alphacool Repack - Dual Laing D5 Station incl. 2x Alphacool VPP655 pumps - After going through loads of ideas I ended up with this since I really wanted two pumps and it was the only one I found and as I was ordering from Alphacool anyway it was an easy choice.
Radiator (Top): Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 Full Copper 480mm 60mm thick radiator in push/pull pushing air out of the case - I think it should fit there as it's in front of the motherboard even if it hangs that low. Might be a pain to get cables in but I'll get it to work.
Radiator (Bottom]: Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta 480mm 86mm thick radiator in push/pull pushing air out of the case. - It fits. I wanted it. Yeah.
Fans (Radiator): 16x (8x Top, 8x Bottom) Noiseblocker NB-Multiframe M12-P PWM 120x120x25mm - Should be pretty good for what I want.
Fan (Rear): One of the 140mm fans that came with the case pulling air into the case - Good a place as any to put a case fan to blow air into the case. Possibly change the fan to something else down the line.
Fan(s) (Front): One or two of the 140mm fans that came with the case pulling air into the case - I don't know if the lower one won't be just pushing air in to .. nowhere really so I may end up not mounting it, but we'll see when everything gets here.
Fans (Side): The last two 140mm fans that came with the case pulling air into the case - I think I can place the computer in such a way that this is all doable this way.
Fan splitters: 2x or 3x Phobya 1-to-8 powered PWM splitters - The motherboard has 12 (!) PWM capable fan connectors (can be configured for either constant voltage, PWM or voltage regulation individually. I intend to drive 1 of the outputs to a Phobya splitter and drive the top fans with it, then the same for the bottom and use the PUMP and AIO connectors to drive the two pumps and the rest of the fans from the motherboard OR possibly drive the other fans from a splitter. All depends on cable lengths, etc.
Tubing: Alphacool Eisrohr 13/10mm PETG - Even though I've never done it I thought I'd give hard tubing a go and most places I read says to use PETG tubing, so I am.
Fittings (Hard): Alphacool Eiszapfen 13mm compression fittings - black - Should be pretty and safe enough.
Fittings Bent (Hard): Alphacool Eiszapfen 13mm compression fitting 45 degrees rotatable - black - Look at next item for description where this goes.
Y-Splitter: Alphacool Eiszapfen Y-connector 45 degrees rotatable - black - The pumps have two outlets, one will have a straight line going into the Y and the other one will have the above 45 degree fitting feeding it into the Y.
Temperature sensor: Alphacool Eiszapfen temp sensor G1/4 - chrome (black was unavailable) -I wish it was black but it'll connected to the Y-splitter above and it'll be behind the side panel so it hopefully won't be too visible.
Flow sensor: Alphacool flow indicator G1/4 with RPM signal - plexi - Undecided where I will put this, but it'll be.. somewhere. And it will be connected to the motherboard for RPM signaling.
Drain system:
The lower radiator will sit a little raised due to the pulling fans and the radiator inlet/outlet ports will be to the front of the case leaving the drain port on the radiator facing back in the case. I plan on making a hole in the case mesh right there and first putting an extender (if needed), a 90 degree bend, a ball valve and a plug. This means that when I go to drain the system I can just remove the plug, insert a soft tube with compression fitting, crack open the ball valve and draining should be easy. When done I'll just close the ball valve, replace the plug and voilá - drained system. Depending on how far from the edge of the case the radiator actually sits I might turn around the extender/l-connector/extender completely to have it closer to the case.
Tubing (Soft): Alphacool AlphaTube HF 13/10 (3/8" ID) - clear - Just your normal soft tubing.
Fittings (Soft): Alphacool Eiszapfen 13/10mm compression fitting - deep black - No reason why they can't be pretty at the same time, eh?
Extender: Alphacool Eiszapfen extension G1/4 outer thread to G1/4 inner thread - deep black - Connected in the drain plug in the lower radiator to get the connector out of the case in the back. This may not be needed.
L-Connector: Alphacool Eiszapfen L-connector rotatable G1/4 outer thread to G1/4 inner thread - deep black - Just a 90 degrees rotatable connector so the ball valve doesn't stick straight out through the back of the case.
Extender: Alphacool Eiszapfen double nippel rotatable G1/4 outer thread to G1/4 outer thread - deep black - To connect the L-connector to the ball valve and making it easy to have the valve pointing the way I want it to (up most likely).
Ball valve: Alphacool Eiszapfen 2-way ball valve G1/4 - deep black - Nice ball valve connected to the adapter.
Plug: Alphacool HF screw-in seal plug G1/4 - deep black - Just in case the ball valve doesn't hold pressure, this will seal the deal.
Coolant and Dyes:
Coolant Alphacool CKC Cape Kelvin Catcher - Seems good from what I've read.
Dyes Mayhems Standard dyes - I have picked a few colors and will decide on what I do when it's time to fill the system. It's highly likely our systems won't be the same colors.
So how do I run my loop?
The Dual Pump/Reservoir combo unit is obviously sitting in a 5.25" slot at a good height.
One of the outlets from the pumps goes via fitting, tube, fitting into the Y.
The other outlet goes through a 45 degree fitting, through a tube, a fitting and into the same Y.
The other end of the Y is connected to the temperature sensor, which neatly is inner thread-inner thread. Saves me getting an adapter. The adapter goes to a fitting and through a tube into the CPU block inlet.
The outlet of the CPU block goes to the top radiator inlet.
The top radiator outlet goes down into the top graphics cards I have not decided if I will go parallel or serial between the graphics cards.
Instead of using a terminal I will simply be using fittings and tube to connect them, so either two tubes between the graphics cards or one tube (and plug whatever holes need plugging). The outlet of the second graphics card will go to the front of the case to the inlet of the bottom radiator.
The bottom radiator outlet will go back up to the inlet of the pump/reservoir combo unit, completing the circuit.
Somewhere in a Good Position(TM) I will place the flow sensor as well, either visible (maybe close to the graphics cards) or hidden (maybe near the pump/reservoir combo or by the bottom radiator).
I can already hear "pics or it didn't happen!" - Well it hasn't happened .. yet.
Pics will however come! Both when I have all parts and some during the build which will hopefully start this weekend but if not then early next week. All depends on when the Alphacool stuff comes.
I have received everything EXCEPT:
Anything from Alphacool - don't know why it's taking time, payment was flagged as accepted monday morning but it hasn't shipped yet according to their site. Well, now I know and it should be shipped today or tomorrow. Apparently 3 minutes before me someone ordered the CPU block so they were out when I finally ordered... I have removed it from the order and they will ship it without it.
EK CPU blocks - Being shipped to a local store and ready for pickup Thursday or Friday this week.
PSUs - ETA is next week unless I find them somewhere else but anything high powered is basically sold out everywhere.
// Stefan
EDIT: Added a component picture.
I am a noob at all of this so be gentle, but feel free to tell me anything you see that doesn't make sense or you'd like to know why I picked something. Last time I made a watercooling build was about the time fish tanks went out of style for water cooling. Yeah, that long ago. I didn't do a good job then, but hopefully this time around... And yes, I am actually making two identical builds, apart from coolant color. My wife wanted a new computer while I was at it.
Without further ado, here's the current plan for the build!
The general idea is to go black with plexi / nickel blocks apart from coolant which is undecided atm. We'll see how it goes in practice but that's the general thought.
General non-cooling parts
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Primo - Big, honking Full Tower with loads of room and prepared for water cooling.
PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 1600W - Should be plenty of power for what I'm putting in it.
Motherboard ASUS x299-Deluxe - Nice 10 PWM board with loads of goodies.
CPU: Intel i9-7900x - 10 cores. Overkill? Yes. But I can always... Nah, I won't lie. I just wanted it.
Memory: 64GB (4x16GB) Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000MHz CL15 DDR4. - Do I NEED 64GB today? Does anyone? Video editing 4k ? Maybe (I don't do that). I am a software engineer but 10 cores and 64GB of memory is overkill, even for me unless I run VMs. Loads of VMs. At the same time. Yeah, overkill.
Graphics cards: 2x MSI GeForce 1080 Ti EK X in SLI - I'm sure I absolutely need it to pull out that extra FPS.. Yeah, I'll keep telling myself that.
Storage: Samsung 960 EVO 1TB - Apart from the whole "it's awfully expensive", it's probably the sanest choice in this build. I can always add some rotating disk or an SSD for storage if I need it.
Monitor: ASUS PG348Q 34" 21:9 Ultrawide gaming monitor - Absolute joy to use for software development. It's the only thing I bought that I can actually use yet.
Cooling bits and bobs:
CPU Block: EKWB EK-Supremacy EVO X99 - nickel - Nickel base with plexi top. Hope to replace it with EK's Monoblock for the x299-Deluxe when it comes.
GPU Blocks: The one that comes on the graphics cards. Nickel base/plexi top/black backside - Fits the general build and I don't have to void warranty to install it. Easy choice.
Pump/Reservoir combo: Alphacool Repack - Dual Laing D5 Station incl. 2x Alphacool VPP655 pumps - After going through loads of ideas I ended up with this since I really wanted two pumps and it was the only one I found and as I was ordering from Alphacool anyway it was an easy choice.
Radiator (Top): Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 Full Copper 480mm 60mm thick radiator in push/pull pushing air out of the case - I think it should fit there as it's in front of the motherboard even if it hangs that low. Might be a pain to get cables in but I'll get it to work.
Radiator (Bottom]: Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta 480mm 86mm thick radiator in push/pull pushing air out of the case. - It fits. I wanted it. Yeah.
Fans (Radiator): 16x (8x Top, 8x Bottom) Noiseblocker NB-Multiframe M12-P PWM 120x120x25mm - Should be pretty good for what I want.
Fan (Rear): One of the 140mm fans that came with the case pulling air into the case - Good a place as any to put a case fan to blow air into the case. Possibly change the fan to something else down the line.
Fan(s) (Front): One or two of the 140mm fans that came with the case pulling air into the case - I don't know if the lower one won't be just pushing air in to .. nowhere really so I may end up not mounting it, but we'll see when everything gets here.
Fans (Side): The last two 140mm fans that came with the case pulling air into the case - I think I can place the computer in such a way that this is all doable this way.
Fan splitters: 2x or 3x Phobya 1-to-8 powered PWM splitters - The motherboard has 12 (!) PWM capable fan connectors (can be configured for either constant voltage, PWM or voltage regulation individually. I intend to drive 1 of the outputs to a Phobya splitter and drive the top fans with it, then the same for the bottom and use the PUMP and AIO connectors to drive the two pumps and the rest of the fans from the motherboard OR possibly drive the other fans from a splitter. All depends on cable lengths, etc.
Tubing: Alphacool Eisrohr 13/10mm PETG - Even though I've never done it I thought I'd give hard tubing a go and most places I read says to use PETG tubing, so I am.
Fittings (Hard): Alphacool Eiszapfen 13mm compression fittings - black - Should be pretty and safe enough.
Fittings Bent (Hard): Alphacool Eiszapfen 13mm compression fitting 45 degrees rotatable - black - Look at next item for description where this goes.
Y-Splitter: Alphacool Eiszapfen Y-connector 45 degrees rotatable - black - The pumps have two outlets, one will have a straight line going into the Y and the other one will have the above 45 degree fitting feeding it into the Y.
Temperature sensor: Alphacool Eiszapfen temp sensor G1/4 - chrome (black was unavailable) -I wish it was black but it'll connected to the Y-splitter above and it'll be behind the side panel so it hopefully won't be too visible.
Flow sensor: Alphacool flow indicator G1/4 with RPM signal - plexi - Undecided where I will put this, but it'll be.. somewhere. And it will be connected to the motherboard for RPM signaling.
Drain system:
The lower radiator will sit a little raised due to the pulling fans and the radiator inlet/outlet ports will be to the front of the case leaving the drain port on the radiator facing back in the case. I plan on making a hole in the case mesh right there and first putting an extender (if needed), a 90 degree bend, a ball valve and a plug. This means that when I go to drain the system I can just remove the plug, insert a soft tube with compression fitting, crack open the ball valve and draining should be easy. When done I'll just close the ball valve, replace the plug and voilá - drained system. Depending on how far from the edge of the case the radiator actually sits I might turn around the extender/l-connector/extender completely to have it closer to the case.
Tubing (Soft): Alphacool AlphaTube HF 13/10 (3/8" ID) - clear - Just your normal soft tubing.
Fittings (Soft): Alphacool Eiszapfen 13/10mm compression fitting - deep black - No reason why they can't be pretty at the same time, eh?
Extender: Alphacool Eiszapfen extension G1/4 outer thread to G1/4 inner thread - deep black - Connected in the drain plug in the lower radiator to get the connector out of the case in the back. This may not be needed.
L-Connector: Alphacool Eiszapfen L-connector rotatable G1/4 outer thread to G1/4 inner thread - deep black - Just a 90 degrees rotatable connector so the ball valve doesn't stick straight out through the back of the case.
Extender: Alphacool Eiszapfen double nippel rotatable G1/4 outer thread to G1/4 outer thread - deep black - To connect the L-connector to the ball valve and making it easy to have the valve pointing the way I want it to (up most likely).
Ball valve: Alphacool Eiszapfen 2-way ball valve G1/4 - deep black - Nice ball valve connected to the adapter.
Plug: Alphacool HF screw-in seal plug G1/4 - deep black - Just in case the ball valve doesn't hold pressure, this will seal the deal.
Coolant and Dyes:
Coolant Alphacool CKC Cape Kelvin Catcher - Seems good from what I've read.
Dyes Mayhems Standard dyes - I have picked a few colors and will decide on what I do when it's time to fill the system. It's highly likely our systems won't be the same colors.
So how do I run my loop?
The Dual Pump/Reservoir combo unit is obviously sitting in a 5.25" slot at a good height.
One of the outlets from the pumps goes via fitting, tube, fitting into the Y.
The other outlet goes through a 45 degree fitting, through a tube, a fitting and into the same Y.
The other end of the Y is connected to the temperature sensor, which neatly is inner thread-inner thread. Saves me getting an adapter. The adapter goes to a fitting and through a tube into the CPU block inlet.
The outlet of the CPU block goes to the top radiator inlet.
The top radiator outlet goes down into the top graphics cards I have not decided if I will go parallel or serial between the graphics cards.
Instead of using a terminal I will simply be using fittings and tube to connect them, so either two tubes between the graphics cards or one tube (and plug whatever holes need plugging). The outlet of the second graphics card will go to the front of the case to the inlet of the bottom radiator.
The bottom radiator outlet will go back up to the inlet of the pump/reservoir combo unit, completing the circuit.
Somewhere in a Good Position(TM) I will place the flow sensor as well, either visible (maybe close to the graphics cards) or hidden (maybe near the pump/reservoir combo or by the bottom radiator).
I can already hear "pics or it didn't happen!" - Well it hasn't happened .. yet.
Pics will however come! Both when I have all parts and some during the build which will hopefully start this weekend but if not then early next week. All depends on when the Alphacool stuff comes.
I have received everything EXCEPT:
Anything from Alphacool - don't know why it's taking time, payment was flagged as accepted monday morning but it hasn't shipped yet according to their site. Well, now I know and it should be shipped today or tomorrow. Apparently 3 minutes before me someone ordered the CPU block so they were out when I finally ordered... I have removed it from the order and they will ship it without it.
EK CPU blocks - Being shipped to a local store and ready for pickup Thursday or Friday this week.
PSUs - ETA is next week unless I find them somewhere else but anything high powered is basically sold out everywhere.
// Stefan
EDIT: Added a component picture.