Custom water cooling in a HTPC

3546 Views 16 Replies 4 Participants Last post by CaptainZombie, Sep 6, 2013

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · Aug 8, 2013

2

I am looking for a few recommendations since I've never worked on a custom loop. I have the Silverstone Grandia GD08 HTPC case. Yesterday I made a modification to the case so I can vertically sit fans in the front for water cooling. I am using an H60 at the moment, but I would love to go to an H100i or just building my own loop. Due to the size of the case I think I can only WC the CPU since it might get tricky with the GPU in the loop too, unless I can do something with these HDD's. I used a 1/2 inch piece of oak to build one vertical wall. I can always get a longer piece of oak to run from one side of the case to the other and be able to also get an additional 120mm rad in there. The question is where do I put the res pump and the HDD's.

I have added a few images below.

Any thoughts?

Are XSPC rads any good?

How are the rad kits that come with everything for $170-$200? Are these kits still better than an AIO?

Due to my space limitations, if I did get a custom loop just for the CPU am I still better off than an AIO?

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

She loved E

· #2 · Aug 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainZombie

Are XSPC rads any good?

Yeah they're great. EX series are good for medium speed fans and not too bulky (like the RX).

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainZombie

How are the rad kits that come with everything for $170-$200? Are these kits still better than an AIO?

Yeah they'll be better than an AIO... better pump & more cooling capacity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainZombie

Due to my space limitations, if I did get a custom loop just for the CPU am I still better off than an AIO?

Again yes. Speaking of space limitations, why not ditch the wood and bolt rads directly to the metal chassis? It will save you a lot of room, and you'll need it to upgrade since most rads are thicker than AIO rads.

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Reactions: 1

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 9, 2013

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by She loved E

Yeah they're great. EX series are good for medium speed fans and not too bulky (like the RX).

Yeah they'll be better than an AIO... better pump & more cooling capacity.

Again yes. Speaking of space limitations, why not ditch the wood and bolt rads directly to the metal chassis? It will save you a lot of room, and you'll need it to upgrade since most rads are thicker than AIO rads.

I will look for the EX series then. Here is the issue why I can't bolt the rad to the chassis............Here are some pics when I was mocking up the whole setup. On the right side, the USB's and headphone/mic jacks controller is sitting there and in the open section to the left there is the power/reset controller and these actually stick out quite a bit. So there is no way to fasten a rad there. I might be able to in the middle part over, but then I would have to get a piece of sheet metal to fasten to the front of the chassis from the inside so the rad is properly bolted down. I would be limited to a 240mm rad in the middle. If I ever found a way to place the HDD's somewhere else, I can run a board all the way across and run either a 360mm rad or 1x240mm and 1x120mm. I wish SSD's were at a good price for larger storage already so that way I would just ditch these mechanical drives.

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

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beldecca

· #4 · Aug 9, 2013

I think I might have an idea. Two questions: which case is it? (I hope I didn't miss it somewhere). And were you only wanting to cool CPU?

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by beldecca

I think I might have an idea. Two questions: which case is it? (I hope I didn't miss it somewhere). And were you only wanting to cool CPU?

It is the Silverstone Grandia GD08

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=331

Ultimately I would love to water cool both the CPU and GPU since my 770 ACX puts out a lot of heat when on full load.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

beldecca

· #6 · Aug 9, 2013

What do you think of a loop using these parts:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_336&products_id=26364
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=34384

That would be enough for CPU. Depending on fans.

IF that's not enough, how would you feel about something outside the case?

Are you using a full atx MB?

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CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by beldecca

What do you think of a loop using these parts:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_336&products_id=26364
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=34384

That would be enough for CPU. Depending on fans.

IF that's not enough, how would you feel about something outside the case?

Are you using a full atx MB?

I'm using a mATX board. I had that idea with getting a dual 80mm rad about 2 months ago on here and guys were trying to deter me away from it. I was going to put that dual 80mm in the rear for the CPU and I think it would work. Then I can get a 240mm for the GPU in the front I would think.

I wanted to try and keep everything in the case.

I take it that this Swiftech APOGEE Drive II CPU Waterblock with Integrated Pump will not work with Haswell if I decided to upgrade my CPU in a year.

beldecca

· #8 · Aug 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainZombie

I take it that this Swiftech APOGEE Drive II CPU Waterblock with Integrated Pump will not work with Haswell if I decided to upgrade my CPU in a year.

the Apogee should have no trouble with a haswell.
EDIT: 1155 coolers are compatible with 1150 (haswell)

The other place I thought of was on the down firing twin 120's and then move your drives to pci slot holders

Something like these: http://atechfabrication.com/products/drive_mounting_kits.htm
Using matx you should have plenty of slots open.

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by beldecca

the Apogee should have no trouble with a haswell.
EDIT: 1155 coolers are compatible with 1150 (haswell)

The other place I thought of was on the down firing twin 120's and then move your drives to pci slot holders

Something like these: http://atechfabrication.com/products/drive_mounting_kits.htm
Using matx you should have plenty of slots open.

You are a life saver, these brackets look awesome. Have you ever ordered from this place before? The issue is that these brackets seem to only be for 2.5 inch HDD's and not 3.5 inch. Would I have to worry about any heat from the video card heating these up if I decided to just water cool the CPU first and then added the GPU?

Is this a good kit to go with and if I decide to also loop my GPU in a few months down the road can I get a 120mm rad from XSPC for the CPU and then use this for the GPU?

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/20926/ex-wat-266/XSPC_Raystorm_750_EX280_Extreme_Universal_CPU_Water_Cooling_Kit_New_Rev_4_Pump_Included_w_Free_Dead-Water.html?tl=g30c321s1310

beldecca

· #10 · Aug 9, 2013

That kit would work - but do you think you have room for the large res? I wonder if it wouldn't hit the bottom mounted radiator . . . .also I'm a little underwhelmed by the pump if you're thinking GPU, but it's an option.

I would look more for Swiftech H2O-X20 Elite or Swiftech Compact Drive II (H220) - If you can find one!

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by beldecca

That kit would work - but do you think you have room for the large res? I wonder if it wouldn't hit the bottom mounted radiator . . . .also I'm a little underwhelmed by the pump if you're thinking GPU, but it's an option.

I would look more for Swiftech H2O-X20 Elite or Swiftech Compact Drive II (H220) - If you can find one!

If the res is too big, what do you recommend I do then if I also water cool my GPU here at some point?

beldecca

· #12 · Aug 9, 2013

I'd likely do a micro res or a single bay res.
(micro: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_318_666&products_id=24649)
(single http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_318_663&products_id=27515
(another: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_318_665&products_id=27518)

If I did a single bay res, I'd also recommend a Silverstone SST-FP58B and a slot load drive. I have one in my TJ08E and it's a really nice piece. Would be ideal for a HTPC.

If you didn't want to do the Apogee drive 2, another way you could try is this from alphacool:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_318_658&products_id=33828

It can use the same PWM pump that's found in the apogee drive. Again, pair it with the slot load if you'd like.

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 6, 2013

Does anyone know if the pump on this kit is able to WC both a CPU and GPU without an OC? I'd like to add a GPU into the mix down the road. It looks like I'll have to go with something like a tube reservoir if I decide to continue working with this case.

Can this tube res sit on the floor of the HTPC case or does it have to be mounted higher?

EK-KIT L240 Water Cooling Kit

kimoswabi

· #14 · Sep 6, 2013

I run the EK-DCP 2.2 pump/ res in my mini ITX and watercool both 3770K and GTX 650 Ti Boost. My GPU doesn't exceed 50C and CPU doesn't exceed 65C at full load. The pump performs excellent in a small loop like in an ITX or HTPC.

Yes, you can mount it on the floor as the coolant feeds directly into the pump and sits slightly higher than the pump.

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 6, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimoswabi

I run the EK-DCP 2.2 pump/ res in my mini ITX and watercool both 3770K and GTX 650 Ti Boost. My GPU doesn't exceed 50C and CPU doesn't exceed 65C at full load. The pump performs excellent in a small loop like in an ITX or HTPC.

Yes, you can mount it on the floor as the coolant feeds directly into the pump and sits slightly higher than the pump.

That is good to know then. Do you have the res/pump mounted to the floor on your ITX case?

Is EK better than XSPC or about the same?

kimoswabi

· #16 · Sep 6, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainZombie

That is good to know then. Do you have the res/pump mounted to the floor on your ITX case?

Is EK better than XSPC or about the same?

Mine is sitting on top of my HDD bay in a Prodigy case, about 3-4" from the bottom. I don't see it performing any differently if it was mounted on the bottom of my case.

As for EK vs XSPC, the performance would be about the same comparing the two you're looking at. It's more about if you like tube res (EK) or bay res (XSPC) and what's more aesthetically pleasing to you. Both have pros and cons. I've had great results with EK products except for plasticizer issues with the tubing and coolant that came with one of their kits.

CaptainZombie

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 6, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimoswabi

Mine is sitting on top of my HDD bay in a Prodigy case, about 3-4" from the bottom. I don't see it performing any differently if it was mounted on the bottom of my case.

As for EK vs XSPC, the performance would be about the same comparing the two you're looking at. It's more about if you like tube res (EK) or bay res (XSPC) and what's more aesthetically pleasing to you. Both have pros and cons. I've had great results with EK products except for plasticizer issues with the tubing and coolant that came with one of their kits.

Is it recommended to change out the tubing then if you order one of the EK kits? If this pump is mounted to the floor of my case, it should have enough power in the pump to push to the CPU and when I add the GPU?

I wish I could get one in the 5.25 bay, but it would hit the rad. This case is designed in such a not so friendly way.

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