Watercooling a full Antec 1200 case

[1stRaven]

Following some discussions in the folding thread, I am starting to look at fully watercooling my rig but have an issue with space inside my case.

Current setup :

Specs are on the left but generally it is an I7 2600k at 4.5Ghz (1.335v) with 2 x 6870.



Current temps are (and these are with the room temps are 20 degrees or below)

At Idle:


Gaming (Playing BF2BC):


CPU processing ( Running a film encoding program):


As you can see, all of the hard drive caddies are full so I am struggling to fit a decent sized rad and the rest of the watercooling equipment inside the case and am looking for some ideas if anyone has them.

My current thought is to build something like this guy (http://www.bramleys.org/radbox/) and using an external radbox to house everything apart from the blocks. Only different thing I would do is run an additional psu inside the radbox to power everything.

Equipment list so far is

• 2 x EK CoolStream XT 360mm Triple Radiator
• 15 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm Case Fan (12 for the rads in push/pull and 3 as extractors for the radbox
• 2 x Laing DDC-1T Pro Pump 440 L/hr with XSPC V3 Acetal Top
• 1 x EK Multioption Reservoir Res X2 250 Basic
• 1 x NZXT Sentry LX Fan Controller
• 1 x Koolance High Flow Quick Release Barb Male Fitting for 6mm ID Tubing with bulkhead thread : VL2-M10B-P
• 1 x Koolance High Flow Quick Release Barb Female Fitting for 6mm ID Tubing : VL2-F10B-P
• 1 x EK Supreme HF Easy Mount CPU (Copper Acetal)
• 2 x Koolance VID-AR687 Full Cover Waterblock for the ATI 6870
• 1 x Bitspower SLI / CrossFire Crystal Link Tube Set for 3 Slot Spacing
• 2 x Bitspower SLI / CrossFire Multi Link Adapter

Haven't worked out tubing or fittings options (this lot took a long enough) but it will have 2 drain ports (1 per case).

So any thoughts/ equipment changes/ comments that I should just leave it alone....

[Tattysnuc]

So you're making your own version of this then essentially....

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...pid-13813.html

Nice

[1stRaven]

I wonder which would have better cooling or value for money....

[Tattysnuc]

You've picked expensive parts.... The best IMHO but expensive none the less....

[Tattysnuc]

I wonder which would have better cooling or value for money....

Not sure how quiet they are to be fair. The Gentle Typhoons are great. Have you tried switching the fans you have on the Corsair unit for the 1850 rpm Gentle Typhoons? might be worth looking at....

[1stRaven]

I have found this as a case instead of the mdf approach.

http://www.mountainmods.com/pedestal-24-p-492.html

Sides can be fitted with mounting points for two triple rads. Idea is to fit a triple rad to each side, use the optional triple 5.25 drive day to the front for fan controller and 3 x 120 mm fans to the rear.

Tatty - the fans on the h60 are already at 1760 rpm so I am not sure how much additional cooling the other fans will offer.

[dangel]

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...build-log.html

Search and you will find

[Terbinator]

[QUOTE=1stRaven;2103242

Tatty - the fans on the h60 are already at 1760 rpm so I am not sure how much additional cooling the other fans will offer.[/QUOTE]

The Typhoons are oh so quiet though.

[1stRaven]

Noise hasn't been too much of an issue anyway. It would be nice to have some silence for running the machine while I am asleep but for day to day use, don't really notice the noise with the music playing.

I did look at that 1200 build log but the issue I have is finding room for the pump etc internally in the case as even the space by the psu is taken up with an ssd fitted there. I have about 10cm of space at the back where the case is placed at the moment so would need to look at mounting rads using the swiftech radbox if I went down this route.

Thanks for the ideas though. Any more?

[Tattysnuc]

The Typhoons are oh so quiet though.

....but what's their static pressure and CFM rate? Some fans move more air at that speed.

This is the best review of fans that I've found to date...

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/coo...est-case-fan/1

Sorry, it's Bit-tech and I know certain people around here are not fans (pardon the pun)

[1stRaven]

I found a neat bit of kit which saves me building a custom enclosure and is cheap enough to work with.. A external rad stand that also accepts pumps etc to be attached. A little more exposed but I quite like that.

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...1759.html#tabs

Then, took some time and came with a equipment list for it.



Had a little shock as I was expecting to be paying out £400 or so...

Not sure if I have put the list together wrong or I have maxed out on the spec incorrectly. Any comments?

[Tattysnuc]

Try shopping around for the waterblocks and fittings. You're picking out all the expensive ones! EK/Swiftech for the CPU, and EK for the GPU's. ...Especially if the radiators are going in a seperate sealed box!

The Rad stand just looks like a waste of money to me, what was wrong with screwing through the box into the Radiator? You might also want to consider air filters...

The best Blocks give you a couple of degrees better perfromance, but cost you "exponentially" more. I'd be tempted to buy a radiator and some hosing, and to butcher the Corsair unit you have and put a second radiator+fans in the same loop.

Also, it's worth looking in overclockers.co.uk clearance for end of line items. Water cooling fittings cost a packet, especially with the quantities that you need when building from scratch.

Also, check out the marketplace here and over on bit-tech for second hand parts. You can save a packet.

It's easy to overspent when watercooling... especially if you consider what your original problem is. Your CPU could be cooler.... Concentrate your build on resolving that issue. You've not mentioned (unlesss I've missed it.... sorry!) that the GPU's are too hot yet almost half the money you're proposing to spend is focussing of the GPU's.

[c.ruel]

I have just scan read this, so what I say might be a little off ... sorry if it is, it is late! First thing ... you're cable management looks awesome, sorry just had to say that I really like it for some reason. Second thing, your second HD 6870 could be really suffering because the psu is sucking air away from it working against the fan on the heatsink. You could probably get your temperatures in check if that is your main reason for watercooling by just getting faster/better fans, GTs would make a big difference on the H60, also do you have an intake fan on the side panel because that could really help.

As for radiators, if you really want to do watercooling, phobyas 200mm square rads might give you some different options.

link here

[Tattysnuc]

I have just scan read this, so what I say might be a little off ... sorry if it is, it is late! First thing ... you're cable management looks awesome, sorry just had to say that I really like it for some reason. Second thing, your second HD 6870 could be really suffering because the psu is sucking air away from it working against the fan on the heatsink. You could probably get your temperatures in check if that is your main reason for watercooling by just getting faster/better fans, GTs would make a big difference on the H60, also do you have an intake fan on the side panel because that could really help.

As for radiators, if you really want to do watercooling, phobyas 200mm square rads might give you some different options.

link here

I'd missed there being a 200m rad on the market.... doh! Thanks! Must have a look and see how they perform.

[Tattysnuc]

again back to the problem, I just spotted a comment over on Bit-tech for the Antec Kuhler 920 and one of the users comments reads:

"
This. Seems weird that it wouldn't be tested against its competitors.. I picked up an H50 for £40 when OC'ers has it on offer. Coupled with 2 Asaka Viper fans it does a really good job at keepin my cpu cool "

Before you spend any pennies it might be worth looking out there to see how good/bad the fans that Corsair are using on their models. There kit is usually pretty good, but if for instance you can buy 2 decent fans such as the Gentle Typhoons, switch them over, at least you'll be able to recycle them if you still persist....

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/201...o-920/comments

[1stRaven]

Try shopping around for the waterblocks and fittings. You're picking out all the expensive ones! EK/Swiftech for the CPU, and EK for the GPU's. ...Especially if the radiators are going in a seperate sealed box!

The Rad stand just looks like a waste of money to me, what was wrong with screwing through the box into the Radiator? You might also want to consider air filters...

The best Blocks give you a couple of degrees better perfromance, but cost you "exponentially" more. I'd be tempted to buy a radiator and some hosing, and to butcher the Corsair unit you have and put a second radiator+fans in the same loop.

Also, it's worth looking in overclockers.co.uk clearance for end of line items. Water cooling fittings cost a packet, especially with the quantities that you need when building from scratch.

Also, check out the marketplace here and over on bit-tech for second hand parts. You can save a packet.

It's easy to overspent when watercooling... especially if you consider what your original problem is. Your CPU could be cooler.... Concentrate your build on resolving that issue. You've not mentioned (unlesss I've missed it.... sorry!) that the GPU's are too hot yet almost half the money you're proposing to spend is focussing of the GPU's.

I think that is the issue with reading reviews - you end up going for the better stuff that costs. Mind you, better done right the first time than having to revisit it.

The rad stand is more that I wont need an external box at all. You just mount the rads to that, mount the pump and res on the side and run the pipes to the pc. See here for an the idea (wrong stand but gives a good idea.)

The issues with the GPU's is I am running the fans at 60% all the time at the moment, in order to keep them cool enough (imo). This is down to the fact there are card mounted next to them, really cutting down on the air flow into the card but I cant find a way around that.

I have just scan read this, so what I say might be a little off ... sorry if it is, it is late! First thing ... you're cable management looks awesome, sorry just had to say that I really like it for some reason. Second thing, your second HD 6870 could be really suffering because the psu is sucking air away from it working against the fan on the heatsink. You could probably get your temperatures in check if that is your main reason for watercooling by just getting faster/better fans, GTs would make a big difference on the H60, also do you have an intake fan on the side panel because that could really help.

As for radiators, if you really want to do watercooling, phobyas 200mm square rads might give you some different options.

link here

I think my cable management sucks to be honest, but down to the length of the cables, lack of space (I can barely fit the rear side panel on any more due to the number of cables run around the back) so it is about as good as it is going to get.

As above, i think the gpu's are suffered from lack of available airflow due to additional cards but there is a 2000rpm 120mm side fan fitted to try and assist with this.

I have seen a couple of builds with rads fitted to the rear 2 exhaust ports (where my h60 is fitted) which would work well for cpu cooling but would a 2.120 be back enough for cpu and gpu cooling?

again back to the problem, I just spotted a comment over on Bit-tech for the Antec Kuhler 920 and one of the users comments reads:

"
This. Seems weird that it wouldn't be tested against its competitors.. I picked up an H50 for £40 when OC'ers has it on offer. Coupled with 2 Asaka Viper fans it does a really good job at keepin my cpu cool "

Before you spend any pennies it might be worth looking out there to see how good/bad the fans that Corsair are using on their models. There kit is usually pretty good, but if for instance you can buy 2 decent fans such as the Gentle Typhoons, switch them over, at least you'll be able to recycle them if you still persist....

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/201...o-920/comments

I have just ordered two Gentle Typhoons 1850's for the h60 and will try mounting these as intakes rather an exhausts (though with the hot air being expelled from the case by the gpu's, i'm not sure how much difference this will have.

Soon be here by tomorrow so will let you know.

Cheers for the help.