[Build Log] MiT X 5 Water Cooled Micro ITX Worklog

SonDa5

SonDa5

Supreme [H]ardness
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Aug 20, 2008
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MiT X 5 Pronounced mighty x five.


Have been thinking about building a mini itx build for awhile and finally decided to do it. My build is small and large at the same time.



Here is the initial parts list.

WATER COOLING

1 x Alphacool NexXxoS XP³ Light - Acetal Edition CPU block
1 x Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta 240 Radiator*
1 x EK-LGA115x TRUE Backplate (EK-LGA115X)*
1x EK 290X Plexi/Copper block
1 x Swiftech MCW pump
9 x Danger Den G1/4 High Flow Fittings - 1/2"*
1 x Alphacool Decoupling Kit Eheim/Hydor 4 Decouplers*
5 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120 mm by Nidec Servo Corp. - Ultra High Speed - Sleeved (D1225C12B5AP-15) *
1 x Monsoon Silver Bullet Antimicrobial G1/4 Plug*
1 x Bitfenix Hydra Pro 5 Channel 30W Fan/LED Controller with Slide Control (HYDRA-PRO)*
1 x Tygon R-3603 7/16" ID (5/8" OD) Clear tubing
1 x Danger Den Fill Port


Hardware

1 x Intel i7-4770k
1 x SAPPHIRE 290X
1 x ASUS Z87 ROG IMPACT 6 ITX Motherboard
1 x GSkill 2400 MHZ CL9 2x4GB kit
2 x Crucial M4 60GB SSD, 1x 120GB OCZ Agility 3 SSD
1 x OCZ Agility 3 120GB
1 x SeaSonic SS-660XP 660W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified*

Case

LIAN LI PC-A04B Black Aluminum MicroATX/Mitx Mini Tower Computer Case Modded with CaseLabs 240 Radiator Mount.


OS

1 x Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit (Full Version) OEM

Don't plan on painting or modifying case but if needed to snip some metal I will.
Want it to be clean, functional and powerful.





Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to this build.
 
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My biggest challenge is modifying the case a little so a Alphacool NexXxus Monster 240 radiator will fit with push/pull fans.

I ordered the case based on the published dimensions of the card, radiator, fans and case.


Rough idea of the spacing and what it will look like.


1264933


I think it will fit. :)
 
just curious, but why the mini-ITX?

my mini-ITX rig has a mini-ITX mobo because the case is ... well not fit for anything bigger :)

In your case you can clearly opt for a mATX mobo, which is often less expensive and has more expansion slots.
 
lollysticky said:
just curious, but why the mini-ITX?

my mini-ITX rig has a mini-ITX mobo because the case is ... well not fit for anything bigger :)

In your case you can clearly opt for a mATX mobo, which is often less expensive and has more expansion slots.
Click to expand...


I understand your logic. I really wanted to build a power mitx build but I couldn't find a nice case for my budget that could compactly fit my water cooling equipment so I went with a larger than normal case for itx build. Just think of a huge over sized case with an ATX MB freely breathing in it. :D

It's a monster itx build. :)
 
This going to be a slick mod/build. Interesting approach we don't see very often here. Should be able fit some serious wc hardware in there without any compromises!
 
Huge fan of the A04 case. Can't wait to see this completed.

I love my WC'd PC A04 :)
 
Update on my build.

I got the dremel out and cut out the bottom of the hdd bay to make way for the radiator.

LL
 
This was the A plan RAD configuration which unfortunately didn't work out. The video card didn't fit. :(



LL



So I moved on to Plan B. :)


LL
 
Looking good - I love mini builds .... I see that being my next build :)

Couldn't you forgo the push/pull and just have the one set of fans on the inside?
 
K1tty said:
Couldn't you forgo the push/pull and just have the one set of fans on the inside?
Click to expand...


I could have done that and cooling would have been decent but the push/pull was part of my original idea and for such a sweet radiator it seemed like the right way to go. :D

This radiator is going to have alot of work to do cooling an over clocked CPU and GPU.
 
Oh that...is...nice... Way to shoe-horn in a really nice fat radiator.

Will the front cover be deep enough to accommodate the fans or do you have another creative solution in mind? A slightly thinner radiator with appropriate fin density to compensate might a good way to get it all in there. But you've already got such a nice rad, it'd be nice to be able to make it work cleanly.
 
cmadki4 said:
Oh that...is...nice... Way to shoe-horn in a really nice fat radiator.

Will the front cover be deep enough to accommodate the fans or do you have another creative solution in mind? A slightly thinner radiator with appropriate fin density to compensate might a good way to get it all in there. But you've already got such a nice rad, it'd be nice to be able to make it work cleanly.
Click to expand...



Plan B is the creative OC v.5.0 route. More work and will not be as kosher looking as your traditional Lian Li case but will work well for air flow to the radiator.
 
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Slightly misleading title. ;) But still cool none-the-less.

Subscribed!
 
SonDa5 said:
Bump for an update in the parts lists.
Had some problems with a part but back on track now.

Will be testing new XSPC RAZER HD7970 "New Edition" soon. If you want to read up on my test I am comparing it to my HEatkiller block that is on my HD7950 950mhz Edition.

My tests here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1366829/...or-hd-7970-full-coverage-vga-block-new-design
Click to expand...

I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say about the new XSPC Razor. I have the earlier 7970 FC block and ditched it for a Heatkiller and now it's pretty much just taking up space.

My VRM temps got seriously hot in my 800D w/ XSPC Razor 7970.
 
Finally got the custom Vapor X HD7950 water block done.

VaporXHD7950WAR.jpg




Uberbob102000 said:
I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say about the new XSPC Razor. I have the earlier 7970 FC block and ditched it for a Heatkiller and now it's pretty much just taking up space.

My VRM temps got seriously hot in my 800D w/ XSPC Razor 7970.
Click to expand...



The actual copper block is good at cooling GPU and Memory but the poorly designed aluminum VRM heat sinks that attach on the sides do a terrible job at cooling VRM.


The block modified to work with Vapor X HD79XX card works great.




XSPC customer service is terrible as well and so was Performance PCS. I found numerous problems with the XSPC RAZER New Edition block and XSPC denied RMA and performance PCS denied customer service.
 
Update to this build.


Added 4770k and Asus Z87 Rog Impact 6.


Still a work in progress.

Delidded 4770k with CLU TIM direct block to die mount. No IHS.

ROGImpactCLU.jpg


Impactstacked.jpg
 
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Reality said:
that alphacool block has gotten great reviews
Click to expand...


I have it direct die mounted to the delidded 4770k. I haven't seen anyone else do this with this block so it will be eye opening to see how it performs with bare die mount on Haswell.
 
Definitely interested to see the temps with the die mount. I wish I was that brave!

Loving this build, btw. :cool:
 
did you do anything else to the 4770k after it was delidded and directly applied wb to the die? ive heard some people put something around the die to protect it...?
 
.5 mm Fujipoly thermal pad for stability and to increase thermal foot print. My idea as far as i know I was the first to do it.
 
Update on my Monster build featuring the Asus Maximus VI Impact, 4770k and AMD R9 290x. Look ma no reservoir in my loop! :cool:

Main work is done. Finish work to follow.


MonsterITX.jpg
 
skcnina said:
Cool setup, cant wait for it all to come together.
Click to expand...


It's basicly done. Just a little more work getting the panels back on. Will have to mod the front panel cover to accomodate the front radiator fans... Just about done. I have been having fun with it and tuning it at this point will get back to finishing it ASAP.
 
Ah yes, I saw your post over on OCN. Love the idea of the rad mount you have on there. Keep it it rocking!
 
XNine said:
Ah yes, I saw your post over on OCN. Love the idea of the rad mount you have on there. Keep it it rocking!
Click to expand...

Works great. Short tubing runs. No reservoir needed because of the positioning and the high water holding capacity of the monster radiator.
 
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