NCASE M1 v2 Build CPU/GPU Water Build GTX970 (Need Advice)

M

Moogoos

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
334
Something I should have done a long time ago. I just had to try the AMD 295x2. It's a great card and the system is great but it deviated too much from my love for small and powerful build.

Parts, some left over from previous builds.

  • ASUS Impact VII
  • i7 4790k
  • EK CPU water block
  • 2 Samsung Pro 512GB
  • G.SKILL Trident X Series 16GB 2x8GB DDR3 2400MHz
  • Silverstone 600w SFX PSU
  • GTX 980 SC
  • M1 NCase Reservoir that sits on the back.
  • 3.2 PWM DDC Pump with Aquacover DDC as suggested in this thread
  • EK High Performance CoolStream Rad 240mm

Updated.

The MB supports I believe 4 PWM fan headers. So which fans to get? Can I fit 4 120mm?

Can I fit 2 2.5s in the front?
 
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Will that GPU block work with that card? EK doesn't list any 980s in their compatibility list for it.

I'm assuming you're planning to have the pump on the floor of the case (the only place it will fit internally), in which case that pump top won't work, due to top-facing port that will cause the fitting to interfere with the GPU. Take a look at the Aquacover DDC top as an alternative that should fit.

As far as rads, not too long, not too thick, and not too wide, and you'll be fine. Practically speaking, most 240 rads ~35mm thick or under are fine. The only ones I'd stay away from are the hwlabs Black Ice rads (too wide), and rads with a built-in res (which are usually too long - the H220/Glacer240L rad being an exception).
 
Necere said:
Will that GPU block work with that card? EK doesn't list any 980s in their compatibility list for it.
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Ahh good catch. I edited the card when I found an EVGA with 3 displayports on it and forgot to change the block link.

Thanks Necere for the feedback. I went with a EK High Performance CoolStream 240. Will that work?

I also went with the EK Geforce GTX 980 VGA Liquid Cooling Block - Nickel + Acetal (EK-FC980 GTX - Acetal+Nickel)

So I replace the pump top with one from Aquacover DDC or do I need a different pump?
 
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Moogoos said:
Thanks Necere for the feedback. I went with a EK High Performance CoolStream 240. Will that work?
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It is a little wide compared to most 240 rads, at 130mm, but it should be okay. The primary concern there is that it may leave too little clearance for the fittings coming off the GPU block, but that will depend on how tall the fittings are as well. It's likely you will need to have the fan bracket mounted in the upper position and the AC inlet swapped with the model ID plate to give everything room.

Moogoos said:
So I replace the pump top with one from Aquacover DDC or do I need a different pump?
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Any DDC pump should be fine.
 
Moogoos said:
Cool. Would you mind linking me to what I need for the pump with a top so I don't mess it up?

This is what I was currently going with:

EK DDC X-Top w/ 3.2 PWM DDC Pump
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EK also sells the same pump with the stock top, which might make more sense since you'll be replacing the top anyway. Not sure if it's actually any savings though after shipping. The Aquacover top is here. It doesn't come with fittings, so make sure you have enough (note that it has 4 total ports, two of which need to be plugged).
 
Necere said:
It doesn't come with fittings, so make sure you have enough (note that it has 4 total ports, two of which need to be plugged).
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So I'll have to get the Laing pump and the top mentioned above instead of the ek pump then?

So this pump

49065_1.jpg


and replace the top with this

52125_1.jpg


if I want to keep compression fittings?
 
Moogoos said:
So this pump
Click to expand...
That's version is non-PWM, so I'd recommend going with the PWM EK instead. Either with the stock Laing top (which I linked above) or EK's top. Either way, yes, you'll want to replace the top with the Aquacover if you want to use compression fittings. You could also just use the stock Laing top - it's low profile enough that it should fit under the GPU block as well. It just might make routing tubes a little harder since you can't use angled fittings with it.
 
Necere said:
That's version is non-PWM, so I'd recommend going with the PWM EK instead. Either with the stock Laing top (which I linked above) or EK's top. Either way, yes, you'll want to replace the top with the Aquacover if you want to use compression fittings. You could also just use the stock Laing top - it's low profile enough that it should fit under the GPU block as well. It just might make routing tubes a little harder since you can't use angled fittings with it.
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Ahh so I can stick with the EK and just order the top. I thought the top would only work with a Laing or switech pump.
 
Moogoos said:
Ahh so I can stick with the EK and just order the top. I thought the top would only work with a Laing or switech pump.
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Nah. There are basically just a handful of pumps used in PC watercooling that every company rebadges. The two most common are the DDC and D5.


This build is very similar to the one you're planning. He used the dual pump version of the Aquacover top, by the looks of it. Dual pumps is total overkill for such a small loop, btw, but I suppose the redundancy affords some peace of mind.
 
Necere said:
Nah. There are basically just a handful of pumps used in PC watercooling that every company rebadges. The two most common are the DDC and D5.
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I'm confused. If the EK branded pump says DDC on it then I can put the DDC top on that pump?

For example this one:

EK DDC X-Top w/ 3.2 PWM DDC Pump - Acetal (EK-XTOP DDC 3.2 PWM - Acetal (Original CSQ incl. pump))

Since it's a DDC 3.2 PWM I can just get the other top correct because the EK is just a top as well?
 
Moogoos said:
I'm confused. If the EK branded pump says DDC on it then I can put the DDC top on that pump?

For example this one:

EK DDC X-Top w/ 3.2 PWM DDC Pump - Acetal (EK-XTOP DDC 3.2 PWM - Acetal (Original CSQ incl. pump))

Since it's a DDC 3.2 PWM I can just get the other top correct because the EK is just a top as well?
Click to expand...
Yes. Sorry, my "nah" was in response to where you said you thought the top would only work with Laing or Swiftech pumps. Well, let me clarify: the DDC is manufactured by Laing, so in that sense, it would only work with a Laing pump. But many other companies sell the same Laing-manufactured pump under their own brand - usually as a DDC (though Swiftech sells it as an MCPxx). Any top designed for the DDC should work with any company's Laing-manufactured DDC pumps.
 
Necere said:
Yes. Sorry, my "nah" was in response to where you said you thought the top would only work with Laing or Swiftech pumps. Well, let me clarify: the DDC is manufactured by Laing, so in that sense, it would only work with a Laing pump. But many other companies sell the same Laing-manufactured pump under their own brand - usually as a DDC (though Swiftech sells it as an MCPxx). Any top designed for the DDC should work with any company's Laing-manufactured DDC pumps.
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sweet! I really appreciate the hand holding on this topic Necere. You have a customer for life.
 
Just wanted to chime in a little bit here, make sure you have plenty of 45 degree fittings and maybe 4 to 6 90 degree fittings. The 45s work great on the CPU block, and adamantium reservoir for routing, maybe one 45 degree fitting to the pump as well depending on your input/output orientation. The 90s are basically required between the GPU block and rad, and also for both rad fittings if you want to keep tubing neater by having the rad fittings sitting at the front of the case. A tube/pvc cutter from your local home improvement store will save you a lot of time and headache as well, and is well worth it to get the tubing length just right

I've been meaning to try getting some pics of my build up but just haven't had time lately. Spend a bit of extra time to look at the ncase gallery for ideas of the best ways to fit things, it will save you time in the long run
 
Siba said:
Just wanted to chime in a little bit here, make sure you have plenty of 45 degree fittings and maybe 4 to 6 90 degree fittings. The 45s work great on the CPU block, and adamantium reservoir for routing, maybe one 45 degree fitting to the pump as well depending on your input/output orientation. The 90s are basically required between the GPU block and rad, and also for both rad fittings if you want to keep tubing neater by having the rad fittings sitting at the front of the case. A tube/pvc cutter from your local home improvement store will save you a lot of time and headache as well, and is well worth it to get the tubing length just right

I've been meaning to try getting some pics of my build up but just haven't had time lately. Spend a bit of extra time to look at the ncase gallery for ideas of the best ways to fit things, it will save you time in the long run
Click to expand...

Thank you for the tips. I have a bunch of 90s from the old build. Will order up a couple 30s and a couple 45s to help with tube routing.
 
Necere said:
Lol. Sure, np.
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Hi Necere, I have a couple more questions if you don't mind. I looked over a lot of threads and pictures but I just couldn't tell for sure.

Can 2 120mm fans go below the water cooled card as well as the 2 120mm fans on the rad both 25mm thick?

Also can 2 2.5 drives fit in the front?
 
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Moogoos said:
Can 2 120mm fans go below the water cooled card as well as the 2 120mm fans on the rad both 25mm thick?
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Yes, as long as there's nothing else installed on the bottom.

Moogoos said:
Also can 2 2.5 drives fit in the front?
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Yes, though it depends on what else you're using and how thick the drives are. Technically it's possible to fit up to four 2.5" drives in the front using the stacking brackets, as long as at least three are 7mm thick and you're not using an optical drive.
 
Necere said:
Yes, as long as there's nothing else installed on the bottom.
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Nope. Nothing else. That's great to know!

Necere said:
Yes, though it depends on what else you're using and how thick the drives are. Technically it's possible to fit up to four 2.5" drives in the front using the stacking brackets, as long as at least three are 7mm thick and you're not using an optical drive.
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I have a couple samsung EVO SSDs and a couple Pros, even a 9mm 1TB spinner. I'd like to at least use the two pros with maybe the 1TB. I opted for a black no ODD model so I am good to go! Thank you again for your help.
 
I don't think I've seen a build with both a pump and fan on the bottom. It may be too cramped to fit both, considering the tubing and fittings. Fortunately, bottom fans are far from necessary in a full watercooled build.

An alternative to consider is a CPU block/pump combo, like the Apogee Drive II (though do your research on motherboard compatibility with that model), or an expandable AIO like the H220/Glacer 240L or Fractal Design Kelvin. There are a few builds in the gallery with both of those.
 
There isn't really space for a fan at the bottom if you have tubing running to a pump, and fittings etc from the video card. You'll need to run the apogee drive ii if you want to run a fan at the bottom also. It's not just a height clearance issue, but the corners of the fan won't clear tubing and fittings from the pump/gpu.
 
Cool thanks guys. I'll just stick with a couple typhoons for the rad fans and call it a day then. Really appreciate the info.
 
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