Plan for custom loop in DAN SFX-A4, feasability?

[H]ey forumsnists,

I've recently gotten my SFX-A4 and the parts for my first WC loop.
While I can't use the case yet (still have a mATX board), I'm already planning how to use it. I will get first experiences with WC with my current rig, but i'd still like some feedback for my "grand/miniscule" plan from the guys who know their shit

So... The SFX-A4 will be equipped with an overclocked i7-8700K or newer and an overclocked GTX 1080Ti or newer.
Both will be watercooled by a QDC'able external rad. For the beginning, this will be a EKWB XE-360.

The challenging part comes from two "wishes" I want to achieve:
- everything besides radiator internally
- as much hardline as possible (I am flexible, doesn't need to be 100% hardline )

I came up with this cunning plan!



Part of the plan rests on three circumstances:
1) The overall width of the case will be a few milimeters wider, as I'll switch the sides with custom acrylic/TG panels
2) A LC'd 1080Ti is basically single slot, which means more space (probably something between 13 and 16mm, not sure) between the card (or its block) and the sidepanel
3) The PSU will probably be a nonmodular PSU that has been worked on by an electrician (for cables of the appropriate length), this results in more space under the PSU, as modular cables come with not-so-space-efficient connectors.

The loop is planned as follows:
- cold (blue) water enters the case on the backside (single slot gpu would allow for a pci-slot-cover with holes for the couplers, the image doesn't represent that yet), bends to the sidepanel and goes from there to the bottom of the case (above the PSU cable, but below the riser). It will mostly run nearly touching the sidepanel.
- it then enters the "thickened" base of a custom 3D printed reservoir. This reservoir takes up the space between the GPU-block and the outside of the case, as the sidepanel will be cut out in a trapezoid shape to expose the reservoir. This gives the reservoir a few more milimeters in thickness (the thickness of the sidepanel, to be exact). The bottom of the radiator extends behind the sidepanel to the bottom of the case, where it thickens (no GPU here) to allow for G1/4 threads and room for accompaning fittings.
- from the backside of the reservoir, the cold (blue) water goes into the pump-IN (DDC with a cover that has both IN and OUT on the side, not like - for example - the EK-tops that have IN on the top of the pump).
- cold (blue) water is then moved under/above the RAM to enter the CPU
- warmed (purple) water exits the CPU and is run to the corner of the MoBo to reach behind the MoBo-tray. There it connects with the GPU-block
- hot water (red) exits the case through a QDC-coupler on the backside of the case or through a hole in the pci slot cover.

The tolerances and free spaces _should_ enable me to do this. Opinions?

Look at this page for external watercooling dan case build:
https://linustechtips.com/main/topi...ooled-ncase-m1-to-the-dan-case-a4-sfx/?page=5

That seems to include pump and (optional) res, though.

why not have it externally when you are going for external radiator anyways lol

Sebbie said:

why not have it externally when you are going for external radiator anyways lol

Click to expand...

Concurred, Smarenwolf.

Loop maintenance, filling and draining, all of that will be much much easier on you if you don't need to open your tiny, cramped case and work inside it. Also, locating those components outside the case will make your goal of hardline much more attainable.

I know it's not DIYfun, but you might even consider a package deal on the external stuff. Alphacool's Eiswand is a very nice looking external res/rad/pump setup, for example.

Because in the end, there will be a fixed radiator under the desk (screwed to the desk) and a smaller (the EX 360) for mobility's sake. I do not want to have to buy 2 pumps and 2 res, tbh.
It's also a bit of an engineering challenge

The question is less "is this easy/the most efficient/rational way" but rather a "will it fit?"

Edit: I do have an easy solution for drainage as well, two actually, but it's not in the picture. Maintanence, I give you, will be a PITA but that's okay

you can do it with a t-line. get a ddc pump. run your tubing -->cpu-->gpu block--> out of the case to the rad and make the t-line some where near the rad so it will be hidden and easy to fill. it wont be easy to run your tubing in such small quarters but it is definitely possible. GL!

you may need to figure out some way of cooling the mb, there doesnt seem to any airflow on that side.

Under the MoBo (and under the PSU, but the pump will go there) is _just_ enough space for a Noctua 92x14mm fan

smarenwolf said:

Because in the end, there will be a fixed radiator under the desk (screwed to the desk) and a smaller (the EX 360) for mobility's sake. I do not want to have to buy 2 pumps and 2 res, tbh.
It's also a bit of an engineering challenge

The question is less "is this easy/the most efficient/rational way" but rather a "will it fit?"

Edit: I do have an easy solution for drainage as well, two actually, but it's not in the picture. Maintanence, I give you, will be a PITA but that's okay

Click to expand...

Well in my honest opinion its not the most effcient or rational way of cooling in a Dan Case, if you buy such a small case, you need to make sacrifices e.g. maybe do Air cooling than Watercooling.
It will be very tight if you wanna include both a DDC and a Res inside the case.
You could go away with a T-line for the Res but it will be a challenge to bleed...