Converting a Koolance rig into something respectable

[Bluedragon9r]

I bought a Koolance PC3-726 about a year and a half ago. Didn't really do my homework beforehand, and I just liked the fact everything was included. Now, I really want to improve the system's overall performance and reduce the noise, but I don't want to buy another new case, so here's what I've come up with.

The case is essentially Lian Li V1200 in black with a big custom fan shroud on top for 2 120mm fans and the res/pumps in the front. Looks like this:

I'm planning on keeping the shroud, and replacing the res/pump combo with an acrylic window. I was thinking either that or gluing some mesh in the hole from behind. Still leaves the problem of the defunct temp and controls on the front, unless I put another smaller window there too.

I'll be cooling an E8400, the NB, and an 8800GTX on an ASUS P5K Premium motherboard. I have a D-Tek block for the CPU and the DD block for the 8800GTX. I'll be replacing the current barbs on my D-tek and DD coolers with 1/2", and adding the Swiftech MCW30 for the northbridge. Loop will be pump - CPU - NB - GPU - rad - res - pump.

Here's what I plan to use:
Swiftech MCR220-QP - Mounted to the top fan shroud, pull configuration
Swiftech MCP655 pump - Mounted to the bottom front of the case
Swiftech MCRES-Micro Res - Mounted to the back edge of the drive bay housing
2 Noctua/Yate Loon/Scythe Fans - jury is still out, but they'll be in the current location with a fan controller of some kind
Tygon 1/2" ID, 11/16" OD tubing
Thermalright coolers for the SB, and the MOSFETs (stock heatpipes suck)
Freser blue/UV coolant
Couple of blue/UV cathodes

So, am I missing anything in this plan?

I've never worked with acrylic before, but I'm sure I'll have to cut an existing window kit down pretty far to fill that square hole in the shroud. Anything I should know before I start that?

 

[Bluedragon9r]

Here's the current system:

closeup

I was looking for some ideas on this project for the top. I need SOMETHING to fill the hole left by the old res/pump. Looks like this:

Here's the options I've considered:

1. I'm thinking either an acrylic window, which I think will be possible, just get a window kit and cut it to size. Never worked with acrylic, so I'm not sure how hard this will be. I think the corners might need to be rounded on the shroud first.

2. Glue some mesh over the hole from the inside.

3. Cut another 120mm hole and put:

a. 1 fan blowing IN (more cool air to the rad fans)
b. 1 fan blowing OUT (remove hot air from the case)
c. Scrap the 220 rad and put in a 320 instead.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[prophetx2]

how's that working for you? I'm actually thinking about buying another pump + 120mm radiator to create two loops. This should be the best performance from what I can gather with what I have (pc2-725bk i think).