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Looking for Feedback on my first Loop

G

Grudus

n00b
Joined
Jan 29, 2004
Messages
34
Working on building my first machine that has a custom water cooling loop in it. Would like to have someone check over my setup to make sure things are correct plus I have three questions.

Questions
  1. Drain Valve - I believe I want to put this on the back at the bottom where I passing through the chassis. How should I set this up though? I am thinking of either using those Koolance Quick Disconnects or using a Drain Valve. Not sure which way is best or if there is a better solution. I have 38mm of clearance in the back so should have plenty of room to put whatever I need back there to do the drain.
  2. In the future once I get the CPU loop all working I will want to add my GPU to the loop. Is a the single 360 radiator enough?
  3. I haven't seen the Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis L-Series 360 Stealth Radiator radiator reviewed does anyone have any experience with it? Other rads from that vendor seem to get high marks.

Parts:
  • Case - Lian Li PC-O6SX
  • Motherboard - ASUS Maximus VIII Gene (mATX)
  • CPU - 6700k
  • GPU - 980 Ti (Reference)
  • PSU - Seasonic 750 KM3
  • Radiator - Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis L-Series 360 Stealth Radiator
  • Pump/Reservoir Combo - EK-XRES 100 Revo D5 PWM
  • CPU Block - EK-Supremacy EVO CPU Water Block

Video that got me interested in doing this build although it is for the ATX version.
Link

Layout (Note: I am using flexible tubing not hard tubing just hard to model flexible in SketchUp)
Front
QwkS7jx.jpg


Back
7p1x8Jd.jpg
 
Grudus said:
Questions
  1. Drain Valve - I believe I want to put this on the back at the bottom where I passing through the chassis. How should I set this up though? I am thinking of either using those Koolance Quick Disconnects or using a Drain Valve. Not sure which way is best or if there is a better solution. I have 38mm of clearance in the back so should have plenty of room to put whatever I need back there to do the drain.
  2. In the future once I get the CPU loop all working I will want to add my GPU to the loop. Is a the single 360 radiator enough?
  3. I haven't seen the Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis L-Series 360 Stealth Radiator radiator reviewed does anyone have any experience with it? Other rads from that vendor seem to get high marks.

Parts:
  • Case - Lian Li PC-O6SX
  • Motherboard - ASUS Maximus VIII Gene (mATX)
  • CPU - 6700k
  • GPU - 980 Ti (Reference)
  • PSU - Seasonic 750 KM3
  • Radiator - Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis L-Series 360 Stealth Radiator
  • Pump/Reservoir Combo - EK-XRES 100 Revo D5 PWM
  • CPU Block - EK-Supremacy EVO CPU Water Block

Note: I am using flexible tubing
Click to expand...
Hi :)

  1. Quick disconnects or a mini-valve will work fine. If the drain is from the rad then you will need to flip the case on it's side when draining so the drain port is at the bottom of the loop
  2. Yes, the 360 should be fine.
  3. Never used a Black Ice rad, but they have a fine rep. And the one you have chosen is a snug fit once you have the fans installed (total 54mm out of 60mm available assuming the rad is model NEMESIS-LS-360)

I recommend having the rad fans as intake to get the best deltas. (Ambient air/water temp deltas are king for a thermally efficient loop). That would mean your internal case temps will rise though, so I would suggest buying a decent 140mm case fan to fit in the optional fan location on the top side panel of your case to act as an exhaust.

I recommend Gentle Typhoons 1850 RPM for the rad fans. They're expensive but worth every penny as they combine great static pressure and low noise. If you are in Europe then CoolerGuys also have a [fulfilled by Amazon] shop with AmazonUK.

As far as flexible tubing is concerned, I recommend Primochill Advanced LRT.

And finally, I recommend distilled water and with a few drops of PT nuke as your coolant.

Tips:
  • Get more tubing than you need as this is your first loop. You tend to need close to double on a first loop due to cutting too long, then snipping a bit off, still too long, cutting a bit more off, then finding the section is too short and having to discard and start over.
  • Get a couple of extra fittings more than you need just in case any are faulty. Nothing worse than a build grinding to a halt while you're waiting a few days for a new fitting to arrive.
  • Leak test for 24 hours with plenty of absorbent paper kitchen towels placed to protect your components. (You do the leak test without any power connected to the mobo just in case)
  • Have some noise dampening material handy just in case it is required to negate pump vibration
 
Last edited:
For the drain I was just going to put it at the bottom. Then get two sets of quick disconnects. With the extra quick disconnect attach two pieces of tubing keeping one end open. So when I need to drain just disconnect the loop then hook up the two QD+tubes to their opposite number and let it drain.

I am in the US so can get the parts from Cooler Guys or Performance PCS. Also I have a microcenter local and they have small selection of fittings and other misc parts. So last minute parts hopefully should be good!

I like the idea on blowing over the rad into the case will try it both ways plus get the 140 mm case fan. Not sure how well it will vent though. That rear compartment is for most part isolated from the main compartment.

Thanks for the detailed reply btw.
 
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