NZXT Switch 810 Watercooling Build

D

dudewth

[H]|G Minecraft Division Leader
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Jul 13, 2002
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I'm finally starting my watercooling build using the NZXT Switch 810 case as my base. Here is the current list of components/things I ordered that might not get used:


1 x EK Supreme HF (Acetal + EN)
2 x EK 580GTX VGA Block (Acetal + EN)
1 x Phobya G-Changer 420mm
1 x Phobya G-Changer 140mm
8 x SilverStone AP141 140mm Fans
4 x Akasa 140mm LED Fan
1 x Scythe Kaze Q-12
2 x PrimoChill Anti-Kink Coils
2 x PrimoChill 1/2" ID 3/4" OD White Tubing
2 x Silver Kill Coil
1 x EK Res 150
1 x Swiftech MCP35X2 White
1 x Swiftech MCP35X Heat Sink (will try to make it work until the real heatsink comes out)
1 x Nexus 120mm to 80mm Fan Adapter (might use this to mount heatsink)
1 x Bitspower 90-degree compression fitting
1 x Bitspower D-plug set
8 x Bitspower compression fitting
8 x 45-degree compression fitting
2x Bitspower sealing plug
1 x Phobya Hose Cutter
3 x Phobya Rad Screws
4 x Lamptron Clamps
1 x 10-pack Danger Den White Clamps
1 x Remote power for PSU
1 x Arctic Silver Non-Conductive
1 x PrimoChill Funnel (so tiny)
1 x NZXT White LED Cable 2m


Picture of components:
components_boxes.jpg


Current case configuration:
air_installed.jpg


Next up is cleaning the watercooling components. Then I start mounting things in the case. It will probably take me a while to route everything as I'll have 3 video cards (third is for the two 20" monitors for PLP) and 12 fans total. I might end up getting a fully modular power supply because I have 2 extra cables that I don't use with this one just taking up space. Any suggestions before I really get started?
 
Nice parts... Enjoy your watercooling adventure. I was introduced to cooling during the days of the 1st gen Athlons and I have never came back to air cooling. Once the whole system is working flawlessly, watercooling is just a wonderful thing to say.
 
Got some backplates for the video cards. Damn these things are heavy with everything installed. :eek:

gpu_backplates.jpg


This is BY FAR the worst part of the install so far. Cutting these damn thermal pads is so annoying. I need smaller hands to do work like this. I didn't even do a good job!

gpu_thermal_pads.jpg


Next up is mounting the fans and radiators in the case to make sure I don't have to do any modding to get them to fit. After that I'll start moving things over to the case. Will post more pictures as I get further.
 
So after cleaning out the rads I went to mount them. First was the bottom 140 because I want to make sure the pump fits with my ghetto heatsink. I'm using the MCP35X heatsink for the MCP35X2 and got a 120mm->80mm fan converter so I could mount it at the bottom of my case.

Of course...it doesn't fit as I'd hoped. So I have to get even more ghetto with it.

This is how I wanted to install it, but the fittings were hitting the top fan once the rad was installed with push/pull.

ghetto_pump.jpg


So, I used the only spare 120mm I have...the ugliest fan ever (Noctua :p) and used it to raise the fittings just enough. But, as you can kinda see from this picture, there wasn't enough clearance for the 120->80 converter because of the radiator now. :(

fanclearance.jpg


So, I got more ghetto and defaced the fan converter so it would fit. I ripped the plastic off with pliers since I have nothing to cut it with. That was a pain.

plastic.jpg


After all that...it fits! But just barely.

plasticworks.jpg


fitting_clearance.jpg


Another concern is the 140mm radiator interfering with the side panel.

radclearance2.jpg


Luckily it fits as well. Don't worry, the bubbles on the window are just the wrapping!

radclearance.jpg


Next up is mounting the top rad/fans.
 
Very nice!

Wish I had the money for high-end setups like yours.
 
So, the Phonya 420mm G-changer does NOT fit with the stock holes on top of the Switch 810. The spacing between the fan mounts on the radiator are 3/4" (outside to outside) whereas the Switch 810 has spacing at 1". As a result, I had to redrill 8 total holes for the top fans. Another headache! Hopefully the last... :( Some other brand 420 radiators do fit, so they might be a better option for anyone that doesn't want to mod.

I highly recommend taking the top of the case off to install the top radiator. It's only 16 phillips screws that come out quite easily. There's no way I would have been able to install the push fans without doing this.

Finally mounted the top rad:

toprad.jpg


The fittings just BARELY fit by the IO shield and the rear push fan. One thing that worked out for me at least. Hopefully there isn't a clearance issue once the motherboard is installed. Looks like the fan might be too low for the motherboard though. :( :

topfitting.jpg


Also, the front push fan barely fits. It's half useless since it is partially blocked. Some people might want to drill that part of the 5.25" bay off to allow for air flow.

topPP.jpg
 
I have that same fan controller, works great!

Great looking build BTW, very nice.
 
So, as usual, I had another issue. With the push fans installed, there is not enough clearance for the 8-pin CPU connector. Even after removing the rubber fan silencer there wasn't enough room. I ended up just removing the one fan altogether and might try to put a 140x20mm fan later. Other than that, everything else went in as planned. No pics yet but I'll have them soon. I think I may be a couple of fittings short so I have to order them and wait now. :( The one thing I'm not looking forward to is handling all the wires! It's going to be very hard to do a good job with it.

cpupower.jpg
 
After getting my fittings I'm finally leak testing. So far no issues. The pump is pretty loud with no PWM to slow it down.

leaktest1.jpg


leaktest2.jpg
 
Final build pictures. I'll get better ones later. Just wanted to make sure everything worked all buttoned up.

done-1.jpg


No flash in this pic. Lights look a bit blue but they're really all white except for the fan controller.

donenoflash.jpg


donenoflash2.jpg
 
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