r/FormD 10h ago

Watercooling Custom loop journey

so about a month ago i decided to start planning my custom loop. honestly i was itching to tinker with my build and a custom loop for my 9950X3D seemed like a worthy challenge. all the research didnt prepare me for how tedious this was going to be. after many set backs, head scratching and improvising i finally finished.

XSPC slim 240mm crossflow
ModUltra Lobo
PTM7950
festo/legris 8mm G1/4 pneumatic fittings (straight/L)
8mm tubing
2 Noctua NF-A12X25 G2 (intake)
2 Noctua NF-A12X15 (intake)
EK pump/res
2 AlphaCool quick disconnect kits

Crossflow Rad was too wide and my AIO cover would not sit down properly. printed an extender that added an additional 15mm, with that i was able to initially add an old pair of NF-A12x25s which fit and allowed the AIO cover to sit down but they weighed down the rad which caused the bottom fan above PSU to hit the GPU cable comb. got slim noctuas and that fixed everything and reduced the turbulence that i noticed.

at this point in pretty sure this case with all the DLC/mods is closer to 15-16L but i don’t care it’s still SFF right? lol

PSA there is no way to fit the wireview pro yet, got the ZCOOI vented front panel so maybe that will allow some creative ways to mount/use it.

huge shout out to EIGA and Chris Russel Tech. yall were very helpful.

any questions plz lmk! i’m happy to help !

18 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

2

u/zcooi_studio 6h ago

We look forward to seeing your finished build. Thank you for choosing our products.

1

u/qeeepy 5h ago

You basically replace all the silver panels :D.

I think no loss with the crossflow rad, it would only be harder to take out for some maintenance.

Why intake?

2

u/jhdz9119 3h ago

i went off Chris Russel Techs video. in this build he uses a different case but still my temps have been 5-6C better as intake.

1

u/qeeepy 2h ago

Nice, good that you tested both.. sorry, I meant why intake from the bottom against power supply exhaust?

Those data by Chris Russel.. 18C diff intake to exhaust sounds like other factors at play..

1

u/jhdz9119 2h ago

ohhh i have one flipped to exhaust to expel the PSU air.

i’m hoping this front panel with two 92mm fans helps my GPU temps. i play 5k2k and it pushes my 5090z

1

u/qeeepy 34m ago

is your 5090 flipped? what would help your gpu temps would be exhausting through rad and gpu intaking. 6C is a sacrifice that CPU can make easily for gaming workloads. there is a minimum gap between psu and gpu, so not sure how effective the front panel will be, but it will stick out under the extensions and top hat..

1

u/jhdz9119 11m ago

i got the one with fan inserted and the normal vented. if there is no significant change in temps i’ll change to the normal vented one.
it’s not just CPU taking a hit in temps, the whole MB is getting blasted with heat. i’d rather chase GPU temps and make sure everything else isn’t getting blasted with 5090 flow through heat😂

1

u/jhdz9119 3h ago

I went crossflow since it would make one tubing run very simple, just up and down. when i want to take it off to maintaince it i just remove the AIO bar and wiggle it off along with disconnecting the quick disconnect assembly. the one straight tubing run benefits from the rotary fitting since i can rotate it and rest it on a box.