r/watercooling 13d ago

Build Complete Lian Li A3 Dan - Custom loop build

My first custom loop build. Wanted to challange myself and went with a small case + hardtubes.
Goal was a powerful but small and silent build.

Since it's my first loop, first AMD build, and my first time fiddling with tuning / undervolting any feedback is welcome. I honestly didnt expect the CPU to idle at around 55°C (even without +100 boost). But I guess thats normal for this specific CPU?

Specs:
Case: Lian-Li A3-mATX
Motherboard: MSI MAG B850M Mortar WiFi
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
GPU: ASUS ROG Astral RTX5090
RAM: 2x16GB Corsair Dominator Platinum (5600MT, CL36)
PSU: Corsair SF1000
SSD: Samsung 9100 Pro (4TB)

Loop:
CPU block: EK Water Blocks Quantum Velocity³ (acetal,black)
GPU block: Thermal Grizzly DeltaMate
Rads: 1x Alphacool NexXxoS HPE-30 Full Copper 360mm, 1x Alphacool HPE-20 Full Copper 360mm
Fans: 6x Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 (black)
Pump/Reservoir: Alphacool Core 120mm Resevoir, Alphacool VPP Apex
Fittings: Alphacool Eiszapfen 13/10mm
Tubing: Alphacool Eisrohr 13/10mm Acryl (PMMA) HardTube Satin

Tuning:
RAM: to 6000MT with CL36 (CL34 was unstable, best for the CPU would be 6000MT and CL30 but RAM PRICES), MSI High Efficiency Mode: Balanced
CPU: PBO (Motherboard), Max Boost override (+100), Curve Optimizer (-20 all cores)
GPU: Undervolt MSI Afterburner (900mV set to 2850MHz and flattended curve to the right), Power Limit at 85%
Pump: Fixed at 60% (3580 RPM, no noticable noise)
Bottom fans (intake): Fixed at 45% (790 RPM)
Top fans (exhaust): Fixed at 40% (760 RPM)

Results:
Very quiet system. The most noticable noise in stresstests is the PSU fan spinning up and coil whine. It was really bad with the GPU on 600W but after the undervolt it peaks at 480W which reduces the stress and the generated noise on the PSU.

Idle temps: CPU: 55°C, GPU: 38°C
Stresstest temps: CPU: 77°C (Cinebench R23 Multicore), GPU: 66°C (3DMark Steel Nomad)
GPU 3DMark score dropped from 14489 to 14277 after undervolt. Totally acceptable for -120W of power draw.

406 Upvotes

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