Micro ATX case for water cooling?

[Shryne]

I just bought the Antec Mini P180 Black Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Case and foolishly did not even consider the decresed size factor in regards to liquid cooling!
I am a total newbie to this, ive built many computers in my life but none with liquid cooling. Will the cases size have any dramatic effect on using liquid cooling?
If so what compact pump would fit in it? I was gonna do a custom metal job to mount the radiator on the outside of the case. Which leads me to wonder, if done with excellent craftsmanship and correctly how stable are liquid cooled loops to movement, like transport in a car?

I did see the " Liquid Cooling · Information/Guides & Reviews/Tests & Galleries" but much of it is older posts (2004-2008) and we all know technology can change within months, or even weeks!
thanks for your expertise

[Jamesrt2004]

ok so not really... there has been builds in the p180 mini, I think most people could fit a dual.... for a compact pump you'd want a switech 355 or 350, with micro res top it's seriously small

mmm there ok ... its more for if it moves enough you could make the tubes fall off the tubing, but if you do what i do... and strap the computer in, it will be fine..

you are correct...

for a build like yours though i'd go for the microres, 350, with a slim maybe swiftech or magicool 240 rad, bit of modding and it wil fit inside the p180....


however if you want it outside, just get a better rad, and for a pass through...... theres a bracket which has g1/4 threads so put whatever barbs on your using 1/2" or w/e and your good to go dont even need to butcher the case then

[irenedakota]

Why not get one of those new Swiftech res/rad/pump combo units?

Otherwise, get a slim rad and a mcp350 with a res top (Like the XSPC ones).

I'm not sure how many large drive bays the p180 mini has, but XSPC has a nice dual bay res/pump top.

[Katanai]

Why not get one of those new Swiftech res/rad/pump combo units?

Yeah when I saw that 240 rad that's exactly what I thought: it is perfect for an mATX build.

[Laine]

With a bit of extra thought, almost anything will fit in any case.
Use the different "floors" in your case to your advantage.
If you loose the HDD-cage on the bottom floor, you could probably get a 2.120, 1.140 or 1.160 radiator to fit, the same goes with the cages on the top floor.
It also looks to be room for an additional 120.2 radiator in the top of the case.

It's a quite spacious case so I don't think that you'll have a lot of problems fitting some LC in it.

As for compact pumps, the MCP350 or DDC with an aftermarket top should do the trick.
And the reservoir, it looks like almost any tube res will fit if you throw out the cages on the top floor.
Maybe a 5,25" bay res if you're into those, or a micro res.
Depending on the pump placement, a aftermarket top with a built in res would work.

Hope this helps a little.

Are you doing LC mostly because of performance or aesthetics?
If it's performance, I'd too say the "Swiftech res/rad/pump combo".

[gmat]

Let go of the HDD cages entirely and use a 2.5" form factor drive (SSD or not, there are some very good 2.5" 500GB drives now if you want space) - and use that space for watercooling hardware. Mini builds are by no means the easiest or newbie friendly, good luck with yours !

[meanmoe]

I've done 2 micro atx water cooled builds. The first was a heavily modified X-QPack. The second was a complete custom acrylic job with an aluminum frame. I modded the QPACK one to death one day - it would no longer support a PSU. And on the second, I went too cheap on the acrylic (too thin) and it finally cracked when moving.

I have a thing with having everything internal... if possible I recommend it, but it usually requires a dremel and patients.

I managed to get a swiffy 220 and a swiffy 120 inside the QPack. I used a MCP 350 and then an apogee drive, and then later I replaced the block and put back in the MCP350 after doing the solder mod for 18Ws. I also had a MCW60 and a MCW30 in the loop. It was very cramped, but even with fans at ~1000RPM, it was cool and quiet. I ran an e6600 at 3.6gHz in that case for awhile.

If there were retail blocks for the Gene or the Classy micro, I'd do it again. Like gmat said, it's a challenge, but IMO it's one of the places where WC'ing is most useful and fun.

Good luck and post what you end up with.


Edit: Another thing I learned, ramsinks on the board helped alot even/especially with minimal airflow.

[Utnorris]

Did you look at MM cases, such as these:

http://www.mountainmods.com/computer...y-c-21_64.html

http://www.mountainmods.com/computer...o-c-21_81.html

Not sure if those are bigger than what you want, but they should accommodate water cooling easily, especially with a mATX MB.

[MrMojoZ]

Did you look at MM cases, such as these:

http://www.mountainmods.com/computer...o-c-21_81.html

Not sure if those are bigger than what you want, but they should accommodate water cooling easily, especially with a mATX MB.

The H2go isn't all that small, I was suprised by how big they are in person. The OP already has a case though.

[gmat]

I assembled a mini P180 for a friend, it was aircooled though. I can see how one could mount an internal watercooling loop in there, it's still a big case (bigger than LL A05 and such), but it would require a lot of cutting, at least the bay rails that are used to slide the HDD racks and such would come in the way, also the horizontal separator would have to be modified a bit. Foregoing entirely the HDD's (using SSD) and opticals you could mount a dual 120mm rad in front and maybe one extra 120 in bottom without too much hassle, with the pump/res staying on the divider plate. Or use the bottom part to put a triple 120, and mount the PSU in a front bay, a la A05.. i think i have seen this done somewhere.
Of course the true challenge is an internal build

[Diverge]

a mini P180 isn't even much smaller then a normal atx mid tower. you're better off going with an equal size or smaller atx case, and using the unused pci slot area for a 360 rad.

[gmat]

a mini P180 isn't even much smaller then a normal atx mid tower. you're better off going with an equal size or smaller atx case, and using the unused pci slot area for a 360 rad.

That would be the bottom chamber... The case is well laid out, with some creativity you can do a 360 and maybe another 240 or 360 (on roof), all internal, not saying it would be an out-of-the-box job, still not too hard due to the case being very wide.

[Shryne]

I appreciate the large amount of help. This is what i am looking for, for the record, this website is the ONLY site that gives viable advice! you guys rock.
As for the advice, i do like it. But the slang and terms are all a little much for me to know them (yet). But i think i got it.
I was concerned with the micro ATX board size to fit a CPU block? It looks wider than most after market zalman/thermaltake/etc fans (base wise). Will it fit on the mobo? such as theses;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130233
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130246
i see links to performance-pcs and (in this thread) mountain mods
are there other sites you guys recommend? ive used Newegg for years but am open to other sites, of course!

Let go of the HDD cages entirely and use a 2.5" form factor drive (SSD or not, there are some very good 2.5" 500GB drives now if you want space) - and use that space for watercooling hardware. Mini builds are by no means the easiest or newbie friendly, good luck with yours !

How do i fit the 2.5'' HDDs if the cage is removed?
Utnorris, I already invested in this case so, unfortunately it is too late to get another case >_<

can one Watercooling loop have more than one rad and/or pump?
do computers have multiple loops?

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

I didn't read the responses. It's late and I'm on cold medication (yes, some narcotics, so forgive me!)

The p180 mini is a BIG mATX case. Its huge!

That said, you can fit a lot in there if you gut the thing.

Check out this thread on the exact topic you're talking about: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=185174

Another Idea: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=17955289

I wouldn't do multiple loops. You can always mount a triple rad to the back of the case if you want more cooling. I don't see the need for two loops.

[eth0s]

Well guys, he already bought the P180 mini, so the task at hand is to help him water-cool it. I personally have never worked on one of these cases, but from the pics, the most interesting thing to me is the top area under that 200 mm fan. That looks like a promising place to try to mount a 240mm rad, or at the very least a 140mm rad. He will probably need a relatively thin rad, like under 40mm thick, like a Swiftech or thinner. Also that bottom chamber looks interesting as well, I would like to see what rads can fit down there. But he is going to have to do a fair amount of drilling and cutting on that case for sure, no matter what he chooses to do. For a first time water cooling build, the P180 mini is going to be quite a project, and I would suggest returning the P180 mini to the store where he bought it, and getting something more first-time friendly like a CoolerMaster Cosmos S, or a CoolerMaster ATCS 840, or the HAF. All of those cases are basically plug and play for water cooling. Or if a little lite modding sounds like fun, then he can get the Silverstone TJ-07. But IMO that P180 mini is going to be a frustrating and difficult way to break into water cooling. But it is a great project, and something I would like to see someone with more experience tackle.

[gmat]

I was concerned with the micro ATX board size to fit a CPU block? It looks wider than most after market zalman/thermaltake/etc fans (base wise). Will it fit on the mobo? such as theses;

I dont understand your question here.
First for a good microATX board you should look into the Asus Gene series, or the similar products from EVGA and DFI..
CPU Waterblocks will fit without any problem since those boards (intel based) have a standard socket with the 4 holes.
If you want to watercool the motherboard you'll have to see which EK or MIPS blocks do extist for microATX and then choose the corresponding board.
The miniP180 will fit any aftermarket cooler, even the biggest/tallest ones. I have built an aircooled system in it with a TRUE black, and a passive GPU cooling, all very massive heatsinks, and there was plenty of room left.

How do i fit the 2.5'' HDDs if the cage is removed?

You have many solutions, one is the Scythe Slot Rafter, which you can attach to an extension slot or even detach its bracket and mount it anywhere you want. The case has enough room for creativity there.

Other solution, 2.5" drives all have screw holes on the sides AND bottom which means you can mount them flat on a panel, for example behind the motherboard panel...


The best setups i have seen with this case use the bottom chamber for a huge rad, and relocate the PSU in front just above the divider plate.
NOT newbie friendly... not at all. You better start getting used to the power tools

[NaeKuh]

NOTHING beats a Qmicra on MATX when it comes to H2O.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/60...Case_Q201.html

[Hglazm]

There's somebody that's done this. they took out everything the top section, put a dual 120mm Rad/res combo in the front where the hdd racks where. Then used a Swiftech Apogee Block/Pump combo.

They only have one hard drive in the bottom 5.25" bay though.

[darthcani]

I saw Lian Li V351 with WC, A05N is a nice option too in smaller case...

[meanmoe]

NOTHING beats a Qmicra on MATX when it comes to H2O.

There are a lot of logs out there for this one. It has some limitations, but it's a nice case. Pricey though.

I still prefer the scratch build... If you've got the time.

[Shryne]

i found this image;

i see the koolance pump/reservoir on top but isnt it a radiator too? its got the two 120 fans on it and all that, right?
also what is that thing in the 5.25 drive bay with tubing coming out?
what is the performance of that koolance combo unit on top? is it a good pump?
also are there adapters or something so i can use the bottom tow 5.25 bays (on bottom of case) for HDDs?
edit: why do the tubes in and out of the CPU have coils?

[gmat]

i found this image;

That's a full size P180...

i see the koolance pump/reservoir on top but isnt it a radiator too? its got the two 120 fans on it and all that, right?

Cant see it.. you can put a dual rad or maybe triple on top of yours too.

also what is that thing in the 5.25 drive bay with tubing coming out?

(edit) oops didnt see it above the radiator. Looks like an "Aquadrive" or something like it...

what is the performance of that koolance combo unit on top? is it a good pump?

Not really... not very competitive to good aircooling

also are there adapters or something so i can use the bottom tow 5.25 bays (on bottom of case) for HDDs?

Plenty. But like i said i'd use that space for watercooling...
If you want to mount drives in 5.25 bays there are zillions of adapters, for 2.5 or 3.5 drives. Lian Li, Scythe, and almost everyone make them.

edit: why do the tubes in and out of the CPU have coils?

Those coils are supposed to prevent kinks in the tubing.

[Shryne]

That's a full size P180...
Oh, so it is the mid tower P182. Well, it gives me barings to asses what i can do, right?

Cant see it.. you can put a dual rad or maybe triple on top of yours too.
Im guessing its a koolance thing, that is not a stock top to that case, as you can see the tubs go up there. Could it be this;
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=22572
Its got the same side marks?


(edit) oops didnt see it above the radiator. Looks like an "Aquadrive" or something like it...
what is that?

Not really... not very competitive to good aircooling
what kind of setup would dominate air cooling?

Plenty. But like i said i'd use that space for watercooling...
If you want to mount drives in 5.25 bays there are zillions of adapters, for 2.5 or 3.5 drives. Lian Li, Scythe, and almost everyone make them.
I will look into those companies

Those coils are supposed to prevent kinks in the tubing.
why not for all the tubing?

see red text

[dejanh]

See my sig-rig I am building...it is actually finished now but I ran into some more urgent stuff since I started it so never got to take more pics or update things in that thread. I promise I will post some pics of my setup tomorrow though they will be lousy probably as I returned the SLR I had borrowed originally to do the build pics. I'd be happy to give you details on what I did.

This is all done in a Micro-ATX case found here http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811204035

[Waterlogged]

i found this image;

i see the koolance pump/reservoir on top but isnt it a radiator too? its got the two 120 fans on it and all that, right?
also what is that thing in the 5.25 drive bay with tubing coming out?
what is the performance of that koolance combo unit on top? is it a good pump?
also are there adapters or something so i can use the bottom tow 5.25 bays (on bottom of case) for HDDs?
edit: why do the tubes in and out of the CPU have coils?

That is not the Koolance all in one unit you think it is, in fact, it's not even an all in one. It's actually 2 separate units. If you look at the pic closer, you can see that that tubes go to the drive bay which is where the Koolance pump/res/control unit is and up top is just a shroud with a rad attached.

Not really... not very competitive to good aircooling

Hmm, really?. . .care to post your proof? Koolance has seriously stepped up their game in the last 1½ to 2 years so it better be pretty convincing evidence.

see red text

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...1&d=1264122600

Those type units are no longer typical of Koolance's hardware, I'm not positive but, I believe they may be phasing those types of systems out.