Watercooling an Antec Mini P180

[scook9]

Hi all, first post here.

I am interested in watercooling my system housed in an Antec Mini P180. I am using an Asus Rampage II GENE motherboard with an Intel Core i7 920. My graphics cards are 2x EVGA GTX 275 cards. I think I want to watercool the graphics cards and CPU for sure, and maybe the chipset as well.

My goal is to do this using 3 seperate 120mm radiators as I do not have any intention of hacking up the case (want to be able to revert it to original condition if need be).

My main questions are:
What is a good pump to use?
What would your recommendations for layout be?
What radiators would be recommended?
What is a good waterblock for the chipset?
What is a good waterblock for the graphics cards?
What is a good waterblock for the CPU?

I have never done watercooling before so please forgive any ignorance I may display. I know a reservoir should be used but do not know much more than that (I think it should be at a high point in the system to allow bubbles to leave the coolant?)

Here is what I have found so far:
Radiators
Pump
CPU Block
GPU Blocks

I also have roughed up an idea of what I thought would work:
The blue box is my reservoir.

Any help is greatly appreciated!



Very late update, but here is the completed monster! Getting the 2 5870s in there after the rads was quite a challenge haha

[scook9]

Due to cost at the moment (and the fact that GPUs get somewhat regularly replaced/upgraded), I am going to only go with a CPU and NB waterblock but the same rad configuration.

Still open to suggestions though

[zanzabar]

the mcp655 is not a good idea i would get the 355 and a top as it will be much smaller and they stronger. or u could cut the midplate for the hd tray out and get a swiftech 2 fan rad pump combo with the 355

[scook9]

I got an MCW-NBMAX for the northbridge block, it seems perfect for what I want to do.

I would prefer to not physically alter the case. Thank you for the recommendation on the pump, I will look into that model. It seems to be alot lower GPH rating though. I noticed alot of people use the one I had picked as well as the dangerden version of that same model. Is the difference in performance going to be that significant? And what are the known issues with the one I had picked?

I was going to get the one I had linked from MicroCenter since they had a good price and I need to return some stuff there so will have a credit. Sorry to seem argumentative.

And what is a "top"? I am not familiar with that terminology

[zanzabar]

the mcp355 is rated lower stock but the stock pump top sucks and once u get a replacment like the EK or xspc u get about 1psi more than 655 vario if they are doing the same flow

pump http://www.frozencpu.com/products/51...8_120_GPH.html
top http://www.frozencpu.com/products/96...MCP350355.html

thats an acrylic top and i would go for the delryn (black plastic like material that dosnt crack)

edit- that pannel in the center of the HD racks (or were they were) is held on with rivets u can just drill them out then put new ones in when/if u want it back

[Lu(ky]

At the moment I was planning on throwing a 240 rad to the front area with the following pump/res combo. I was only going to cool the CPU and N/B as well. I was using a Swiftech MCW-NBMAX and my temps were still at 45-50 range still high to me. So I bought a MIPS version of the block a little bigger and it should keep my temps on N/B lower. I just pulled the trigger on a 5970 card and not sure if I have enough room with a 12" card inside without hitting the radiator. I will post some more pictures later... Also on your PUMP selection I would go this route ---> XSPC Laing DDC Reservoir Pump Attachment w/ MCP-355 I also had that CPU block and went to a eK Supreme LT block I am getting a little better temps with it vs the Swiftech.

[scook9]

Thank you for the clarification on the pump and top guys

It has been very helpful. I am looking at those options now, and it would also save me having to get a seperate reservoir which is appealing to me.

Lu(ky is one of those your system? Those look like the same radiators I had in mind in the black one so any information I can get on them is helpful as well.

For what it is worth, the fans I currently have are Scythe SFF21G "S-Flex" fans and those are what I was going to use on the rads.

I am interested in good cooling performance and only want to have to do the system once but also do not want to go broke putting it all together haha

What are the northbridge and CPU blocks you all can recommend for optimal performance? Guess I will not be getting my stuff from MicroCenter afterall haha (they pretty much only had the parts I had previously mentioned)

[Lu(ky]

Thank you for the clarification on the pump and top guys

It has been very helpful. I am looking at those options now, and it would also save me having to get a seperate reservoir which is appealing to me.

Lu(ky is one of those your system? Those look like the same radiators I had in mind in the black one so any information I can get on them is helpful as well.

For what it is worth, the fans I currently have are Scythe SFF21G "S-Flex" fans and those are what I was going to use on the rads.

I am interested in good cooling performance and only want to have to do the system once but also do not want to go broke putting it all together haha

What are the northbridge and CPU blocks you all can recommend for optimal performance? Guess I will not be getting my stuff from MicroCenter afterall haha (they pretty much only had the parts I had previously mentioned)

No not my cases I got the pictures from here from other forum guys to keep for ideas. I think if you want to save some money I would buy your here www.sidewindercomputers.com and you can probably cool all CPU, N/B, and GPU (275GTX) if you wanted too. But you will be limited with space for your Hard Drives if you use a 240 rad pictured before. They have really good prices compared to micro center which I go to often in Tustin, CA location on the water cooling stuff. If it was me I would buy the following below..

Watercool HEATKILLER® CPU Rev3.0 1366 LT
Swiftech NB MAX chipset cooler
Swiftech GTX275 heatsink compliment to the MCW60
Swiftech MCW60-R
Swiftech MCP355 12v DC Pump
XSPC Acrylic Reservoir for Laing DDC
Black Ice SR1 240 (Great rad low or high RPM fans)
Swiftech MCR220-QP (cheap)
1/2 tubing
fittings

[scook9]

I am only using one Hard Drive (located in the top 5.25" bay with an adapter) so I am used to having both cages out. I have been chatting with a couple friends of mine over at NBR (they do desktops too though lol) and think I will just stick to the blocks I already chose (GTZ and MCW-NBMAX). Convenience and availability (and price) are more important to me than 2 or 3 degrees better performance (I understand I am not as extreme as the forum may imply). I am also getting good feedback from them on the 655 pump. And they are both highly trusted people to me. One of them is ranked in HWBot for desktops - so he knows what he is doing.

Still perfectly open to suggestions though, learned alot in the last 2 days here!

Thanks for the responses so far guys

[Lu(ky]

I am only using one Hard Drive (located in the top 5.25" bay with an adapter) so I am used to having both cages out. I have been chatting with a couple friends of mine over at NBR (they do desktops too though lol) and think I will just stick to the blocks I already chose (GTZ and MCW-NBMAX). Convenience and availability (and price) are more important to me than 2 or 3 degrees better performance (I understand I am not as extreme as the forum may imply). I am also getting good feedback from them on the 655 pump. And they are both highly trusted people to me. One of them is ranked in HWBot for desktops - so he knows what he is doing.

Still perfectly open to suggestions though, learned alot in the last 2 days here!

Thanks for the responses so far guys

Nothing wrong with a 655 pump other then it is HUGE compared to the 355 pump, but you can go that route as well. I had 1 of those for a couple of years very strong lasting, but now I have 4 of the 355 pumps. I feel it is easier to prime the pump with that combo vs a bay res and the 655 I remember. Make sure you post pictures on build.

[scook9]

Well of course there will be pictures, it is my first watercooling! lol (not counting that 240mm asetek LCLC on my htpc....that was more for kicks...)

I am also looking at 1/2" tubing (anything else would just be silly ) with compression fittings (I like things fancy - but we will see what they cost haha)

here is the HTPC for the curious (just pretend the PSU is a Corsair 650HX now and the TriCools are GONE for some Scythe S-Flex SFF21E's). It is a Q9550 and a 4890

http://tinypic.com/m/5bxwcm/3

[scook9]

So I think I have my selection finalized!

I already bought the Laing D5 12V pump and Apogee GTZ CPU block. I have the MCW-NBMAX chipset block on the way. I got the Swiftech MCRES-MICRO reservoir as well.

I am going to order 3 Scythe Gentle Typhoon fans (1850 rpm model) and 3 Black Ice GTX Xtreme 120 Radiators to finish it off. Just need to get myself hose and fittings now and we got a full system!

Please let me know what you think of this selection so far!

[hewi]

Back when I had a mini P180, simple loop with a Swiftec 240.

[Shryne]

Hewi and Lucky, how did you mount the 240 rad in the front? and what did you use to remove the HDD divider?

[hewi]

If I remember correctly it was simply removing the front panels and then getting rid of the supporting rivets ( drilling them out ) and the HDD cages drop off leaving you with nice amount of space. I've seen a build here where he used an MCR 320 in the roof section, that looked good in my opinion.

[scook9]

Something I definitely did not take into account, is how big this pump actually is. I am now considering that lower profile 355 model that is popular here. One the radiators come in I will see if I can make everything fit, if not, I will get the 355 most likely.

[scook9]

I am also questioning the necessity of a reservoir now, as having one is in no way going to make the space more manageable.

I am thinking for maximum cooling, push pull on 2 of the 3 radiators (the one by the graphics card being a single fan to allow space for the cards) and that will leave no room for a huge pump or a reservoir

[Lu(ky]

Nothing wrong with a 655 pump other then it is HUGE compared to the 355 pump , but you can go that route as well. I had 1 of those for a couple of years very strong lasting, but now I have 4 of the 355 pumps. I feel it is easier to prime the pump with that combo vs a bay res and the 655 I remember. Make sure you post pictures on build.

Something I definitely did not take into account, is how big this pump actually is. I am now considering that lower profile 355 model that is popular here. One the radiators come in I will see if I can make everything fit, if not, I will get the 355 most likely.

Go 355 with the XSPC Acrylic Reservoir or the Swiftech MCRES Micro
and EK Waterblocks EK-DDC X-Top

I am also questioning the necessity of a reservoir now, as having one is in no way going to make the space more manageable.

I am thinking for maximum cooling, push pull on 2 of the 3 radiators (the one by the graphics card being a single fan to allow space for the cards) and that will leave no room for a huge pump or a reservoir

I would get 2 x Scythe 3000rpm "ULTRA KAZE" 120 x 38 mm fan with a controller.. You will have room. I was measured the case inside with these fans on a XSPC 240 rad with a 5970 and a pump just enough room. I think if you run 2 x 5870 in a CF it will not fit but 1 card ok..

Love this case but after opening it and looking at the space inside very tight for H20 on all parts. I was thinking of taking the roof off and adding a BI GTS 280 rad to the top and another one to the front area with a 120/140 shroud. But decided to much modding and I have 2 other case builds I need to get to...

[Philwong]

R2G user here, too. Here's an example of my latest loop config.

This board is a b-i-t-c-h to route, especially if you're planning to use 1/2" tubes. Remember to grab some cool sleeves to iron out the kinks. Good luck.

Phil

[scook9]

well here is my latest draft on what I plan to do:

[Philwong]

It might be a good idea for some fans to pull in fresh cool air.

Phil

[Envy]

here is my p180 mini white almost like your project and work really well for me. id use the lower bay drive for pump/res if im to watercool my GPU.

i hope it will help you come out with some great ideas will be nice if you make a worklog

[scook9]

I will have one or two Scythe Gentle Typhoon fans all as intakes on each radiator. Airflow will be good

I want to do 1/2" ID 3/4" OD tubing everywhere but am having a hell of a time finding anyone with compression fittings this size in stock (and I mean metal ones, not cheap poly ones)

[scook9]

I am looking at ways I can fit in the MCP355 due to the lower profile. I can keep the MicroRes reservoir I think but was wondering if there any tops for the 355 that have the intake and outlet like this:


that would be perfect as it allows a very low profile (just realized arrows are backwards - but you get the idea)

[Shryne]

lucky, in the first image of the P180 (white one) you have no reservoir or T-line? im guessing that you just let the pump be gravity drained when powered off and fill there? where do the air bubbles go?
and secondly, what northbridge block is that? I've been looking at the mofest and NB coolers for the Rampage Extreme II and curious if they are compatible with the GENE.

scook, ive not seen a top that works like that in my experiences, sorry!
and, unless im mistaken, This fan is quieter and puts out more air.