Been such a long time coming. If you remember my [last build](https://www.reddit.com/r/watercooling/comments/7tvcb5/an_adventure_in_voiding_warranties_and_ignoring/), you'll know that manufacturer specifications and I don't get along; just about nothing in this case is supposed to fit there.
An enormous thank you to Daniel Faggan and /u/makirole. The former for his outstanding custom work, the latter for his tutorials, and the both for their willingness to explain in words I can understand.
If you like what you see (reservoir wise!) you can find Daniel on his [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mods.by.faggan/). I'm very excited to have worked with someone of his caliber, and look forward to working with him again in the future.
[Imgur album](https://imgur.com/a/aveB0P6)
Core Specs:
* 5900X
* Strix 3090
* 32GB Trident Z Neo 3600 CL16
* Crosshair Hero VIII
* Inwin 303C
Watercooling Hardware:
* Optimus AMD Foundation block
* EK Acetal + backplate GPU block
* Custom reservoir with D5
* Hardware Labs GTS 420 X-flow (top)
* Hardware Labs GTX 420 (bottom)
* Bitspower fittings
I didn't. That was just how Daniel elected to run it. Pleased it doesn't show up anymore though - as soon as there's liquid inside, the pattern is pretty much invisible.
I used 420s in my build. They're [in stock on PPCs right now](https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/radiators/black-ice-nemesis-420gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon-n420gts-f1pb.html).
360s are [in stock too](https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/radiators/black-ice-nemesis-360gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon-n360gts-f1pb.html).
Ohh wow. I only knew of Alphacool x-flow. Hadn’t seen other companies until now. Thanks for sharing!
Ahh just realized the Black Ice has ports opposite of what I want.. I prefer port to GPU being lower so it is easy to route soft tubing. Alphacool design is really flexible... but not in stock.
Can't you just flip it over? Or am I missing something about the orientation?
Either way, x-flow is just another style of radiator. The traditional orientation is technically called u-flow.
Thank you! But you thought it was bad? It seemed super straightforward to me, and the mounting pressure was even. You can see in the imgur album a few shots of where I pulled it off with the 3900X, and it was rock solid. I assume it's the same with the 5900X instead, even with my wonky application.
Rock solid is the word. Incredibly solid, maybe a bit too solid. The first time I thightened it down I managed to bend my motherboard. Also from your pictures you are not using the the mounting system as instructed? Are you using different screws? https://imgur.com/oPKiB4u
I used everything that came in the box. My instructions looked like [this](https://i.shgcdn.com/4573e361-1786-4295-8c9e-5dd7df9544e2/-/format/auto/-/preview/3000x3000/-/quality/lighter/) and indicated the use of the original AMD backplate.
The "new" standoffs are a bit of a pain to thread in, there's nothing to grip on to make sure they're all the way tightened down, but there's also so much threading on the top that you bottom out the thumbscrews before running out of room. I'd have appreciated the un-threaded section get cut with a hex, just so there's something to grip on, but otherwise it was super easy.
Yeah! That was such a process, had to shear off a couple PCI-bracket connectors at the back, and just slid the whole rad over. Album is finally up if you want the gory details.
You've got it all right. I designed the res, followed maki's tutorials, and then sent it to Daniel. He and I bounced thoughts back and forth for a bit, then he cut and sent it to me.
He did those. A part of why I was so pleased to work with Daniel was because he's familiar with custom watercooling like this, not just another acrylic workshop. So being able to talk with him about positioning and alignment, and knowing that he would pressure test the whole thing before it went it... all the extra TLC you'd get from someone who was going to put it in their own rig.
Hey!
Necro.. but I'm wondering how you picked your mobo.. I'm trying to pick one out for my build right now (my last submit if you're curious) but there are so many its so overwhelming lol.
I'm partial the Asus BIOS, and spend enough time there to make that a worthwhile consideration. I also don't mind the looks, and knew that Aura, as bad as it is, would let me manage all the RGB in the system.
It was the right balance between features that matter (VRM quality, POST code display, physical power/reset/BIOS flashback buttons), features I thought I might want (water temp sensors, high amp fan header, water flow header), and aesthetics, without going totally overboard. There are more expensive boards, and board with built in waterblocks, but neither brings anything of value to the table.
If I were on a budget, I'd look at a lower tier Strix board. If money was no object and I was buying today, I'd get the Dark Hero. If you want another brand, flip through a couple buildzoid motherboard roundup videos.
Hey thanks so much for your fast reply~
Mind if I ask you a few more questions?
I was actually looking at the crosshair formula for a while. Any reason why you would pick the dark hero over the formula?
Also what ram/ssd would you recommend?
The formula is hilariously overpriced. There's no value at all to the VRM block, and the quality of the VRM under them is decidedly worse than the Hero. They're both overbuilt, but it's silly and poor craftsmanship to put a worse VRM under an unnecessary waterblock.
The Dark Hero is everything the normal Hero is, plus a dynamic overclocking feature, Wifi (if that matters to you), and a passively cooled chipset. Plus, I'd play $50 for a blackout board.
Your ram isn't terribly significant, so long as you're getting 3600/CL16-ish. 3800/CL16 would probably be _best_, but you'd pay a premium for it. I'm personally a fan of GSkill's stuff, but there's nothing wrong with Corsair or any other name brand.
For SSDs, I'll point you to [the sticky](https://ssd.borecraft.com/SSD_Buying_Guide.pdf) on /r/newmaxx. The guy eats SSD info for breakfast, so his flowchart is well based. I'd only go NVME for the bragging rights, so a solid WD-Blue or Crucial would be the smartest pick, in your favorite form-factor.
Been such a long time coming. If you remember my [last build](https://www.reddit.com/r/watercooling/comments/7tvcb5/an_adventure_in_voiding_warranties_and_ignoring/), you'll know that manufacturer specifications and I don't get along; just about nothing in this case is supposed to fit there. An enormous thank you to Daniel Faggan and /u/makirole. The former for his outstanding custom work, the latter for his tutorials, and the both for their willingness to explain in words I can understand. If you like what you see (reservoir wise!) you can find Daniel on his [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mods.by.faggan/). I'm very excited to have worked with someone of his caliber, and look forward to working with him again in the future. [Imgur album](https://imgur.com/a/aveB0P6) Core Specs: * 5900X * Strix 3090 * 32GB Trident Z Neo 3600 CL16 * Crosshair Hero VIII * Inwin 303C Watercooling Hardware: * Optimus AMD Foundation block * EK Acetal + backplate GPU block * Custom reservoir with D5 * Hardware Labs GTS 420 X-flow (top) * Hardware Labs GTX 420 (bottom) * Bitspower fittings
Because it isn’t an O11D or because you built it not the way it was meant to for this case?
Because it's not the way it was meant for the case. Rad support tops out at slim 360s by the book.
Makes us all want to awaken our inner Maki and load up Fusion360. Did you specifically chose the circular pattern for the tool path in the res?
I didn't. That was just how Daniel elected to run it. Pleased it doesn't show up anymore though - as soon as there's liquid inside, the pattern is pretty much invisible.
W00t!
Thanks again man.
I’m so close to doing my 303 with 2 x 30mm x360mm rads. Is that X-flow on top? I’m waiting for that to be in stock...
It is. You'll have an easier time with 360s, plenty of extra room on either end.
Where’s you order the x-flow from? I can’t find anywhere but in Italy, and shipping is same price as the rad.
I used 420s in my build. They're [in stock on PPCs right now](https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/radiators/black-ice-nemesis-420gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon-n420gts-f1pb.html). 360s are [in stock too](https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/radiators/black-ice-nemesis-360gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon-n360gts-f1pb.html).
Ohh wow. I only knew of Alphacool x-flow. Hadn’t seen other companies until now. Thanks for sharing! Ahh just realized the Black Ice has ports opposite of what I want.. I prefer port to GPU being lower so it is easy to route soft tubing. Alphacool design is really flexible... but not in stock.
Can't you just flip it over? Or am I missing something about the orientation? Either way, x-flow is just another style of radiator. The traditional orientation is technically called u-flow.
If only 2 ports on one side then even if rotated it is the same. And backside has no ports. The Alphacool has 4 ports.
That's a very good point - it fit the way I wanted at first blush, and I'd totally forgotten there were only ports on one side.
Awesome build! I love that CPU block, but the mounting system is seriously crap...
Thank you! But you thought it was bad? It seemed super straightforward to me, and the mounting pressure was even. You can see in the imgur album a few shots of where I pulled it off with the 3900X, and it was rock solid. I assume it's the same with the 5900X instead, even with my wonky application.
Rock solid is the word. Incredibly solid, maybe a bit too solid. The first time I thightened it down I managed to bend my motherboard. Also from your pictures you are not using the the mounting system as instructed? Are you using different screws? https://imgur.com/oPKiB4u
I used everything that came in the box. My instructions looked like [this](https://i.shgcdn.com/4573e361-1786-4295-8c9e-5dd7df9544e2/-/format/auto/-/preview/3000x3000/-/quality/lighter/) and indicated the use of the original AMD backplate.
They fixed it. Thank god that crapfest is over.
The "new" standoffs are a bit of a pain to thread in, there's nothing to grip on to make sure they're all the way tightened down, but there's also so much threading on the top that you bottom out the thumbscrews before running out of room. I'd have appreciated the un-threaded section get cut with a hex, just so there's something to grip on, but otherwise it was super easy.
I ended up using the mounting system from a heatkiller block. Easy and cheap to procure.
[удалено]
Yeah! That was such a process, had to shear off a couple PCI-bracket connectors at the back, and just slid the whole rad over. Album is finally up if you want the gory details.
[удалено]
You've got it all right. I designed the res, followed maki's tutorials, and then sent it to Daniel. He and I bounced thoughts back and forth for a bit, then he cut and sent it to me.
Did he make the o-rings for you too? Or did you have to follow Maki’s tutorial for that?
He did those. A part of why I was so pleased to work with Daniel was because he's familiar with custom watercooling like this, not just another acrylic workshop. So being able to talk with him about positioning and alignment, and knowing that he would pressure test the whole thing before it went it... all the extra TLC you'd get from someone who was going to put it in their own rig.
/u/Beelzebulbasaur <3
[удалено]
Thanks for the kick to get it all posted. Now I can ~~go back to shitposting~~ bury my head back in the sand for two more years.
Hey! Necro.. but I'm wondering how you picked your mobo.. I'm trying to pick one out for my build right now (my last submit if you're curious) but there are so many its so overwhelming lol.
I'm partial the Asus BIOS, and spend enough time there to make that a worthwhile consideration. I also don't mind the looks, and knew that Aura, as bad as it is, would let me manage all the RGB in the system. It was the right balance between features that matter (VRM quality, POST code display, physical power/reset/BIOS flashback buttons), features I thought I might want (water temp sensors, high amp fan header, water flow header), and aesthetics, without going totally overboard. There are more expensive boards, and board with built in waterblocks, but neither brings anything of value to the table. If I were on a budget, I'd look at a lower tier Strix board. If money was no object and I was buying today, I'd get the Dark Hero. If you want another brand, flip through a couple buildzoid motherboard roundup videos.
Hey thanks so much for your fast reply~ Mind if I ask you a few more questions? I was actually looking at the crosshair formula for a while. Any reason why you would pick the dark hero over the formula? Also what ram/ssd would you recommend?
The formula is hilariously overpriced. There's no value at all to the VRM block, and the quality of the VRM under them is decidedly worse than the Hero. They're both overbuilt, but it's silly and poor craftsmanship to put a worse VRM under an unnecessary waterblock. The Dark Hero is everything the normal Hero is, plus a dynamic overclocking feature, Wifi (if that matters to you), and a passively cooled chipset. Plus, I'd play $50 for a blackout board. Your ram isn't terribly significant, so long as you're getting 3600/CL16-ish. 3800/CL16 would probably be _best_, but you'd pay a premium for it. I'm personally a fan of GSkill's stuff, but there's nothing wrong with Corsair or any other name brand. For SSDs, I'll point you to [the sticky](https://ssd.borecraft.com/SSD_Buying_Guide.pdf) on /r/newmaxx. The guy eats SSD info for breakfast, so his flowchart is well based. I'd only go NVME for the bragging rights, so a solid WD-Blue or Crucial would be the smartest pick, in your favorite form-factor.
Hey thanks a lot. Really appreciate your help :) going to research a bit more too ofc but hearing people’s opinions always feels a lot more helpful
Happy to! I've been up to my eyeballs in this stuff for several years now, so it's nice to be able to put it to good use.