Small quiet & cool

[Choklitmlk]

Hello to all my fellow Modders, geeks and PC users!

I'm new to these forums, but have been stalking them and TTL's youtube for a long while, so with my first big project coming up, I figured id finnally join the community :lol:

First thing to remember is that I am a first time modder, and this is my first full custom watercooling loop but I'm not one to do things by halves

This thread will (hopefully) track my successes and (probably) some failures as I attempt to modify my Fractal Design Define Mini into a small, quiet and cool watercooled gaming machine

Plans at this stage are:

+ adding window (over motherboard only)

+ modify front to have 2x120mm rad in push/pull (intake)
- remove all drive bays
- modify mounts on front intake fans to fit rad (lower fans + push together)
- 5.25" bays remain, though may be modified slightly for space

+ modify top to house 3x120mm rad in pull (exhaust)
- cut top & replace with 3x120mm shroud
- thin radiator to not collide with MB


I've done all the measurements & planning + found parts that will work, looking like it **should** be doable

why 5x120mm rads for just a 3770k and a gtx670? simple:
1) i plan on overclocking the processor a fair amount if possible
2) they are all thin rads as space is a big issue in this case config (~35mm)
3) cant afford decent fans yet, so until i get some noctuas or corsairs, ill need the extra area

any tips/tricks/ideas welcome

budget will be the biggest time-limiting factor, I'm a full time student, so dont expect constant updates this may take a while


Pre-mod pics & specs
(i am apologetic for the crappy camera)

the boring old case

internal

wiring

a basic ms paint hackjob plan, so you get the idea were im going

my 2 SSDs and a small 2.5" hdd will be mounted on the back of the mb tray

 

[The Orange One]

Can't wait for the Pics Mate!

 

[SEBAR]

Sounds like this will be good. I will be watching to see how this progresses. Be sure to check clearance in the roof with the motherboard and ram installed before you make any cuts to the roof.

 

[rossi94]

Sounds cool - awaiting pics

 

[CPMFW]

waiting for the pics

 

[Choklitmlk]

Sounds like this will be good. I will be watching to see how this progresses. Be sure to check clearance in the roof with the motherboard and ram installed before you make any cuts to the roof.

I'm lucky that the case actually offers around 45-50mm of space from the roof to the top of the motherboard, obviously this (and the single 120/140mm fan mount) dont natively support any kind of radiator (neither does the front) which is why im going for the shround option.

the 3 exhaust fans will be within the shroud, pulling air through the 35mm thick rad, which will give good clearance for the mb. there is also enough space within the top 5.25" drive bay to accommodate the last 80-100mm of the rad

 

[Choklitmlk]

just received the amazing news from one of my suppliers that some of my orders have been delayed up to a month

should be able to get some stuff done soonish, but this could be an issue

 

[SEBAR]

I hate delays, hope everything gets sorted out soon.

 

[Choklitmlk]

I hate delays, hope everything gets sorted out soon.

dont we all, worst part is its like only one thing... but its the pump for the loop

I should be able to do most of the case mods though, waiting on shroud for another 7-10 days but I'm planning to try do the door and front rad this weekend

 

[IsaacJDean]

Looking forward to this, good luck with getting the pump sorted

 

[Choklitmlk]

Finally got some of my parts, shipping to NZ is a pain....

I'll be using EKWB black nickel adapters and compression fittings

All I got for now, next update when more stuff arrives

 

[Choklitmlk]

I have a question for anyone who is knowledgeable with cooling & fans, specifically Corsair air series SP 120 fans...

I'm not sure whether to go for the performance or quiet edition fans, naturally the quiet ones seemed the way to go for the quiet build, but my local supplier has a good deal on the performance fans and I was wondering whether I should go for the quiet edition which will make sense in my system, or should I go for the performance edition to get the extra headroom for overclocking?

I will be running the fans off of a fan controller anyway, so I can under volt them (which these fans can do) to make them quieter.

Do the performance SP fans run well at low voltages?
Is the noise difference between the two editions noticeably different?
Is the performance noticeably different?

Thanks for any help

 

[jamesriley94]

I have a question for anyone who is knowledgeable with cooling & fans, specifically Corsair air series SP 120 fans...

I'm not sure whether to go for the performance or quiet edition fans, naturally the quiet ones seemed the way to go for the quiet build, but my local supplier has a good deal on the performance fans and I was wondering whether I should go for the quiet edition which will make sense in my system, or should I go for the performance edition to get the extra headroom for overclocking?

I will be running the fans off of a fan controller anyway, so I can under volt them (which these fans can do) to make them quieter.

Do the performance SP fans run well at low voltages?
Is the noise difference between the two editions noticeably different?
Is the performance noticeably different?

Thanks for any help

Which fan controller?
Most fan controllers work by rapidly turning fans on and off. The Corsair fans are terrible with this and make a motor noise which is often louder than just letting the fans run at full pelt.

You're better off running them on voltage resistors, or getting the quiets.

 

[Choklitmlk]

Just a cheapie NZXT pwm job unfortunately, only single 5.25" one I could get hold of.

I think the quiet editions may still be the go then, 5x120mm rads (2 in push/pull as well) will still give me heaps of overclocking headroom for a GTX 670 and a 3770k

 

[Choklitmlk]

Quick update with what came today

thats the 3x120mm shroud for the top of the case
g1/4 threaded male quick disconnect and matching female 1/2" ID compression fitting
one of the 4 double packs of corsair air sp120 perf. fans

no more deliveries untill next monday unfortunately, plus im working all weekend -_-

 

[Choklitmlk]

Turns out there were some Saturday morning surprises in store for me :lol:

Again, apologies for the fuzz

Thats my EK-Supremacy and EK-FC670 both nickel & acetal
EK-DCP 4.0 pump
XSPC EX240 & EX360 rads
and a 10ft roll of 1/2" ID red tubing

so come monday.. might be time to get started good'n'proper ^_^

 

[Choklitmlk]

time to get cracking then!

I still dont have all my parts, so was limited on what I could actually do unfortunately, but heres how far I've made it.

the case, all cleaned out and ready to mod

masked up the top to make a hole for the shroud/fans/rad. i also took out the little bar between to two front intake fans, more on that later

not bad considering all i had was an old jigsaw and a hand file

shroud is on, a few touchups to do. the screws and washers included with the shroud were the standard steel colour, so I had to spray those aswell

heres why i removed that splitter bar, also modded the fan filters themselves to fit

shround full of fans, the fans and rad were a better fit than i could have hoped for. waiting on fan grills :mellow:

all i got for now, also fitted the pump and started on the window mod. discovered 2 of my sp120 pe's had faulty motors, so sent em packing

waiting on the last few items to arrive, then ill be putting all the psu/fans/drives etc in, then onto putting the blocks on my cpu and gpu

one thing i know for sure, cabling in the limited space behind the motherboard in the case is going to be a nightmare, especially once i have 2/3 2.5" drives back there

 

[SoundDoctor]

Was it difficult to remove the sound dampening material on the side panel? I want to put a window in a Define Mini (when I get one)

 

[Choklitmlk]

Was it difficult to remove the sound dampening material on the side panel? I want to put a window in a Define Mini (when I get one)

Yea, tbh it was a pain in the ass. Used a knife to pry it off inch by inch, scratched the panel to shit. doesn't matter though, you can't see the inside

 

[SoundDoctor]

Yea, tbh it was a pain in the ass. Used a knife to pry it off inch by inch, scratched the panel to shit. doesn't matter though, you can't see the inside

Hmmm that's a shame, maybe it would work if I melted the glue with a heat gun?