Cooling a mini ITX setup... assistance required!
Cooling a mini ITX setup... assistance required!
Hello world!
I'm designing a custom loop in a mini ITX case and wondered if I could include a 240mm radius, GPU block, and CPU block using a CPU-mounted pump, which is typical on AIO coolers. If this isn't feasible, what alternatives can I use for the pump and replacement? I really need something as compact as possible...
Your situation isn't completely sealed, so as long as there are open vents, air movement will continue through the case. Nonetheless, there remain spots where air can circulate and pass through panels and folds.
Love those compact ITX constructions.
Do you have a detailed explanation of this custom-built ITX enclosure?
What will the parts be?
What is the intended function of the computer?
What role does the water cooling play?
If the pump for the CPU mount is powerful enough, why isn't it not functioning properly?
geofelt :
Love those small ITX builds.
Do you have a description of this custom built ITX case?
What will the components be?
What is the main purpose of the pc?
What is the purpose of the water cooling?
If the cpu mounted pump is strong enough, I do not see why it could not work.
I am designing the case in sketchup... so I am not sure if i will be able to show you.
Parts:
6600k (plan on overclocking)
1070 reference
radiator
all waterblocks are also ekwb
tubing will be 1/2" 3/4"
This is a gaming pc, and water cooling is so I can keep low temps... I really don't like those low profile coolers...
What cpu pump do you recommend?
Some reflections:
The tiniest ITX gaming enclosure I’ve seen is the Ncase M1.
https://www.ncases.com/
How does your build compare?
There’s a lot of pride in crafting something yourself, but in reality, you’ll likely end up with a more thoughtfully engineered product using the M1.
An i5-6600K is built for overclocking, which is crucial for gaming performance.
You might need to invest more for a chip that comes from a random silicon lottery.
As of May 2016
What percentage could achieve an overclock with a reasonably stable 1.40v Vcore?
I5-6600K
5.0 2%
4.9 11%
4.8 36%
4.7 64%
4.6 88%
It seems that 14nm technology doesn’t require intense cooling.
You’ll hit safe voltage limits before you reach the thermal threshold.
I’m comfortable running a [email protected] with a basic noctua NH-U12s.
But that could be challenging in a very compact case.
A GTX1070 paired with a reference cooler (or blower) sounds like a solid choice. It efficiently expels heat from the back of the case.
Keep in mind that liquid cooling still relies on air flow. The key is ensuring there’s enough fresh air to dissipate heat.
With liquid systems, you can’t rely solely on cooling; the placement matters.
The way the radiator faces affects performance—pointing it to draw cool air in from outside helps the CPU, but directing it to expel hot air inside can actually reduce cooling efficiency since the case air gets pre-heated.
This setup includes a complete water cooling system in a mITX Corsair 250D. The link is provided below.
rubix_1011 :
I have a full watercooling loop in a mITX Corsair 250D. Link below.
Nice build! I see you are using a pump res combo, which is what I was going to use, but I was able to get my case down to 10.8 liters... but my pump res was removed because of this. My next question, do I honestly NEED a res? I can only see it being useful during the full phase, which can easily be worked around.
Also, my GPU does not have a water block, how can I watercool this? My original plan was to use a universal cpu block, but I heard some people have had some bad experiences doing this. Thoughts?
Thanks!!
Technically you don't need a res, but it simplifies adding components to the loop, particularly in compact setups.
For cooling your GPU, you'd purchase a block—either universal or full cover—and install it. Just integrate it into your loop.
Also keep in mind that each time you add a part to the loop, your cooling delta changes. This means you must consider more heat entering the loop by analyzing your radiator's thermal capacity, flow rate, and fan performance.
I've used universal GPU blocks for years; what issues have others encountered?
No, technically you don't need a res, but it simplifies filling the loop, particularly in compact setups. For cooling your GPU, you'd purchase a block—either universal or full cover—and install it within your loop. Keep in mind that each component added alters your loop's cooling delta; this means you must factor in more heat input based on radiator capacity, flow rate, and fan performance. I've used universal GPU blocks for years, but have you encountered any issues? Problems like artifacting and poor cooling on VRAM or similar components on boards have been reported. My 1070 model doesn't come with a full block. *Updated*
Yes, the same pump is being used in my res combo.
They provide complete cover blocks for 1070s—though fewer than for 1080s, they are still available.