[Build Log] MiT X 5 Water Cooled Micro ITX Worklog

[SonDa5]

MiT X 5 Pronounced mighty x five.


Have been thinking about building a mini itx build for awhile and finally decided to do it. My build is small and large at the same time.



Here is the initial parts list.

WATER COOLING

1 x Alphacool NexXxoS XP³ Light - Acetal Edition CPU block
1 x Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta 240 Radiator*
1 x EK-LGA115x TRUE Backplate (EK-LGA115X)*
1 x XSPC RAZER HD7970 New Edition GPU block
1 x Koolance PMP-500 G1/4 BSP High-flow Pump (PMP-500) *
9 x Danger Den G1/4 High Flow Fittings - 1/2"*
1 x Alphacool Decoupling Kit Eheim/Hydor 4 Decouplers*
8 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120 mm by Nidec Servo Corp. - Ultra High Speed - Sleeved (D1225C12B5AP-15) *
1 x Monsoon Silver Bullet Antimicrobial G1/4 Plug*
1 x Bitfenix Hydra Pro 5 Channel 30W Fan/LED Controller with Slide Control (HYDRA-PRO)*
1 x Tygon R-3603 7/16" ID (5/8" OD) Clear tubing
1 x Danger Den Fill Port
1x Enzotech Copper VRM block

Hardware

1 x Intel i5-3570k
1 x SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100352VXSR
1 x ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe LGA 1155 Intel Z77
1 x SAMSUNG 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 Model MV-3V4G3D/US HYKO IC
2 x Crucial M4 60GB SSD in RAID 0
1 x OCZ Agility 3 120GB
1 x SeaSonic SS-660XP 660W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified*

Case

LIAN LI PC-A04B Black Aluminum MicroATX/Mitx Mini Tower Computer Case


OS

1 x Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit (Full Version) OEM

Don't plan on painting or modifying case but if needed to snip some metal I will.
Want it to be clean, functional and powerful.





Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to this build.

[james888]

Cool. Ive been thinking that when I upgrade my MB/CPU to skywell or whaterver I am going to go mitx. I am very interested in your results.

[Kaynar]

Nice! My friend has this case and I must warn you that it is very hard to fit anything in there. In order to fit your 240mm rad you will have to cut the 5.25" drive bay metal supports. A corsair H100 cooler couldnt fit without doing that... but in general you will be ok with a 7870 since a 7970 fits easily with a push/pull fan config on a 240mm rad (meaning u'll have space for pump and res).

Good luck and have fun assembling!

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by Kaynar

In order to fit your 240mm rad you will have to cut the 5.25" drive bay metal supports. A corsair H100 cooler couldnt fit without doing that...

Good luck and have fun assembling!

Thanks. That was my greatest concern before ordering the case. Once modified I think the huge Alpha Cool NexXxus Monsta 240mm will fit snug.

I'm thinking I might need to order some type of vertical support part to help hold the radiator in place. Not sure how much support the front fan holders will have. I am going to run the fans in push pull. 25mm fan+ 86mm Thick Monsta 240 Radiator + 25mm fan. Total thickness of the radiator will be 136mm/5.36 inches.

[james888]

Originally Posted by SonDa5

huge Alpha Cool NexXxus Monsta 240mm

Missed that when reading the list. Wonder where you got that idea...

I don't know how this case will be but for my 550d I needed to secure it from the bottom because the 5.25inch bays above surrounded and held it in place at the top.

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by james888

Missed that when reading the list. Wonder where you got that idea...

Its an awesome radiator and you have good taste.
When I saw your build I was very impressed with your choice of radiators.

My main gaming rig has Alphacool NexXxus UT60 3x140. These new OCCool NexXxus radiators are awesome.

[SonDa5]

My biggest challenge is modifying the case a little so a Alphacool NexXxus Monster 240 radiator will fit with push/pull fans.

I ordered the case based on the published dimensions of the card, radiator, fans and case.


Rough idea of the spacing and what it will look like.




I think it will fit.

[Kaynar]

You've got it right on that picture this is exactly how this will fit and u can see this is exactly the small part of the 5.25 bay u need to cut. My friend was lucky, some guys at his university laboratories cut it for him

As for the supports of the rad, dunno how heavy it is but the front of the case has fitted rubber with holes. That means that if you try hard you can actually dislodge the rubber from the metal (which is intended) and there are a few different mounting options availalble. So yes you might need to secure you radiator from the bottom.

[james888]

I agree with securing from the bottom may be necessary. I don't know you have thought of this, but there is a port in the bottom. The provided copper stop will add no more than 5 millimeters to the height and make the radiator want to lean at an angle.

And whose pic did you crop that monsta from? It is not mine. I did a lot of research before buying that rad. I don't remember finding anyone else who had the 240mm version.

That lian, newegg must have an error on the dimensions. Newegg says 18.11" x 3.46" x 15.20" and 3.46" seems a bit skinny. You would need about 5 inches to fit a 120mm fan... like in the picture.

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by james888

And whose pic did you crop that monsta from? It is not mine. I did a lot of research before buying that rad. I don't remember finding anyone else who had the 240mm version.

That lian, newegg must have an error on the dimensions. Newegg says 18.11" x 3.46" x 15.20" and 3.46" seems a bit skinny. You would need about 5 inches to fit a 120mm fan... like in the picture.

Found all of the images online.



That width dimension is definitely off.



I am going to lay the bottom of the case with sound damper material and that may fill in the gap a little and I,m going to screw in 4 rubber bushings in the bottom of the case o support four corners of the radiator. Thinking about making a hold in the bottom of case and adding a drain valve/connector to the radiator sticking out just a little at the bottom of the case. That will make it easier to drain for servicing the radiator.

Once I get the case and hardware it will be easier to figure out what I'm going to do. Thanks for the feed back.

[SonDa5]

Day one.

[james888]

The pic isn't showing for me at least.

[HammerON]

Sub'd

[micropage7]

Originally Posted by SonDa5

My biggest challenge is modifying the case a little so a Alphacool NexXxus Monster 240 radiator will fit with push/pull fans.

I ordered the case based on the published dimensions of the card, radiator, fans and case.


Rough idea of the spacing and what it will look like.


http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1264933

I think it will fit.

thats pretty tight, maybe you could use slim fans with higher rpm

[james888]

Originally Posted by micropage7

thats pretty tight, maybe you could use slim fans with higher rpm

I don't know if that would be a good idea. By what I have read, this rad works best with high static pressure fans so the air can get all the way through.

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by james888

I don't know if that would be a good idea. By what I have read, this rad works best with high static pressure fans so the air can get all the way through.

These fans I got highly regarded as being great for water cooling. I'm sure they will fit. Should have some time soon to focus on this build again. I already have the card.

[adulaamin]

Subbed!

Originally Posted by SonDa5

These fans I got highly regarded as being great for water cooling. I'm sure they will fit. Should have some time soon to focus on this build again. I already have the card.

Or if it won't fit maybe you could try using 2 of the SanAce 38mm leaf blowers pushing air through the rad. That might help save some space although they'd be noisy at high RPM.

[Symetrick]

Hey I am new here but this definitely looks like a very interesting build to follow. I have seen some mITX builds on a forums I am a regular on and they seem to be pretty cool. Pretty packed with every bit of space used but it is amazing what some of you guys can do when you mod a case.

[SonDa5]

Update on my build.

I got the dremel out and cut out the bottom of the hdd bay to make way for the radiator.

[james888]

Its about time. You can't continue with your life while you have an interesting build log! ...sarcasm...

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by james888

Its about time. You can't continue with your life while you have an interesting build log!

I'm enjoying this. Don't want to rush it but I don't have time to rush it any ways. So when I have some time I will do some updates.

[SonDa5]

This was the A plan RAD configuration which unfortunately didn't work out. The video card didn't fit.






So I moved on to Plan B OC v.5.0 route. More work and will not be as kosher looking as your traditional Lian Li case but will work well for air flow to the radiator.

[Kaynar]

cool!

[SonDa5]

The front cover of the case will not fit properly with the 120x25 mm fans. I really wanted to use the fans but I am considering getting a 120x20mm fan to preserve the front of the case. If I stick with the Scythe fans I'm going to have to hack up the front of case to allow the fans to stick out. not going to look pretty.


I wish Koolance made a 2x120mm radiator shroud so that I could stick that onto the front to the case. I think that would look tough.

Not sure what I am going to do.


I think the koolance 2x92mm fan shroud could be modified to fit over the fans but It's going to take alot of hacking.


I'm leaning towards just using 120x20mm fans on the front to preserve the front of the case....

[micropage7]

umm thats kinda hard since behind front panel may not fit the fans, btw have you measure the space? you may change your front fans