Heroes of this build:

Monitor (technically a TV, but still a monitor) – LG OLED 55CX3LA

(I didn't have to think long about this one. OLED simply charmed me No typical computer monitor can match an OLED. Unless it's an OLED monitor, of course ;) )


Case – Thermaltake The Tower 900 Black

(Initially, it was supposed to be a Fractal Design Define 7 XL, but when I found the Tower 900, I knew I wanted the big one )


Power supply – Seasonic PRIME Gold 1000W

(In my opinion, that's enough for the whole system, including the RTX 3090. The Titanium version wasn't available at the time. I wanted to get it, but ended up buying the Gold instead.)


Motherboard – ROG ASUS Maximus XII Extreme

(Here too, the original plan was to get the ASUS Maximus XII Formula, but after thinking it over, I added a few more euros and bought the Extreme instead. There was also an ASUS promotion at the time, so I got €150 back.)


Processor – Intel Core i9-10900K

(There could only be one choice. I've never really been an AMD guy, although at some point I did have a Duron or Sempron – I don't even remember which one anymore. But this build was always going to be Intel ;) )


Memory – 4 × 8 GB Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro CL16

(It's neither high-end nor anything exotic, but I think it's just right.)


SSDs – Samsung (no mechanical drives installed)

1 × Samsung 980 PRO 500 GB
1 × Samsung 970 PRO 512 GB
1 × Samsung 860 EVO 4 TB
1 × Samsung 870 EVO 4 TB

(I removed the 970 PRO from my laptop and replaced it there with a 970 EVO Plus. After some thought, I bought the 980 PRO so I could use both M.2 slots under the motherboard cover.)


Graphics card – ROG ASUS Strix OC RTX 3090 24 GB VRAM

(The long-awaited card finally arrived after more than a month and a half. I paid about €170 more than I would have with my earlier Amazon.nl order, but I'm really happy with it. ASUS quality speaks for itself.)


CPU cooling – Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black

(Temporary cooling until the entire custom water-cooling loop is finished, and also useful for testing the individual components before I start taking the graphics card apart.)



Time for cooling.....


A custom cooling loop consisting of:


Radiators – 2 × EK-CoolStream SE 560

CPU block – EK-Quantum Velocity D-RGB – Nickel + Plexi

GPU block – EK-Quantum Vector Strix RTX 3080/3090 D-RGB – Nickel + Plexi

GPU backplate – EK-Quantum Vector Strix RTX 3070/3080/3090 Backplate – Black

Pumps with reservoirs – 2 × EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE 300 D5 PWM D-RGB – Acetal

Pump mounting brackets – 2 × EK-UNI Pump Bracket (120 mm FAN) Vertical

Temperature, flow, water quality and electrical conductivity sensor – Aqua Computer high flow NEXT

Leak prevention system – Aqua Computer LEAKSHIELD standalone

Temperature sensor – Aqua Computer

Straight fittings – 14 × EK-Quantum Torque HDC 12 – Black

90° rotary fittings – 6 × EK-Quantum Torque Rotary 90° – Black

45° rotary fitting – 1 × EK-Quantum Torque Rotary 45° – Black

Extension fittings – 2 × EK-AF Extender 30 mm M-F G1/4 – Black

Extension fittings – 2 × EK-AF Extender 6 mm M-M G1/4 – Black

Extension fitting – 1 × EK-Quantum Torque Extender Static FF 14 – Black

Drain valve – 1 × EK-AF Ball Valve (10 mm) G1/4 – Black

T-fitting – 1 × EK-Quantum Torque Rotary T – Black

Water filter – 1 × Barrow Inline Filter G1/4 with internal threads – Black

Green fitting rings – EK-Torque HTC-12 Color Rings

Fans – 10 × Noctua NF-P14s redux-1500 PWM

Fans – 2 × Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap

Fan – 1 × Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 ARGB PWM

Hard tubing – EK-HD Tube 10/12 mm 500 mm / 19.5"

Glass tubing – Mayhems

Coolant – distilled water + EK-CryoFuel Acid Green concentrate

Thermal paste – Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

Thermal pads – Gelid Ultimate


While I was quite enthusiastic about bending the tubes myself, I wasn't very happy with the actual bending process. There are plenty of guides on the internet explaining how to do it, but I guess I'm just too impatient – even though I always try to be accurate.

So, in the end, it turned out the way it did. I wasn't completely happy with the result anyway, so I ordered Mayhems glass tubes. I'll replace the visible tubing after I've finished the work on the graphics card. The pump outlets are hidden low in the case, so I'll keep acrylic tubing there.

Considering this is the first custom water-cooling loop I've ever built, I'm satisfied with the result. The whole thing still needs a few small finishing touches – sleeved cables, better cable management and a few other details.


All prices were entered manually and converted using the exchange rate from the date of purchase.


P.S. Please forgive any mistakes in my English. I'm from Poland and my English isn't perfect.