Blackhole - A stealth NCASE M1 custom watercooled build

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hpr
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End result first. RGB off. All black.
End result first. RGB off. All black.
Started with a Founders Edition RTX 3080 and a 3700X cooled by an EK 240mm AIO.
Started with a Founders Edition RTX 3080 and a 3700X cooled by an EK 240mm AIO.
Getting down to a clean slate and making sure everything is dust free as the system has been put together since early 2020 with my previous GTX 1080 until I got the RTX 3080.
Getting down to a clean slate and making sure everything is dust free as the system has been put together since early 2020 with my previous GTX 1080 until I got the RTX 3080.
Motherboard back in after a quick dusting.
Motherboard back in after a quick dusting.
Such a shame to lose this beautiful and weighty air cooler...
Such a shame to lose this beautiful and weighty air cooler...
The cooler was actually really easy to remove and I love how tiny the PCB is.
The cooler was actually really easy to remove and I love how tiny the PCB is.
Naked GPU. Incredible how much processing power is in these things.
Naked GPU. Incredible how much processing power is in these things.
Went with the Corsair block since it was smaller in thickness than the EK block... and much cheaper.
Went with the Corsair block since it was smaller in thickness than the EK block... and much cheaper.
This Optimus block was really well made and looks great.
This Optimus block was really well made and looks great.
Mounted the Iceman reservoir with EK DDC pump and heat sink. Starting some of the tubing runs.
Mounted the Iceman reservoir with EK DDC pump and heat sink. Starting some of the tubing runs.
Popped the XSPC TX240 in with the Noctua Chromax 120mm fans just to get an idea of clearances. Debated using the EK SE 240 on the bottom since the XSPC was so hard to find but luckily I managed to snag one from Performance-PCs on Amazon.
Popped the XSPC TX240 in with the Noctua Chromax 120mm fans just to get an idea of clearances. Debated using the EK SE 240 on the bottom since the XSPC was so hard to find but luckily I managed to snag one from Performance-PCs on Amazon.
Decided to route the pump cables through the bottom slot.
Decided to route the pump cables through the bottom slot.
Adding a 3 way fitting as an extension and a spot for a temp sensor.
Adding a 3 way fitting as an extension and a spot for a temp sensor.
Added the Barrow temp sensor to the 3 way splitter.
Added the Barrow temp sensor to the 3 way splitter.
First piece of tubing in.
First piece of tubing in.
Installed the 3080 in to start planning those tubing runs.
Installed the 3080 in to start planning those tubing runs.
Was originally going to put in a curved piece of tubing here.
Was originally going to put in a curved piece of tubing here.
Decided to use a second 90degree fitting to make the run a lot cleaner.
Decided to use a second 90degree fitting to make the run a lot cleaner.
Installed the XSPC inline filter right after the GPU as it fit nicely and makes it easy to pop the side off and see if anything is going on in the loop.
Installed the XSPC inline filter right after the GPU as it fit nicely and makes it easy to pop the side off and see if anything is going on in the loop.
Installed the tubing from the filter to the bottom radiator.
Installed the tubing from the filter to the bottom radiator.
Ended up using a 45 degree fitting coming off the 90 for a pretty much perfect straight run of tubing.
Ended up using a 45 degree fitting coming off the 90 for a pretty much perfect straight run of tubing.
From the top down you can really see how short the GPU is. Gives a good amount of space for airflow. One of the big upsides to the Founders Edition card.
From the top down you can really see how short the GPU is. Gives a good amount of space for airflow. One of the big upsides to the Founders Edition card.
Side radiator is an EK SE 240 with the usual Noctua Chromax 120mm fans. Couple of Barrow extenders and EK fittings.
Side radiator is an EK SE 240 with the usual Noctua Chromax 120mm fans. Couple of Barrow extenders and EK fittings.
Just need to figure out the last two tubing runs to connect up the side radiator. This ended up being the most bendy and trickiest part.
Just need to figure out the last two tubing runs to connect up the side radiator. This ended up being the most bendy and trickiest part.
Just need to figure out the last two tubing runs to connect up the side radiator. This ended up being the most bendy and trickiest part.
Just need to figure out the last two tubing runs to connect up the side radiator. This ended up being the most bendy and trickiest part.
Leak testing while closed up. You can see how nice those GPU runs look with the side radiator installed.
Leak testing while closed up. You can see how nice those GPU runs look with the side radiator installed.
Picked up the Corsair 12pin GPU power cable so I could ditch the bulky adapter.
Picked up the Corsair 12pin GPU power cable so I could ditch the bulky adapter.
I didn’t even bother plugging in the GPU block RGB cables.
I didn’t even bother plugging in the GPU block RGB cables.
Here you can see the clearance between the fans and GPU block. A thicker radiator wouldn’t have fit.
Here you can see the clearance between the fans and GPU block. A thicker radiator wouldn’t have fit.
Another clearance shot. Happy with how much space there is.
Another clearance shot. Happy with how much space there is.
A little ugly cable management.
A little ugly cable management.
Back side is pretty typical. Zip tied some cables and stuffed them behind the radiator. That white molex connector bothers me but that is for future me to worry about.
Back side is pretty typical. Zip tied some cables and stuffed them behind the radiator. That white molex connector bothers me but that is for future me to worry about.
Top down shot showing clearance between side radiator and power supply.
Top down shot showing clearance between side radiator and power supply.
Tons of space over the CPU area for good airflow.
Tons of space over the CPU area for good airflow.
Left the leak tester on for a couple hours while I did some other tasks. Highly recommend the leak tester as I didn’t have to shove paper towels everywhere.
Left the leak tester on for a couple hours while I did some other tasks. Highly recommend the leak tester as I didn’t have to shove paper towels everywhere.
Added a drain port to the bottom of the Iceman for future maintenance. Was originally going to use a 45 degree fitting and not the long extender but I ended up running out, so this will do. Swivels behind when not needed and can swivel out when I need to drain.
Added a drain port to the bottom of the Iceman for future maintenance. Was originally going to use a 45 degree fitting and not the long extender but I ended up running out, so this will do. Swivels behind when not needed and can swivel out when I need to drain.
Filled the loop and started bleeding air from the system.
Filled the loop and started bleeding air from the system.
Test boot and all works!
Test boot and all works!
Panels back on and in place.
Panels back on and in place.

Blackhole - A stealth NCASE M1 custom watercooled build

Specs
Ryzen 7 3700X (5900X in the future)
Asus X570-I Strix
32 GB G.Skill Ripjaws V 3600Mhz CL16
NVIDIA RTX 3080 Founders Edition
Samsung 970 Evo Plus - 1 TB
NCASE M1 v6.1
Corsair SF600 Platinum
Noctua NF-F12 Chromax (2x)
Noctua NF-A12x15 Chromax (2x)
Pslate Customs Anti-Vandal Switch Power Button

Watercooling Parts
Optimus Foundation AM4 CPU block - Black Aluminum + Black Acetal + Nickel
Corsair XG7 3080 FE GPU block
EK-CoolStream Classic SE 240 Radiator
XSPC TX240 Radiator
Iceman Reservoir
EK-DDC PWM Pump
EK-DDC Pump Heatsink - Black
EK ZMT Tubing
EK-STC Classic 10/16 Fittings
Barrow Extensions - Various sizes
Barrow Temperature Sensor
EK-AF Classic 90 degree and 45 degree fittings
EK-AF 3-way T-Splitter
EK-AF Ball Valve
XSPC Inline Filter
EK-CryoFuel Coolant - Clear
Color(s): Black
RGB Lighting? No
Theme: Color
Cooling: Custom Liquid Cooling
Size: SFF
Type: General Build

Contests

This build participated in 3 contests.

Hardware

CPU
$ 278.99
AMD - Ryzen 7 (3700X)
Socket: AM4
Cores: 8
Motherboard
$ 415.29
ASUS - ROG Strix Gaming (X570-I)
Chipset: X570
CPU Socket: AM4
Size: Mini-ITX
Memory
$ 249.99
G.Skill - Ripjaws V (3600MHz) (Black)
Type: DDR4
Capacity: 32 GB
Graphics
NVIDIA - GeForce (Founders)
Chip Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip: RTX 3080
Interface: PCIe x16
Storage
$ 189.81
Samsung - 970 EVO Plus
Form Factor: M.2
Interface: M.2 (M)
Capacity: 1 TB
PSU
$ 300.00
Corsair - SF600
Wattage: 600
Form Factor: ATX
Efficiency: 80+ Platinum
Case
Ncases - NCase M1
Type: Mini-Tower
Side Panel: Solid
Case Fan
$ 59.90
Noctua - NF-A12x15 PWM (Chromax/Black/Swap) (2x)
Size: 120 mm
Case Fan
$ 53.90
Noctua - NF-F12 PWM (Chromax/Black/Swap) (2x)
Size: 120 mm
Cooling
$ 4.63
Barrow - 10K Temperature Sensor Stop Fitting
Type: Temperature Sensor
Cooling
Barrow - Fittings
Type: Custom Loop
Cooling
$ 158.10
Corsair - Hydro X XG7 (RGB)
Type: GPU Waterblock
Cooling
$ 33.12
EKWB - CoolStream SE
Type: Custom Loop
Size (WxHxD): 240 mm (2 x 120 mm)
Cooling
$ 37.09
EKWB - EK-AF Angled 45° G1/4 Black
Type: Fittings
Cooling
$ 33.29
EKWB - EK-AF Angled 90° G1/4 Black
Type: Fittings
Cooling
$ 29.95
EKWB - EK-AF Ball Valve G1/4 (10mm) (Black)
Type: Fittings
Cooling
$ 32.99
EKWB - EK-CryoFuel (Clear)
Type: Coolant
Cooling
EKWB - Fittings
Type: Custom Loop
Cooling
EKWB - Pump
Type: Custom Loop
Cooling
Optimus - Foundation Ryzen
Type: CPU Block
Cooling
XSPC - TX240 (Ultra Thin)
Type: Radiator
Size (WxHxD): 240 mm
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