This is my heavily modified Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 build.

After using a giant Corsair Carbide Air 540 for the past 9 years, I wanted something with a very small footprint. I really liked the Corsair One layout but wanted to do a custom loop (my first!). The Phanteks Evolv Shift caught my eye but I wasn't too happy with some of the layout decisions and planned on significant modifications.

After purchasing the case, I measured every detail and modeled the entire build in CAD. Time consuming but in the end everything fit with the exact number of fittings purchased and a convenient location for both a fill and drain port. A side benefit was the ability to 3D print custom jigs to bend the hardline tubing!

(Case model here: https://grabcad.com/library/phanteks-evolv-shift-2-1)

The build uses mostly EK parts and fittings with the only "unique" one being the pump. I combined the TBE 200 D5 pump with the shorter RES X3 - TUBE 110 to get it to fit.

The OCTO controller is definitely one of my favorite parts, it's so nice to have all the fan and RGB control in one place. The Aquasuite software is fantastic and incredibly advanced. While not at all necessary, the ability to create custom virtual sensors based on block diagrams to control the pump/fans was really useful to tune everything for quiet operation.

3D printed parts:

Top Panel: a slightly taller top panel designed with mounting for two 120mm fans (15mm thick)

Bottom Panel: designed to mount the PSU below the case frame and include a custom power button

Power Button: disguised as one of the "fins" using a Kailh Box Navy keyboard key and a custom keycap

280mm Radiator Ducting: slim shroud to adapt the 120mm fans mounted under the back panel to the 280mm radiator

140mm Radiator Mounting Plate: mounting for the bottom 140mm radiator

Pump Support Bracket: part of the motherboard tray had to be cut away to fit the rear radiator. This bracket mounts to the rear radiator and that cut panel as well as supporting the pump

GPU Support Brackets: because Phanteks hasn't bothered to include a PCI 4.0 riser cable yet, I ended up needing to do some significant modifications to the GPU mounting bracket (aka chop it all off) to get the Linkup one to fit. I printed two lower brackets for support as well as an upper bracket for additional reinforcement.

Cable Management: small brackets throughout the build to help tie down all the cables
(3D printed files here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5549643)

Sanding and painting all of the 3D printed parts was very time consuming, especially the parts that had to be printed in two halves. If I was doing it over, I'd definitely pay for SLS prints after confirming fit with regular FDM test parts. Assembly was relatively straightforward although the Corsair satin black tubing was a bit of a pain to work with. The satin finish is incredibly delicate and can get damaged (polished spot) from just a cable rubbing against it. I wasted a couple of good bent tubes before getting fed up and covering them all in painters tape immediately after bending.

Temps and Performance: Even though the components are not all top of the line, it's a massive improvement from the i5-3570k and GTX 960 I was running before.

Coolant temp: usually around 5 °C above ambient at idle and 10 °C above ambient under load

CPU/GPU: typically around 45-50 °C during gaming with fans at 50-60%. Full load benchmarking had the temps peak at 56 °C with the same fan speed.

For a case that's notoriously hot, I'm pretty happy with those numbers especially with the low fan noise!