Hello, It's been 6 months since I built this masterpiece and it felt like a blasphemy to not post it on reddit, so here it is !
Btw it’s my first Watercooled PC (and my 2nd PC in general).
The result is just crazy, especially coming from a mid budget PC built in 2016 :
Intel I5 6400 + AMD R9 390X (equivalent of a GTX 970/980) + 16gb memory
- PC parts :
- CPU : Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- GPU : Msi 5090 Ventus 3X OC
- Memory : G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo 96 Go (2 x 48 Go)
- Motherboard : Asus ROG crosshair x870e hero
- Storage : - 4TB Western Digital SN850X (gen 4)
- 2TB Crucial P5 plus (gen3)
- PSU : 1500W Corsair HX1500i
- Case : Corsair 9000D
- Waterloop parts :
- CPU Waterblock : EKWB velocity 2
- GPU Waterblock : Alphacool Core Geforce RTX 5090 Reference
- Pumps : 2 Corsair xd6 elite lcd
- Radiators : 4 Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 (2 360mm + 2 480mm)
- Fittings : Raijintek and EKWB
- Quick-Disconnect : 3 Koolance QD3
- Water filter : Aquacomputer
- Tubes : EPDM 16/10mm
- Coolant : Aquacomputer DP Ultra
- Extra parts :
- Fans : 10 Corsair QX120 + 20 Corsair RS120
- Fan hub : - Asus TUF Gaming ARGB PWM Hub (for power & argb)
- Usb hub : Corsair USB 2.0 Hub
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- Parameters and adjustments :
I didn't do too many adjustments and didn’t try to get the max of performance, I just did some undervolt and speed downgrade to get a stable pc and not putting too much stress on the components. For now there's no need for me to get the max performance, but in some years I might change that in order to still have the best gaming experience.
- GPU : Obviously my biggest concern is the melting power port issue, so I did a simple undervolting following a youtube tutorial ( increasing the overall frequency until 2800 MHz at 895 mV, then over 895mV maxed out at 2800MHz). I also did a +1500MHz on the memory clock and an 80% power limit (460W) just to be safe.
- CPU : Another concern was the burnt cpu issue, so to be safe I run the SOC voltage at 1.175V, instead of the usual 1.25V
- RAM : I run it at 5600 MTS, cas 32, no expo. My kit is 6000 cas 28 but I've seen that high capacity kit can cause instability due to high stress on the IMC, and high temps on the memory sticks
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- Temps :
Having that many fan, I run them at around 25% in idle.
And it goes up to like 40%/50% with my curve while gaming on demanding game.
And its still pretty silent for me
Idle : Water 27°C / CPU 45°C / GPU core 28°C / GPU VRam 40°C / Memory 43°C
Gaming : Water 32°C / CPU 60°C / GPU core 45°C / GPU VRam 60°C / Memory 47°C
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- Comments and issues :
- Inverted GPU water entry/exit : I noticed afterward that I didn't connect the tubes correctly on my GPU, I inverted the water entry port with the exit port... It doesn't seems to have a huge impact, I guess it might certainly reduces flowrate and affects heat dissipation but I don't have a flowrate sensor, and the temps are very good so I’m gonna leave it until the next coolant change.
- 12V-2X6 safety module : I wanted to buy a thermal grizzly wireview pro 2, however it is too wide to be installed for my Waterblock model, the black part (where the fitting are plugged into) is too close to the power outlet. But it’s not the case for all the Alphacool 5000 waterblock, check the dimensions !
So instead I will get an aquacomputer Ampinel when it will come out.
- "Burned" lcd screen Corsair XD6 : This one was really bad and cost me both screens. It was late, I was tired and wanted to finish fast and finally press the start button… I somehow thought that the icue link cable of the XD6 was controlling the RGB and the screen, and that the other cable (with the pins) was supposed to go to the pump_pwr motherboard connector… So I guess I sent a 12V current on the screen’s chips and offed them both (not just one like in the photos, the second gave up too, rest in peace)
- Very high temps for the 2 xHCI x870e chips (70°C) : I saw on other reddit posts that the cause are the thermal pads which are really bad, especially for a high end MOBO… I’ll wait for my next coolant flush to change them.
- QX120 RGB quality : On the video it looks ok, but the QX120 are not as premium as I expected for the price. The leds are very perceivable and look shady… If I were to choose another I would go for something like the NZXT F120, a smooth exterior rgb ring
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- Waterloop Layout :
I chose to go the soft tube way cause it was the easiest to handle and because I use transparent coolant so no need to go hard tubing.
Also, I bought many tube sleeves in white/black/gray tone and some colored pink/purple/red/blue… But in the end I chose to let the EPDM tube raw, they looked more pro.
Concerning the Layout, some people do 3d rendering to see the final results, personally I didn’t have time (nor knowledge) to do 3d stuff, so I went the old way, with pen and paper. Not something serious, just a little sketch to visualize it, and let me tell you… It didn’t go as planned at all, I ended up just going with the flow and improvising.
Also I put 3 drain valves to easily do maintenance. I put one under each vertical radiators, and one at the bottom pump.
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I guess it turned out pretty good for an improvising layout. I’m very happy with the results and I hope you like it too. It should last me a long time but I don't think I'm gonna get the same time as my previous built, 10 years of honorable service 2016 was a great era for gaming hardware