Custom Water Cooled 920 in Antec P180

[RangerXLT8]

So I went WCing about 2 weeks ago, and was thinking I'd share my experience modding the Antec P180. The P180 is strapped for space as far as WCing is concerned. So here goes.

1. Dremeling through the P180s 3 layers was no fun and quite difficult. The smaller hole is a 1"dia for the DangerDen Fillport Res.



Here is the Black Ice Extreme 120mm radiator with a shroud and Panaflo High speed fan.

And the final product.

If anyone is Wcing the p180 feel free to PM any ?

[Tyreal]

nice! that looks great dude.

The triple layered sidepanel was the one thing that kind of scared me away from getting one to mod. How difficult is it exactly to cut?

[RangerXLT8]

Originally Posted by Tyreal

nice! that looks great dude.

The triple layered sidepanel was the one thing that kind of scared me away from getting one to mod. How difficult is it exactly to cut?

How I cut was:
1. with a multi-purpose bit, 6 speed on dremel, cut through outer layer of platic down to the metal, that way next it would be st8 metal. The plastic gets messy, melts then cures real hard again. The plastic is probably 3/16" thick.
2.Then with a cutting disk, speed 7 on dremel, cut through the steel.

[Tyreal]

Plastic has the tendency to do that and its really annoying. I find that if i just go in slow at a low speed or really fast at a high speed then it doesn't give me too many problems.

[Jokerswild]

A drill press does wonders when going thru multipal layers. A hole saw run slow will work nicely also. Just a dab of oil to the cutter and clear the chips frequently will do the trick. No cutting oil available then useWD-40.

[Tyreal]

I'm planning to invest some money in an 80mm and 120mm hole saw pretty soon. I've used some smaller sizes before and they are very convenient. theres nothing like perfect holes.

[gvblake22]

Very nice clean mod work there Ranger! I like it a lot :thup:
How well does that single 120mm radiator cool your 920? Have you tried it with a slower speed fan? If so, what were your results?
I have been temped more and more to try and set up a custom water cooling rig, just for the fun of it. Or at least I might when I actually have some money... So I'll probably be asking a lot of n00bish water questions. ;)

[fps justin]

hey ranger whats that purple container and pruple stuff?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by fps justin

hey ranger whats that purple container and pruple stuff?

The container is called a "reservoir" and the purple stuff is liquid "coolant". Basically the coolant has some kind of die in it to make it purple and the reservoir is there to hold the extra coolant in the water cooling system.
Please correct me if I am wrong Ranger ;)

[RangerXLT8]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Very nice clean mod work there Ranger! I like it a lot :thup:
How well does that single 120mm radiator cool your 920? Have you tried it with a slower speed fan? If so, what were your results?
I have been temped more and more to try and set up a custom water cooling rig, just for the fun of it. Or at least I might when I actually have some money... So I'll probably be asking a lot of n00bish water questions. ;)

Thank you blake!

The single 120mm rad cools the 920 AND the cpu MOSFETS(this really stabilizes vcore, makes cpu run a bit cooler). The 120mm rad is pretty much at its limits. Temps with current loop are about 10c cooler then previous air(Zalman 9500). I plan on adding in a 80mm rad I have sitting around here, should see a decent drop in temps.

As far as fans go.... The radiator is a double pass, designed for high CFM\pressure fans. The fan is a 120mmx38mm Panaflo HE 117CFM. Any fan with lower CFM might not do the job.

'the container', blake hit it on the head. It is a DangerDen fillport res, the top on the outside of the case is where the loop is filled, and the container holds extra fluid which makes bleeding air from the loop really easy. The fluid is distilled water(scienticfic grade) with 5% Zerez(purple color) racing coolant.