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Are there any AIO's with a block more like these older retro style water blocks?

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Mar 21, 2016
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Are there any AIO's with a block more like these older retro style water blocks? Trying to find one that has a block under about 1 2/8" to 1 3/8" height that I could mount onto SE-207 TRX cooler. I'm honestly just interested in trying it for the novelty of it. I can use either cooling option as a fallback if it doesn't really work out on heat transfer between the two block surfaces which is a bit of a uncharted scenario as I doubt many would even contemplate such a approach.
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I'll expand on this a bit further as well. I've done a few measurements and it appears like a 40mm x 80mm similar to the block above could also be fitted onto it as well w/o too much added effort. The height between the fits and the top of the base of the heatsinks is the biggest challenge.

Here's a shot on the heatsink as well for reference and conveniently has some measurements on the L/W of the base itself. It actually has a metal bracket that screws on where that hole is on the side edge, but you could either keep that on or off within the context of modification probably off if you need that extra bit of height clearance between the top of that base and heat sink fins. There is a Fractal AIO that appears like if you take off the RGB cap and then were to cutting tool to slim down the height on the wall edge would fit, but that's less straight forward than just finding something more suitable ideally.
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I'm also looking at cases a bit right now the Corsair 5000D airflow looks really good on space and mounting options. It's disappointing Corsair chose not to bundle 3 case fans with it, but I still a lot of aspects of the case otherwise over others I've been looking at within the context of modding and cooling it looks really flexible plus it has a classy well ventilated look as a whole at the same time.

I'm thinking there is possibility with that case to insert the SE-207 TRX and mount it to the radiator pump block up front or on the side radiator mount position even, but depends on the depth and clearances of the case, tower cooler and radiator itself and where the radiator is placed and mounted at the same time. As a example if you take off the front airflow panel cover on the Corsair 5000D is it then possible to mount a radiator on the outside depending on thickness of the radiator?

That makes for a interesting scenario because the tower cooler could then adhere to it on the inside of the case and while it would limit some of the fan airflow thru a 360mm with integrated pump block that plump block pretty well limits airflow for one of the 120mm fans anyway a sizable amount and would be pretty well offset hopefully by a 280w cooler mounted to the block. The upper portion could still then fit a pair of 120mm fans to push heat out tower cooler fans could probably be mounted vertical or horizontal in that scenario. I'd probably go with the fans vertical so the heat can just get dumped outside that rear side panel.

The heatsink itself is 144x122x157mm (L x W x H) while Corsair lists the 5000D case width at 245mm leaving 88mm of additional room if you side mounted it for the radiator thickness. Perhaps about 80 to 83mm to be on the safe side due to any unaccounted obstacles that may interfere in the way.

There is about 3 possible ways to possibly mount and combine the two together far as I can see outside of a custom loop that would be cool, but I'm not contemplating due price being less economically practical. If there is a technical aspect outside of mounting complications I should probably be aware I'm open to hearing about it. Heat transfer between surfaces is certainly a concern, but I'm uncertain on the extent of that overall. I don't really have anything to go off on this one. I would anticipate the top of the block gets fairly warm though under load and could transfer some heat to a AIO mounted to it or similarly with the water block pump fitted into a radiator. You'd want to use thermal compound between surfaces of course or pads if you prefer lesser alternatives that aren't quite as messy and reusable in some instances.
 
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These retro can't be opened for cleaning.
Why don't u buy it separately and do custom loop, or replace in a kit.
 
They can be flushed out correctly. You just use coolant or distilled water with algae inhibitors
 
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These retro can't be opened for cleaning.
Why don't u buy it separately and do custom loop, or replace in a kit.
In regard to AIO I considered custom loop, but it seems more costly and at the same time involvement since you then need to careful bend pipes and fit them properly at the same time. I think the involvement and cost savings of a AIO largely outweighs the considerations of custom loop unless I'm mistaken and just not sure where to look and start with that option.

I found this for a AIO solution the other day that should be slim enough to mount to the SE-207 TRX or at the same mount to the back of the AIO radiator to the integrated pump on the AIO design. It's flexible enough that I could have the AIO or SE-207 TRX tower cooled mounted to the CPU chip which is a nice have I suppose. It's also a good fallback in the event the SE-207 TRX is harder to mount than I anticipate. It's not going on a TRX chip. It's more of a brute force cooling setup planned for one of AM4's or LGA1700 probably the former. I've got about 1.25" to 1.375" of height clearance to work with on the TRX cooler to mount that AIO block which it looks to me would be plenty slim enough. The backside as you can see has a pump block as well so it could mount against that in turn and use the AIO block on the CPU instead though I feel that's less optimal and not as good fail over concern if the pump decides to quit.

I haven't fully comitted to MB/CPU options quite yet, but leaning a lot towards a 5900X/5950X with a Gigabyte Aorus Master X570S which just a X570 with some better components care and thought improvements really it's got a nice VRM section and flexibility. MSI had a interesting MB option as well with a overkill numberof NVME slots baked into the design, but limited to 2 DIMM slots so I think the Gigabyte option is sort of more appealing. That's especially true since the MSI also had1 less physical x16 slot on board though it would basically be a x4 wired slot anyway on the Gigabyte.

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You can compensate for radii on hoses also angled connectors/adapters. Custom loops allow for part replacement, AIOs being a sealed unit do not unless if you want to cut hoses off and use a hose sweger, then you've just shortened the hoses at that point.

So custom loops in the long run save money, AIOs waste it.
 
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I am a little confused but intrigued. What exactly are you planning on doing with the SE-207? Placing it atop the water block?
 
You can compensate for radii on hoses also angled connectors/adapters. Custom loops allow for part replacement, AIOs being a sealed unit do not unless if you want to cut hoses off and use a hose sweger, then you've just shortened the hoses at that point.

So custom loops in the long run save money, AIOs waste it.
I'm not sure how that applies to what I'm doing or suggesting though. I don't foresee hose length being a problem. The considerations are good on adapters, but I don't think it will need it. It's probably a good idea to mount it with the hoses towards the bottom if hose length permits with the pump in rad design though and had planned to anyway.

I am a little confused but intrigued. What exactly are you planning on doing with the SE-207? Placing it atop the water block?
Either mounting it to the block on the radiator or the water block on top of the SE-207's CPU block. In a custom loop if I felt that route was worth doing which I'm not feeling so atm I'd mount the water block on top of the SE-207 CPU block as well. I'd probably use a 40mm x 80mm water block on top of it if that were the case just for the added surface area over a 40mm x 40mm since either should fit.
 
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Bending pipes is not a necessity.
btw I was using that retro block before.
In regard to AIO I considered custom loop, but it seems more costly and at the same time involvement since you then need to careful bend pipes and fit them properly at the same time. I think the involvement and cost savings of a AIO largely outweighs the considerations of custom loop unless I'm mistaken and just not sure where to look and start with that option

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Bending pipes is not a necessity.
btw I was using that retro block before.


View attachment 246238
Distilling moonshine? :roll:

Honestly not sure what the block on that radiator is. I would imagine that it is the pump, meaning that there would not be much water near the surface (I think). Attaching the waterblock and the air cooler would be interesting, but I am again not sure if it would actually help. You could reverse the idea (water block under air cooler) and put a peltier between for extra cooling I guess.
 
Oh wow you went the wort n chill route? XD that water reservoir looks mad scientist got a good batch of moonshine in that or what? :laugh:
 
Distilling moonshine? :roll:

Honestly not sure what the block on that radiator is. I would imagine that it is the pump, meaning that there would not be much water near the surface (I think). Attaching the waterblock and the air cooler would be interesting, but I am again not sure if it would actually help. You could reverse the idea (water block under air cooler) and put a peltier between for extra cooling I guess.
Pump is the one with German flag I painted myself.
This pic is from June 2020. Now there's no air cooler, just two fans on an alphacool st30 560. I no longer use the copper coil.
in my current loop the pump is floating inside a 20-liter water tank. like aquarium. enough water always

Oh wow you went the wort n chill route? XD that water reservoir looks mad scientist got a good batch of moonshine in that or what? :laugh:
I had to send 3d files and blueprints to factory to build that res.
 
Pump is the one with German flag I painted myself.
This pic is from June 2020. Now there's no air cooler, just two fans on an alphacool st30 560. I no longer use the copper coil.
in my current loop the pump is floating inside a 20-liter water tank. like aquarium. enough water always


I had to send 3d files and blueprints to factory to build that res.
Very good looking res too. I also went copper but a little different...
PXL_20220123_195050121.jpg


Obviously incomplete in this photo. Hoping to use a HVAC coil for the radiator, mounted to the back.
 
Getting a custom CNC water reservoir printed out is rather next level I must say, but I'm going to have to deduct points for no in ground swimming pool for the tank. You can never be too sure. :laugh:

I'm really thinking I should wait on Raptor Lake and Zen 4 as much as I have a itch to get a AM4 with a 5900X or 5950X now. Waiting can suck when you feel overdue for a system upgrade, but I think it'll be worth the wait for either. Zen 4 might be good enough that it'll warrant also upgrading the system memory and Raptor Lake it appears along with the newer z790 chipset it might be a good enough and competitive solution alternative to Zen4 if just want to keep using DDR4.

I think for the time being I'm just going to grab the AIO and the case itself. I can look into just how well mounting the AIO on the tower cooler while I wait. There are things about the case I still want to figure out in regard to push/pull and radiator thickness and short of asking around for measurement details is hard to figure. It's easier to just get the case and do my own measuring and determine if I want to do push/pull and to what extent along with what complications it might present.

No plans to, but a low profile cooler with 120cm fan like this will mount on that radiator block very easily. I say no plans to, but if I get reasonable reduction of temps and noise from the former I'm probably doing it to see if I can eek out a little bit more. I mean if I can get 1-2c idle and 5c full load reduction mounting it do it I'd certainly consider it. So depends on the first part really. It would still look pretty cool either way how many people can say they've got two CPU coolers with a AIO connecting both together to cooler their CPU!!? This guy maybe possibly if it works and is worth while to do so. It would at least look more impressive than it really is fake it til you make it. :roll:

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I was watching a YT der8auer video on ProSiphon and think some of that should apply to hybrid setup I'll be trying. I could add a bit of siphon like effect and make the heat pipes work more optimal both based on how I interpreted his explanations of things. How quickly heat change can transfer between difference sources will be determining factor.

I'll be holding off until arrival of Raptor Lake/Zen 4 to try it all out. Haven't ordered fans yet for the case and/or some better static pressure ones for coolers, but think a pair of 5 packs of arctics pressure optimized fans along with a pair of Noctua's or Phanteks is what I'm leaning towards. I'll take the two Corsair's 5000D case fans and use them on the AIO or SE-207 TRX. I don't know if the Corsair case fans on 5000D would be better suited on AIO or the SE-207TRX than static pressure Noctua's or Phanteks, but will have to look into that more unless someone happens to know.

Will return to this later when I get a MB/CPU to get with the rest of the setup with a follow on how the cooling results panned out.
 
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@InVasMani
Dude, can you write shorter and tell us what u want lol.

I was watching a YT der8auer video
would b nice if u just post that yt video here, so we can better follow your stream of thoughts

take care, no offense. but u write really long sometimes
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Fair point here's the YT on that ProSiphon. Was getting at setup could aid in more optimal efficiency of heat pipe operation and even has a bit of parallels to the siphon effect mentioned due to hybrid combination. I'm good for now will circle back to it at a later point with results.
 
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