First-Time Custom Watercooling PC Build

[BrunoAFK]

So far, I’ve never worked with an AIO cooler, let alone built a custom loop or anything similar. A friend decided to put together a good configuration and wanted to recreate a build he saw somewhere. I told him it’s not a good idea for someone with no prior experience to attempt something like this, but he said, “just have fun with it.”

Now I’m here, and I’d really appreciate any extra information that could minimize potential damage. (I’ve used Google, but sometimes I get conflicting information that doesn’t always align.)



Configuration:

CPU:

• AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (1 unit)

Motherboard (MB):

• ASUS ROG STRIX X870-F (1 unit)

GPU:

• Gainward GeForce RTX 4090 Phantom 24GB (1 unit)

RAM:

• Kingston Fury Beast Black RGB EXPO 32GB (2 units)

Storage:

• WD_BLACK™ SN850X 2TB (1 unit)

PSU:

• Seasonic Vertex PX 1200W (1 unit)

Case:

• Silverstone Alta 2 (1 unit)

Cooling Components:

• CPU Block: Alphacool Core 1 Aurora Black (1 unit)
• CPU Block Adapter: Alphacool Core AM5 Performance Kit (1 unit)
• GPU Block: Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Geforce RTX 4090 GameRock + Phantom with backplate (1 unit)
• Distro Plate + Pump: Alphacool Core Distro Plate 240 Right with VPP Apex Pump (1 unit)
• Drain Valve: Alphacool Eiszapfen 2-way ball valve G1/4 - Chrome (1 unit)
• Coolant: Alphacool Ultra Pure Water 1000ml (4 units)

Tubes and Fittings:

• HardTube Fittings: Alphacool Eiszapfen PRO 13mm HardTube Fitting G1/4 - Chrome Sixpack (2 packs)
• 90° Fittings: Alphacool HF L-connector G1/4 AG rotatable to G1/4 IG - Chrome (10 units)
• Soft Tubing: Alphacool AlphaTube TPV 16/10 - Black Matte 3.3m (10ft) Retailbox (2 units)
• Hard Tubes (CPU): Alphacool HardTube 13mm OD 90° brass 10/30cm Chrome (3 units)
• Hard Tubes (GPU): Alphacool HardTube 13mm OD 90° brass 10/50cm Chrome (3 units)
• Plugs: Alphacool Eiszapfen screw plug V.2 G1/4 - Chrome (4 units)
• Nozzle Adapters: Alphacool Eiszapfen 16/10mm screw-on nozzle G1/4 - Chrome (4 units)
• Double Nipple Adapter: Alphacool Eiszapfen double nipple rotatable G1/4 AG to G1/4 AG - Chrome (3 units)
• Short Male/Female: Alphacool ES D-Plug 20mm G1/4 AG to G1/4 AG - Chrome (2 units)
• Long Male/Female: Alphacool ES D-Plug 25.5mm G1/4 AG to G1/4 AG - Chrome (2 units)

Radiators and Fans:

• Radiator (Top): Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 Full Copper 480mm Radiator (1 unit)
• Radiator (Bottom): Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 Full Copper 560mm Radiator (1 unit)
• 120mm Fans: SilverStone Shark Force 120mm Fans (4 units)
• 140mm Fans: SilverStone Shark Force 140mm Fans (TBD units)

Accessories and Tools:

• Filling Bottle: Alphacool Spray Bottle Core 1000ml (1 unit)
• Leak Tester: Alphacool Leak Testing Tool incl. Pump (1 unit)
• Splitters: Alphacool Low Profile ES L-connector rotatable G1/4 AG to G1/4 IG - Chrome (4 units)
• 90° Nozzles: Alphacool Eiszapfen 16/10mm screw-on nozzle 90° rotatable G1/4 - Chrome (4 units)
• ARGB Cable: Alphacool Y-Splitter aRGB 3-Pin to 3x 3-Pin 30cm (1 unit)
• Temperature Sensor: Alphacool Eiszapfen temperature sensor G1/4 IG/IG & with AG adapter - Chrome (1 unit)

Flow Configuration:

Flow Path: Distro plate → Top radiator → CPU block → GPU block → Bottom radiator → Back to distro plate.
Is this setup good? Am I missing anything?



Questions:
1. I’m using Alphacool Ultra Pure Water, is it good enough, or should I consider something else?
2. Is flow design logical?
3. Have I missed anything or made any mistakes?


Btw, I actually want to replicate this build, but it's not very clear to me what's happening on the back side and how the radiators are connected.



Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Eddy]

HI,

That's already a good compilation. I have a few comments on it.

Ultra Pure Water
You can take it, but you have to be aware that Ultra Pure Water is only pure until you open the bottle. Personally, I'm not a big fan of it and would rather use Text Protext 2 because of the ingredients that largely prevent algae growth. Ultra Pure Water would be too unsafe for me personally.
Alphacool Eiszapfen screw plug V.2 G1/4 - Chrome (4 units)
Where do you want to use these? They only fit on certain products and I don't see any product, apart from the GPU cooler, where you can use these special plugs. Use normal ones instead, they fit everywhere.
Otherwise, we actually include enough plugs with every product. You don't really need to buy them separately. So where do you want to use them?

Tube?
For the drain port?

Radiators
The UT60 radiators are only worthwhile if you equip them on both sides with fans that rotate at a speed of at least 1200rpm.
Otherwise you are better off with an XT45. The ST30 is better if you have fans on one side.
The thicker the radiator, the more pressure the fans have to build up. Otherwise they will not push the air through the fins properly.
The basic rule is roughly as follows:
ST30 - single-sided fan assembly with slow-rotating fans (less than 1000rpm)
XT45 - Single-sided fan assembly with fans 1000rpm and more. Double-sided fan assembly for low RPM fans such as 600rpm
UT60 - Single-sided fan assembly is never recommended here, unless they rotate at 2000rpm and more. At least 1200rpm for double sided fans.

Apart from that, I don't see any other problems for the time being. But it's usually only when you're setting up that you realize that you've forgotten something or that the planning doesn't work the way you want it to.

Small personal recommendation. With this setup, I would go straight for 64GB. With a few things in the background and with some newer games, 32GB is slowly running out, I see it again and again on my system.

 

[BrunoAFK]

Eddy, thank you so much for taking the time to go through this. Honestly, it means a lot to me because I have no idea what I’m doing. Maybe I’m crazy for taking this on, maybe I shouldn’t have, but I feel like I’ll never get a chance like this again in my life (though I do wonder if sleepless nights are what I need at this age ).
I’d really appreciate it if you could provide me with a few more details.

HI,

That's already a good compilation. I have a few comments on it.

Ultra Pure Water
You can take it, but you have to be aware that Ultra Pure Water is only pure until you open the bottle. Personally, I'm not a big fan of it and would rather use Text Protext 2 because of the ingredients that largely prevent algae growth. Ultra Pure Water would be too unsafe for me personally.

I’ll go with Tec Protect 2 as you suggested. I was thinking of getting 3 liters—do you think that will be enough?

Alphacool Eiszapfen screw plug V.2 G1/4 - Chrome (4 units)
Where do you want to use these? They only fit on certain products and I don't see any product, apart from the GPU cooler, where you can use these special plugs. Use normal ones instead, they fit everywhere.
Otherwise, we actually include enough plugs with every product. You don't really need to buy them separately. So where do you want to use them?

I think I misunderstood the Eiszapfen screw plugs. My idea was to have extra, visually appealing screws for any open ports, particularly on the distro plate. I screwed that up.

Tube?
For the drain port?

I forgot about the tube for the drain port—do you have any recommendations? What dimensions should I use? Does it require a specific fitting? It would also be great if you could clarify (before everything arrives) which fittings work with which types of tubes (e.g., brass, rubber). I know this is a bit of a beginner’s question, but I’d rather ask now than regret it later.

Radiators
The UT60 radiators are only worthwhile if you equip them on both sides with fans that rotate at a speed of at least 1200rpm.
Otherwise you are better off with an XT45. The ST30 is better if you have fans on one side.
The thicker the radiator, the more pressure the fans have to build up. Otherwise they will not push the air through the fins properly.
The basic rule is roughly as follows:
ST30 - single-sided fan assembly with slow-rotating fans (less than 1000rpm)
XT45 - Single-sided fan assembly with fans 1000rpm and more. Double-sided fan assembly for low RPM fans such as 600rpm
UT60 - Single-sided fan assembly is never recommended here, unless they rotate at 2000rpm and more. At least 1200rpm for double sided fans.

I’m following the configuration from the video. The plan is:

• Top: 4x 120mm fans
• Bottom: 4x 140mm fans
• Underneath the radiator: 3x 180mm fans

If you have any specific suggestions for improving this setup, let me know. My primary goal is to efficiently and quietly cool an overclocked 4090 and CPU.

I was planning to flush the radiators with distilled water before installation. Is that sufficient, or should I use something else?

Apart from that, I don't see any other problems for the time being. But it's usually only when you're setting up that you realize that you've forgotten something or that the planning doesn't work the way you want it to.

I’m having trouble with some of the parts because I’m unsure about their dimensions and types. For example, like in this image.

I’ve listed one part, but I missed the other. I’m not sure if this is the part: https://shop.alphacool.com/en/shop/...eiszapfen-16/10mm-screw-on-nozzle-g1/4-chrome. I’d also like to replicate the water intake connection shown in the image.

Mostly, I’m concerned about whether I’ll have enough of everything.

Small personal recommendation. With this setup, I would go straight for 64GB. With a few things in the background and with some newer games, 32GB is slowly running out, I see it again and again on my system.

I’ll be going with 64GB (4x 16GB sticks), partly for the aesthetics but also because extra memory never hurts.

I’m open to any suggestions or advice you have. Every bit of guidance makes a big difference for me, and I really appreciate your help.

 

[Eddy]

I’ll go with Tec Protect 2 as you suggested. I was thinking of getting 3 liters—do you think that will be enough?

Should be enough, yes. If not, use a bit of destilled water to fill it up. Thats not a problem if its only a bit.

I think I misunderstood the Eiszapfen screw plugs. My idea was to have extra, visually appealing screws for any open ports, particularly on the distro plate. I screwed that up.

As I said, these do not fit on the Distroplate. Only the normal ones that are included anyway.

I’m following the configuration from the video. The plan is:

• Top: 4x 120mm fans
• Bottom: 4x 140mm fans
• Underneath the radiator: 3x 180mm fans

If you have any specific suggestions for improving this setup, let me know. My primary goal is to efficiently and quietly cool an overclocked 4090 and CPU.

I just wanted to point out that the UT60 with a single-sided fan assembly looks good, but you will have less performance than with an ST30 radiator. I would recommend the compromise of an XT45 radiator but then with fans on both sides. This delivers the best results in terms of performance and quiet operation.
But basically you can do the same as with the mod.

I was planning to flush the radiators with distilled water before installation. Is that sufficient, or should I use something else?

Thats enough, dont worry.

I’m having trouble with some of the parts because I’m unsure about their dimensions and types. For example, like in this image.

To be honest, i would not recommend this fitting. But you can find the sizes on the page of the product or in the datasheet: https://shop.alphacool.com/shop/ans...-verbinder-drehbar-g1/4-ag-auf-g1/4-ig-chrome
But i would use normal 90° Eiszapfen fittings. It's hard for me to explain here, but the fitting in the mod has some serious disadvantages. If it is incorrectly aligned, it can reduce the flow very significantly in the worst case.

Mostly, I’m concerned about whether I’ll have enough of everything.

Sorry, but as I said.... I'm pretty sure you'll end up missing something. In the 10 years I've been with this company, I've never seen anyone plan so well that they ordered everything in the first batch. Not a single one. Not customers, not modders, not influencers. Without exception, there was always a second order.

I’ll be going with 64GB (4x 16GB sticks), partly for the aesthetics but also because extra memory never hurts.

4 bars look better, but have some disadvantages, especially with AMD. You will achieve low timings and clock rates with 4 bars. I was lucky in my system that I got the Rams to 5600, but the timings are also rather poor. If you don't want to lose ~5% in performance, then I would use 2x 32GB.

 

[BrunoAFK]

Should be enough, yes. If not, use a bit of destilled water to fill it up. Thats not a problem if its only a bit.

As I said, these do not fit on the Distroplate. Only the normal ones that are included anyway.

I just wanted to point out that the UT60 with a single-sided fan assembly looks good, but you will have less performance than with an ST30 radiator. I would recommend the compromise of an XT45 radiator but then with fans on both sides. This delivers the best results in terms of performance and quiet operation.
But basically you can do the same as with the mod.


Thats enough, dont worry.

To be honest, i would not recommend this fitting. But you can find the sizes on the page of the product or in the datasheet: https://shop.alphacool.com/shop/ans...-verbinder-drehbar-g1/4-ag-auf-g1/4-ig-chrome
But i would use normal 90° Eiszapfen fittings. It's hard for me to explain here, but the fitting in the mod has some serious disadvantages. If it is incorrectly aligned, it can reduce the flow very significantly in the worst case.

Sorry, but as I said.... I'm pretty sure you'll end up missing something. In the 10 years I've been with this company, I've never seen anyone plan so well that they ordered everything in the first batch. Not a single one. Not customers, not modders, not influencers. Without exception, there was always a second order.

4 bars look better, but have some disadvantages, especially with AMD. You will achieve low timings and clock rates with 4 bars. I was lucky in my system that I got the Rams to 5600, but the timings are also rather poor. If you don't want to lose ~5% in performance, then I would use 2x 32GB.

Thank you for the information. I’m waiting for the first order to arrive, and once it does, I’ll order the recommended items and anything else that might be missing.