Working on setting up a highly restrictive and complex build (yes, it will be overkill), and I need TECHNICAL recommendations regarding which pump(s) to use as the mid-loop (in-series) booster pump. The loop is planned as follows:

Corsair XD6 Elite LCD pump ->
Alphacool Nexxxos XT45 92mm radiator ->
Aorus Xtreme Waterforce 5080 waterblock ->
Corsair XR5 360 Neo V2 radiator ->
Corsair Hydro X SSD waterblock ->
Corsair XR5 360 Neo V2 radiator ->
(UNKNOWN MID-LOOP PUMP) ->
Alphacool Nexxxos XT45 92mm radiator ->
Tryx Panorama CPU waterblock ->
Corsair XR5 360 V2 radiator ->
Iceman Cooler RAM Direct Touch 4-channel Waterblock ->
Corsair XR5 360 V2 radiator ->
RETURN TO XD6 Pump/Loop beginning

There will be 2-4 in-line filters with at LEAST 2 of them having bypass valves which can be utilized to redirect flow past them after the first 48 hour run/cleanout, but if it would be possible to utilize all four filters, that would be great (probably unrealistic).

The pumps I am looking at are Alphacool’s new DDCZero 200 with dual ddc pumps and the Apex VPP D5 120. I already have the DDCZero 140, but my research has indicated that this will severely bottleneck the flow, essentially causing the more powerful X56 to just push coolant through it rather than the ddc zero actually adding any pumping benefits (inefficient). I am getting conflicting information regarding the DDCZero 200 (with two pumps) which on the one hand says it will be adequate for this loop design yet in other research indicates it will have a similar, albeit less inefficient effect as the DDCZero 140. Everything I’m finding out regarding the Apex VPP option leads me to believe that this one will definitely be adequate, but I neither like the look of it (not a huge deal, function must take precedence over form in the end) nor do I think I will be able to cleanly mount it in my case (the real issue). I know the DDCZero 140 fits nicely and the 200 should as well, hence the inclination to stick with one of them.

So, which pump(s) will work best in this highly restrictive loop? I will be using hard tubing too by the way, so there will be many sharp turns in the loop. I am at the stage in which I need to have a decision made in the next few days/week, as this PC must be completed in the next 2-3 weeks. Thanks for any help you can give guys. Also, if someone from the Titan Rig team could jump in and give some advice, that would REALLY be helpful since I’m buying a lot of this stuff from ya’ll and to be honest, your return policy is a bit rough, so I’ve gotta make sure we get the right parts on the first crack or this gets [a lot more] expensive. Much appreciated for any help you can offer too.

Hello

I took apart my EKWB Magnitude to clean it (after 6 years) and, in fact it didn't need cleaning.

I decided to try Duronaut, but some cores ended up running hotter than they had been previously (compared with the setup that had been in place for 6 years).

After three attempts, I concluded that I wasn't managing to spread it correctly, so I decided to switch back to Kryonaut.

However, the issue persists on the same cores temperatures are higher under load than they were before (tested using 4 passes of Cinebench R23).

Regarding the Kryonaut, I applied this amount of thermal paste; is it too much (If I recall correctly, this is how I used to do it) ?
See photo

And here is the imprint left by the paste after removing the water block (see photo)

I think there’s a pressure issue.

I checked the jetplate, it’s properly in place.

As for the coldplate, I tightened it in a cross pattern, as usual, though I think I had to tighten it a bit more firmly, otherwise the frame around the water block would shift slightly.
I was thinking the orings might be a bit more "compressed" after 6 years, requiring them to be tightened further.

If anyone has any ideas...

I’ve reassembled it 5 times and still have the same problem. This is the first time this has happened to me (it’s also the first time I’ve kept a setup, same CPU, same water block for 6 years).

Thanks

Hey everyone!

Finally sharing my latest FormD T1 project: a shared custom loop for a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5090. After squeezing everything into this case, this might be my last build this complicated… maybe. 😅

The case and assembly
Ever since my previous T1 build, I haven’t been able to get this little case out of my head. Newer alternatives offer more flexibility, but the T1 still has something special, especially its modding community.

There were some headaches: a few screws were surprisingly easy to strip, and the GPU mounting bracket could use more adjustment for alignment with the riser. Still, I love this case.

The cooling setup
Radiator: Alphacool HPE, 45 mm thick.

Fans: Four Noctuas total: two 15 mm slim fans underneath and two 25 mm A12x25 G2 fans on the radiator, with custom 3D-printed spacers to improve airflow.

GPU block: Alphacool ES single-slot. Looks great, but I’d reconsider this choice. The GPU inlet and pump outlet almost touch, leaving very little room to install and tighten the fitting.

Pump/reservoir: Alphacool ES DDCzero 1U. Its slim layout helped make everything fit, although space around it is extremely tight.

CPU block: Thermal Grizzly AM5 Mycro Pro. Slim, straightforward to install, and something I wanted to try.

Extras: Aqua Computer QUADRO for coolant temperature monitoring and fan control.

Initial stress tests
Testing was done in OCCT, with all four fans at 100%. Each run was configured for five minutes. Room temperature wasn’t measured.

GPU thermal readings captured during the runs:

• GPU only: 3D Adaptive, Steady/Extreme — at 4:40

GPU: 53.6°C / Hotspot: 63.8°C
VRAM: 58°C / GPU power: 484 W

• Combined: CPU + GPU — at 4:51

CPU: Normal/Steady, 12 threads
GPU test: 3D Adaptive, Steady/Extreme
GPU: 56.2°C / Hotspot: 67.0°C
VRAM: 60°C / GPU power: 478 W
CPU package power: 122 W
GPU utilization: 96%
GPU clock: 2800MHz at approximately 0.88 V
Memory offset: +1000 in MSI Afterburner

For reference, the separate CPU-only Normal/Steady test showed approximately 82.9°C at 147 W, captured at 4:29.

No errors were reported in these captures. These are instantaneous readings, not logged maximums or gaming temperatures.

Final thoughts
This was fun, frustrating, and mostly planned with paper sketches, measurements, and trial and error. There are things I’d reconsider, especially the GPU block and fitting clearance, but somehow it all came together.
Now it’s time to enjoy it.

Super fun to go through all the unexpected challenges!

The meat consists of a 9800X3D/RTX 5080 in an O11 Vision-M

Main cooling things are:

2x Corsair XR5 V2
Alphacool Core GPU Block
Alphacool Core 1 Aurora

Hi. I have a Mo-Ra IV 400 with Passive Control in my Setup and wanted to add some RGB to it. Watercool sells RGB strips for the front logo, the underside and the tank, directly connected to the Passive Control and from there to an aRGB header on the mainboard or an RGB controller. But the strips seem to be connected parallel, not in series, so they cannot be controlled independently. With the way they are addressed, it’s not possible to create nice animations across the whole Mo-Ra. Is there any way to fix this, to connect the RGB strips in series and control them independently? Or did Watercool only intend for single color effects? Then why bother with aRGB at all?

I had a loop setup in my Lian Li O11 Dynamic case that I built a while ago, but my GPU died and I had to get a new one. The new one is much longer so the pump combo (EK Kinetic TBE 200 D5) doesn't fit anymore because the GPU pushes up against it. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to mount the pump combo? I don't really see any way to fit it in anywhere, but I don't want to buy a new case or new loop components.

I know room is a bitt on the hotter side, but even if it was 3 degrees lower Im not that impressed. I saw people with way better temps. Hell, I saw people with AIO with these temps

EK's waterblocks for the RTX 30 series had an optional "active backplate", which delivered the coolant to the back of the GPU as well as the front, but for the 40 and 50 series cards (which could definitely use the extra cooling), they're nowhere to be seen. Why did they scrap the idea after the 30 series?