Installing the Radiator
After the block we will install the radiator. Once installed the radiator will give us an idea of how much space we have left in the case to play with as well as how we are going to have to run tubing. Thanks to the genius engineer(s) at Phanteks installing the radiator is a simple process and can easily be removed again after installed to work on other parts.
Our Alphacool NexXoS XT45 Full Copper radiator has six ports all on the chamber end of the rad. You need to plug four of them with the included G1/4 port plugs.
Next placing our Phobya G-Silent 120mm fans in push pull we make sure everything lines up how we like it on the removeable radiator bracket. We orient the fans so they will be blowing air from inside the case up through the radiator and out the top of the case.
Satisfied with the orientation we select the shorter of the included screws since the metal we are attaching the fans through is so thin. Each corner of every fan is secured with the included screws and tightened with the included allen wrench.
Unfortunately the radiator only came with eight of the shorter screws and the longer ones are far too long. Lucky for us we’ve done this before and have lots of extras on hand, but this is something you will want to consider if it is your first time. Similar screw can be sourced from a local hardware store cheaply, the downside is typically only a silver finish is carried.
With all four fans fastened down we test fit the radiator in the top of the case. We find that although the rad assembly blocks sight of the top of the motherboard the Evolv ATX has plenty of width that will give us all the room we need behind it.
” …the DC12-400 has the inlet in the front and outlet up top. Because of that we are unable to have the reservoir feed directly into the top of the pump how we would have liked. ”
I’ve used EKWB’s version of the same pump; if I want to have a tube reservoir feed directly into the pump from the top, I just switch the orientation so that the inlet is at the top. There’s no law that states you can’t change the orientation to order to make the system work the way you want it to.
” Now pull the fitting to the end and tighten them until your fingers hurt. ”
After many builds using compression fittings I can attest to one’s fingertips being extremely sore after tightening all the fittings.
This time around; I’m going to be wearing latex gloves (the cheap yellow ones used for doing housework), and save my fingertips some unneeded pain.
Does the Gtx 970 Strix seem slightly pending or not?