Water Cooled Bucket List PC build for flight sim

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
, ,
1

I’m finally starting to buy parts for a proper PC for flight sim. This will be a slow process. MSFS is still buggy so I’ve sold my Xbox and started a piggy bank for building this PC.

Xbox was a relatively inexpensive way to try MSFS during Covid lockdowns a few years ago. Ultimately I want more immersion with triple monitors, yoke, pedals, etc. A long-term bucket-list investment, so I’m taking my time, starting with just the PC.

So far I’ve purchased an AMD 9950X3D - and now I need to build around it.

I’m seeking advice on options for water cooling, which will decide the size of case. Since I’m trying to go for top end CPU and GPU, I want all the benefits of water cooling to hopefully improve stability and longevity with lower temps, and quieter operation in a fairly small room.

Any and all advice welcome. Here’s my list so far:

  • CPU = AMD Ryzen 9 - 9950X3D ← only item I’ve purchased so far!
  • Board = MSI X870E Carbon Wifi
  • RAM = Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 96 GB (2 x 48) 6000 MT/S CL 32 KF560C32RSK2-96
  • Storage = Samsung Pro 990 4TB M.2
  • PSU = Asrock PG-1600G Platinum ATX3.1
  • GPU = … I eventually want triple screens, so maybe RXT 5090, if they ever become available at a reasonable price?

I’m stuck trying to figure out the case / radiator / fan / pump choices. I only care about function and not looks!

I initially thought for simplicity, 2 separate AIOs for CPU and GPU, example:

  • Arctic Liquid Freezer III for CPU
  • MSI Suprim RTX 5090 Liquid Cooled
    …But the various reviews show limited temperature improvement with the AIO GPU… the real cooling advantages seem to come from custom loops.

In comparison, JayzTwoCents on Youtube recently showed a water cooled build with a 9950X3D and RTX4090, with amazingly cool temperatures and quiet fans.

  • Case = Phanteks NV9, which is HUGE…
  • Radiators = Nemesis GTR 420mm x 54mm
  • Fans = BeQuiet! Light Wings 140mm x 25mm PWM (and reverse blades)
  • Pump = Singularity Universal 420mm Distro/Res/Pump

Is that way over the top? I understand how thicker radiators = more cooling, and 140mm fans move more air and can be quieter than 120mm. But maybe standard thickness 360 radiators would be just fine? There are several cases which can accommodate 2 or 3 360 radiators, such as:

  • Antec C8
  • Lian-Li O11 Dynamic Evo
  • Phanteks NV7

For Pump / Reservoir, I like the simplicity of the Corsair XD5, with a large reservoir, and then their fans all snap together simplifying cabling and control. I think I would choose flexible tubing to start, as this isn’t for show.

Can a single XD5 pump push coolant through 3 x 360 radiators?

At this point I’m way outside of my limited experience with water cooling and cases. For example, it seems the best advice is to set your pump to run at a steady 80% speed, not 100%, and with PWM it goes up and down too much based on momentary spikes in CPU or GPU, which wears out the pump faster. So I want to make sure I pick a pump with the right functionality for the longer term. This is point where I really need to ask advice from those with experience!

Thanks in advance!

2

Custom watercooled systems look awesome and they run really chill (if the sizing is done right). BUT I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t have a lot of experience with them. Maintenance is a pain. If, for any reason, you need to clean/change something, you will need to disassemble everything. At least that was my prior experience with them. Also, the cost, everyhing costs a lot. And finally, it’s a bit risky, custom systems are more likely to leak than AIOs.

I would recommend AIOs instead. They are easier, cheaper and they can look really good (not as good, but still good).

1 Like
3

OK, thanks for the input.

I’m not doing it for looks, only for functionality. The CPU and GPU run hot in flight sim, and the benefits of lower temperatures, and quieter operation, are attractive enough that I’m at least considering the custom water loop route. I’m tired of not having enough horsepower (Xbox). For my work computer, I recently went way over spec, and love having the limitations removed. So I want the same for this entertainment / learning flight sim build.

I’m mechanically inclined and not afraid to learn all the details, do some trial runs, and take my time to get it right. It’s an investment.

But certainly I’m aware of the risks you bring up. I would use soft flexible tubing to make things a bit easier, and plan an appropriately positioned drain and fill tubes, etc. for maintenance.

My question is really IF you were going to do water cooling, how would you approach it.

Obviously maximum radiator area is best, but is 3x 360 enough for 9950X3D + RTX5090, or better to go with 420, larger case… can pumps handle that volume, etc. I want to have a better idea of what works, what doesn’t, and what is a waste of money…

Thanks!

1 Like
4

3x 360mm is more than enough. It’s always about airflow X radiator area. You can always use more fans (pull and push) or higher RPM (not ideal if you want something quieter). The CPU will get hotter no matter what, but it won’t reach the limits. The 9950X3D runs colder than the non 3D versions (lower clocks). I doubt you will see temps above 55C (running the sim) with 3 x 360mm radiators. You will see higher temps when stressing the cpu.

About the pump, just check the max flow. I believe the pump will be fine.

I would personally go big, get a Corsair 9000D and you will have more than enough space to have a lot of airflow inside your case and also install as many radiators as you want.

Corsair 9000D: CORSAIR 9000D RGB AIRFLOW Super Full-Tower PC Case

image
image721×724 60.1 KB

5

OK thanks, I’ll check it out.

If EK Water Blocks ever recovers - financially, and reputationally - their EK Nexe system looked pretty innovative for making water cooling more standardized and accessible, at least as a concept. The idea being all fittings are snap-in and rotate, and all the tubes are factory made at various lengths so all you have to do is connect, instead of measuring, cutting, and hoping…

It would make building a water-cooled PC much more “standard” and easier especially for non-experts.

6

I have found the Be Quiet! CPU coolers to be very good - like the name suggests, the fans and pumps are quiet so you can get a lot of performance without them becoming obtrusive. The latest Silent Loop comes in sizes up to 420mm, and they all have a refill port and come shipped with a bottle of coolant for topping up. Get one in the right (max) size for your chosen case and you’re literally good for years and years.

I’ve had coolers from Corsair and Asus in the past but I would avoid these now, primarily because if you want full functionality and RGB control over them, you are forced to use either iCue or Armoury Crate. Both of these are clunky abominations of bloatware, and unreliable to boot.

By comparison, the Be Quiet ones sync directly with your motherboard and / or case without the need for any additrional software.

If you do go with a different solution, they can always be upgraded / improved in future with a change to Be quiet or Noctua fans.

1 Like
7

I originally built my system with the following components:

Corsair 5000X RGB case
Ryzen 5800X3D with an EK waterblock
Air-cooled 3090 Ti
Corsair XD5 pump/reservoir
Top-mount 240mm x 28mm radiator using standard case fans in a push configuration.
Soft tubing with high quality fittings, include a QD fitting that allows easy draining for annual flush/fill.

This all worked fine, but I soon learned that my 3090 Ti was a furnace, so I decided to buy an EK GPU waterblock that was on sale, and put the CPU on a Thermalright Peerless Assassin air cooler. It was fairly easy to swap the tubes and fittings around, cutting new tubing as needed.

That also worked fine. Then last year I upgraded my CPU to a 7950X3D (along with an X670E motherboard, DDR5, and bigger P/S. I sold the Thermalright cooler with the 5800X3D and DDR4, upgrading to a Dark Rock Pro CPU air cooler. I also upgraded to a 240mm x 40mm radiator with high static pressure fans for the GPU (temps weren’t quite where I wanted them with the thin radiator and standard fans.) I didn’t go with a 360mm radiator because, at the time, I had a top-mount, zero-RPM fan taking up 40mm at the top of the case.

I’ve since gotten rid of that fan, and could swap the 240mm rad for a 360mm model. But with just the GPU being liquid-cooled, there’s no need.

I’m happy with the combination of an air-cooled CPU and liquid-cooled GPU. Temps are just fine (around 60°C during flight using fairly modest fan curves.) And my case temps and motherboard (i.e. RAM, SSD, and VRM) temps are all excellent, even under heavy thermal loads. Getting that GPU heat out of the case made a huge difference.

The 9950X3D, thanks to its improved L3 cache design, requires even less cooling than my 7950X3D, and a good air cooler would work just fine.

The 240mm radiator on a custom loop keeps the GPU nice and cool - particularly with the thicker radiator and high static-fans. But a 360mm radiator would work just as well.
Careful though…the thick radiator I got b-a-r-e-l-y fits between the motherboard’s top edge and the top of the case. In fact, I have to remove the screws holding the radiator in place in order to plug the 2x6 pin CPU power connectors in.

As for the pump… I bought the Corsair XD5 for simplicity and budget (and not really knowing much at the time. Reviews were generally positive, and overall it was a good choice.)

As MagicQuasar has said, I need to run iCue software to get the RGB working. I use iCue to control RGB for all my fans, as well as for the reservoir. I also use it for my Corsair wireless headphones. If you are not interested in a ‘disco’ computer (i.e. no RGB) and don’t have other Corsair wireless components (keyboard, mouse, headphones) then you could plug the pump into your motherboard and be just fine without that software.

Good luck and happy flying!

2 Likes
8

I do like the BeQuiet fan specs, and don’t need RGB, although I suppose it’s useful to be able to glance to see if the lights are on and things are working…

The Silent Loop is an all-in-one closed loop just for the CPU, but I’m doing this exploration to see if I can reasonably build a loop to include both CPU and GPU. It’s mainly the heat from the GPU I’m concerned about, especially with the trend towards higher power draw (600W).

The few AIO liquid coolers for 5000 series GPUs seem to only improve temperatures a few degrees over air cooled. But from what I see others testing on youtube and reddit, custom water cooling CPU and GPU loops can really keep things running cool if done right.

9

I’m guessing the minimum radiator one would need for a 5000 series + CPU are 2x 360mm at regular thickness, with good fans and a reservoir with plenty of coolant to absorb the heat. I assume I’d need / want a minimum of 3x 360mm.

And yes, the case fitting is what made me pause. the LARGE cases, like the Phanteks NV7 and NV9 put the board much lower down, leaving plenty of headroom for radiators. But I’m not sure I want such a huge case.

I also like the simple Corsair XD5 pump and reservoir, but want to make sure I can manually adjust the pump speed, and not have it fluctuating.

Since I have no PC to fly on, I’ve got lots of time to learn about cooling options. Thanks for the tips.

10

I’m telling you - you don’t need anything but a good air cooler for that 9950X3D. You just don’t.
And a single 360mm rad with good fans is all you need for the GPU.

As for the XD5, my pump is controlled in BIOS. I can set it to run on a curve, or a flat line.
I choose a modest curve, and my 3090 Ti (which draws 450W at full bore) seldom runs at more than half speed, while keeping temps very reasonable. The exception is if I’m running a GPU benchmark, like Heaven. Even then, I doubt it hits 1500 RPM.

Most of the time (like in the sim @ 4K Ultra) the flowmeter shows that it’s running about 1/3 of its 2250 RPM maximum. And that’s with a 240mm rad.

1 Like
11

With the RGB, I was really referring to the pump block, as the majority of them come with some kind of lighting and it’s good to be able to control / sync that with any other lighting you have.

I have an Asus 420mm CPU cooler which was very much needed for my i9 13900 KSS running MFS, but since I junked Armoury Crate in disgust the lighting on it can’t be controlled or tuned off, and it looks a bit rubbish compared to everything else.

You definitely can build a cooling loop to cover both CPU and GPU with time, research, patience and budget, but unless you’re playing very seriously or going for records, I question whether it would be necessary for the listed PC spec in MFS.

@BegottenPoet228 knows what he speaks of, and if he finds a Be Quiet! air cooler is more than enough for the 9950X3D then I would believe it.

When it comes to the GPU, you don’t see so many AIO cooling solutions for those as you do for CPU’s, and that’s most likely because they aren’t really needed. I have an MSI RTX 4090, and given a case with plenty of room for air circulation and a brace of good quality high performance 140mm fans (4 x be quiet Silent Wings PWM Pro 4), the GPU never exceeds the high 70’s with it’s own fans in the mix.

I use the most excellent (and free!) Fan Control app to run all of the fans in my PC, apart from the one in the PSU. The app controls the fans on the GPU, case, CPU cooler & CPU pump, and you can set curves and limits for each one individually, and link them to respond together to certain triggers. If either my CPU or GPU starts to get hot, all the case fans ramp up a bit to bring more fresh air into the case and so temps drop much quicker. It works very well despite me using a CPU which gets way hotter than your proposed AMD would.

Definitely worth considering if there is an easier way than getting a degree in plumbing. :wink:

12

I agree that I didn’t need to liquid-cool my GPU, as its 3 fans did what they were supposed to do. And my case, with its 3 front / 1 rear / 3 side disco lighting PVM fans, did a perfectly adequate job of removing heat.

I just wasn’t happy with it. It’s more of a ‘feel good’ thing having the case (and especially VRM) temps be as low as they are now that all that 3090 Ti’s heat is being pushed out the top, while the case fans remain nice and quiet.

Bonus: I can set my coffee cup on top and keep it warm. :rofl:

1 Like
13

Ok thanks for all the great advice.

I’ll probably do what everyone recommends: a simple AIO for CPU, let the GPU cool with it’s own integrated fans, and I’ll pick a case that could accommodate radiators if I later choose to go that route.

I do want it to run cool. I can’t help but think 3 screens will push up temps on the GPU, and then it’s going to be loud. Since water cooling a GPU seems to involve adding the water block oneself anyway, I can always do that later if my bank manager approves :rofl:

And having looked a lot of options, the Corsair iCue system does seem to be pretty good - I like that it has temp sensors in the fans, the CPU cooler, and the pump, etc.

But I definitely watched too many youtube videos - I’m amazed how complex some setups can get. By the time I found myself looking at the Thermaltake liquid immersion cases, and the Mo-Ra IV wall-mounted external radiators, I knew I’d gone too far.

At some point, it’s probably easier to just buy a plane.

14

LOL

My mind was blown the first time I saw an immersion case.
Still does. I get it from a physics standpoint. But it’s wild.

I’m not a liquid-cooling expert, but I think you’d need to be careful with multiple radiators linked together in series with a Corsair XD5 (or any of the cheaper pump/reservoir combos. You might run into pressure drop problems. I’ve seen videos of 3X radiator setups, but they all used a separate high-volume pump with a distribution plate. Much more complicated than I wanted to deal with.

15

FYI, Corsair says the XD5 pump delivers head pressure of 3.9 meters, and can handle 3 radiators. I think the D5 pumps all come from 1 or 2 manufacturers anyway (patented) so they’re likely all the same spec.

https://help.corsair.com/hc/en-us/articles/360029363971-Hydro-X-Custom-cooling-FAQ#h_8cc59bfe-455d-4230-bdb0-bd3ea170d0d8

16

That’s a bit vague (3 radiators? OK, but are they three 120mm radiators, three 240mm radiators, three 480mm radiators?)

What you posted is promising news, however. Maybe I’m overestimating the pressure drop, or underestimating the XD5’s capabilities. Thanks for the link!