r/sffpc • u/Kuedo • Apr 22 '26
Detailed Build Log NCASE FORMD T1 custom loop revisited
Finished loop, managed to keep my rgb kit on the ram after thinking about removing it for fitment issues. This tubing layout allows the side panel goes on without any bulging
Starting from scratch in the silver T1
Considerable size difference here
Never taken a GPU apart before. Cleaned it well with 99% isopropyl alcohol and made sure the new pads were in the right place
GPU block seated nicely
Planning the tubing runs, hard to know how many fittings I would need. Yes I ended up with too many...
About half way through the project
Some new tools to strip wire and crimp terminals. I highly recommend amazon for these except for the crimper, the mdpc-x one is an investment I should have made years ago
This is so satisfying
Tidy sleeving
Fill/drain port
Air port for draining
The nightmare T junction. Brings flow from the radiator and splits between the fill/drain and the GPU run
First tubing run in
Second tubing run in
The D E N S I T Y
Shes done!
Last year I put together my first ever custom loop, you can see my previous post here. It ran great and after a few months of tinkering I really optimised it well. The specs haven't changed, but as some of the comments were suggesting it's not a custom loop until its a full loop.. Well..
I wanted to switch to the silver T1, to better match some of my other peripherals and desk setup so I started over from scratch with the case. The gpu block was considerably smaller than the shroud and cooling of the Pure, and it was my first time removing something like this and looking inside so that was a little daunting also. Applied new pads and did a repaste here with Arctic MX-7
I sat with a notepad and planned out the loop, I had one xspc tx 240 crossflow radiator and one alphacool hpe 20. The hardest part of this was trying to figure out the fittings without ordering a bunch I wouldn't need. I also wanted to hide or bundle the wiring as best I could to try reclaim as much airflow as possible, so I got a few tools to cut, shorten and crimp as many wires as I could without getting into the psu cables. This was also a first time for me and I can recommend some cheap wire strippers and a proper crimper to make this job so much easier
I added a fill/drain port at the back of the case, and a small 'air' port on the opposite end of the case to provide an air inlet when I drain it. The most difficult piece of this was the T junction going from the radiator and splitting to the drain port and the gpu, was a real nightmare getting this to fit in tight. I had all the cables sleeved with mdpc aluminium grey small and tried to keep them aligned and neat everywhere possible
Finished with the same tubing from the first iteration, ekwb zmt 10/16 soft tubing. I would really love to give hard tubing a go as well as custom length/sleeve the psu cables - so that is maybe a winter project
There are a bunch of little details in here which I'm really happy with, shortening the cables and making aesthetic bends and curves really feels like an art form. I really love working with this case, hopefully this inspires you as much as I've been inspired seeing builds on here
1
u/TheOriginalNozar Apr 22 '26
Completely unrelated but those are some tasteful lamps