Because the PC market continues its progress, quite a lot of firms are working to make entry simpler for brand spanking new PC builders. One such firm is Corsair, who needs to provide even essentially the most novice of PC avid gamers an opportunity to construct the customized machine of their goals. That dream is changing into a actuality with Corsair’s customized liquid cooling package.
Whereas Corsair has lengthy supplied liquid cooling options for PC house owners, it’s all the time been in an à la carte fashion. However Corsair is now making customized liquid cooling extra accessible by offering full starter kits to assist builders simply create distinctive loops. Retailing for $479.99 USD in both white or black, the Hydro X Sequence iCUE XH303i RGB Professional Customized Cooling Package takes the guesswork out of getting began with a liquid CPU cooling setup for AMD AM4 and Intel LGA 1200/115X sockets.
The whole lot you want… virtually
The Hydro X Sequence iCUE XH303i RGB Professional Customized Cooling Package comes with every part you should get began along with your first customized cooling loop.
Included within the package are the next:
- XC7 RGB Professional CPU cooling block
- XR5 360mm radiator
- XD3 Pump/Reservoir
- Three SP120 RGB Elite followers
- Corsair iCUE Commander Professional
- RGB LED fan hub
- Six XT Hardline tubes with 16 complete fittings
- XT Hardline Bending Package
- XL8 Clear coolant
- 250 ml filling bottle
Whereas this listing would possibly look like it covers every part you want, there are some belongings you’ll must have available to correctly construct your loop. The plain is a screwdriver package for putting in the followers, pump, and different elements. One not-so-obvious device that you could be not understand you’ll want is a warmth gun for bending the tubing. Fortunately, if you happen to don’t have one, they run nearly $25 USD at most {hardware} shops.
Getting your construct on
While you first open the field, there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll end up a bit overwhelmed with every part included. As a result of it is a full package relatively than a easy all-in-one resolution, every part is packaged individually. Which means you’ll have a field for every fan, the radiator, the pump, and so forth.
There’s rather a lot to unpack whenever you open the primary field.
When you get every part opened from the package, it’s time to cry at how a lot there really is to place collectively. Okay, it’s actually not that a lot, however once more, for a newbie it’d really feel that means. Talking of newcomers, put together for trial and error whenever you begin to construct, particularly when attending to the latter steps of bending the tubes.
The very first thing you’ll need to do is draw and format the way you need the elements to take a seat. Clearly, the CPU block place is about, however deciding on the place to position the reservoir and radiator will make all of the distinction within the complexity of your bends afterward. A phrase of recommendation, the newer you might be, the easier it is best to goal on your format to be. The very last thing you need is to have a format the place you make advanced bends that you simply aren’t prepared for. Belief me after I say: the easier, the higher.
Professional Tip: Drawing out your format on paper goes a good distance in the direction of making set up simpler.
It’s a sequence of tubes
After you have your format deliberate, the following step is to plan your tubing format. As somebody who’s finished a number of softline cooling setups, transferring to hardline is not any joke. I don’t need to sugarcoat issues. That is the place it may get tedious, irritating, and, fairly frankly, flip some folks off. You solely get six tubes within the package, and changing them can get dear if you happen to want extra. However don’t let this scare you away, as a result of the outcomes are price it. Take your time, measure, bend, and lower.
When beginning, don’t be afraid to make a mistake. If that is your first time utilizing hardline tubing, there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll screw up in some unspecified time in the future. That shouldn’t discourage you. As an alternative, use the errors as a studying level to get higher as you progress ahead. Once more, don’t rush. Measure your distances after which measure two and even three extra instances. After you get your measurements down, it’s time to bend. For this step, you’ll want the warmth gun and endurance.
Pictured is the hardline tubing bending device (Picture credit score: Corsair).
With the XT Hardline Bending Package you get a 30cm silicone rod, which you place into the tubes whereas heating so as to keep away from collapsing the acrylic-based tube when bending. To warmth the hardline tubes, transfer the bend space forwards and backwards whereas rotating. Keep away from holding the tubing too near the warmth gun, as you may doubtlessly burn your self and trigger injury to the tubing. As soon as it will get to the correct temperature, slowly bend it into place. The XT Hardline Bending Package comes with a bending device, however I discovered it simpler to get the bends I wished by free-handing it. That’s purely primarily based on desire, although.
After you make your numerous bends and allow them to cool and solidify into place, it’s time to chop. The bending package additionally comes with a clamp and noticed to make the cuts you should make your elements match. On the expense of feeling like a damaged report, I’ll reiterate that you should take your time with the cuts. It’s additionally essential to notice that it’s all the time higher to chop a bit too lengthy relatively than too brief. In any other case, your tubing gained’t attain the coupling sockets at each ends of your tubing run. You’ll then have to start out over with one other piece of tubing and do your bends yet again.
To put in the tubes, you’ll separate the fittings and put one half on the tube and screw the opposite aspect into the CPU cooling block/reservoir housing. Merely push the tube in, after which screw the fittings again collectively. As soon as your bends are finished and also you’re happy along with your cuts and matches, rinse them in distilled water to filter out any particles or undesirable supplies left over.
Professional Tip: At all times do your reducing after you make your bends.
That is my loop. There are various prefer it, however this one is mine.
Ultimate steps
After you will have your tubes formed and put in, you’re able to refill the reservoir. For a lot of, that is the scariest step since you’re pouring liquid into an space the place there are costly parts. Simply pour sluggish and also you’ll be fantastic, although it doesn’t damage to cowl delicate parts beneath the reservoir with a sheet of plastic to permit for secure runoff.
Make one remaining verify to make sure your plugs are in and your seals are as safe as doable. Then, merely take the filling bottle and use it to start out filling your reservoir. At this level, you’ll need to make it possible for the one factor plugged into the facility provide (PSU) is the pump by way of the Molex connection. Disconnect each different element, like your motherboard and GPU. You also needs to set up the jumper to the 24-pin motherboard connection of your PSU.
Flip in your PSU and watch for the primary little bit of water from the reservoir to be virtually gone, then instantly flip it off. Examine for any leaks earlier than filling up the reservoir once more. Ought to you don’t have any points, fill the reservoir once more and run the system for about 24 hours to filter out any air pockets after which lock the seals.
Lastly, cry tears of pleasure. You’ve accomplished your first customized cooling loop with hardline tubing. And now you even have the choice so as to add extra afterward if you wish to cool your GPU and even your M.2 NVMe SSD.
Corsair’s choice to easily take liquid cooling parts it already sells and bundle them up as a “Getting Began” package is one which makes you surprise why it hasn’t been finished earlier than. It opens up extra accessibility for customers that don’t know the place to start. As issues transfer ahead, it’s undoubtedly an space the place Corsair might put collectively even bigger kits for much more in-depth cooling options.
