My Custom Water-Cooled AM5 Beast!
Hey everyone! After months of planning and a few late nights, I'm finally ready to share my latest project: a custom water-cooled build centered around AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X on an AM5 platform. I wanted a system that could handle intense gaming, demanding productivity tasks, and look absolutely stunning while doing it.
The Vision: Performance Meets Aesthetics
The goal was a clean, minimalist aesthetic with vibrant coolant colors. I opted for a black and white theme with subtle RGB lighting to highlight the components and the loop. Noise reduction was also a major factor, hence the decision to go full custom loop.
Component List:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-A GAMING WIFI
- RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 64GB (2x32GB) DDR5-6000 CL30
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition
- Storage: 2x Samsung 980 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD (RAID 0) + 1x Crucial MX500 4TB SATA SSD
- PSU: Corsair RM1000x Shift 1000W 80+ Gold
- Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO
The Water Cooling Loop:
This was the heart of the build. I spent ages planning the runs to keep them clean and efficient.
- CPU Block: EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM5 Nickel + Acetal
- GPU Block: EK-Quantum Vector² FE RTX 4090 D-RGB - Nickel + Acetal
- Radiators: 2x Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis 360GTS (Slim)
- Pump/Reservoir Combo: EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE 200 D5 PWM D-RGB - Acetal
- Fittings: Barrow G1/4" Compression Fittings (Black)
- Tubing: EK-HD Tube 12/16mm (Clear PETG)
- Coolant: EK-CryoFuel Clear Concentrate + Distilled Water
- Fans: Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INF 120 (x9)
Build Process & Challenges:
Mounting the GPU block required careful disassembly of the FE card, which was a bit nerve-wracking. Planning the radiator placement in the O11 Dynamic EVO was crucial to ensure good airflow. Bending the PETG tubes to achieve clean ninety-degree angles took practice and patience. The biggest challenge was leak testing – I ran the pump for 24 hours before powering on the components, and thankfully, no leaks were found!
Performance & Temperatures:
The results speak for themselves. Under full load (CPU stress test + GPU benchmark):
GPU Core Temps: 45-50°C
Ambient Temp: 22°C
This is significantly better than air cooling and allows the 7950X and 4090 to boost higher for longer periods. The noise level is also incredibly low, even under load.
Final Thoughts:
Building this system was a rewarding experience. The aesthetic is exactly what I envisioned, and the performance gains from the custom loop are substantial. I highly recommend a custom water-cooled setup for anyone looking to push their high-end components to their limits while maintaining quiet operation and stunning looks.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below!