KB 019256 - Key Planning Steps Before Building a Custom Loop Workstation
When making a custom liquid-cooling loop workstation, you need to carefully plan for things like heat load, case layout, component compatibility, and long-term maintenance. Based on advice from experts and real-life experience as a builder, here is a clear, organized checklist.
Key Planning Steps
1. Define Your Hardware & Heat Load
Understanding your components determines radiator size, pump
strength, and loop complexity.
- CPU model & expected power draw
- GPU(s) TDP (especially if using multiple GPUs)
- Overclocking plans
- Total heat output → helps size radiators (e.g., 450–500W for
CPU+GPU setups)
Workstation CPUs (Threadripper, Xeon, EPYC) and pro
GPUs (RTX A5000, 4090, etc.) generate significant heat: plan for radiators
accordingly.
2. Choose the Right Case
Your case determines radiator support, pump/reservoir
placement, and tube routing.
Look for:
- Space for multiple radiators (360mm or 420mm recommended)
- Pump/reservoir mounting options
- Good airflow and dust filtration
- Cable & tube management space
- Case selection is one of the biggest factors in loop
planning.
Case and other peripheral considerations for different configurations
3. Select Cooling Components
| Component | What to Consider |
| Radiators | Thickness, fin density, number of units |
| Pump | D5 vs DDC depending on loop restriction |
| Reservoir | Combo units save space |
| Water Blocks | CPU block, GPU block, VRM block (optional) |
| Tubing | Soft vs hard tubing |
| Fittings | Compression, angled, rotary |
| Coolant | Clear vs. colored maintenance intervals |
- D5 is best for most loops: high flow, quiet, cool-running, and long lifespan.
- DDC is best for very restrictive loops: higher pressure, compact size, but it runs hotter and louder.
4. Plan Loop Order & Routing
While loop order is flexible, the reservoir pump must always
be direct.
Plan:
- Clean tube runs
- Minimal sharp bends
- Accessibility for draining and filling
- Aesthetics vs practicality (both matter)
5. Radiator Capacity Planning
General guideline:
- At least 240–360mm radiator per major component (CPU or GPU)
- More radiators = quieter fans and lower temps
- Dual 360mm radiators or thick 420mm radiator
- Push/pull fan setups (optional)
6. Maintenance Expectations
Custom loops require:
- Coolant replacement every 6–12 months
- Dust cleaning
- Occasional draining & flushing
- Monitoring for pump noise or flow issues
This is more work than AIOs but offers better thermals and
silence.
7. Aesthetic Planning (Optional)
- Tube material (acrylic, PETG, soft)
- RGB lighting
- Coolant color
- Clean symmetry in layout
8. Compatibility Checks
Before buying anything, confirm:
- GPU block compatibility with your exact model
- Motherboard clearance for fittings
- Radiator thickness vs case space
- Pump/reservoir mounting options
9. Sketch or Mock‑Up Your Loop
Many builders:
- Draw the loop on paper
- Use online configurators
- Dry‑fit components before cutting tubing
This avoids costly mistakes.
DRAW.IO for the loop configuration
Related Articles
KB 812394 - Workstation Crashing with Blue Screen
? KB Article: Workstation Crashing with Blue Screen – Resolved Issue Description A recently delivered workstation was reported to be experiencing frequent Blue Screen (BSOD) errors, particularly when the user worked on heavy design files. These ...Stage of Project Planning in project management
Project planning is a crucial stage in project management that involves defining the project scope, objectives, and the detailed plan for how the project will be executed. This stage helps ensure that the project is well-organized, on track, and that ...KB 277024 - Keyboard Enter key Not Working
Keyboard Enter Key Not Working – Resolved After System Update Product: ASUS ACX11-004734PT: ASUS All-in-One (AIO) computers Issue: Keyboard Enter button not working. Cause: The issue was caused due to pending system updates which affected the ...KB 890001 - How to Unbind Windows key from Windows 11
How to Unbind Windows key from Windows 11 In Windows 11, there are several techniques for unbinding the Windows key from its default operations. One popular option is to change and edit the registry, although this should be done with caution. ...KB 906003 - How to add custom IAM Policies to Users in AWS
Introduction IAM (Identity and Access Management) in AWS (Amazon Web Services) allows you to control access to your resources securely. To manage access permissions effectively, it's crucial to update IAM policies for users as your requirements ...
Recent Articles
KB-630208 | How to use Find and Locate to search for files in Linux
Purpose To provide Linux administrators and Field Engineers with guidance on using the find and locate utilities to efficiently search for files and directories within a Linux filesystem based on criteria such as name, type, size, timestamps, ...KB-630164 | How to use rsync to Synchronize Files
Purpose To provide a clear and practical procedure for using the rsync utility to synchronize files and directories between local systems and remote hosts, including push and pull operations, while preserving file attributes and optimizing data ...KB-630107 | How to create a Linux swap file
Purpose To provide Field Engineers and Linux administrators with a standardized procedure for creating, configuring, and validating a Linux swap file. This procedure helps ensure sufficient virtual memory is available when physical RAM is exhausted ...MSI All-in-One (AIO) PC – Physical Damage Policy for Warranty Claims
MSI All-in-One (AIO) PC – Physical Damage Policy for Warranty Claims MSI's standard warranty does not cover physical or accidental damage to an All-in-One (AIO) PC. If the damage is determined to be caused by external factors rather than a ...KB 134833 - Troubleshooting NVSM Alert NV-CPU-XX – Unrecoverable CPU Internal Error
Purpose This document provides a general troubleshooting procedure for the NVIDIA System Management (NVSM) alert NV-CPU-XX, which indicates that a CPU has reported an internal error. The article outlines how to verify whether the alert represents an ...
Popular Articles
CP Plus Camera and NVR Configuration
NVR Configuration The CP Plus Pro Series of NVRs have been meticulously designed for providing you with upgraded performance and higher recording quality in your IP video surveillance solution. The robust processor that has been inculcated in this ...KB 775235 - Kerberos Authentication – Overview
What is Kerberos? Kerberos is a secure authentication method used in our Active Directory (AD) environment (mbuzztech.com). It allows users to: Access multiple systems without re-entering passwords (Single Sign-On – SSO) Log in once Where We Use It ...How to Remove and Reinstall NVIDIA Drivers on Ubuntu
This article provides step by step guide to completely remove existing NVIDIA drivers and reinstall specific version of the NVIDIA driver on the Ubuntu system Prerequisites Administrative (sudo) access to the Ubuntu system. Internet access to ...KB 692001 - Personal Computers and Servers - Classification and Point of Contact
We can classify the computers that MBUZZ handles based on their form-factor as below: Tower Workstations, Desktops, Gaming PCs and SFF (Small form factor) PCs fall under this category. These are computers people would use on a desk and rarely move. ...KB 298031 - M.2 SSD Tier List
The sequential read and write speeds, which are usually the most advertised number, are not a proper benchmark of real-world performance or the quality of an SSD. This article categorizes and tiers SSDs based on factors like the type of NAND flash, ...