Epic PC Build: Upgrading to the HAVN HS420 Case

Initial Build and Challenges

• 💡 The original plan was to use the HAVN HS420 case, but due to delays, the build started in a BeQuiet Light Base 900.
• ⚠️ Room temperatures were warmer than ideal, leading to higher loop temperatures, prompting a rebuild.
• 🚀 The new build aims to utilize the HAVN HS420 case to accommodate larger 420mm radiators for improved cooling.

Component Upgrades and Unboxing

• 📦 A significant care package from Thermal Grizzly arrived, including an engineering sample of a CPU block and a retail version of a GPU block.
• 🛠️ New radiators (Corsair XR5 420 V2 and XR7 360 V2) and QX140 RGB fans were acquired, though there were issues with the fan order (wrong color and quantity).
• 💧 A distro plate from Singularity Computers designed for the HAVN HS420 case was unboxed, with consideration given to using a traditional cylinder reservoir instead.

Case Modification and Assembly

• 🔩 Custom modifications were required for the HAVN HS420 case, including drilling and tapping new holes to mount the distro plate with fans.
• 🔌 Extensive wiring was completed, utilizing Corsair's iCUE LINK system for fan and RGB control, with a focus on clean cable management.
• 💧 The water cooling loop was plumbed, featuring a complex routing with rotary fittings and custom bends to accommodate the components and distro plate.

Testing and Performance Results

• 🧪 A vacuum fill was performed to efficiently remove air from the loop, followed by a leak test.
• 📊 Thermal testing showed a significant improvement, with GPU core temperatures dropping by 10°C compared to the previous build in the Light Base 900.
• 📈 The new configuration with larger radiators (dual 420mm vs. dual 360mm) provided a 36% increase in radiator cooling volume, leading to better thermal equilibrium and overall performance.

Final Showcase and Reflections

• ✨ The completed build features a visually striking aesthetic with extensive RGB lighting and clean tubing runs.
• ⚠️ A critical error was discovered: missing thermal pads on VRAM chips, necessitating a partial disassembly and re-application.
• ✅ Despite the challenges, the rebuild into the HAVN HS420 case was deemed successful and worth the effort, achieving significantly lower temperatures.