Graphics Card Support
Virtually any single or double slot water cooled graphics card up to 320mm long will fit.
Any production width graphics card will fit thanks to the adjustable PCI mount.
Most graphics cards can be run with the standard "up/down" fittings as they peer over the motherboard, some cards might require angled adapters from EK or Barrow.
The Picture below shows the 1080ti GPU in the highest position. The fittings are easily accessed above the motherboard with plenty of clearance for the fans.
Any production width graphics card will fit thanks to the adjustable PCI mount.
Most graphics cards can be run with the standard "up/down" fittings as they peer over the motherboard, some cards might require angled adapters from EK or Barrow.
The Picture below shows the 1080ti GPU in the highest position. The fittings are easily accessed above the motherboard with plenty of clearance for the fans.
Adjustable PCI Height
The above picture shows the GPU in the highest configuration. It can be lowered 14.5mm or 27mm.
Running the GPU lower behind the motherboard requires the use of rotary or angled "bridge" adapters. EK, Barrow and others make suitable adapters.
I.e. your tubing can run up over the motherboard or through the SSD cage if not using 2.5" SSDs. This allows you to use series airflow fans in the top of the case for extreme performance.
The pictures below show the adjustable PCI height along with the adjustable covers to reduce air leakage.
Carotid was designed before the release of the RTX 3090 and 6900XT, fitment of these cards will be tested and ensured before production begins.
Running the GPU lower behind the motherboard requires the use of rotary or angled "bridge" adapters. EK, Barrow and others make suitable adapters.
I.e. your tubing can run up over the motherboard or through the SSD cage if not using 2.5" SSDs. This allows you to use series airflow fans in the top of the case for extreme performance.
The pictures below show the adjustable PCI height along with the adjustable covers to reduce air leakage.
Carotid was designed before the release of the RTX 3090 and 6900XT, fitment of these cards will be tested and ensured before production begins.
Motherboard and Waterblock Support
Carotid only supports water cooled mini-ITX (ITX) motherboards.
The sub-frame uses 6mm standoffs with the frame only covering the edges of the motherboard. Rear m.2 drives will fit if they are made to standard ATX specification, behind the board they will receive plenty of airflow.
Measuring from the base of the motherboard to the included heat exchanger there is 80mm of clearance. So the combined thickness of your CPU or Monoblock, angled fittings and compression fittings must not exceed 80mm. This is ample room for the majority of builds. Some very thick pipes will not fit.
There are extra holes for cable management with cable ties.
The sub-frame uses 6mm standoffs with the frame only covering the edges of the motherboard. Rear m.2 drives will fit if they are made to standard ATX specification, behind the board they will receive plenty of airflow.
Measuring from the base of the motherboard to the included heat exchanger there is 80mm of clearance. So the combined thickness of your CPU or Monoblock, angled fittings and compression fittings must not exceed 80mm. This is ample room for the majority of builds. Some very thick pipes will not fit.
There are extra holes for cable management with cable ties.
PSU Support
Carotid is a SFFPC specifically designed to accept SFX-L PSUs that are 130mm long. (Models with protruding plugs as shown work just fine.)
SFX-L PSUs use larger fans than their SFX counterparts so are considerably quieter.
A Standard SFX powersupply can also be used but is not recommended as you will have to partially cover the bottom intake hole.
There is plenty of room behind the pump bracket for cable management with a SFX-L.
The intake air hole for the PSU is m4 threaded to allow aftermarket fitment of a fan filter if desired.
See the FAQ for why they're not included.
SFX-L PSUs use larger fans than their SFX counterparts so are considerably quieter.
A Standard SFX powersupply can also be used but is not recommended as you will have to partially cover the bottom intake hole.
There is plenty of room behind the pump bracket for cable management with a SFX-L.
The intake air hole for the PSU is m4 threaded to allow aftermarket fitment of a fan filter if desired.
See the FAQ for why they're not included.
Water Cooling Pass Through Bulkheads
Carotid features 4 pass through blanks at the rear.
It is recommended to remove the blanking plugs and use 20mm pass through bulkheads, but you could also cut slits in the grommets to pass your tubing through.
There are 4 holes so you can choose a layout that best suits your needs: run CPU/GPU in parallel, fit fill/drain ports, external temperature monitoring, flow redirect, even run an entire separate computers thermal load through carotid simultaneously!
Get Creative.
The included heat exchanger uses standard female G1/4" threads.
Personally I will run the loop in series with 1 intake, 1 output. Then run a 3 way splitter directly at the internal pump intake to an external fill tap through one of the bulkheads allowing fast system filling. All with an external drain port.
To build in the system you can "short circuit" the external water fittings and leak test before installing the included heat exchanger to test for internal leaks before completing the build. Something like the EK Leak tester is also a good option.
(The Carotid Heat Exchanger is factory leak tested before sale)
It is recommended to remove the blanking plugs and use 20mm pass through bulkheads, but you could also cut slits in the grommets to pass your tubing through.
There are 4 holes so you can choose a layout that best suits your needs: run CPU/GPU in parallel, fit fill/drain ports, external temperature monitoring, flow redirect, even run an entire separate computers thermal load through carotid simultaneously!
Get Creative.
The included heat exchanger uses standard female G1/4" threads.
Personally I will run the loop in series with 1 intake, 1 output. Then run a 3 way splitter directly at the internal pump intake to an external fill tap through one of the bulkheads allowing fast system filling. All with an external drain port.
To build in the system you can "short circuit" the external water fittings and leak test before installing the included heat exchanger to test for internal leaks before completing the build. Something like the EK Leak tester is also a good option.
(The Carotid Heat Exchanger is factory leak tested before sale)
Pump Support
A D5 or DDC pump is recommended to make the most of available space and offer a quiet high performance system. Either will easily fit in multiple orientations.
The photos below show a PrimoChill D5, slightly longer than others and mounting at the top rather than the bottom.
There are enough mount rails to accommodate a wide range or brands.
The photos below show a PrimoChill D5, slightly longer than others and mounting at the top rather than the bottom.
There are enough mount rails to accommodate a wide range or brands.
Power Switch and No Other I/O
The only "front I/O" is a single 14mm square hole for a mechanical key switch used as a power button.
Carotid will include a Cherry MX Green switch and possibly a 150g heavy spring upgrade depending on stretch goals of the Kickstarter campaign.
Modern high end ITX boards like the one shown already include 8 high speed USBs.
Warmoob recommends using a hub if further I/O is required.
The power switch may be moved to the back of the case before production depending on community feedback
Carotid will include a Cherry MX Green switch and possibly a 150g heavy spring upgrade depending on stretch goals of the Kickstarter campaign.
Modern high end ITX boards like the one shown already include 8 high speed USBs.
Warmoob recommends using a hub if further I/O is required.
The power switch may be moved to the back of the case before production depending on community feedback
Fans and Fan Filters
Carotid does not include fans or fan filters. Please see the FAQ as to why.
4 Standard 120mm fan filters can easily be fitted after market.
Either fit them internally sandwiched between the case and fan or externally.
Carotid may include matching machine screws for fans depending on Kickstarter stretch goals.
The PSU intake is M4 threaded to allow fan filter fitment.
Carotid is optimised for 3 x 120mm airflow fans. 6 fans total can also be used in series for enhanced static pressure with airflow variants.
(Please note: all photos show a pre-production model, some superfluous mounting holes may be removed prior to sale.)
4 Standard 120mm fan filters can easily be fitted after market.
Either fit them internally sandwiched between the case and fan or externally.
Carotid may include matching machine screws for fans depending on Kickstarter stretch goals.
The PSU intake is M4 threaded to allow fan filter fitment.
Carotid is optimised for 3 x 120mm airflow fans. 6 fans total can also be used in series for enhanced static pressure with airflow variants.
(Please note: all photos show a pre-production model, some superfluous mounting holes may be removed prior to sale.)