Watercooling Advice

Wedge

Wedge

Wedge

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Hi

As seems to be the vogue at the moment, id really like to try watercooling.

I have a Coolermaster 832, Striker Extreme, E6850 @ 3.6Ghz, Sythe ninja Cooler, 4GB Crucial Ballistic, 2 x Msi 8800GT's (S1 GPU coolers), 750W Toughpower.

This lot runs at around 50c idle and 60-65 load. Room temp is around 20-25 id guess.

Ive been reading endless reviews on kits and custom setups, and read a lot of threads in here, and id like to go down the road of custom.

Ive picked out some parts and would appreciate your advice:

Pump/Res: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-010-XS
CPU Block: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-000-DT
Rad: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-041-AC
Coolent: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-049-PM
Tubing: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-001-PM

Now im a little confused about all the different tube sizes 1/4 -1/2 - 3/4 etc Are all the connections on blocks, resoviors standard, does all tubing fit all blocks, resoviors etc? (sorry if thats a stupid question)

That lot is about £120 + delivery which sounds ok, can i expect better cooling than current setup?

Anyho fire away.....
 
Last edited:
Dont have any help to offer, but i would also like to know if that's a good set of kit too... i'm thinking of going down the same route! :)
 
I would recommend everything there apart from the rad.

I am in the process of discontinuing the Alphacool rads in favour of some BlackICE models instead.

Money wise your much better going for the XSPC 240, same performance in all but the most extreme of real world setups and they are sold for less. (Better support too if ever there is an issue.)

Alternatively I would go for the EK Supreme Acetal waterblock and a TFC 120.1 rad if you are planning on only cooling your CPU. Much easier to fit and will cool the same as the double rad with what you are running.

7/16 tubing like the Masterkleer coupled with 1/2 barbs will do you perfect, one of the XSPC tubing clips (1/2 aswell) on each barb and your done.

Only thing to make sure is all components have G1/4 thread (everything on OcUK does) and then all the barbs with G1/4 will fit (again all of OcUK barbs have G1/4 thread).

Add me to MSN if you want a chat about what your planning to do, ill be online for a while yet.
 
Hi Yewen

Thank you for you advice.

Now unfortunatley most of what you mentionm i have no clue whats what, I understand about the rads, how long before the 'blackice' models are in stock?

I dont know what a XSPC 240 is :o

Could you link items from OcUK shop? (a full list of what you recommend) id going to start with CPU but would like to watercool northbridge and gpu at some point in future.
 
Yewen said:
The Black Ice rads will probably be going live in a week give or take. :)

XSPC 240: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-021-XS
Ek Supreme: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-000-EK
Tubing: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-026-DD
Barb: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-006-EK
Tubing Clip: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-005-XS (Get one for each barb to secure your hosing)
Click to expand...


Thanks Yewen, i have my sisters wedding today, so will come back tomorrow with a final list to order :)

ps. Is it worth waiting for the blackICE rads to come in or go with the XSPC240?
 
To be honest, the only realistic difference made by tubing diameter in a modern watercooling system is aesthetics: Cathar (God of Watercooling) tested different diameters and with an appropriate pump (i.e. nothing with an Eheim or Laing in it), modern chips with Integrated Heat Spreaders (i.e. a silver cap on the top so the silicon itself is hidden from view) show something like 0.5oC benefit from large gauge tubing.

Regarding radiators, unless going for something expensive (ie. Thermochill or Feser-whatever), there will not be huge differences in performance (but don't buy anything with Thermaltake on it). Sure, Alphacool is the most restrictive regarding flow and the Black Ice series of radiators generally appear to be overpriced for what they are, but peformance will be reasonably consistent across the different models (Swiftech ones are probably the best for the money, IMHO).

Blocks are pretty universal nowadays since Cathar produced the Cascade series of blocks - again, unless we're talking Thermaltake - so buy what you can afford. There are blocks which will improve system temperature by around 2oC iif you're lucky (and good at consistently mounting waterblocks) but most people will rarely realise such gains unless spending serious wonga.

Reservoirs? Buy what you like the look of or what fits in your case. Some of us used to use food storage boxes (tupperwareTM) with holes cut in the side.

Finally, you're going to bear the brunt of a lot of frustration, so I apologise in advance...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE GUCCI COOLANTS TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CORROSION IN YOUR SYSTEM OR POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IF YOUR SYSTEM LEAKS!

Simply using a 50p bottle of deionised water from Tesco with a tiny capful of anti-freeze will do the job. So don't waste (yes, waste) £8 on coolant fluids.
 
Yewen said:
Only thing to make sure is all components have G1/4 thread (everything on OcUK does) and then all the barbs with G1/4 will fit (again all of OcUK barbs have G1/4 thread).
Click to expand...

Thermochill is all G3/8, no?

mrthingyx said:
Finally, you're going to bear the brunt of a lot of frustration, so I apologise in advance...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE GUCCI COOLANTS TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CORROSION IN YOUR SYSTEM OR POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IF YOUR SYSTEM LEAKS!

Simply using a 50p bottle of deionised water from Tesco with a tiny capful of anti-freeze will do the job. So don't waste (yes, waste) £8 on coolant fluids.
Click to expand...

And most retailers are now routinely putting RMA parts under a UV lamp as they can reject RMAs if they find so much as a splash of UV fluid on it. Some will even charge you £10 for the privilege. Some retailers are now also rejecting RMAs if you've replaced the stock cooler - and then replaced the original. They use traces of non-standard TIM to 'prove' this. All the retailers sell WC kit, but they very much wash their hands of you (no pun intended) if it goes wrong after the water cooling has been installed, even if the issue isn't the water-cooling. Using distilled water avoids the conductivity problems and it's undetectable subsequently. Using deionised is almost as good, but you don't get the same level of protection against conductivity issues.
 
anti-freeze should not be used in the house unless you make sure it's the low toxic type as standard anti-freeze is highly toxic
to humans and especially to pets as it smells and tastes sweet to them.

Pet dogs licking a small patch that has dripped on the floor have been known to die a painful death as it slowly closes down the internal organs and a pinhead drip is enough to kill a tank full of fish.
 
Hi

Thank you all for your help and advice!

please see below final list + couple of final questions.

watershop.jpg


1. How many extra barbs will i need? (other than the 2 barbs for the CPU block)

2. I have decided to buy coolant, despite whats been said (my choice). Will 1 bottle be enough for the double Bay Reservoir i have choosen? (i have two 5.25" bays free so seems like a good choice for me)

3. I really like the look of http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-001-PM&groupid=701&catid=193&subcat=1048&name=PrimoChill%20Anti-Kink%20Coils%203/4"-%20 tubing, Will this be ok?

4. finally anything there that is a real no no, or i have missed (other than coolant ;))
 
That pump is a bit weedy and the supreme cpu block is very restrictive.

If you stick with that pump consider the Fuzion v2 block or, better still, the XSPC Edge.

If you really want the use the EK supreme I would really consider getting a stronger pump (DDC or D5)
 
Ice Tea said:
anti-freeze should not be used in the house unless you make sure it's the low toxic type as standard anti-freeze is highly toxic
to humans and especially to pets as it smells and tastes sweet to them.

Pet dogs licking a small patch that has dripped on the floor have been known to die a painful death as it slowly closes down the internal organs and a pinhead drip is enough to kill a tank full of fish.
Click to expand...

It shouldn't taste sweet anymore. I think that by law it has to contain bitrex, which tastes horrible to almost every species capable of deciding whether to take a mouthful or not.
 
***F1ZZY*** said:
That pump is a bit weedy and the supreme cpu block is very restrictive.

If you stick with that pump consider the Fuzion v2 block or, better still, the XSPC Edge.

If you really want the use the EK supreme I would really consider getting a stronger pump (DDC or D5)
Click to expand...

Oh no, i really like the idea of a drive bay res, pehaps go for a single res (no pump) and a Laing DDC 1-T Pro 10W 12V DC Pump?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-005-SW&groupid=701&catid=193&subcat=1042&name=Laing%20DDC%201-T%20Pro%2010W%2012V%20DC%20Pump
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-009-XS&groupid=701&catid=193&subcat=1040&name=XSPC%20Single%20Bay%20Reservoir%20-%20Black

btw what is so restrictive about the EK block?

I have a Asus Striker Extreme

asus_striker_extreme.jpg


As you can see/know the CPU is sorrounded, will it fit?
 
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