Water cooling project

Sayso

Sayso

Sayso

Soldato
Joined
30 Sep 2008
Posts
3,451
Location
Chelmsford
have been thinking about WC for a bit and have decided to go for it now with the aim of upgrading to I7 when the prices drop a bit.
Im a complete novice at this so need lots of advice so stick with me.

criteria...everything must fit into my coolermaster 590, i want a drive bay mounted pump/reservoir and i want to cool my CPU and GFX card.

items i have looked at buying

pump : XSPC Dual 750 Bay Reservoir & Pump

VGA block : XSPC Full Cover Razor 4870

CPU block : OCZ HydroFlow HF-MK1 CPU Waterblock

Radiators : 2 x Swiftech MCR120-QP-B 120mm Radiator

plus tubing, feser liquid, fans etc.

My plan was to have a dual rad system so the flow would go

pump > RAD1 > CPU > RAD2 > GFX> Pump>

Questions.

1. Will this work, should i change the flow config?
2. Are the components chosen any good?
3 can someone explain the different sizes of tubing and what they are used for or can i just use size fits all?
4. would it be better setting up 2 separate loops?

Like i said im a complete novice so all advice would be welcome
 
If you can fit a 120.2 rad in your case then do it, I wouldnt bother with 2 120.1's

There are a couple of different size tubing, I use 7/16 on 1/2 barbs.
 
yeh might be able to fit a double rad to the top of the case, i thought having a cooling element between the 2 hot bits would be better is this not the case?
 
Yeah, 7/16 inch tubing on 1/2 inch barbs works well and provides a good fit, just remember to dip the end in hot water before you put it over the barbs, helps get it on! I think 7/16 is a good compromise between having a good flow and also the tubing not being too bulky to route around inside your case which the 1/2 tubing can be if you are restricted with space.

I don't use any premade coolants like feser one, just de-ionised water with a drop or two of biocide and corrosion inhibitor. Lots cheaper.

If you can fit in a 120.2 in I'd go for that rather than 2 1's. I cool cpu and gfx card (full cover block) with one 120.2 rad in my setup and works fine, temps low, order is pump > rad > cpu > gpu >pump (I done away with a res after first few builds and now use a t-line with a fill port).

I'd stick with one loop if you are sticking with just cooling the cpu and gfx. If you are going to add in other components in future (northbridge, another gfx card etc) then 2 loops may be needed then.

Can't help much with the blocks or pump/res as have never used them. Hopefully someone on here will be able to tell you if that pump will be ok for the blocks/loop you have.

Just remember, water cooling is a lot more hassle than air and don't expect to get it right first time, also be prepared to get the dremel or drill out and bodge radiator/pump placement etc if you think you could improve it - great fun though! buy a bag of lego technics bits a bobs, useful for spacers, screws, nuts and bolts, brackets etc. Get velcro too. Oh, and you'll have the hassle of changing the coolant once or twice a year. Actually that reminds me....
 
ok what 120.2 do you recommend, price dosnt matter that much but being able to fit internally in my case does as the only place i could fit a 120.2 is hanging off the roof of my case!!, i will be keeping this set up for my I7 upgrade i would rather go high spec and only have to change the CPU water block (thats why i have gone for a cheapish 775 block!!)
 
Get a decent kit now as the block will still be fine for i7 you will just need a new bracket which are cheap. GTZ is the block of choice and thermolchill or TFC rads are the best!
 
revised shopping list


TFC Xchanger - Double Radiator 240 TFC Xchanger -
Swiftech Apogee GTZ (LGA775) Waterblock
XSPC Full Cover Razor 4870
XSPC Dual 750 Bay Reservoir & Pump - Clear
Scythe S-FLEX 1600RPM Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan
Feser One UV Reactive Coolant 2 Litre (Yellow)
XSPC 7/16 Black - 2m
EK 1/2" Hose fittings 8 off
 
I have my radiator taking up the top 2 optical drive bays with the fans sitting on top of the rad blowing out the top of my case (had to cut 2 blow holes with the dremel). I see the 590 has two fan mounts on the top - will a rad fit in there between the top of the case and the motherboard? and also fans? best check to see what depth the rad is and measure it up. Here is a quote from a review on overclock3d.net "Unfortunately my hopes of fitting a 240mm rad were hindered. It could be done, but would require some creative thinking from the individual. The two fan mounts on the top wouldn't house an 120.2 radiator straight off, but by using some large headed screws a low profile radiator could be fitted using the holes in the mesh, rather than the default fan holes." I'm not exactly sure what he means but might help you picture it with your case.

I have the s-flex's and they do shift the air but at full pelt you can hear them shifting the air. At RPM's below max though they are reasonably quiet at it so have them controlled based on your temps. Try searching on here as there are lots of opinions on fans, yate loons, noctua's etc. Some may be better for different rads too, As Bradley says, can't go wrong with the thermochill or TFC rads.
 
i already have some s-flex 1900s on my TRU and all my fans are controlled from a fan controller so will go with them again i think.
and thanks for the info on the case, i think the TFC and thermchill are going to be to deep to fit with fans attached, will have a look tomorrow and see what i can fit in.
 
Looks like i can only fit a slimmer RAD how much performance loss would i get with this over the TFC or Thermochill?
Swiftech MCR220-QP Dual 120mm Radiator
 
thinnish rads (that I know of) and depth:

xspc RS240: 35mm
swiftech MCR220-QP: 34mm
HWlabs black ice GT stealth: 30mm

See if you can find reviews on those, comments on here etc
 
just had a measure and dont think i will be able to fit a 120.2 internally anywhere, so going to have to rethink or buy a new case :(
 
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