First Watercooling Attempt - Advice + Suggestions - Socket 775

[Happy]

I'm about to try my hand at watercooling my build. It will be the first time I have attempted watercooling and I'm quite nervous, and I'm just looking for some advice about what works well, and how they perform

I'll be cooling:-

• Q6600 and the DFI LANParty LT X38-T2R Northbridge and Mosfet/PWM

• The motherboard already has a custom NB and Mosfet/PWM blocks fitted.

I have a Thermochill 120.3 rad and a EK 150 res with what I believe to be 1/2 barbs already. The case all already has the rad mounted in the roof, and mountings for the pump (Laing DDC 18w Pump / Swiftech MCP355, as this was used before in Bradley8988's setup) and res which is fitted.

The picture shows the case how Bradley8988 had it, however since I bought it, the only remaining parts are the res and rad which are in the same place and shown in my picture with my current setup.

So far all I have selected is the CPU block and pump:-

• 
  D-TEK FuZion v2 CPU Block - with Quadcore insert and 1/2" barbs

• Laing DDC 18w Pump / Swiftech MCP355 - EK DDC X-Top with 1/2" barbs

If anyone could help me complete the rest of my shopping list I would greatly appreciate it, and please throw lots of advice my way My case has a red black theme going on so if that could be included into the selection of fluids and tubes etc, then that would be a bonus

A couple of last questions:-

1. How would I go about flushing the rad, assuming I need to, and what whould I use?
2. I have heard that I should use 3/8 tubing on 1/2 barbs, as it's a secure fit, is this correct?
3. How often would a loop like this need maintaining, i.e replacing/topping up and changing the fluid?
4. Could it be drained without taking it all apart?

I'm sure there will be more questions later

Cheers

 

[1kiwi]

1. How would I go about flushing the rad, assuming I need to, and what whould I use?
2. I have heard that I should use 3/8 tubing on 1/2 barbs, as it's a secure fit, is this correct?
3. How often would a loop like this need maintaining, i.e replacing/topping up and changing the fluid?
4. Could it be drained without taking it all apart?

I'm sure there will be more questions later

Cheers

1. Use this.
2. Use 7/16th Masterkleer with 1/2" EK barbs
3. Personal Preferance really. I seem to be draining my loop more because of things i'm adding to it
4. Yes, you can simply undo the tubing from the lowest point in your loop or you can use a T-Section with some sort of valve / bung (Not sure about this technique has i prefer the first way)

 

[kerrgreg]

It looks like you have posted a link to a competitors site as the link no longer works!

i agree its seems to be all the rage to use 7/16th tubing on 1/2 barbs i have 1/2 with cable ties / screw clips to hold them on but i understand the 7/16th are harder to kink and more flexable.

are you planning on gpu block too? i imagine that you could with out any probs with a rad that size

 

[Happy]

1. Use this.
2. Use 7/16th Masterkleer with 1/2" EK barbs
3. Personal Preferance really. I seem to be draining my loop more because of things i'm adding to it
4. Yes, you can simply undo the tubing from the lowest point in your loop or you can use a T-Section with some sort of valve / bung (Not sure about this technique has i prefer the first way)

Cheers for that, I think I know the link you mean

It looks like you have posted a link to a competitors site as the link no longer works!

i agree its seems to be all the rage to use 7/16th tubing on 1/2 barbs i have 1/2 with cable ties / screw clips to hold them on but i understand the 7/16th are harder to kink and more flexable.

are you planning on gpu block too? i imagine that you could with out any probs with a rad that size

I'm not planning on watercooling my 8800GTX, however the long term plan is to pick up some 4870s at some point and watercool them

Anyone got any ideas on what else I'd need other than the pump and CPU block I have chosen?

Cheers

 

[kerrgreg]

Just tubes by the look of it maybe some retaining clips that nb block doesnt look like it has standard barbs on it so you may wants some clips.

and maybe fluid you can use things like feser one or prochill or distilled water up to you.

 

[1kiwi]

I also use anti corrosion and PT nuke.

 

[Happy]

Ah cool, the blocks are all copper and with 1/2" barbs on the mobo, if that helps.

 

[1kiwi]

Yep, might be best to form a complete shopping list + the stuff you already have and then we can advise you on the gaps.

 

[Happy]

Right here we go, I hope I haven't missed anything

The thermochill 120.3 rad and EK150 res already have 1/2 barbs fitted, along with the DFI motherboard which is fitted with a custom copper NB block and a Copper PWM/Mosfet blocks all with 1/2 barbs.

1. D-TEK FuZion v2 CPU Block - Assembled with 1/2 Barbs
2. D-TEK FuZion v2 Quad Core Mid Chamber Insert
3. Laing DDC 18w Pump / Swiftech MCP355 - EK DDC X-Top - Assembled with 1/2 Barbs
4. XSPC 7/16" Glossy Black tubing - 3M (Want a bit for spares)
5. PrimoChill Anti-Kink Coils - 5/8" OD Tubing - Gloss Red - 3M (Want a bit for spares)
6. Feser Aqua - Ultra Pure Distilled Water - 1000 ml - (x2 if they don't have a self life - for spares?)
7. Petra'sTech "PT_Nuke" Concentrated Biocide (10ml)

Cheers

 

[Happy]

Well I'm about ready to place my order

Last question really, what order should I place everything in the loop?

I was thinking Res>Pump>CPU>Mosfet>NB>Rad>Res any good?

Cheers
______________

 

[Gunda]

yup that order looks ok, doesn't matter too much tbh. Some prefer the rad directly before the cpu, so that the cpu is getting the coolest water possible, but so long as the res is before the pump the loop will find a mean temp after a while anyhow.

 

[Happy]

A couple of things have changed:- A small update.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have now done all the tubing etc, and it's running fine Just got to tidy the cables and all is done.

Many Thanks to all that helped me etc, it made my venture into watercooling much easier

Pictures of the case with the full loop all complete and fans fitted coming tomorrow

 

[Bradley8988]

Dude that tubing and coils combo looks sweet. Just a thought, the hdd cage i think when i mocked it up in fitted it in the wrong holes for the way around it went meaning the sata cables would be hard against the rear panel. You prolly noticed it but yearrrrrr. Wanna see results of all your hard work.

 

[Happy]

Hmmm, what sort of temps should I be getting with a Q6600 @ 3.4Ghz @ 1.4 I'm priming at 51,52,45,46 (small FFTs)?

I think that's too high. I have Mosfets/PWMs and NB in the loop using a PA120.3 (3x Yate Loons), DDC 18w, with EK top and a D-TEK FuZion v2 CPU Block - with Quadcore insert.

Any advice...

PS Bradley, my water has a tinge of pink, after running for a couple of hours

 

[Bradley8988]

Pinks cool. Pics dude.

 

[Happy]

All finished...please excuse the sata cables, they will be replaced with some long ones that will run around the back. But they aren't back in stock until mid Feb @ Kustompc

All in all, I'm well chuffed with it

 

[Bubo]

Looks good m8. What was your procedure for filling and bleeding? I notice you have a chuffing great T line with a fillport at the bottom. Did you use this to fill the system, either with the case upsaide down or on its side with the the fill port raised above the rad? Or did you fill it via the top of the rez?

 

[Happy]

Looks good m8. What was your procedure for filling and bleeding? I notice you have a chuffing great T line with a fillport at the bottom. Did you use this to fill the system, either with the case upsaide down or on its side with the the fill port raised above the rad? Or did you fill it via the top of the rez?

That was the original plan, but I think now it'll be used to help drain the system. I just unscrewed the top of the res and filled it up, then blipped the pump till it was nearly empty. Then repeated this until it was full

 

[jvowles]

I am a bit late, but have a very similar system to you. I have had the system running 8 months now, no need to top it up. I might go for a full flush soon, but generally in my experience it has been reliable.

 

[Happy]

I am a bit late, but have a very similar system to you. I have had the system running 8 months now, no need to top it up. I might go for a full flush soon, but generally in my experience it has been reliable.

Excellent, that's what I want to hear