Watercooling advice....

Demonmirc

Demonmirc

Demonmirc

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10 Jan 2010
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Ok, I know there are lots of these threads, and I'm sorry to ask but I am venturing into watercooling for my existing build. I am quite confident with pc's so am not afraid to go the water route. I am looking just to cool my CPU and Northbridge chipset. My system is as follows and my concern is the case as aI don't know if anyone has water cooled in one :

FRACTAL DESIGN R2 CASE
Asus Rampage Formula Mobo
2 x 5850

The rest is in my spec, the Northbridge runs hot on this board and as I have only just upgraded recently I dont really want to swap out the mobo and cpu.

I think the rad would have to be top mounted on the Fractal case, I could use one drive bay for the resivour, Its just pump placement. Any recommedations would be greatly appreciated. Looking to spend maximum of £200.

I'm looking at the Heatkiller socket 775 Cpu cooler, but not sure on a Rampage formula compatible chipset block. Im running at 3.84ghz at the moment and would like a pump that can go to 4ghz.

If anyone would like to do an example basket for me I would appreciate.
 
Dont get a bay res, get a swiftech micro res. Then you could mount a DDC pump in the free bay :)

PS. Its not the pump that will get you to 4Ghz, its the size of the rad!
 
Phunky Phish said:
Dont get a bay res, get a swiftech micro res. Then you could mount a DDC pump in the free bay :)

PS. Its not the pump that will get you to 4Ghz, its the size of the rad!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Do you think water cooling will work in a Fractal Design. I am not going to ask to "spec me" but could you give me an idea of how I would mount the resivour and pump. I have found the NB block and know what CPU block I want from EK. Its just all the different size tubing, barbs, etc. Thanks
 
Ok, here is my shopping list so far for this to fit in the Fractal Design case, any thoughts please let me know.

Black Ice 120mm Rad (will go where my current H50 Rad is)
120mm Fan
EK CPU Water block socket 775
EK NB Block (ckecked for Rampge Formula compatibilty)
Swiftech Micro Res (thanks to Phunky fish for advice) fitted in drive bay
Laing 10w DDC Pump (thanks to Phunky fish for advice) fitted in second fan slot in base of case

The Corsair h50 does a grand job on the CPU at present, just looking to get my NB into the loop somehow.

Any advice on tubing (gonna go for coloured, not dye), fittings etc greatly appreciated. Dont want to waste money.
 
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Hi Demonmirc
Sorry for the delay in coming back to you. I have pulled up a pic of the case with components in and its a tidy case, and fitting everything will be hard. But here are my recommendations.

1) RADS - Fit as big a rad as possible! It will help with keeping everything as cool as possible. The website says you can fit either 2x120mm fans or 1x140mm fan in the roof. I would go for either a 140.1 rad or a 120.2 in the roof. OR you could go 1x140.1 rad in the bottom, that would be nice!
2) PUMP - Use one of the hard drive mounts to fit the DDC pump to. You may need to mod the left hand side metal to fit tubing through. You will want a new top on the pump for best results, but this will make your tube routing harder.
3) RES - Now this is a hard one! The Microres does not go in a bay, its an upright unit that sits in the case. If you look at the case gallery there are plenty of examples.
eg - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13112533&postcount=318
You could easily fit the Microres to the case above the psu, but things start to get cramped. A T-Line would be a million times easier in a case this size. Trust me, I fitted a 120.2 PA rad into a NZXT Lexa case and its a pig!

Other option!
Fit a 140.1 or 120.2 rad in roof and a XSPC pump/res where the fan sits in the bottom.

Filling the loop. Lay the whole lot on its side, disconnect the highest tube and pour the water into that until its nearly all filled, then refit the tube. The loop will be at least half filled, if not more, and bleeding will be much easier! This can be done standing the case upright if you have 1 item that is higher than the rest, like the pump and rad in the bottom the CPU block would be higest.

As its not a window case I would go with clear tubing, distilled water and some PT Nuke Biocide.

I cant think what else to say mate!

Check this to see what others have done
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sh...36&highlight=watercooled+case+gallery&page=11
 
Sorry, tubing!
I always use 7/16" onto 1/2" fittings. NEVER leeked. But dont take my word for it!
You have to heat the tubing in boiling water to get it to go over the fittings, and cut it off if you change anything, but its easier to route and bend which is important when working in a small case.
Just remember to hot wire the PSU with everything else unpluged to test the loop of leaks.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-021-OK
 
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Phunky Phish said:
Sorry, tubing!
I always use 7/16" onto 1/2" fittings. NEVER leeked. But dont take my word for it!
You have to heat the tubing in boiling water to get it to go over the fittings, and cut it off if you change anything, but its easier to route and bend which is important when working in a small case.
Just remember to hot wire the PSU with everything else unpluged to test the loop of leaks.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-021-OK
Click to expand...

That is all superb advice mate, thanks very much. I know its dangerous ground on the first attempt. The other thing before I venture the cost and build is the temps, as mentioned its my NB that runs hot. I have managed to get it to 48 idle on air, will I see an improvement with liquid. Cheers

I will post a picture of my current setup to see what you think about placement, thanks again.
 
You deffinately see an improvement, but can't tell you by how much.

Main thing is the more you want to achieve the bigger the rad you want!

140.2 better than 120.2 better than 140.1 better then 120.1

Get 1 rad as big as you can go!
 
Hi mate

Right, if it was me and this is purely personal I would go...

Rad - Black Ice GT Xtreme 140 in the roof
Fan - Sharkoon 140mm
Pump - XSPC DDC 18w Ultra Pump/Reservoir
CPU Block - EK Supreme i7
North Bridge Block - EK what-ever!
Fittings - 10 x 13mm G1/4 (Perfect Seal)
Tubing - 2m 7/16" clear tubing. As you have no window no point in coloured and clear will allow you to see bubbles etc. Remember OCuk sell tubing in 1m lengths,so ordering 2m will give you 2x1m's!
Fluid - Use Battery Water from halfords and a small amount of anti-freeze!

Fitting it all -
Mount rad and fan in roof
Mount pump to base where fan grill is. This will help with cooling the pump as they dont like to be mounted against flat surfaces. I have blown 3 up from over heating!

Ordering bits -
Rad -> CPU -> NB -> Res/Pump -> Rad
If you put the barbs of the rad to the left you can route the tubing left of the PSU in a nice curve up.

Filling -
Fit rad, CPU and NB block and pump. Now, you could be cheeky and get an adaptor that will convert the res thread to a G1/4. You could then fit a tube to that, lay it on its side and fill the system until it was level with the fillport on the res. Take the tube off, fit the cover, stand it up and turn it on knowing it was 80% filled, then keep topping it up!Easy :-)

Another thing I would do is loose all the spare HHD mounts. They look good but will be reducing your airflow.

I would also be tempted to mount the rad fan to suck air in. Air in would be 140mm in top and 2x120mm in front. Air out would be 120mm in back and the 2 gfx cards. This will help supply cool air for the gfx cards to blow out, and any positive pressure will naturally go out the fan grill at the bottom. It will also stop your DVD drive filling with dust from a negative pressure case!

All I can say other than that is nice setup mate!
 
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Hi mate,
Cheers for that, well I better get ordering. I really appreciate all the time you have put into replying. People like you make forums mate, thats all I will say.
Thanks for the comments, re: setup . I will post back once bit recieved and work begun. I owe ya one.
 
No problem mate, most of us are here to help!

If you get any more questions just ask and I will try to help!

Also the wife is sick of me pulling my PC apart so glad to help others!

Vary similar spec PC's bar the mobo. I am just about to ditch my 275 and go for a 5870 I think
 
Our wives sound similar as well mate! Mine is fed up with me tinkering as well. He he. I like the 5870's , seen good benches, specially OC'd. I went crossfire 5850 as I had one already. I looked at the 5970, but wouldnt fit in the Fractal and my wallet would not take the bashing.

Post a piccie of your setup if you have time.
 
My old Lexa
IMG_1319.jpg


My TJ07 :)
P9041024.jpg

P9041027.jpg


Need to take some pics as its finished. Might do that when I have changed the gfx card as I migth loose the front fans
 
Very nice mate, I like the cooling in the Lexa,l that looks compact. The Silverstone is nice as well. Thats how I might attach the Resi in my fractal, same as the Lexa. Is that top mounted Rad and fans from what I can see. My only concern with mine is the top Mosfet heatsinks I have installed. Dont know if the rad+fan will fit , drop down wise. But nice mate.
 
I mounted a PA120.2 in the top with the fans underneath. It was a real squeeze though.
I lost the top optical drive bay and squeezed the DDC into the floppy bay!

If you ask me I would go with the res top on the pump and save yourself some hassle!
Also I lost the rear fan to mount the res there, and if you are worried about cooling the mosfets then this would also not help.

You can mount the rad either below or above the fan, which might help with your space for fitting. See if the fan will clear the heat sink you have fitted. You could then mount the fan under the rad so it clears the heat sink?
 
Hi mate,

Right so , Now its looking like :

Swiftech MCP355 12V Laing DDC Ultra + XSPC Acrylic Resevoir
Black Ice GT Stealth 140mm Rad
XSPC 7/16" ID High Flex Tubing Blue UV Per Metre (1mx2)
EK Supreme CPU Block - Acetal Universal Inc i7 (1366)
EK NB/SB S-Max - Acetal
Sharkoon System Designed 140mm Fan - 3/4 Pin
10 x 13 (G1/4) Perfect seal Barbs

With the pump I can get barbs, should I be ordering 3/8" perfect seal x 2 or 1/2" perfect seal x 2?

Dont suppose you want to link to any barbs, also would you suggest a T join with a drain point ?

Cheers PP.
 
Hi mate
T-Line to drain is a handy option, but if you mount the pump in the bottom you can just unbolt it, hold it outside the case and tip it out!!
You want to be ordering the 1/2" perfect seal ones. With that tubing they will form a REAL tight fit.
You will have to pop the ends into boiling water to get them soft enough to go over the 1/2" fittings!

By the way, you will only need 8 barbs, but I spec'd 10 so you have 2 spare to play with if you need them!
2 - Rad
2 - Pump
2 - CPU block
2 - NB block

By the way, if you lose some of the hdd trays you could route the gfx card power cables into the hdd space and round the back. Will tidy it up and give you a little more room for the pump/res for fitting.
 
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Hey PP,

Thanks for reply, I have done some measuring near the GPU area and it looks like the pump with res top wont quite fit. So I am thinking back to Swiftech micro res 2 which has some great brackets and velcro for all types of fitting. Mounted on HDD cage or where outlet holes are for back exhaust to pump on base or mounted in HDD cage area to top rad 140 with fan which will fit nicely then cpu block and NB block as mentioned, those perfect seal barbs look great and easy on u-tube and I will buy some hose clamps just to be sure. Think thats the best way to go but do you think a pump/res top would fit in the area by the GPU's. I have re routed the GPU power cables as recommended. :)
 
Well, A pump/res looks like it will but a ruler never lies!

If you cannot fit it there you could fit it where you are losing the HDD mounts, against the bottom of the case. This will make routing tubing hard as it will have to bend throught the slots (in the HDD mounting metal work) and then down again.

I would not lose the fan on the back to be honest as that helps with good airflow.

My next recommendation would be!
Move the HDD's down to the bottom 4 slots in the cage. SSD/HDD/SSD/HDD would be good to help airflow for the HDD's.
Mount the DDC pump to another HDD tray. The slots on the cage look big enough to thread the tubing through. Mount this as high in the HDD cage as you can. You may need to cut a bigger hole in the HDD tray to help with cooling the DDC
OR (and I like this idea!) mount the DDC against the cage. With a EK top on it you can have the output going upwards, input going across the case.
Res. Drill 2 holes by the gfx cards and mount it next to them in that space.

You could then route res -> pump nice straight route left to right
pump -> rad nice stright up route
rad -> CPU -> NB nice lok-ness humpy route!
NB -> Res

This will also make filling easier as you can lay the case on its side, fill the res till the system is nice and full, then put the cap on and fit the res into the case!

With the restraint of the space in the bottom, I am liking this idea a lot!!

Its making me want to play and fit my spare PA120.2 into my case!!!
 
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