First Watercooling - NIGHTMARE

PhillyDee

PhillyDee

PhillyDee

Soldato
Joined
12 Feb 2007
Posts
14,117
Location
South Shields
Thought I would try my hand at watercooling. A few months ago, I bought an EK bay res, Laing D5 and a 360 rad from the MM.
Also ordered some black round akasa cables for drives, some compression fittings (3/8" tubing) some tubing (clear) all 3/8"

Then decided to invest in a Corsair 700D. So far so good.
Ordered 5 120mm Sharkoon fans (Silent Eagle) 3 for the rad, and 2 to replace the others in the case.
First hurdle: 2 of the corsair fans are 120mm. Bugger! My fault.
Second hurdle, the EK res doesn't have the grooves for the 5 1/4" bay shelf bits! Not modding my case, so changed the res.

Went for the EK multioption res and the i7 block. (Nickel)

I thought I could get the 3/8" tubing over the D5 barbs. Was not to be! Tried allsorts. So thaought, OK, change of plan! Go for 1/2" tubing (white). Ordered some silver barbs to match the block, and some black EK ones to match the rad and the res. Also some black clips to keep the pump connections good.
Starting to cost me now!

Project was on hold for a few weeks. Just came to start assembly.

1st hurdle, the D5 DOES NOT fit under the 700D next to the PSU. SOD! Looked for alternate mounting points and consulted google. There is an acetal top for it. Bingo, will go for that (More money!)

Decided to install the rad. Of course, it has silver sides, and I don't like it, plus its damaged from the project being on hold for awhile! Give up. Decide to order new one (along with the new D5 top!)

Even the EK block, the silver fittings I ordered are way to big of a diameter to get both on there . . .

Went to install multioption res. The EK compression fittings DO NOT fit on the sides of the res. They screw in, but the spot facings on the side of the res are not big enough, the O-Ring will not seal. GRRRR. Will have to mod this now! Either alter the fittings, or get the sides milled bigger, I have not yet decided!

Also, I think the watercooling holes in the bottom compartment of the 700D are in a monumentally stupid position!

Its cost me a bloody fortune this water cooling malarky!

I am also frustrated by the monkeys at EK, why oh why do their own fittings not fit their reservoirs? Seriously, did they even TEST these? Did no one try it at all?
:mad: Frustrating.
 
robj20 said:
Sounds like you didnt research your setup very well.
Click to expand...

Not everybody can spot everything from researching and this first time build sounds rather complicated.

PhillyDee, are you certain the EK compression fittings don't fit properly? Don't think the EK comes with any adapters or anything so they should fit.
 
Even the EK block, the silver fittings I ordered are way to big of a diameter to get both on there . . .
Click to expand...

Same problem when using 1/2" id 3/4" od tubing on a Fuzion, either get 90 degree rotary fittings (or 45) or buy a spacer, the spacer screws between the block & the fitting to lift it up. A spacer costs a couple of quid.
 
Water cooling as an expensive business, its why I have stuck with air until I get out of education and get myself a real job!

Unfortunately you have just hit problem after problem, but don't be despondent! If you get frustrated you will just make more mistakes making you even worse!! You just need to sit down and re-evaluate your choices, perhaps you need to get the dremel out and cut some case to make your parts fit?
 
Research is key for all your bits. I always look on the net for photos with the intended kit. You can then base your build and be fairly assured it will all fit. Having a good case makes all the difference and the 800D is very forgiving.

All part of the learning curve. Don't give up and stick with it and you will get there in the end.

I have been on water for around 8 years now and I would not touch air again for my main rig.

Once you have it all sorted don't forget to deal with vibration issues. Its a big thing with a quiet system.

All the best with your build. :)
 
JBod said:
So does that mean you got a brand new EK rad going spare? :D

First dibs!
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Lol. Nope, got a second hand crap one going spare though!

Some of it was my fault, I admit that! But the likes of the compression fittings drove me mad! I think I will take the fittings into work and get someone to skim them up so they DO fit . . . . :D
 
PhillyDee said:
Lol. Nope, got a second hand crap one going spare though!

Some of it was my fault, I admit that! But the likes of the compression fittings drove me mad! I think I will take the fittings into work and get someone to skim them up so they DO fit . . . . :D
Click to expand...

Damn! Already using a second hand crap one :p
 
Sorry it's not going so well, stick with it though it will get easier!

My first watercooling build I decided to use a T-line, it took me literally about 2 days to bleed the system - never again! I'm also really bad at planning things (read impulse buying in MM :p) so often find things don't fit and have to change everthing.

But as you watercool more you learn what barbs / tube sizes etc you get on with and also have more spare parts lying around so when something doesn't work you can usually find an alternative.

My tip would be have lots of kitchen roll handy when you start leak testing, just in case :)
 
I do most of my water loop mods without draining the system, adding/removing blocks etc... Careful slicing and putting ones thumb over one of the ends create vacuum and minimal leakage :p

Probably should change my pipes, they have been in constant use for about 3 or 4 years now. Looking a little... jaded. And one of the rad connections leaks if wobbled... crappy push fittings.
 
I must have been lucky, all my kit was impulse buys on MM and other than hacking an Antec 300 about to fit a 240 it all went rather swimmingly. I was quite worried by the point of booting the rig due to how well it went.

It will definatly get easier as you collect extra lengths of tubing and extra fittings.

The only part of my loop I regret is the dual bay res/pump as it means my HDD sits on the case floor.
Once I buy a DDC and Res top I'll be able to mount the HDD up in the 5.25 bays.
 
ROFLMAO at that one jimbob - what a numpty!

Unlucky with the setup PhillyDee, watercooling requires allot of patience and perseverance which is why my first watercooling rig I got done by a third party overclocking company. After that I switched to a new case and used my own initiative. Plan, plan and plan is the key.

Enter watercooled >insert PC case< into google and you'll get some good ideas as to how people have setup cooling in their own ways - sometimes showing REALLY good innovation!

I ended up with sciatica as a result of getting the bubbles out of my stacker watercooled case LOL! - Since then I learnt that watercooling wasn't for me lol - If you change your components quite often bear in mind you have to change blocks etc and it can get quite expensive once you get into gpu blocks for example!.

I was contemplating it the other day, but just don't have the time and patience in my old age now - plus two kids running around I'm sure they'd eat a barb or two before I managed to finish ;)

Best of luck to ya dude - keep at it as you've got the stuff now ;)
 
@ the OP All part of the learning curve. The mistakes you make now you won't make again. And yes its expensive but if you stick with it then it'll payoff.

You can always sit the D5 on the midshelf or get a bay res that can house the D5, but thats more money again.
 
Oh, I am definatly doing it! The new acetal top for the D5 will help get the clearance required, if not, I will mod something! It WILL fit under the bottom. Or else!
 
I honestly don't know how you have managed to screw up what is a relatively simple wc combo...sounds to me that you did zero research and are now paying the price with your wallet
 
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