Need some watercooling info!

Jordan97

Jordan97

Jordan97

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I'm totally new to water cooling and need some advice. The closest I've ever got is a H50.

I was thinking about getting one of these kits:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-117-EK&groupid=962&catid=1532&subcat=

But how big is the performance gap between each one?

How much better are the HF than the LT?

How much better is a 360cm radiator than a 240cm radiator?

Is the coolant included good enough, or would you recommend a different one?

And it says you need 1L of distilled water. Isn't that what the coolant is for?
 
Jordan97 said:
I'm totally new to water cooling and need some advice. The closest I've ever got is a H50.

I was thinking about getting one of these kits:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-117-EK&groupid=962&catid=1532&subcat=

But how big is the performance gap between each one?

How much better are the HF than the LT?

How much better is a 360cm radiator than a 240cm radiator?

Is the coolant included good enough, or would you recommend a different one?

And it says you need 1L of distilled water. Isn't that what the coolant is for?
Click to expand...

Without looking at it for long, or looking at the others, id say the price of that kit is pretty good... The difference in a 360 rad and a 240 is dependant on the density of the fins and how many layers, ie the thicknessm the rad has...

In general though there is a significant improvement in the 360 rads and they are better value for money...

The distilled water is the coolant, plus you should add a few drops of ptnuke biocide, or ethylene glycol antifreeze, or similiar... You can go for a premixed uv coolant, but be careful which you go for as many can have dodgy dyes that seperate from solution... Go for Thermochill EC6 or something, although others will have to confirm that, as I now just use distilled plus biocide so i dont really know that much when it comes to pre-mixed coolants.
 
Jordan97 said:
Ok thanks, what one would you recommend?

Also, what blocks would you recommend to cool two 580's? Will I need extra tubing and fittings?
Click to expand...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-098-EK

Get either the copper version of these or the EN plated nickel versions:)

For fluid, if you want colour, then get either distilled water and some mayhems dye or premix mayhems fluid or PC ice thingy (take a look at ocuk's fluid range, those ones :))

If you don't give a **** about colour, then distilled water is fine :)

However, with dual 580's, I would suggest that maybe you do a custom loop.

Finally, fittings, you'll need 4 more and if you want, some different stoppers.

I'm not certain, but I think these are the correct fittings for the tubing:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-108-EK&groupid=962&catid=1529&subcat=

and some stoppers:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-065-BP&groupid=962&catid=1529&subcat=

2m should just about be enough tubing, however, I would personally chuck EK's fluid, tubing and fittings and get 7/16 and G1/4 and get some mayhems fluid :)
 
Thank you very much :)

Would you change anything in this, or is there anything I have missed out?

YOUR BASKET
2 x EK Fullcover GTX 580 Waterblock - Nickel Plexi £69.98 (£139.96)
1 x EK CoolStream Radiator XT 480 (120.4) £69.98
1 x EK-Supreme HF - Full Nickel CPU Water Block £60.98
1 x EK DCP 4.0 Pump (12v) £39.98
1 x EK Multioption Reservoir X2 150 Advanced [3831109840078] £27.56
1 x PrimoChill PURE Performance Coolant (32 .oz) - Clear £7.99
1 x Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound (4g) £7.99
4 x BitFenix Spectre LED WHITE 120mm Fan £6.49 (£25.96)
1 x EK DCP Mounting Plate Kit £3.98
12 x EK PSC Compression Fitting 7/16 - G1/4 - Nickel £2.99 (£35.88)
2 x Masterkleer 7/16" Tubing UV Silver - 1m £2.78 (£5.56)
Total : £438.44 (includes shipping : £10.50).
 
Last edited:
Oooh, I'd change quite a lot...

I would get the SR-1 480 rad if you want silence.
I personally prefer the nickel plexi block for the CPA and it would match the GPU blocks.
there are known problems with EK nickel products, it's your choice whether you take that risk, i personally did and I think it's fine :)

I would spend more on the pump and get a laing D5 wih the top and if you monitor the MM, you'll find one around £40, that's where I got mine.

You don't need the EK mounting plate kit as all the blocks come with all the needed mounting mechanisms.

My personal opinion is that the enermax apollish fans look better. and another of my personal changes would be to get clear tubing and get blue/green fluid :)

Also, make sure you get 5-6 metres of tubing as it is pretty cheap and a lot extra doesn't hurt :p

What case is this for?
 
Ok thanks :)

The reason I went with the BitFenix fans is because I am going for a completely white LED filled case :D

But I didn't realise the tubing was silver, and I have changed that to clear. I'll have a think about getting some coloured liquid, not sure how good its going to look though. :p

Am I right in thinking that if I got this card:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-146-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1812

I wouldn't need the VGA block and the extra fittings?


And it is going in a Xigmatek Elysium :)
 
Jordan97 said:
Ok thanks :)

The reason I went with the BitFenix fans is because I am going for a completely white LED filled case :D

But I didn't realise the tubing was silver, and I have changed that to clear. I'll have a think about getting some coloured liquid, not sure how good its going to look though. :p

Am I right in thinking that if I got this card:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-146-EA&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1812

I wouldn't need the VGA block and the extra fittings?
Click to expand...

You still need the fittings.

Please, please, do not waste your money on that card!

Get a normal EVGA card and fit the block yourself. Saves you money!
 
YOUR BASKET
1 x Swiftech Laing D5 Vario MCP655 12V DC Pump £79.99
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE SR-1 360 Radiator £78.98
2 x EK Fullcover GTX 580 Waterblock - Nickel Plexi £69.98 (£139.96)
1 x EK Supreme HF Nickel Plexi (775/1156/1366/AM2/AM3/939/XEON) £51.49
1 x EK Multioption Reservoir X2 150 Advanced [3831109840078] £27.56
1 x PrimoChill PURE Performance Coolant (32 .oz) - Clear £7.99
1 x Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound (4g) £7.99
3 x BitFenix Spectre LED WHITE 120mm Fan £6.49 (£19.47)
12 x EK PSC Compression Fitting 7/16 - G1/4 - Nickel £2.99 (£35.88)
6 x XSPC 7/16 Clear - 1m £2.99 (£17.94)
Total : £479.84 (includes shipping : £10.50).

There we go, I think that's everything!

Just to clarify, do I need water with that coolant and will the one bottle be enough?
 
With the pump, I would highly recommend that you get a top:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-030-OE

And you can get the CPU block elsewhere for the same price and it come with easy mounting kit (just look nicer) and you can also get free delivery with 30 posts on their forums :)

Also, you may want to get 3 more fans and do push and pull and if you want even more cooling potential, then get THIS aswell with 4 more fans :p (mount at front?)

I would highly recommend you get a second litre of fluid as 1l only just cut it for me when doing my HAF X build and you may have a leak etc.

Finally, Are you sure that you are okay with having the nickel blocks that might be subject to corrosion?

It's your choice whether you take the risk, just so long as you know about it :)
 
Aah, it's so much to take in! :p

Right, do I need the top as well as the pump? What does it do?

Will do push and pull.

Not sure if I'm going to be able to manage 2 radiators. My head is spinning right now as it is!

Should I go for the EK Supreme HF Copper Plexi instead then? Or the XSPC one?

And I'm taking it that I don't need any extra water with that fluid?
 
Jordan97 said:
Aah, it's so much to take in! :p

Right, do I need the top as well as the pump? What does it do?
You don't need one, but it improves efficiency and I think silence aswell, well worth it for £20 more :)

Will do push and pull.
good man!

Not sure if I'm going to be able to manage 2 radiators. My head is spinning right now as it is!
lol, the second rad can be mounted at the front, but you'll lose space for HDD bays

Should I go for the EK Supreme HF Copper Plexi instead then? Or the XSPC one?
Your choice :)
IMO, nickel looks the best, so I just went for it - if it corrodes, you can RMA :)

And I'm taking it that I don't need any extra water with that fluid?
Click to expand...

No, you won't need extra water, however, please make sure you take 2litres :)
 
Ok thank you very much for your help! :D

How long is the warranty on the CPU blocks? Will I be able to see the corrosion, or will it be in temperatures?
 
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