Help me with my first W/C build :)

FrozenShivers

FrozenShivers

FrozenShivers

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Joined
14 Jan 2014
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409
Hello guys, I've always wanted to make a W/C build, but every time I make a new PC, I bottle it last minute and go air. This time I've decided to man up!

Specs wise it's looking something like this..

6700K
EVGA 1080 FTW (Has arrived)
2x8GB Corsair Platinum 3200Mhz
Asus Formula VIII
EVGA Supernova G2 650w
Dell S2716DG 1440p/144hz/g-Sync (Has arrived)

Here is what I'm thinking for case and watercooling parts.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £536.16
(includes shipping: £15.30)
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I'm going for a black and purple build, I'm not sure on liquid/fittings/fans. I want my coolant to be purple, but still transparent (not the thick stuff). Was thinking of Mayhems X1 or XT1? Tubing wise I was thinking either Mayhem or Primochill 10/13 tubing?

As for fans I looked at EK Vardar's, as well as NB-eLoop's, sadly the latter is only available in white though, which may rule them out. I've gone for thin radiator's and I would like good lower RPM fans for them.

Fittings wise I will probably go for Bitspower matt black, I wonder if I can get purple o rings, they all seem to be green.

Sorry for the long thread, look forward to your input :cool:
 
I'm sure someone else with more experience than me will offer up some advice, but just in respect to the rads, I asked a very similar question recently and was advised that the EK thin rads are not that great when used with lower RPM fans. You may want to check out XSPC, Hardware Labs, Magicool or Alphacool... all perform better than the EK, as I've found out looking at reviews.

As for fans, the new Corsair Magnetic ones are supposed to be excellent.
 
Personally I think the ek coolstream rads feel very cheap in comparison to other rads that I have owned, and as the user above has mentioned they don't perform as well. I stand by xspc ex rads, and would be good in this build.

I tend to use corsair sp fans because of their aesthetic appeal. However I have Vardar fans that are very good and you can get very low rpm versions so would fit this build very well.

You may want to do a little bit of research, some of the coolants can leave stains, if this isn't an issue for you then go ahead with whatever (x1 coolants are usually a safe bet) as for tubing, in a case of that size, 16mm od may fill it out slightly better, or even 19mm.

If you are going for a plexi cpu block, then I would recommend trying to keep the gpu block plexi aswell, also consider a back-plate for a build of this caliber.

also where are you planning to mount the pump/res combo? if you have space then consider a longer res, for aesthetic and ease of filling the loop
 
Legend said:
I'm sure someone else with more experience than me will offer up some advice, but just in respect to the rads, I asked a very similar question recently and was advised that the EK thin rads are not that great when used with lower RPM fans. You may want to check out XSPC, Hardware Labs, Magicool or Alphacool... all perform better than the EK, as I've found out looking at reviews.

As for fans, the new Corsair Magnetic ones are supposed to be excellent.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input, I'll consider PE models as long as I can still have it quiet and it fits. I didn't think the Corsair ML's were for radiator's? Not seen many reviews on them yet.
 
There's some really good rad reviews on xtremerigs.net, worth checking out. Should give you a better idea what's what.

Yes the Corsair ML's make great rad fans due to the high static pressure, that's a key attribute for any rad fan, and they push a lot of air while still remaining quiet... although you will hear any fan when you crank it up to very high speeds, but you want the highest speed with the most static pressure/air flow at the lowest noise level... the ML's seem to tick all those boxes.
 
Have you asked EK to make sure theyre gonna make a block for your card? Im sure they will but it might be worth checking if it isnt a standard PCB.
 
Sorry for the late reply guys, been very busy with work.

Benjamham - I'm now looking at the possibility of HWL Nemesis GTS radiators (as long as I can source them), failing that stepping up to EKWB PE's. I have up sized my tubing as you advised, I have also switch to X1 coolant, how many litres should I be purchasing roughly?

My 1080 has an EVGA backplate currently, but I'll be getting an EK backplate once the block is released.

I have changed the reservoir to a larger 250 model, shame this isn't available as a combo unit though, it will be mounted next to the front radiator (I'm paranoid about putting one above a bottom mounted PSU).

Legend - I've gone with the ML Pro fans you mentioned, I know Corsair make some good fans as I'm running 7 of them in my current rig (last gen). I'll just have to stomache the cost haha.

BluD - EK are making a block for 1080 FTW at the end of August :)

Thanks for all the feedback so far guys, very helpful, keeping me busy researching and changing things around :) Here's my basket at the moment...

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £804.34
(includes shipping: £15.30)
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Radiator's may change to HWL's Nemesis GTS 240&360, GPU block will change to EK 1080 FTW block upon release and make sure not to mix metals.
 
looks good, to be honest having a separate pump and res often looks better and gives so much more flexibility in the present and the future.
you could start thinking about weather you will want any rotary/angled fittings, if you are willing to spend the extra money of course.
also putting in a drain/bleed port can really save some time and hassle in the long run. You could perhaps put a t fitting on your pump and add a valve, bleed port will likely be a bit more of a struggle
 
You'll need to do some diy for the 2 rads to fit in and utilise the space a bit more as that's what I'm going to have to do with the same case. I've also been told the 250 res probably wont fit so maybe go for the pump/res combo linked below. Fluid, I got 3L just incase.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £116.89
(includes shipping: £9.90)
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Benjamham said:
looks good, to be honest having a separate pump and res often looks better and gives so much more flexibility in the present and the future.
you could start thinking about weather you will want any rotary/angled fittings, if you are willing to spend the extra money of course.
also putting in a drain/bleed port can really save some time and hassle in the long run. You could perhaps put a t fitting on your pump and add a valve, bleed port will likely be a bit more of a struggle
Click to expand...

Yeah I need to have a wee think about angled fittings :D So I'll be good if I buy a Bitspower t-fitting&valve?

Artery - That was the reservoir I had initially picked, I'll try and see if I can find out that a 250 res fits or not. It says it supports 360's front/top, so surely it can hold a 360 up top and 240 in the front when neither are in push/pull and the radiator's are 30mm thick? (I don't use any mechanical hard drives).

Thanks.
 
1.jpg

Have it at the side like this.
 
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