Pictures of my first Water cooling build..

Admiral Huddy · 24 Jun 2008 at 15:08

Firsly,here is the list of components making up the the loop.

Radiator
*Manufacturer : Swiftech
*Model : MCR320-QP-K Triple 120mm
*Barb size : 1/2"

Radiator cooling
*Model : 3 x Scythe Kaze Jyuni 1200rpm

Reservoir/Pump
*Manufacturer : XSPC
*Model : Dual 750 clear Bay Reservoir with pump
*Pump Speed : 750 LPH
*Barb Size : 1/2"

CPU Waterblock
*Manufacturer : XSPC
*Model : XSPC Edge Acrylic CPU Waterblock
*Inlet/Outlet Ports : 2 x G1/4
*Barb size : 1/2"

GPU Waterblock
*Manufacturer : EK
*Model : FC-8800 8800 GTX - Acetal
*Inlet/Outlet Ports : 4 x G1/4
*Barb Size : 1/2"

Tubing by Masterkleer
*ID : 7/16"
*OD : 5/8"

Fan Controller
*Manufacturer : Zalman
*Model : ZM-MFC1 Plus Black multi fan controller

I've opted not to cool the chipset.. I just felt for the first watercooling built, one step at a time.

edit - Some pictures are reduced quality as they were taken on a phone camera :

Here the Coolermaster RC1100 Sport "S" is being prepared. The reservoir/pump are in place and the rad is just about to go into the roof.NB.. The rad actually mean the top 2 bays can't be used as they take up half the space.. However, this is fine for the fan controller.

The motherboard (Asus P5KC) has been removed from the old system. I've left the CPU in the socket for the time being.

A close-up reveals 8 months of heat displacement and gives a good idea of the contact being made. Note the lack of contact on the bottom right.. I'm going to lag this later...

The XSPC Edge, Notice the fins inside..

With no hanging around, I've installed the CPU waterblock mounting screws and fitted the motherboard.

Admiral Huddy · 24 Jun 2008 at 15:09

now where were we.. oh yes..

Next up, I've removed the stock cooler from my PNY 8800GTX leaving exposed GPU, RAM chips etc..

I have to say, Thjis was the part I was most worried about but ended up being the simpliest

With the CPU lapped and both the CPU and waterblocks in place, it's time to start fixing the tubing:

I've used cable ties just for extra re-insurance.

Once all the tubes are correctly in place, it time to start filing the res..

See the tubes gently starting to fill is a wonderful feeling of achievement

Next, I've attached a spare PSU using this old method..

Switching the PSU on for just a few seconds at a time allows the tubes to fill further..

You can still see some bubbles here..

The res is now full.

I've tilted the system making sure all trapped air makes its way into the res which is bled allowing the air to escape..

The pump is switched on and tested for 24+ hours.. I've left a white towel underneath. Any leaks will stain the towel, so it's a good visual check for next day..

Admiral Huddy · 24 Jun 2008 at 15:09

next day.. no leaks horraa.

I've now turned the pump off leaving it to stand for a bit before final bled.

Time to start connecting everything back up and for the big switch on ..

Here it is back in the games room ..

Looks pretty cool (excuse pun)..

Full blog here on my website:

gt_junkie · 24 Jun 2008 at 15:26

Nice work Huddy!

You're right... it is a great feeling the first time those tubes fill.

Looking really tidy so far matey!

gt

Cob · 24 Jun 2008 at 15:54

Nicely done

Defiance_co · 24 Jun 2008 at 16:26

Good for you

Done Great there

Loving the Bloo coolant (care to share info if it's available at OcUK ?)

Congrats on a very nice and tidy 1st H2o Project

Ciao

Def

reflux · 24 Jun 2008 at 16:37

Great job mate, very well done for your first w/c build. Mine was a complete mess and leaked everywhere

brianpocock · 24 Jun 2008 at 16:56

nice build mate, i love the contrast of red and blue, i'm doing that on my current build.

Admiral Huddy · 24 Jun 2008 at 16:56

reflux said:
Great job mate, very well done for your first w/c build. Mine was a complete mess and leaked everywhere

I think the Masterkleer 7/16" makes a big difference.

Greebo · 24 Jun 2008 at 17:19

Admiral Huddy said:
I think the Masterkleer 7/16" makes a big difference.

Yeah 7/16" tube on 1/2" barbs works a treat. Not a single leak on mine when I did it.

Admiral Huddy · 25 Jun 2008 at 08:59

Greebo said:
Yeah 7/16" tube on 1/2" barbs works a treat. Not a single leak on mine when I did it.

Not looking forward to removing them for upgrades.

Greebo · 25 Jun 2008 at 09:14

Admiral Huddy said:
Not looking forward to removing them for upgrades.

Done that already, you just pull very, very hard

ajbuk · 25 Jun 2008 at 09:27

Do u have a comparison, air cooling vs water cooling temperatures? before and after? Itd be interesting to see the improvement.

neo36uk · 25 Jun 2008 at 10:32

Hello

did you have problems getting the reservoir to fit in the 2x drive bays? What I mean is, did the reservoir hit the cdr/dvd drive supports (runners) when you came to install it or is there a groove on the reservoir to rectify this? Was your case modified in any way?

Cheers

looks a cracker btw

Admiral Huddy · 25 Jun 2008 at 11:06

neo36uk said:
Hello

did you have problems getting the reservoir to fit in the 2x drive bays? What I mean is, did the reservoir hit the cdr/dvd drive supports (runners) when you came to install it or is there a groove on the reservoir to rectify this? Was your case modified in any way?

Cheers

looks a cracker btw

Yes, I just got some pliers and bent the said runners back into the holes until it was clear. Took a few minutes.

neo36uk · 25 Jun 2008 at 12:20

Hello again

just looking at the parts you bought for the water cool...I was wondering why you opted for the Swiftech radiator and not the XSPC make (everything else is XSPC). Is there any particular reason for this choice, would you say Swiftech rads are better? I am totally new to water cooling but seriously thinking about doing it. I have a coolermaster cosmos case as well but the earlier model, looks very similar to yours but has the door on the front.

That is a great place to mount the rad, I will deffo do the same with mine but will have to use the double rad and not the triple...i only have 2x 120 exhaust fans on top

cheers

Jon1818 · 25 Jun 2008 at 12:24

Nice one mate, i would imagine the huge amound of space in the cosmos made the job easier.

Admiral Huddy · 25 Jun 2008 at 13:48

Jon1818 said:
Nice one mate, i would imagine the huge amound of space in the cosmos made the job easier.

It's an amazing case... It's not so much the space, it's the way they have used it..

w3bbo · 25 Jun 2008 at 14:02

Good job m8. Personally I would have routed the inlet to the CPU from the other rad barb therby using less tubing and do it direct instead of doing a 'loop'. Hard to tell if thats really possible but it looks like it maybe.

Admiral Huddy · 26 Jun 2008 at 08:50

w3bbo said:
Good job m8. Personally I would have routed the inlet to the CPU from the other rad barb therby using less tubing and do it direct instead of doing a 'loop'. Hard to tell if thats really possible but it looks like it maybe.

Yes you are right... I thought long and hard about this one. The problem here was I wanted some slack on the tubing in and out of the res as I want to be able to move this out of the drive bays to file/bled.

The bottom outlet from the rad is almost flush with the mobo so things would have got very tight and the tube would have been laying flat on the mobo and hooked round the CPU.. The reason i choose the setup is the tube from the res to the rad is laying loosly with some give.. I'm not sure if i'm explaining this to well.