Time to journey down water cooling...

CK61938 · 8 May 2009 at 20:22

So despite buying the Thermalright TRUE 120 and 6GB DDR3 OCZ RAM for my Core i7 920...I am still not satisfied with my temps...the CPU is now OC'd to 4.2GHz...but idle temps at this speed are at 45C and above and this is after lapping said CPU.

So now I want to try water cooling as I know this will give me the temps I want. If you guys can please recommend the best kits at around £150 or what best bits to buy (CPU block, pumps, radiators, etc) so I have a good understanding of what to get.

I may take a look in the Members Market if there is anything worth getting from there.

Thank you all in advance.

Sayso · 8 May 2009 at 20:30

EK supreme CPU block, DDC with xspc res and TFC 240 should see you ok

reflux · 8 May 2009 at 20:30

Well, here's basically what I use. It's nothing very special but it cools well and it was relatively cheap. I have two Yate Loon D12SL-12s on the rad; they're very quiet for the airflow they provide.

You may decide you want to spend a bit more to get components that will allow some expandability; for example the pump I have is cheap and cheerful but I expect it would struggle with more than one or two things in the loop.

EDIT: Missed the barbs and worm clips off the screenie, you need those as well

RJC · 8 May 2009 at 20:31

What are your full load temps like.

CK61938 · 8 May 2009 at 20:36

RJC said:
What are your full load temps like.

too high like hitting 90C...

reflux thanks for that...thats pretty much was I think looking into anyway...price seems about ok too...I will buy them bit by bit I think...

CK61938 · 8 May 2009 at 20:46

which barbs and worm clips will be best to get?

reflux · 8 May 2009 at 21:13

Ah yeah, get 7/16'' tubing (not the 1/2'' stuff I put above) and 1/2'' barbs. To get the tubing on you have to dip the ends in boiling water to soften them up. Because the sizes are mismatched, but only a little, you get a very tight fit.

Just get some standard worm drive clips; OCUK don't sell them but other specialist retailers do. They're much better than carpy plastic clips.

From my experience with watercooling, you HAVE to take your time setting the loop up and be very careful to check for leaks. If you use non-conductive coolant then you should be OK if it does leak, but it's not 100% reliable. I specced 3m of hose which is enough for my CPU loop with a bit spare incase I mess up the cuts.

CK61938 · 8 May 2009 at 21:24

reflux said:
Ah yeah, get 7/16'' tubing (not the 1/2'' stuff I put above) and 1/2'' barbs. To get the tubing on you have to dip the ends in boiling water to soften them up. Because the sizes are mismatched, but only a little, you get a very tight fit.

Just get some standard worm drive clips; OCUK don't sell them but other specialist retailers do. They're much better than carpy plastic clips.

From my experience with watercooling, you HAVE to take your time setting the loop up and be very careful to check for leaks. If you use non-conductive coolant then you should be OK if it does leak, but it's not 100% reliable. I specced 3m of hose which is enough for my CPU loop with a bit spare incase I mess up the cuts.

Nice one thanks for that will bear that in mind

Sayso · 8 May 2009 at 22:25

just use 7/16 tube over 1/2 barbs and use cable ties...have tryed drive clips and the push on plastic ones and its just overkill really (and looks ugly!!)

CK61938 · 8 May 2009 at 23:35

well if anyone has any pics of their watercooling set up to give me an idea of what is needed to get this up and running that would be much appreciated

1kiwi · 8 May 2009 at 23:54

Sayso said:
just use 7/16 tube over 1/2 barbs and use cable ties...

you dont need them..

1kiwi · 8 May 2009 at 23:55

CK61938 said:
well if anyone has any pics of their watercooling set up to give me an idea of what is needed to get this up and running that would be much appreciated

See my sig link - has full spec etc

There are however more modern setups using the above EK block for example.

CK61938 · 9 May 2009 at 00:14

beh* said:
See my sig link - has full spec etc There are however more modern setups using the above EK block for example.

Dude that is awesome...you have given me something to work towards

thank you

CK61938 · 12 May 2009 at 12:57

right i have received some parts of my water cooling stuff.

I got 3m worth of 7/16" UV blue tubing of 3/8" ID and 1/2" OD. Along with these I bought TFC Compression fittings with G1/4 thread to be used with said tubing. However, when I put the tubing on the fitting, the part to screw them together doesnt fit onto the tubing. I am going to upload a few pics so you can see what I mean.

CK61938 · 12 May 2009 at 13:10

Right here we are:

This shows the tubing and part of the compression from the inside:

This shows the tubing connected to the other part of the compression:

This shows the tubing with the outer compression. as you can see the outer part only stops are that part of the tubing:

So where am I going wrong? Have I bought the wrong sizes?

shadowscotland · 12 May 2009 at 13:11

7/16 tubing is 7/16 ID
Compression fitting are not barbs (as recomended above)

If using the TFC compression fitting you can ONLY use 3/8 ID tubing (that has a 1/2 OD)
Time to buy some more tube.

Edit: I don't think you understand how a compression fitting works.
the lose part slots over the end of the tube (tight section away from hose end)
you then thread the hose onto the fitting.
next you slid the lose part up the tube and screw in into the fitting.
this 'compresses' the tube so it will not fall off.
Or at least it would with the correct hose size.

CK61938 · 12 May 2009 at 13:16

so buy 1/2OD tubing rather than 7/16OD tubing? hmmm I thought using 7/16 tubing will have 1/2OD on it...man this is so confusing...but its all about trial and error right? lol...thanks mate...more tubing it is...

JonJ678 · 12 May 2009 at 13:30

Sayso said:
EK supreme CPU block, DDC with xspc res and TFC 240 should see you ok

Amused to see that, it's exactly what I'm using.

Anyone else has problems with compressions fitting? When you tighten it, it twists the tube which then kinks

Bubo · 12 May 2009 at 13:31

CK61938 said:
I got 3m worth of 7/16" UV blue tubing of 3/8" ID and 1/2" OD.

the common 7/16" ID tubing is usually 5/8" OD. The tubing you have looks like it thick enough to be 5/8"OD. I think you are getting your tubes sizes mixed up. I would double check what you have tbh as you can't specify 3 different diameters for a tube.

shadowscotland · 12 May 2009 at 13:34

It's not trial and error - it's reading instructions and advice.

7/16 is 7/16
1/2 is 1/2

7/16 (which is smaller than 1/2 [8/16]) and will fit very snugly on 1/2 barbs.
BUT compression fitting are different - read the sticky and please do some research before you get water all over your pc.
It's not differcult or elitist but you need to be careful and know what you are doing.

Edit: Oh and compression fitting are a pita if you get your tubing even slightly wrong.
It's the reason people don't recoment them to first time users.

Edit2: Looks like you have tube that is 7/16 ID 5/8 OD
but compression fitting that need 3/8 ID and 1/2 OD - you need to buy some 3/8 tube with 1/16 walls not available here. 3/8 ID + 1/16 wall + 1/16 wall = 1/2 OD
Clearflex 60 and the XSPC stuff is surposed to work but you will get kinks

as the walls are 1/8 thick giveing 5/8 OD
Masterkleer Tygon and Feser all make the stuff.

ID inside diameter - OD outside diameter