New Build & Noob Questions

I am hoping to build a new system soon. The spec would be:

• Case: Cooler Master Cosmos 2
• PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 1300W
• Motherboard:AsRock Z77 Extreme9
• CPU: Intel i7-3770K 3.50GHz
• RAM: Kingston HyperX Beast 32GB (4x8GB) 2400MHz
• Graphics Card: OCUK Tech Lab H2O Custom HD 7970 3072MB GDDR5
• Main Storage: OCZ: RevoDrive3 X2 240GB PCI-E SSD

By main storage I mean a main drive for the OS and other applications. I use NAS for bulk data storage. I may switch to 2 x Samsung 840 PRO 256GB in RAID 1 in place of the OCZ PCIe Card. I want the fastest most reliable option. Opinions welcome.

I wish to water cool the CPU and GPU and for the cooling system so far I have:

• CPU Block: XSPC Chrome Raystorm
• CPU Thermal Paste : Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound
• Radiator: XSPC RX360
• Pump / Reservoir: XSPC Acrylic Dual 5.25 Reservoir Inc Laing D5 Vario/Tacho - Black
• GPU Block: Supplied with card. XSPC Razor 7970 (Raystorm style)
• Tubing: XSPC 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD (White or Black to match the Case &/ CPU & GPU Blocks)

Radiator would be mounted in the top of the case using 3 x 120mm Cooler Master Sickleflow Blue LED fans. I found these fans seem to give really good flow and are quiet and look okay as well.

I know I want compression fittings for their clean look and extra leak security, but I don't know exactly which ones. I read about using silver plated ones as a biocide. Is this enough? I also saw some 90 degree angled fittings but can't seem to find any made by XSPC. Any advice / recommendations?

I think the system will be a single loop. I have read the component order doesn't really affect the temps but I welcome any advice on designing the loop.

Noob question time:

1. Would having silver plated fittings and a kill coil &/ biocide additive be overkill? Is there a reason not to do this?
2. I was thinking about using two variable pumps in my loop both set to a low setting. I figured this gives a bit of security against a single pump at full power. This probably means two reservoirs as well in order to feed both pumps. Again is there a reason not to do this?

Never built a water cooled system before. I am a bit of a noob at this so I welcome any advice. Thanks

1. Bitspower has a "true silver" range of fittings.
But I would always advice not to use Silver + Deionized/Distilled water with EK blocks(with their warranty being not honored and pre mix just about costs the same when you consider the cost of water + kill coils + anti corro)

2.You can use 2 x D5 pumps in series with just one RES feeding both, but not with that RES/Pump combo you have.
Swiftech does a 2 x MCP35x pumps with dual pump top as well(Swiftech MCP35X Extreme Duty Small Form Factor PWM Pump), but you will have to use a different RES.

By the way why do you need a revodrive or 2 x SSDs in Raid 1??

Thanks. I don't 'need' them as such, but I wish to cut down read times for my apps and app cache. I do an obscene amount of gaming, photo and video editing and 3D CAD and rendering. The time it would save makes it worth it for me cause I value my time a lot.

All my blocks are XSPC. I'm not using EK blocks. So would silver fittings be okay? Yeah I've seen the Bitspower 'True Silver' series and I do quite like them. Would they be enough to act as a biocide or would I need a kill coil as well?

I'm now looking at these fittings but still undecided:

• http://koolance.com/nozzle-pair-compression-for-13mm-x-19mm-1-2in-x-3-4in
• http://www.bitspower.com/html/product/pro_show.aspx?num=81092464&kind2=58

I was thinking maybe of something like this: XSPC Twin D5 Dual Bay Reservoir/Pump Combo. Is it worth having the two pumps in case one fails or is that overkill? Another option would be to buy separate 2 reservoirs and 2 pumps but again is that overkill?

Cost of those Bitspower fittings would be A LOT but I go have the non silver version and I do understand the faf is all about when it comes to bitspower

I would still recommend a pre mix like Mayhams X1 or XSPC EC6 range(Clear if possible).
That means you don't have to use kill coils and anti corro as pre mixes have them all in.

People use dual pumps for many reasons. But you are considering it for redundancy. There are other(and cheaper) ways of dealing with "what happens if my pump fails" scenario - like monitoring the pump rpm and setting the PC to notify you by alarm and/or shut down your PC.

Bay mounted RES's have been always noisy for me, compared to pumps mounted some where else and properly decoupled.
If you are dead set on a bay res(that case of yours will go nicely with a bay res admittedly) better do some research about decoupling it so it would not pass the vibrations to the case.

Thanks for your advice.

Yeah I am starting to appreciate the cost of those. I think the XSPC Chrome fittings are a good choice for me.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-110-XS&groupid=962&catid=1529&subcat=1826
They look good and seem reasonably priced.

Yeah I am definitely going to go for a clear coolant. XSPC EC6 is probably my choice. I know it already has a biocide mixed in but I still might add a kill coil as they're quite cheap.

What other advantages are their in using duel pump set ups?

Yeah I am worried about the noise and vibration from the bay. I am considering a separate reservoir and pump. I like the look of this:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-006-TL&groupid=962&catid=2141&subcat=2145
Seems to be a good pump and res combo. I could get 2 of these for only slightly more than the XSPC duel pump bay res. Any opinions / advice welcome?

Dual pumps can be setup so you have 2 loops(parallel) or single loop (serial).
If in serial, pump rpm can be set to lower than a single pump - resulting in lower noise, vibrations, heat and power consumption.
Dual pumps in serial also increases flow and head pressure(but not by 2x) - often needed in high restriction loops and/or in loops where you have many many blocks and angled fittings or tubing.
Redundancy is another advantage.
Most advantageous of all is bragging rights

Since you are having a single loop you don't need 2 RES's!
Single RES can feed the first pump and then outlet can be connected to the inlet of the second pump.

Or just google Swiftech MCP35X Extreme Duty Small Form Factor PWM Pump.
MCP35x is a PWM controlled DDC pump just as much power full(or may be more even) as the D5.
Having PWM control is an advantage as well.

Yeah definitely, bragging rights is the best reason of all. Tbh it's probably why most people build their own system

I think I will still get two reservoirs for the look and aesthetics and possible symmetry of my build. Thanks for your help.

Update:

Case: Case Labs Magnum TH10
Graphics Card: KFA2 GeForce GTX 680 EX OC 4096MB GDDR5

Water cooling:
CPU Block: XSPC Chrome Raystorm
GPU Block: XSPC Razor GTX680 GPU Waterblock (Raystorm Style)
Thermal Paste: Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound
Top Radiator: XSPC RX410
Pumps: Swiftech MCP655
Pump Top: Bitspower Dual D5 Mod Top Extreme
Reservoir: Bitspower Z-Multi 250
Fittings & Connectors: XSPC G1/4" to 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD Compression Fitting (Black Chrome)
Tubing: XSPC HighFlex Hose 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD, 19/12.7mm, 2m, Clear/UV
Coolant: Mayhems X1 - UV Clear Blue Concentrate 250ml
Fans: Cooler Master Sickle Flow
Koolance CTR-CD12 Pump & Fan Controller

I still might go for Bitspower fittings though for their huge range and angled and rotary fittings.

When I stumbled upon the Case Labs TH10, I decided the Cosmos 2 was simply not big enough any more. I now plan to include an LSI RAID card and a load of 4Tb Hitachi Deskstars to make a massive RAID 5 array.

Any opinions / comments are welcome.