Building my first loop

[Choaski]

So, for the longest time I've wanted to watercool my PC but never had the balls to just get stuck in and do it. The blocks that i have always liked went cheap and now i feel like i should commit to the cause!

Water Blocks: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-165-AQ&groupid=962&catid=1520&subcat=2767 (Acrylic Version)

This is where i get stuck as i know literally nothing about watercooling except i can make it pretty and blue with the right liquid and coolant .

Can people just drop some ideas on comparable hardware to go with the blocks along with the pros and con's, that would be amazing. Whilst i want the good cooling benefits im mostly after the ascetics, if i can get both, even better.

Spec;

Case: In Win GRone E-ATX Full Tower

Power Supply: NZXT Hale Power 90+ 1000W

Motherboard: Gigabyte 990FXA-UD5 AMD 990FX

CPU: AMD FX8350 Black Edition

Memory: Avexir Blue Series 8GB DDR3 2666

Hard Drive: Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO

Video Card: Gainward GeForce GTX 770 Phantom x 2



Thanks in advanced for the info!

 

[Choaski]

For my first build I went with a OcUK tech labs kit. There was zero difference in cost buying them seperately. It was one less thing to worry about.

I want that "I did it myself from the box" kinda feel tho. Sense of satisfaction of it works because i did it myself over buying everything in 1 box which will be flawlessly planned together!

Cost isn't really an issue for me, it's just knowing what fits what unless barbs are universal and its just barb > tubing you need to watch out for. Also, as i lack massive to all knowledge about watercooling, i don't know what parts perform better than others / whats quieter ect

 

[Choaski]

XSPC Twin D5 Dual Bay Reservoir/Pump Combo
Would this not be a better option than the X-Res, 1: I feel like i would have to hide it in the HDD bay as my 7790GTX's would obstruct it(Off the top of my head, currently at work), the bay drive is not only still on show next to the fan speed controller but also in dead space. I know you can't see my setup but i think it fit better.

2: Really like the EK-Supremacy EVO

3: Unsure if i would be able to mount this inside my tower, i believe i can, would just have to have fans in a push and check they clear everything inside.

4: Loving the fittings, they are so nice Not seen them browsing through, would 1 pack and 2 extras be enough? 4 on the GFX / 2 on CPU / 2 into RAD / would i not need a couple more for the res ?

5: Rad's perfect as long as it fits and i can mount the fans

6: Is there anything against UV liquids? Whilst it wouldn't bother me too much, i personally think it would look better if i was able to get a neon light hidden ( White neon I'd look for )

7: No idea on tubing, i guess you need the same sizing to match fittings? Seems kinda self explanatory. What about hard tubing? I guess that would be annoying for sizing ect as it has to be exact.

 

[Choaski]

2 x 480 rads

Are these not huge? Haha, from a quick google picture, they would be too big for me as i can't mount ontop of my case

1x xspc cpu block

Shiny blue light, dam this magpie effect! XSPC RayStorm CPU/APU WaterBlock (AMD) could be cool but i think it might be too many lights for my liking, might have to get both and experiment a bit to see what i like more.

1x xspc gpu block and back plate

I feel like i should get back plates but i don't know if i need specific ones? Do they aid anything or just make it look that little bit safer. The blocks i have feel heavy as it is, i'd be worried about the weight on my cards! (Only because I've never done this before)

1x ek x3 140 res

Again, it is nice but i'm not sure i have the space for one unless i hide it, currently, leaning closer to a bay drive res

1x ek d5 vario pump with plexi top

I don't even know what this is haha.

ek fittings
13/19 tubing

Assume these are just personal preference to what you want aesthetically

This might be overkill for me, no idea / I do intend to overclock and push the limits of my machine to see what it can do but currently, can run everything to a high enough standard for me as most of the time i play FPS on low settings for them FPS's

what i will says is

1. the first time i started pouring coolant into the res i was bricking it!

2. i found that ek and xspc parts dont seem to like to go together(fittings and cpu block-when putting fittings in seemed like they where cross threading every time, ok tho no leaks gpu block was same.)

3. temps have come down very nice though cpu 65 to 52 and gpu 65 to 42 ish.

worth it? yes.

just take your time and double check fittings and all should be ok

good luck

p.s i dindt think pastel coolant was a full time thing, just for photo shoots and looking pretty.

i may be wrong i read it somewhere that's why i changed my choice

I will be sh*&&ing myself when i do it but I'll run a test for 24/48 hours outside of the machine just to see how pretty it is. Thanks for the info!

 

[Choaski]

Pastel is a full time fluid, it's the Aurora that is a temporary thing for show.

Noted, whats the reason for this ?

 

[Choaski]

Mayhems themselves can tell you better, but I believe it's something to do with the particles in it that give it the swirly effect settling and sticking in places.

Had a quick look at a video of them and though that might be the case. I'll take it, it's a shame because its so pretty! Was looking at UV dyes, anyone had experience with them at all ?

 

[Choaski]

I guess it would be best not to try the stuff that's very precise, give myself some leeway

Could i use XSPC ECX Ultra Concentrate Coolant UV Blue with Mayhems Ice Dragon Nano Fluid 1L(white) to get a solid blue glow does anyone know ?

I think everything you suggested is what i will go for to be honest... I can grab a load of rubber screw mounts to reduce vibrations as I'm just using normal screws but then my PC is a mess ATM.

I'll browse around for fans at a later date as i want to get another speed adjuster as well, i MIGHT be able to get a duel rad on the back end with the triple at the top, other than that, off the top of my head would be to have a single on the bottom with the triple rad on top. If i had a single then i could have the Res if not direct, almost directly feeding into pump + rad which makes me think it would be easier to to bleed/fill.




SOOOOOOOO totally forgot i was replying to this as i was busy working and come back, ordered some stuff and then closed the window to see this / Date and time of order: 16 Apr, 15, 4:34 pm

Didn't get any rads or the CPU block as it's out of stock. Gives me some times to decide what im gonna do untill payday is in !

 

[Choaski]

I'm not sure about mixing fluids from different manufacturers as to they may have some weird reaction.

You're brave trusting my advice I'm still planning my new PC build, which is my first attempt at water cooling

I'm looking at EK Vardar fans, but they come in black/gray.

If you go with a separate pump and res, the one thing you need is for the res to be the item immediately before the pump.

Don't tell me that, already ordered it xD / I'm just not keen on the solid blue of pastel fluids, i think it looks a bit tacky, what's the worse that can happen right :3.

I might just find decent fans and spray them myself, black fans (to match hardware) with a blue/white housing. I'v got some old ones i can use as tests!

As for your first water setup, we can fail together its fine!

 

[Choaski]

The first ever fill is the worst. Watching (and hearing) liquid trickle round your rig for the first. True test of nerve!

I'd like to test the loop outside of the machine first then just attatch it in without disconnecting it all if im honest but i know thats not reallyt viable lol.

I will definatly disconnect everything and jump the PSU to get the liquid all around the PC first before even risking anything purely because i will be scared as s$%t!

 

[Choaski]

I guess the absolute worst is that it causes some solids to form. Or it could go a funny colour that you're not expecting. Realistically, I don't think it will be a problem.

I'm planning on the pastel orange myself as I'm looking at a Gigabyte X99 SOC Champion and the orange fluid is listed as "Gigabyte Orange", so hoping it is a good match.

I'd also thought about trying to spray the fan blades, but will have to look into it.

If you want a white radiator the XSPC AX range come in white, and I think you can also dismantle them to an extent to spray just the outside if you want it a different colour.

WHITE RAD! SO COOL! Didn't even think about looking at white RAD's. This also promt me to see what RAD's will fit in my PC Case, nice to know i should be able to fit a triple on top and a double on the bottom. Would it be worth leaving an exhaust fan on the back of the PC or will this interupt airflow? Was thinking having front / back in and top/bottom as outs. feel the bottom being an out might mess things up a bit (PC is ~ 5CM off of the floor)

 

[Choaski]

Would i not want air pushing out past the rads? I know genrally speaking its better to have it dust free but i do maintain the inside of my PC quite well with a clean every 3 months odd.

To have positive pressure, i would have the double RAD on the bottom sucking air through, passing over my graphics cards and around the CPU chip, same with the triple on top but down into the case. I guess that wouldn't really affect anything as its the blocks that cover the main parts?

 

[Choaski]

I think I would be tempted to go front/bottom as inlet and top/rear as exhaust as hot air rises, and this would give you 4 fans in and 4 fans exhausting.

I'd also try to run the rear exhaust fan slower to help with positive pressure.

You could maybe try the rear as an inlet as well, with just the 3 on the top being the exhaust. This wouldn't be too good an idea with an air cooled gpu as it can suck in warm air that the gpu has vented.

My intention was, Res at front, possible ontop of a double RAD (as not to hide the res), into bottom rad, then to GFX, up to CPU then to RAD and back down into the RES (Any suggestions on how to place the res is aprpeciated, i just see this on a youtube video from a watercooler) there are 2 case fans after HDD bay which i was going to leave.

Have the one/two on bottom RAD (Intake), the HDD bays as intake, and whatever is on the top RAD as intake, all med speed with a fast low sound 120mm on the back as out take.

 

[Choaski]

Got all the stuff in but the RAD's and CPU Block (which was out of stock) partly excited to be fearing putting liquid in my pc now xD

 

[Choaski]

Random question (not been following thread) have you got a drain point ?

No, I've not planned out where everything is going yet but i haven't forgotten i need one.

In other news, i ordered Aqua Computers Kryographics for my 770GTX, it come with dirt inside, wasn't advertised as b grade or anything but guess it was... The main question is, is it safe to dismantal the water block, give it a good clean inside and reassemble or do i need some special glue or anything ?

 

[Choaski]

Can you flush it out with distilled?

I'm on a very tight budget ATM, i could wait and do that, it's what i was going to do if opening it up wasn't that safe. Though it would be the case to be honest.

Where can i pick up distilled water in a local town? Not something i have needed before...

 

[Choaski]

Halfords do a 5l bottle of De-ionised water for £3 (labelled as battery top up water). I think this is ok for flushing.

I found this old thread on where to buy distilled water.

I honestly was expecting it to be a lot more in price for some reason... 1 more thing to tick off the list!

 

[Choaski]

If you're planning on using Mayhems Pastel or any fluid that contains dye make sure you have a drain port. While it's always beneficial to have a drain port it doesn't matter quite so much with clear fluid as it's much less of a pain to clean up spillages.

I don't intend on getting spillages (thats the plan anyway haha) I'm still waiting on ordering the RADS, I'm intending on using a funle and leaving a pipe ontop of the RES to one side.

I could put a drain port on the pump or should it be thurther away ?

 

[Choaski]

i use mayhems X1 clear blue concentrate, does what it says on the tin. only thing is the uv lights cold cathodes give the best effect but the tubes don't last long and LEDs don't give out enough light. I get a dead spot around my cpu with LED strips at the top, bottom and a small strip at the back of the case. In a case with a big window like the 450 air it's hard to hide the led strips

Thats good to note, my window isn't overly big in my opinion but i didn't even consider there to be dark spots. I'm half tempted to mod a black light and drop that inside. (The ones you see in shops)

i recon Tamiya paints are good for fans they are thinner then automotive paints. Ts or ps ones for scale models and the other is for rc car polycarbonate body shells and does not flake off when the shell flexes

I built the GF a new PC and just picked up some new colourful fans, cheating but she didn't care as she got a new PC out of it .



I'm now just to order my CPU block and i have everything, was DEFINITELY worth waiting for the RAD's to come in stock, they will give such a clean finish in my opinion. What am i getting for fill / drainage, can someone point me in the right way please.

Thanks for all the help so far from everyone