components for water cooling HELP

WasteTimeChangingCars · 14 Jul 2009 at 10:35

just ordered the components for water cooling but one thing crossed my mind will I need to order connectors for the rad, pump/res for the tubes to connect on to

do I need to order them

Firestar_3x · 14 Jul 2009 at 11:05

Go for 7/16ths tubing over 1/2 inch EK barbs, nice tight fit!

Bubo · 14 Jul 2009 at 11:55

I've looked at the pros and cons of 7/16" tubing over 1/2" barbs over the last few months and I've come to the personal conclusion that the benefit of not having to use hoseclips does not compensate for the hassle of having to physically cut the tube off the barbs if you ever need to change anything or do any re-routing. Make of that what you will. BTW I know you're only doing a cpu loop but I would get at least 2m of tubing, better to get too much than too little.

Biffa · 14 Jul 2009 at 12:19

Get compression fittings, they about £1 more than than regular barbs but are so much more convienient/safe imho

JonJ678 · 14 Jul 2009 at 20:43

Consider compressions. I think they're difficult to put on, as when tightening them on the tube they twist it. I've got the hang of it now, but its taken a while. I screw the tube onto the fittings, then screw the fittings into the blocks. The tube gets five rotations counter-clockwise before I start screwing it in. Id like to hear how others cope with this annoyance.

If using barbs, get jubilee clips instead of those plastic things. Cheaper, smaller, and far superior at actually clamping it. Find in any diy store, get one sized appropriately.

Ive read that xpsc tubing is quite flexible, and doesn't form that close a fit over ek barbs, Not so bad you have to cut it off at least. I've not done this myself though, as I use compression fittings.

Firestar_3x · 15 Jul 2009 at 10:46

Bubo said:
I've looked at the pros and cons of 7/16" tubing over 1/2" barbs over the last few months and I've come to the personal conclusion that the benefit of not having to use hoseclips does not compensate for the hassle of having to physically cut the tube off the barbs if you ever need to change anything or do any re-routing. Make of that what you will. BTW I know you're only doing a cpu loop but I would get at least 2m of tubing, better to get too much than too little.

I've got three loops over two pc's one is 1/2" barbs and 1/2" tube with clips, other is 1/2" barbs with 7/16th tube and the last is a mix and match job between the two piping sizes.

I agree that its a pain to get the tube back off once its been on for 1hour or more but you can bend 7/16ths tube much tighter without it kinking which for me was needed for several points in my loop's.

For the above advantage alone i think its well worth looking into.