Considering a custom loop setup sometime soon...

Soldato
Joined
8 Jan 2012
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So I've read up a little about custom loops from the stickies on this section. But as always there are multiple routes to take with it and I'm quite lost with a few things :p. I'm unsure of what my budget maybe when I go ahead to do this but I'd say up to £400 (possibly).

Anyway hopefully in June I'd like to go ahead and start watercooling my system (only just built it but have the itch to build more!). I'd like to cool my CPU and GPU (when I have it/them since I plan to SLI in the future).

My CPU is a i7 3770k.
Plan on having a GTC 670 when I have the cash to watercool though there aren't any 670 blocks yet? any idea when they will be released? And if not would a 680 block fit on one of the larger 670 PCB's?
I want to use my CM Storm Trooper case which I believe has enough room for dual if not tri rads? (if I remember what I read right)

Any help appreciated!
 
if your running a full pcb gtx 670 then a 680 block will fit straight on! :)

i like the EK range of products block wise as they do the en nickel plexi so you can see the coolent in the blocks themselves. i dont know 100% what can fit into your case though :/

when i get home i will read up a little more and have a look at a setup for your case :)

if your only going cpu and one gpu a 240 - 360 rad is recomended. if your going sli then i would look at 360+ rad area.
 
Yeah I'll probably go 360. Would my 750W PSU be able to cope with SLI 670s + a custom loop? Also are there back plates for 680s? I guess they would fit a full length 670 as well? Just to make everything look niceish xD
 
the wc wont draw hardly any power tbh.. it only runs a pump... :)

psu wise if going SLI 670 i would look at an 850 psu myself as a min.. thats just me tho

and the 680 backplates will fit the 670 full length pcb's :)

look at the windforce cards as they seem to be the best of the bunch!
 
Will do! From what I have heard the 670s draw little power and even a 650W PSU can handle SLI? (If I remember correctly at least) I don't really want to have to upgrade my PSU since I only just got it and it cost a bomb xD
 
unfortunately 670s aren't on there xD oh well. Kinda took a guess at what I'm using now (added 680s as SLI) came to 508W~ I think (big orange number). Though its a bit of a rough guess since I don't have my full build finished.
 
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If your on a budget get yourself in members market when you have some cash, it is defiantly worth getting second hand water cooling as generally there is always someone wanting to upgrade this and that and usually you can get it in top condition and should save yourself quite a bit.
 
Unfortunately for some reason hyperst I don't have access to the MM and I can't figure out why (enabled trust and have the post count but it hasn't appeared?) Yeah I did zx came to about 508W (I would give a margin of 50W since I'm still missing a HDD and possibly a CD drive)
 
Unfortunately for some reason hyperst I don't have access to the MM and I can't figure out why (enabled trust and have the post count but it hasn't appeared?) Yeah I did zx came to about 508W (I would give a margin of 50W since I'm still missing a HDD and possibly a CD drive)

You should have it next month, 1000+ posts & 6 months membership required now.

Heard a few people saying 650w will sit happy on a pair of 670's. Personally I'd edge more on the side of caution and go 750w+
 
Yeah I've got 750W atm was just making sure I had enough power. Ah I see I had a feeling it would change right when I hit the required count xD at least I'll have cash next month. So for block metals I should go nickel correct? I'll probably be using distilled water/deionised or possibly a premixed dye (heard dying can stain blocks over time nothing to worry about though?)
 
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Yeah I've got 750W atm was just making sure I had enough power. Ah I see I had a feeling it would change right when I hit the required count xD at least I'll have cash next month. So for black metals I should go nickel correct? I'll probably be using distilled water/deionised or possibly a premixed dye (heard dying can stain blocks over time nothing to worry about though?)

I heard dye can stain and to which it will do so I went with coloured pipes and was never really happy so in the end I swapped to clear pipes and ek red coolant, much better looking and it will only be stained when empty which will only happen if I sell anything so I'm not worried about the staining tbh and wish I did it first.
 
Ah I see I want to go clear pipes + red coolant or maybe a nice green... would look sick if I modded my LED's on the CM storm trooper to green :D

That's another thing, try to stick to the same colour for your LED's, I am only just getting round to matching things up but it's coming along nicely now, I have just had some red LED fans to replace my white none LED fans and it's looking miles better, only thing is I have blue LED's in my water block so got to swap'em out soon as it just doesn't look good:)
 
Yeah :p well my CM Storm Trooper HDD bays have Red LED's atm (simple fan swap on one since Ima probs go optical drive res/pump combo) change the power button LED's and I would be fine ^.^ might get some to go on the inside of my case (LEDs that is) and mod my side panel to have a window possibly ^.^
 
Nevermind spotted the EK 680 backplate on preorder would go nice with the EK blocks :) See for clear pipes/tubing do they cloud up a lot/at all?
 
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So anyway back to the topic! whats the simplist way to go about a 360 rad custom loop? please don't reffrain from listing tube ID and stuffs I need all the help I can get :)
 
thats just to give you an idea on a setup! you can chop and change parts about as you see fit. i havent included coolent, cutters or a psu bridge in there either.
 
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