Custom loop kit for cooling amd 290X

[mshinebaum]

Hi there.

Water cooling newbie here.

I am currently loving my 290X but the noise is getting to me.
Looked at the prolimatech MK-26 but fitment was looking dubious in my Corsair 550D.

So really what I need is a basic kit to cool a i7-920 at stock and a amd 290x at stock with the emphasis on noise rather than overclocking, that will fit in a 550D. I have plenty of 5.25 bays free. I will try pushing the system clock up once I have it running nice and quiet, in a hope to find a good balance.

I have a budget of around £300.

Meant to mention I am thinking one of the OCUK kits plus the EK water blocks but was not sure what extra I would need in terms of tubing and fitments.


All suggestions gratefully received

 

[Doomedspeed]

A quick attempt:

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC R9-290X - Acetal £89.99
1 x XSPC X2O 750 Dual Bayres/Pump (Acrylic) V4 £59.98
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator SR1 240 £55.98
1 x EK-Supreme LTX - Acetal CSQ Intel CPU Waterblock £29.99
1 x Corsair SP120 Performance Series High Pressure - Dual Pack (CO-9050008-WW) £25.99
1 x XSPC HighFlex Hose 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD, 15.9/11.1mm, 2m, Blue/UV Blue £5.99
2 x Mayhems Ultra Pure H20 Watercooling Fluid 1L £4.99 (£9.98)
8 x XSPC G1/4" to 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting (Black Chrome) £2.99 (£23.92)
Total : £313.80 (includes shipping : £10.00).



I put the SR1 in as im pretty sure your 550D can take thicker Rads (like the SR1) and this will provide more cooling than the standard thickness rad (clearence will need checking) You can always swap it out (of my spec) for a standard thickness rad if you like.

Feel free to change the tubing colour and fluid.

 

[mshinebaum]

Thanks a lot for your help. Looks like a good setup.

Any suggestions on step-ups from my conservative budget. I.e is there anywhere here that a little extra cash could make a big imporvement?

 

[lukext]

Potentially:

- Go for Scythe Gentle Typhoons over the SP120s = approx +£5 to above total
- If noise is an absolute priority, go for a separate pump and tube res. Bay resevoirs have a rep for vibration noises. probably worth checking out reviews on the X2O 750. (head over to "martins liquid lab" = approx +£60 for a D5 and EK tube res to above total.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

D5 will add a lot to the cost for not all that much return. A EK 4.0 pump + tube reservoir will cost 15-20 quid more and will easily be up to the job (sporting a bit more flow and more than twice the head pressure as the x20 750). Put it on a bit of sound proofing foam and you wont hear it, they can also be controlled some what, using a decent fan controller rated at 20W per channel.

The 290x runs hot, so for added quietness/better overhead on cooling, would consider adding a 120 radiator on the exhaust.