Custom Loop Parts

Skiddy

Skiddy

Skiddy

Associate
Joined
9 Jun 2014
Posts
40
Hey guys!

I plan on getting my own custom-loop next month, and as I have no idea about water cooling, figured it'd be best to ask people who know better than me :p

I was just wondering what would be best for the parts I have? I plan on having around a £300 budget though if this isn't gonna get me anything good, I'll raise it if I can get much better for a bit more.

The parts I have are (I don't plan on watercooling the RAM or motherboard);
  • GPU - Gigabyte GTX 780Ghz edition
  • CPU - I5 2500k
  • Motherboard - Asus P8Z68-V LX (though I do plan on upgrading MB + CPU when Broadwell is released)
  • PSU - Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 850W V2
  • Ram - Avexir Core Blue Series 8Gb
  • Case - NZXT Phantom Enthusiast

I may also end up adding a second graphics card eventually.

Thanks for the help guys! :D
 
Last edited:
£300 doesn't give you a lot of budget to work with if your planning a CPU + GPU setup. You'll be probably wanting a 480mm radiator for starters and will need more than that if your moving to a dual gpu setup at a later date.

You are talking 80-100 quid just for a GPU waterblock and that's before you even get to a CPU block / radiator / pump / resevoir / fittings / tubing etc etc. OCUK do a number of WC kits but they only give enough bits for a simple CPU loop.

I would maybe start of with something like that. A wc loop that I've spec'd out was over £600
 
Also for the case you have I'm not sure what watercooling capacity it has.

Ok quick check suggests you could get a 360 rad up top and a 240 in the bottom. So potentially enough radiator space. May someone else with more knowledge on this case could provide some insight into cooling options for it.
 
Something like this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy Clean CSQ - Acetal £49.99
1 x XSPC AX360 Triple Fan Radiator (Silver) £46.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-DCP 4.0 PWM (12V DC PWM Pump) £39.95
1 x Aqua Computer Aquainlet Pro 150ml £35.99
2 x Primochill Primoflex Advanced Tubing 13/10 - Clear £5.99 (£11.98)
10 x EK Water Blocks EK-CSQ Fitting 10/13mm G1/4 - Black £2.99 (£29.90)
Total : £224.38 (includes shipping : £8.00).




With a 780 wf EK block. Should just about be in budget or a little over.

Spec the white ax in case you have the white Phantom case! Great rad for the cash.
 
Cheers for the help so far guys!

Honestly, if a budget of £300 wouldn't cut it, I'd be willing to raise it based purely on the fact that I don't want to have to keep upgrading as I've cheaped out on parts.

For a decent, full custom loop that's gonna last me a long time, around about how much would I be looking at spending?

(also I have the black case not the white case :p)

Cheers!
 
Well the loop i speced has a top end block and rad. Pump will easily do a few blocks and fittings are cheap but reliable and easy to use. You can spend more but there isnt much need to.
 
Ah fair enough, that's a lot cheaper than I was expecting to be honest! :p

Would I need to buy extra pipes at all? as in the spec you linked there were only two, and I imagine you'd need more?

Cheers for the help!
 
Overclockers don't seem to do the EK full cover block for the WF3 design. They only seem to do the backplate for this. Odd
 
Yes that's the one for your card I believe. I would always go with a full cover block. As far as I can tell your pcb is definitely not reference.

Odd that ocuk do the backplate and not the block though!
 
I doubt it would be compatible otehrwise they wouldnt sele there own. Most backplates are asthetics but may provide a little passive cooling but they do look good IMHO so its up to you and your budget.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom