** Customer/Enthusiast Feedback **

  • Thread starter Thread starter rjk
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  • how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?
1. Set a budget.
2. Research parts.
3. Compile a wish list.
4. Try and cut back until my build fits my budget.​

  • how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?
Very. I don't mind sacrificing a degree or two in order to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing rig.​

  • do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?
I try to balance performance, price and aesthetics. I usually aim for the best performance my budget allows for, but if the best piece looks like ass then I'd go for the next best piece.​

  • how do you plan your system projects?
Extensively. For my first build, I measured the space I had and looked for the best rads I could fit in my case. Then drew a mock-up in MS paint of the best way to go about my loop. For my G5 mod (coming soon) It was a lot harder to visualise, so I ended up making 3d models using CAD of where everything would fit. It took me a good 4-6 weeks of measuring and brain storming before I decided on a final set up.​

  • how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?
They were more important when I first started out, I liked a lot of EK products. Now I'm not fussed at all. I use an Alphacool radiator as I only had space for a single 360 rad and their monsta offered the best performance. I use a MIPS CPU block for it's high flow rate. I use EK fittings as I like their looks. I use a lot of Phobya accessories as they are well priced.​

  • are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?
A normal PC case, yes.​
 
How do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?

I decide what the computer will be used for, then I decide on a minimum spec and double it :p
I'll choose the components first, decide what cooling will be required and then decide on the case. I would always choose the case last (Current build is an exception as there are a limited selection of cases capable of housing an SR-2).

How important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?

Less important than functionality but I do want it to look as good as I can make it. I will be more inclined to sacrifice aesthetics for performance than the other way around.

Do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?

I mostly choose products for performance - unless they're really hideous.

How do you plan your system projects?

I decide what I need and then spend hours searching for reviews and other projects to get a feel for which brand will perform best in my particular system. I used to do meticulous planning so that I could get everything at the start and build it in one go but, for my current project, I've been planning as I go along. It takes a lot longer but I feel that, by doing this, I'm more likely to get a better built and better planned system.

If you look at my current build log http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18499474, you'll see that one of the items in my "Still to get" list is "Watercooling stuff as required". I had obtained the basic components for the build but was waiting until i got them together before deciding how best to cool it. I've got pretty much all the bits for phase one now but there's no guarantee I won't have changed my mind by the time I get home next week. I might also get it all together and decide I don't like it and change it.

How important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?

I don't really have any firm favourites but I do have a few things I've used that I like and would probably use again because I know they're good. E.G. I like Heatkiller blocks as they look stunning and work really well.

Are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?

To a certain extent yes but not as well as others. I will study a case and run through several different possible loops (usually muttering to myself and waving my hands about, tracing the hose paths :o).
 
how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?

I go for the best performance parts I can get.

how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?

It is nice and becoming more so as I get better at building rigs (I have still got a lot to learn) but it is secondary to performance.

do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?

The best performance parts.

how do you plan your system projects?

I have a target level of performance I want to reach and use the parts I need to get there.

how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?

Not very important, I will use anything that will perform reliably and well, at the moment I am using a lot of XSPC parts.

are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?

You mean some people use paper :eek:

Yes I have always been good at doing that sort of thing in my head.
 
I always look at performance first, cost second and looks 3rd
if I can get good looks and good performance for only a small premium then I'll go for the better looking one, but for example I'd never buy bitspower fittings as they are way too much for what you get functionally

I quite like phobya parts generally as they tend to be good performance, decent looking and very keenly priced, but I'm not tied to them as a brand particularly - I have an XSPC CPU block based on performance and price but it also looks good, I have EK GPU blocks as they were the first to become available and see above

I don't design stuff on paper / computer, but I do have problems visualising a setup sometimes though, so I've ended up needing to buy extra or different fittings / extensions etc. to complete a build the way I want (e.g. with the tubing not kinking)... I do like a bit of straight tubing so at some point I'll be getting extra fittings etc. to be able to reroute all my tubing in straight lines

the primary purpose of watercooling for me is performance and low noise (not neccessarily silent, but low noise definitely), cost wise I'll pay what it takes to achieve this, aesthetics are a consideration, but not the primary one
 
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Biffa said:
  • Pumps: Laing, DDC or D5 depending on the size of the loop
  • Fittings: Not bothered, I've used them all bitspower, EK, Phobya, no-name and generally they are all much of a muchness in terms of which ones leak and which ones don't. Also Compression or not.. for me compression every time unless some other compromise (hole positions, cost, etc) necessitate a change.
  • Blocks: General rule if its nickel its not going in one of my loops, too many bad experiences to risk it anymore.
  • CPU Blocks: Lowest restriction for the best price. Branding isn't that important but I would tend to stick to the big 3 (UK, Aquacomputing, XSPC)
  • GPU Blocks: Again depends on the brief, If its a single gpu and simple loop then brand isn't so important, however if its a fashion statement build then matching brands with the gpu/mobo blocks is important. Otherwise I've always liked the Aquacomputing gpu blocks even though they are a little more restrictive, their thinness and multi-link design has won me over in the past. That being said I haven't used XSPC or any other brands, just AC and EK.
  • Mobo Blocks: EK and MIPs, but you are more driven by who has a block for the particular board than anything else, but MIPS blocks are just so smexy!
  • RAM Blocks: Never used them
  • Res: XSPC, bay, pump attached, separate, I've used one tube EK res but thats it.
  • Top: Usually now I go for a res/top combo but in the past I've used mainly XSPC for D5 or Dual DDC tops.
  • Tubing: XSPC High Flex or something that doesn't leech into the water like a proverbial
  • Fluid: Distilled and kill coil or something clear with galvanic inhibitors in it. Nothing coloured, if someone wants coloured I suggest get coloured tubing.
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+1

I completely agree with this
 
how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?

I usually tend to do a rolling upgrade on my pc over a year. I have a look round and see whats new and what people recommend . I tend not to go over £150 for processor/mobo/gfx card

how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?

It's fairly important. Don't want the case to look messy but i'm not overly OCD about it.

do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?

I try to go in between. I don't want any parts that are butt ugly and perform amazingly and neither do i want something that looks amazing and just sucks.

how do you plan your system projects?

I usually just get an idea in my head either looking on your website/forums or pc mags. So not much planning in what i do, just do it when i can.

how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?

Brands are important to me not because of the name but someone that reputable and if i have any problems that i can contact. I like EK and for my current rig and the gpu and gpu blocks are EK with hardwarelabs rads.


are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?

I can now after completing my first one it's nice and easy to see. Which i'd have been able to do that before i bought my Antec 1100. Would have made cooling it easier.
 
Good evening Rjk. It's always nice to be asked for feedback. I'd guess the idea is trying to interpret the response for the benefit of the store. Good luck...

rjkoneill said:
Specifically, I want to know what you feel is the priority for you when you build a custom system.
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For myself, I aim to optimise gflops within available budget. It's not so much bang for buck as bang for the buck I have available. For others, the aim is to balance component performance while minimising noise.

  • how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?

Somewhat casually. The processor is chosen by comparing prices with Intel's spec lists, there's usually a local optimum. Dual/quad core, hyperthreading, overclocking depends on the application. I have preferred brands for the remainder (gigabyte, corsair, seasonic) and it's usually possible to write down an appropriate spec without deviating from these, after checking what notational insanity Intel are currently running with for sockets.

  • how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?

Utterly irrelevant. It'll matter a little more if the components are outside of the case where the lady can see them, but otherwise I only open the case when something breaks. It's lined with bitumen to lower resonant frequencies, definitely no chance at a window.

  • do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?

I pick watercooling components based on materials and expected quality of manufacture. Most off the shelf things are EK, but they're from before the nickel plating controversy.

  • how do you plan your system projects?

Badly. Initial spec, build and correct. They're usually simple enough that this suffices, but there's been the odd expensive mistake.

  • how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?

I like Laing, Feser and EK, but Laing is the only one I'm "loyal" to.

  • are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?

Well, yes. But so could most people I think! It's just spacial awareness. Estimating thermal performance takes a bit longer and tends to be calculated with a computer, as (my) mental arithmetic is error prone.
 
Good thread:

how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?

Start with case and work from there. How much room for internal rads, if necessary with some simple mods. If I have to mount externally to do my build then look again for a different case and start again. Base spec for pc will always be cooling the cpu and 2 gpus at minimum. Question again, can I get enough rad internally to cool my cards sufficiently whilst maintaining low fan speeds. If I think I can buy case and then WC kit.


how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?

Not at all, as long as they do not rust:P

do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?

Best performing within a reasonable price bracket.

how do you plan your system projects?

In my head and tinternet.

how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?

Most important feature is a long history of quality and good customer services. Koolance or Swiftech for all parts, for rads would be thermochill but they were bought out last time I heard so very hard to get hold of nowadays.

are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?

Yes
 
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ThaReaperGuy said:
Can I leave some feedback, even if I haven't water-cooled a system yet, as I have one planned?
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andybird123 said:
a potential customer for a full system is probably as important or moreso than someone who already has a the bulk of their kit and not looking for a full system :D
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without a doubt, i would love to hear some feedback on our new kits too and if they appeal to you or not :)
 
rjkoneill said:
  • how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?
  • how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?
  • do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?
  • how do you plan your system projects?
  • how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?
  • are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?
Click to expand...

1. I basically make a list of some sort - whether its a word doc or just simply add products to my basket and take it from there. Main thing really is to try and get as many parts from the same place as possible so I don't have to mess around.

2. The aesthetic is really the main point in water cooling for me. I overclock my gear put I basically want it to look lovely and be quiet i.e. I'd have more rads in a loop to reduce fan speed than to improve temps.

3. As above I go for looks over performance a few degrees either way are not make or break for me but give me a missed placed logo etc and I won't touch it.

4. For planning I look into other peoples build logs and see what solutions they have come up with. This helps build a basic idea of the number of fittings and parts which work best together.

5. Brands are very important for me due to the product lines often sharing key aesthetics so i try to configure a loop that is the same brand or closely match.

Fittings : Bitspower (some of the monsoon stuff looks interesting)
Blocks: XSPC and EK
Rads: XSPC, EK, (Looking to try Alphacool and Hardware Labs)
Res: XSPC, EK, Bitspower (The monsoon d5 bay res looks cool)
Tubing: Depends on the fluid used due to the number of issues mayhems has with different tubing. Would like to get into the whole acrylic tube stuff to avoid tubing issues.

6. To a degree but you can plan and plan but more than likely you'll need extra fittings so I always tend to order more than might be needed.

While on the customer feedback thing I'd personally like to see the following:

- A much better way of sorting fittings on the website, I find it very unclear and time consuming to find all the things I need.

- A greater range of bitspower stock in general- it has improved vastly but their are lots of key items and fittings that you do not stock. More D5 mod kits, x-stations, pump tops - basically the same stuff a well known US retailer than has a massive amounts of water cooling stuff (I'm sure you guys know which)

I don't want to have to shop at 3 places to build my loop i want to come to one place (you ideally).

- I would love it and i mean love it if you guys stocked the leading Caselabs cases yes they are expensive but it is a real pain in the arse to important with all the added costs involved.

:)
 
how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?
Decide what CPU + GPU horsepower I need and go from there. Next up is aesthetics.

how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?
Equally as important as low noise, more important than performance.

do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?
Watercooling? The ones that look the best. Although I wouldn't buy something if it looked awesome and performed terribly.

how do you plan your system projects?
excel and my payslips, LOL.

how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?
Very important. I have preferred brands but it's easier to say which brands I don't like. For example:
-I don't buy swiftech products because I don't trust them. (h220)
-I avoid EK blocks because they look naff (which is a shame because they have some really nice product ideas out).
-I avoid phobya products now because they always feel cheap.
-I only buy bitspower fittings (RIP my bank balance) because they actually work properly.
-I don't buy masterkleer, primochill pro lrt, tygon r3603, clearflex 60 tubing. All rubbish. I have some primochill advanced lrt on order because it's good apparently.
-I used to use mayhems coolants but when my order arrives I'm trying out some aquacomputer stuff. I always use dyed coolant and have never had dye 'clog up my blocks' (ye olde myth? my purple dye has disappeared so when I strip it down we will see.)
-Radiators are all pretty similar but I use alphacool full coppers as I wanted a monsta 240 in the front of my rv02 and I wanted the 3x180 rad to match.

Something else is I wont buy a gpu waterblock unless it has a nice backplate available. (Really like the heatkiller stainless ones).

are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?
Yes.
 
How do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?
First and foremost is performance, next is materials used then aesthetics.

How important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?
It is low on the priority list. Performance and quiet is the order of the day.

Do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?
Best performing, hence why i chose a koolance 380 over the xspc raystorm. (although it did have a more to do with the all metal mount on the koolance vs the acrylic on the raystorm)

How do you plan your system projects?
Excel and a fairly fixed budget.

How important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?
Indifferent mainly as I'v only just dabbled with watercooling. I would prefer to keep things more uniform, i.e. matching radiator brands and matching blocks. (say alphacool rads and aquacomputer blocks)
-Prefer laing pumps
-Not fussed on EK CSQ range due to the looks
-I like alphacool full copper radiators for their performance and the protection from incorrect bolt lengths, but I'm not fond of the paint or the stickers. (paint flakes off to easily and the stickers can peel off) I'd prefer them to emboss their logo like XSPC on their new lines.
-I like the look of bitspower fittings but I won't buy them as they are way too expensive. OCUK fatboy barbs all the way.

Are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?
Yes, then i draw it up in photoshop overlaid on a photo of the system.
 
Ive only assembled 1 system and that was only recently but will try to answer as best I can

Compiling my first system involved lots of reading and asking questions first I bought a case that was able to support watercooling at a reasonable price then it was a simple case of filling the system up.
The looks of the system are very important at the level of the kit I was looking at along with the amount of rad space I could fit in my case the difference between the most expensive top equipment and the lower end cheaper stuff was only a matter of a few degrees and thus not enough to worry about. What was important though for a first timer was matching equipment, from a confidence point of view having as much kit as possible just from one or two manufacturers that you knew had been designed and tested in house to work together is priceless excluding the fact that having all matching kit obviously looks the bees.
Having never done a loop before or any watercooling for that matter designing took a long time months of researching asking questions along with hours spent digging around with a tape measure and pen and pad and well i still got it wrong, the front rad was too big the top rad screw holes didnt line up right, the tubing should have been a size smaller etc etc yes I made it work yes im very happy with the setup but I have learnt a lot through mistakes and errors.
Brands arnt massively important so long as they are branded and they look good, im not fond of the older style ek stuff with all the circles although the new stuff is looking better, I love the look of the watercool, aquacool and alphacool stuff, the xspc stuff is a bit yes and no the reservoirs look good as do their raystorm style stuff but what lets them down is the no vrm coolers on the graphics blocks and lack of led colour options on them theres lots of people that dont want blue in their systems, now if ocuk where to offer a tech labs style system were you could pick the led colour of your choice on the xspc stuff that would be top dog.
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys. It is really appreciated.

Essentially I wanted to get an overview of what you guys are using and if we are meeting tour needs on a store basis well enough.

We have some new ranges coming soon that will make things clearer. I am also in negotiations with a manufacturer to try and get their unique products in stock here but it is taking some time.
 
rjkoneill said:
Thanks for all the feedback guys. It is really appreciated.

Essentially I wanted to get an overview of what you guys are using and if we are meeting tour needs on a store basis well enough.

We have some new ranges coming soon that will make things clearer. I am also in negotiations with a manufacturer to try and get their unique products in stock here but it is taking some time.
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Sounds really promising Rich :)

Does the unique product start with M and end in onsoon? As I know their exclusivity contract is up with a certain German retailer sometime soon....:eek:
 
how do you compile a specification list for a custom computer?
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First I consider what I want to cool. Then I consider heatload (how many rads/size etc). The amount of rads dictates size/type of case. I then search for a case what has more space than I require. Extra space is always handy as I hate working in cramped conditions and it allows for expansions if required.

how important is the aesthetic of a watercooled system to you?
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Extremely important, I would actually sacrifice a little performance if the part looked a lot better than a higher performing one.

do you pick the best performing products or ones that look the best?
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A balance really of looks and performance - I will not however pay over the odds for any component. A rad is perhaps the only part which I put performance over looks.

how do you plan your system projects?
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In my head. Rarely does a plan work out from start to finish as I get inspired along the way which usually means a change of plan. I tend to get a theme in my head, look around to see what I can get that would work and then mod bits to fit into the theme to make my builds a little different and individual rather than a carbon copy of someone else's. Modding is key to making a build stand out - anyone can throw cash at a build and make it look good. Detailed modding however separates the chaff from the wheat:cool:

how important are watercooling brands to you and what are your favourites for different parts?
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Not that important at all. I'm certainly not a follower of fashion who buys parts that everyone else buys, especially when they are seriously overpriced because of the name *cough*bitspower*cough. I won't buy cheap either as that is false economy but when I see folk spending £££'s on 'fancy' fittings (which look pap imo) I cringe.

are you able to look at an empty case and design a loop in your head?
Click to expand...

Of course;)
 
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