EK Config...

LambChop

LambChop

LambChop

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I've only ever used an AIO, but with these things now going into £200+ territory, I'm going to spend more and just get a custom loop.

I used the EK configurator which is pretty good. After a small gulp at the cost, does that config cover absolutely everything you need ? All I need to do is add the water/additives ?
 
if you list your build
and what ek configurator said
we can double check for you

yeah custom watercooling is not cheap
even just the fittings nowadays soon add up
never mind the rest of the stuff too
theres always MM if you dont mind second hand stuff
you could certainly save a significant amount
 
Probably. Or save yourself some money by shopping around and not limiting yourself to EK's overpriced tatt.

You need
  • CPU block
  • GPU block
  • Sufficient radiators of size and quantity to cool everything
  • Some kind of pump with appropriate pump top
  • Some kind of reservoir (either standalone or combined with the pump top)
  • Fittings for every single connection you need, and appropriate for your tubing type and size
  • Fittings to make tube routing easier (like rotary adapters)
  • Drain port is 95% of the time essential, if only for you sanity
  • Fans for every radiator
  • 3 times as much tubing as you think you need
  • Some kind of fluid

I think that covers it.
 
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LambChop said:
I've only ever used an AIO, but with these things now going into £200+ territory, I'm going to spend more and just get a custom loop.

I used the EK configurator which is pretty good. After a small gulp at the cost, does that config cover absolutely everything you need ? All I need to do is add the water/additives ?
Click to expand...
forget about EK overrated overpriced crap.
 
One other (entirely optional) thing that LePhuronn didn't mention which might be worth considering is a temp sensor for your fluid. If your board has a header for it then it's an easy win, otherwise a fan controller is a cheap upgrade in the future and if you install one now you don't have to drain the loop in the future :).
 
Good shout, SirConfused.

Yes indeed, get a temp sensor for the loop so you can properly control fans speeds based on fluid temps. Much finer control.
 
And @LambChop
Yes there are alternatives to ek
Barrow and byski tend to be less expensive
I wouldn't say my quantum Surface radiators or
The quantum torque fittings I used were crap at all
I guess that part will come down to personal opinions
 
The Torque fittings are solid, but the radiators are poor for the money. Not as bad as the old Coolstreams though.

It's the blocks though. The CPU blocks have gone from amongst the best performers to amongst the worst performers the prettier they got, the GPU blocks are nothing special for the money and across the board it seems their QA process has gone to the dogs.

As always, those with issues are the loudest online, so everybody's experiences are going to be different.

I will say though, a properly done Matrix-7 build is stunning, and I don't even like the O11 cases.
 
I have to admit I haven't used an ek cpu block in years
So can't personally say much about those
Got a raystorm neo am4 block
And yeah you're totally correct people post more
If they have an issue with something
Than if everything is OK
Without knowing the volumes sold
And the % of complaints though its hard to judge
If you're selling millions of units
Compared to another company selling thousands
As an example you're going to see more complaints

I guess we have mentioned ek,barrow and byski
That gives the op the information to Google
And get an idea any way
 
EKWB
Bitspower
Alphacool
Watercool
XSPC
Aquacomputer
Hardware Labs
Corsair
Barrow (and Barrowch)
Bykski
Granzon (Bykski's super swanky premium division)
Freezemod

Plenty to choose from.
 
Thanks for the replies all, probably my own ignorance I thought EK was the goto vendor and cant go wrong. I've had a look at the corsair hydro x. Even bigger gulp at the costs, but reviews seem favourable. There are probably better stuff out there, but for the money, convenience of buying all in one place and all one manufacturer makes it a little less stressful and hassle free. I'll have a mess around with the corsair configurator because £1700 to cool a 13900k and 4090 gpu is a bit excessive.
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
if you list your build
and what ek configurator said
we can double check for you

yeah custom watercooling is not cheap
even just the fittings nowadays soon add up
never mind the rest of the stuff too
theres always MM if you dont mind second hand stuff
you could certainly save a significant amount
Click to expand...
I'll be cooling a 13900k and 4090 gpu. My case is a Phanteks Enthoo Primo. EK said £880, Corsair said £1700 lol
 
cpu - JTC XC8
gpu - XG7 RGB suprim/trio
rads - 2 x 480mm radiators, x1 240mm radiator, x1 120mm radiator
fans - x11 LL120 RGB fans
pump/res - XD5 D5 RGB pump combo
icue - commander XT controller, commander pro controller
other stuff-

leak test kit
10/14mm tubing
clear coolant
fittings etc
bending toolkit

total £1566
 
Personally I'd avoid Corsair stuff too :cry:

Hardware Labs make their radiators, Bitspower make their fittings, Mayhems make their coolants (or did when Mick was in charge), but pay extra on top for the Corsair name. Corsair design their own blocks and aren't too bad at a performance, but they use injection molded plastic rather than Acetal/Delrin. Same with the pump tops.

And it's all stupid money to boot.
 
LePhuronn said:
Personally I'd avoid Corsair stuff too :cry:

Hardware Labs make their radiators, Bitspower make their fittings, Mayhems make their coolants (or did when Mick was in charge), but pay extra on top for the Corsair name. Corsair design their own blocks and aren't too bad at a performance, but they use injection molded plastic rather than Acetal/Delrin. Same with the pump tops.

And it's all stupid money to boot.
Click to expand...
ok, now im lost lol
 
Corsair use different OEMs for their components. They design and make the blocks and pump tops themselves, both others make the radiators, fittings and coolant. And those OEMs are established brands in their own right, so you can get their kit directly for cheaper than Corsair's rebranded stuff.

And I question the build quality of Corsair's kit that uses plastic; every other manufacturer uses machined Acteal/Delrin for their black plastic bits, whereas Corsair use injection-molded ABS. It's an inferior and cheaper material process, yet Corsair charge a premium.


What I'm getting at is shop around and get the best prices by mixing and matching components and vendors. For instance Alphacool radiators, Barrow fittings and Watercool blocks is a solid combo that looks great, cools great and costs less than going purely EK or Corsair.
 
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LePhuronn said:
Corsair use different OEMs for their components. They design and make the blocks and pump tops themselves, both others make the radiators, fittings and coolant. And those OEMs are established brands in their own right, so you can get their kit directly for cheaper than Corsair's rebranded stuff.

And I question the build quality of Corsair's kit that uses plastic; every other manufacturer uses machined Acteal/Delrin for their black plastic bits, whereas Corsair use injection-molded ABS. It's an inferior and cheaper material process, yet Corsair charge a premium.


What I'm getting at is shop around and get the best prices by mixing and matching components and vendors. For instance Alphacool radiators, Barrow fittings and Watercool blocks is a solid combo that looks great, cools great and costs less than going purely EK or Corsair.
Click to expand...
Ok, so for example... while you were responding.. I was looking at the Black Ice 480GTR 480mm Rad (x2) then x1 240mm then x1 120mm - so that would be the rads ? Then the pump combo, the EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE 200 D5 Acetal as the flow rate seems to be pretty good. That would be the rads and pump/res sorted ?
 
remember the black ice rads are wider than normal ones. make sure they can actually fit in your case. the LS OEM ones (same as corsair) are 120mm wide while the GT versions are 133mm wide (for the 120mm fan versions). The 140 mm fan versions (LS OEM & GT) are 153mm vs around 145mm for other manufacturers.
 
Ross Thomson said:
remember the black ice rads are wider than normal ones. make sure they can actually fit in your case. the LS OEM ones (same as corsair) are 120mm wide while the GT versions are 133mm wide (for the 120mm fan versions). The 140 mm fan versions (LS OEM & GT) are 153mm vs around 145mm for other manufacturers.
Click to expand...
Thanks I'll check that out later :)
 
Ok, so far..

Rads
Nemesis GTX 480mm (Top of case, only place the width will fit)
Nemesis LX 480 (Bottom of case)
Nemesis LX 240 (Side of case)
Nemesis LX 120 (Back of case)

Pump Combo
EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE 200 D5 Acetal

CPU Block
Watercool Heatkiller IV Pro Copper (Intel)

Quick sanity check there, all ok so far ?
 
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