Finally doing it....the long way - spec help!

pgi947

pgi947

pgi947

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Hi chaps following on from this thread:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18371858

Decided I'm just going to use the Reserator as a 'fancy' reservoir though I do plan to complicate things just for the sake of keeping my 500R.

Now the 500R is far from aimed at watercooling, the best it will naturally fit is a slimline (sub 29mm) 240 radiator. SO here is my plan....

Have allot of spare materials at work so I thought sod it why not just make an external box to house the radiators and pump(s)? This way I can keep the case as is and simply have 4 hoses running in/out of the 500R. My intention is to put a pair of 360 radiators in the external box and probably the pump too while having the reservoir externally too with the Reserator.

This is where my choices get a little tricky, first a quite simple one, which radiators? quite like the look of the G-Changer radiators, good performance? The real tricky one comes to the pump, would the sheer amount of hose (estimate around 4-5' in total) and radiators be too demanding and perhaps an idea to put another pump in the line to help things along? Also what would be the best method of linking the pumps + PC to all power on from one switch? I'd presume just extending the molex into my case but any and all suggestions welcome.

As for blocks, a good high flow CPU block be fine? For the GPU's I need 6870 blocks as my 6950's are based on a 6870 PCB (cooling configurator confirms this)

I know its a round about way of doing things, but at least it saves me explaining to the other half why I need to buy a new PC case 3 months after I got the 500R.

Thanks in advance and apologies if that was all a little long winded :p
 
Looks fantastic, OCUK should consider employing you!

Pump in the case should be do-able, should fit on top of my HDD cage and no need for a res as the Reserator will be serving that purpose.

So does this sound about right:

[Reserator] [PC Case] [Rad-Box]
Res>Pump > CPU Block>360 Rad>6950 Xfire>360 Rad>Reserator

Would a single molex have enough grunt to power 6 fans? I would presume it does but no harm in checking :) If so I'll route them into a 6>1 block, have blocks and rails to hold it all at work.

Edit: also going to need to fish out some quick connect couplings so I can disconnect the lines after initial bleed to get it packed away in my workstation.

Edit 2: Found some 1/2" BSPP male and female Snap-Tite hydraulic quick connects at work, should do the job for the quick connects.
 
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Cheers so cpu>Rad>Rad>gpu would be a better layout?

Decided to hang on to the 6950's for a while longer yet so the new gpu fund is now the watercooling fund!
 
Do you have some pics of the radiator box? Just to get an idea of the layout, what I planned to use for the box is too small, intact it would struggle to dot 240 rads so its going to be a build from scratch or mod an existing structure.

Got the reserator this morning so I'll be pulling that to bits this evening.
 
That looks really good!

Just trying to figure out dimensions now I have my hands on some wood (hehe).

How is the fan controller mounted?

Really looking forward to doing this.
 
You mean 200mm rads? Or have you lost me already haha.

Reserator is ready to go, pump removed, cable hole filled with silicone, degreased and rebuilt with some 1/2" barbs I found in my tool box. Next step planning this radbox build.
 
What sort of temp difference are we looking at between the two, also forboth with just a set in pull or push only?

Edit: been a long day, should have thought about it, two 360s has more surface area than two 200's so would prsume to be cooler.
 
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I'm with you now :D

Thinking of only having 3 fans on each rad, some nice 1000rpm fans being fed via a front 200/230mm intake fan?

My first draft design for the case so far is 500x150x200 (LHW) having the radiators horizontal almost stacking on top of each other. 120mm x 6 in pull and 1 x 200/230mm directed towards it in push.

@pastymuncher, cheers for that, I'll get something knocked up probably sat morning, just a mock up and perhaps make some template rads from wood too to get a rough idea. Small world too, my other half's family are not too far from you in Huntly :)

Any idea where I can pick up a PDF template for a 360 rad? the places I've found so far want to charge.
 
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EK do make them but even then they only have 1 or 2 in stock, every other retailer I've found lists as out of stock. Tempted to snap up the sapphire 7950 while its on the weekly offer, would hope to fetch £300 for the 6950's.
 
That's what i mean yes so the fans would be directed to the side of the case. I'll mock up a drawing tonight.

It would be a temporary downgrade as I will at some point end up with two, 100% sure its 6870 blocks and uses 1 less screw then a standard 6870 according to ek. The koolance blocks are also around £100 each with very few stocked, not a huge fan of the universal blocks,just not as cosmetically appealing to me.
 
Havig second thoughts about the universal blocks after seeing some of the ek ones, pretty nice! Average around £40 each too. Do they usually come with heatsinks for the memory?
 
Cheers I'll add some to the shopping list. Like the crossfire water bridges for the universal ek blocks, going to go with that - saved me buying a new card :D
 
Cleeecooo said:
You can try asking in the CS section as OcUK may be able to nab those for you :)
Click to expand...

I'll do that just now! failing that I'm now quite happy to use a universal block (bridge edition) with one of the EK 3 slot dual card bridge connector.

Would I yield better results having a serial or parallel bridge in place? My heads telling me serial would be better.
 
Yeah, the extra cost isn't really an issue as I was prepared to pay around £160 for the pair of full cover blocks, two universal EK blocks (not decided on nickel/plexi/acetal yet) the 3 slot dual card bridge only just runs over £100. I don't really plan on overclocking the cards, I have done in the past but the gains have been minimal, so they will stay at stock under water, hopefully keeping the VRM's a little cooler in the process.

Just waiting for a reply from CS, if they can't get hold of full cover blocks I'll be stumping up for the EK-VGA Supreme HF Bridge Edition blocks, probably direct from EK as OCUK don't seem to stock those either, unless they fancy ordering those in for me in place of the FC blocks.

Little question about the 360 rads as I need a template, in theory could I just tape 3 x 120mm fans together and use those? or is there slight hole spacing between fans? Plan to get the bulk of the radbox built tomorrow.

Thanks again for the help so far guys, probably the most exciting part of my build that been on going since June 2011 has/is going full custom water.
 
Brilliant, that makes life a little easier, intend on going with a pair of Phobya G-changer 360 rads and from the pictures I have seen there appears to be no spaces so just needed to double check.

Next little project for tomorrow is cutting some 3-pin fan extensions and soldering in some longer cable. Thinking of running 3 fans into a single 3-pin to my FC5 V2, hopefully this way I can have a rad on each dial.
 
Well building my own box has gone out of the windows, the wood is too damp, found a toy chest online that's 600x325x400, a little bigger than I wanted but it should allow for better airflow.

Edit: even better, I've found phobya make 3x360 Rad external stands, £60 but it should make life easier.
 
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Cool, I did find some other wood but it was that battered I couldn't get a straight edge to start from. The box would be going under my desk, also been looking at radiator stands that are almost bolt on feet and fairly cheap. Just a pair of those covered up with grill pannels.

On the waterblock situation, 5UB is kindly going to speak to EK on Monday and see if anything can be sorted out.
 
Debating now using these: http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/r...iators-accessories/ek-uni-rad-holder-120.html

Rather than the traditional use (both on same fan bracket to hook a 240/360 up to a single 120) I intend to put one at each end and screw them into the desk to hold them in place, having 3 fans on top of each in pull complete with fan grills. Wont be easy pretty as a box containing it all but its certainly going to be easier on both my self and wallet :)
 
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