First FULL Watercool build - hobby

spikerules

spikerules

spikerules

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Joined
24 May 2011
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Hi all,
I want to make a full watercooled build and am willing to take my time on it. Basically buying components when it suites me and generally doing it as a hobby rather than something I need urgently. I'd likely sell it on, and not for a profit, but just to recoup costs. I'm bored basically and need another hobby apart from the gym!

I was looking at these components:-

Corsair 900D

OcUK Tech Labs - Gigabyte X99-Gaming 7 WIFI Intel X99 Watercooled with EK Waterblocks

2x OcUK Tech Labs H2O Custom GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Now I was wondering what waterblock for the CPU, radiator and reservoir/pump's to go for? There are so many different varieties! I'm guessing I would need a couple 3x radiators for cooling the water after going through so many components? I was also going for a white colour motif, so there's that...

Any suggestion? I would be willing to take pictures and upload them as the build develops, even if it goes wrong. As I said this is a hobby build rather than a build I'd be likely to keep.

Thanks
Spike
 
Blame said:
I also have the 900D and i run 2x480 rads and 2x240 rads. with a tube res and all powered by a D5 pump.

Also had 670 sli , but now running a 980 single card. Temps have been excellent with all fans on a fan controller running the lowest rpm possible.

But you dont really need 4 rads for your setup. 2x480 is plenty. but with such a big case, i just couldnt resist.
Click to expand...

Cool thanks for he info. Do you happen to have any pictures?
 
Wow nice build very impressive! Can I ask why you didn't go with a reservoir and pump combo? That red is nice would have been good to get red tubes and fittings too!
 
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RyanF said:
Kind of. I haven't been able to fathom out where its bad supply or high demand that keeps most of the watercooling parts out of stock. They've normally always got the items on order just waiting on shipping though.
Click to expand...

It is odd because normally they say when they are expecting stock.
 
NMBlack said:
Try using the browser add-on for looking at baskets, as it makes it easier for forum readers to spot if you're missing something.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18371076

YOUR BASKET
1 x XSPC AX360 Triple Fan Radiator - White £89.99
1 x PrimoChill 360mm AGB CTR System Phase II - Frosted £62.99
1 x Monsoon Hardline Pro Bender Kit 1/2 x 5/8 (16mm) - Value Bundle £59.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-D5 PWM Pump £58.49
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy EVO White Edition £56.99
1 x Bitspower D5 MOD TOP S-Model G1/4 - White £49.99
1 x PrimoChill Revolver Compression Fitting Acrylic Tube 13/10mm Diamond 10-Pack - white £49.99
1 x PrimoChill Rigid Bender Bending Template - Clear £41.99
2 x PrimoChill 13/10mm Acrylic Tube 60cm 4-Pack - White £15.95 (£31.90)
Total : £502.31 (includes shipping : Ex.VAT).

Click to expand...

Thanks so much for this! I was always wondering how people were doing this! I've updated above:) Any suggestions for more equipment from anybody?
 
Upgraded the build purchase list a tad! Does anyone see a problem with the components for the loop? I was thinking of going with 2 reservoirs, but smaller in size with 2 pumps or should I stick with this list?

YOUR BASKET
1 x Corsair Obsidian 900D Super Tower Case (CC-9011022-WW) £299.99
1 x "Steamroller Asus X99" - Intel Core i7 Haswell-E DDR4 Configurable Bundle £245.99
- 1 x No Upgrade - Intel Stock Cooler (None overclocked systems) £0.00
- 1 x TeamGroup Elite 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4 PC4-19200C16 2400MHz Quad Channel Kit - Black (TPKD416GM2400HC16QC01) £119.99
- 1 x Intel 5820K 3.30GHz (Haswell-E) Socket LGA2011-V3 Processor - Retail (BX80648I75820K) £319.99
1 x Aqua Computer Aquaero 6 Pro USB Fan Controller £149.99
1 x XFX 1250W Black Edition Pro '80+ Gold' Certified Modular Power Supply - 5 Year Warranty £144.95
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream XE 480 (Quad) £99.95 (£199.90)
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC980 GTX - Nickel £84.95 (£169.90)
1 x PrimoChill 360mm AGB CTR System Phase II - Clear £62.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream XE 240 (Double) £61.99
1 x Monsoon Hardline Pro Bender Kit 3/8 x 1/2 (13mm) - Value Bundle £59.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-D5 PWM Pump £58.49
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy EVO - Nickel £52.99
1 x Bitspower D5 MOD TOP S-Model G1/4 - Plexi £49.99
2 x PrimoChill Revolver Compression Fitting Acrylic Tube 13/10mm Diamond 10-Pack - Black £49.99 (£99.98)
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC980 GTX Backplate - Black £22.99 (£45.98)
2 x Mayhems Pastel - UV White Coolant 1L £17.99 (£35.98)
1 x Bitspower Mini-Valve - Matt Black £16.98
10 x Noiseblocker Multiframe S-Series M12-S1 Fan - 120mm (750rpm) £15.98 (£159.80)
2 x PrimoChill 13/10mm Acrylic Tube 60cm 4-Pack - Clear £15.95 (£31.90)
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-D5 Cover Kit (Black) Acetal £15.95
3 x Monsoon 13/10mm (OD 1/2) Rotary 45° - Matte Black £6.95 (£20.85)
3 x Monsoon 13/10mm (OD 1/2) Rotary 90° - Matte Black £6.49 (£19.47)
2 x EK Water Block EK-TIM Ectotherm (5g) £3.95 (£7.90)
1 x XSPC PSU Bridging Connector (24 Pin) £1.99
Total : £2,474.16 (includes shipping : £16.85 Ex.VAT).

 
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Deathjester said:
The 2 issues I see are that the backplates are for the Strix GPU and may not fit the stock board.

Also the Cable Mod kit is for a beQuiet DarkPower PSU not an EVGA one.

Also from a purely personal point of view I'd want the USB / Aquabus D5 pump from Aquacomputer, although I'm not sure that the Bitspower upgrade kit works with it.
Click to expand...

Cheers! Gone for an XFX PSU with the Seasonic mod cables! They work on the XFX (same PSU I believe as the XFX is made by Seasonic). Also changes the back plate! I've updated above:) Also why the Aquabus D5 pump? Can you link it please?
 
Right... now this is my final list! Please say if there any issues:)

YOUR BASKET
1 x Corsair Obsidian 900D Super Tower Case (CC-9011022-WW) £299.99
1 x "Steamroller Asus X99" - Intel Core i7 Haswell-E DDR4 Configurable Bundle £245.99
- 1 x No Upgrade - Intel Stock Cooler (None overclocked systems) £0.00
- 1 x TeamGroup Elite 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4 PC4-19200C16 2400MHz Quad Channel Kit - Black (TPKD416GM2400HC16QC01) £119.99
- 1 x Intel 5820K 3.30GHz (Haswell-E) Socket LGA2011-V3 Processor - Retail (BX80648I75820K) £319.99
1 x EVGA SuperNova 1000W '80 Plus Platinum' Modular Power Supply (220-P2-1000-XR) £161.99
2 x XSPC AX480 Quad Fan Radiator - White £99.95 (£199.90)
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC980 GTX - Nickel £84.95 (£169.90)
1 x PrimoChill 240mm AGB CTR Phase II for Laing D5 - Clear £69.95
1 x CableMod E-Series G2 & P2 Cable Kit - Black / White £69.95
1 x Monsoon Hardline Pro Bender Kit 3/8 x 1/2 (13mm) - Value Bundle £59.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-D5 PWM Pump £58.49
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy EVO - Nickel £52.99
1 x Bitspower D5 Mod Kit £41.99
1 x EVGA Pro SLI Bridge V2 - Long 2-Way £29.99
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC980 GTX Backplate - Black £22.99 (£45.98)
2 x Mayhems Pastel - UV White Coolant 1L £17.99 (£35.98)
1 x Bitspower Mini-Valve - Matt Black £16.98
2 x PrimoChill 13/10mm Acrylic Tube 60cm 4-Pack - White £15.95 (£31.90)
4 x Bitspower Adapter 90 ° G1 / 4 Inches, 2x rotatable - Matte Black £14.99 (£59.96)
8 x Noiseblocker NB-eLoop Fan B12-3 - 120mm (1900rpm) £13.99 (£111.92)
1 x IC Diamond 24-Carat Thermal Compound (4.8g) £13.99
2 x Bitspower Rotary Fitting "Q" - 360 Degree Water Cooling Accessory - Black Matte Finish £12.98 (£25.96)
1 x Mayhems Ultra Pure H2O 5Ltr £12.95
2 x Bitspower G1/4" Matte Black Male to Male Rotary Adapter £7.99 (£15.98)
1 x Akasa TIM Kit Thermal Compound + Cleaner & Spreader £7.99
10 x Bitspower Premium G1/4" Matte Black High Flow 3/8" (1/2" OD) Compression Fitting £6.98 (£69.80)
1 x Bitspower BP-CLTAC-S2 Crystal Link Tube Set For 2-Slots £6.98
1 x Bitspower BP-CLTAC-S3 Crystal Link Tube Set For 3-Slots £6.98
Total : £2,384.71 (includes shipping : £16.85 Ex.VAT).

 
Thanks for the reply!

Rads:- The rads are important for an aesthetic point of view as I'm going for a black and white theme;)

Pump: - OCuk don't seem to sell a controllable pump?

EVGA bridge will delete

The crystal link set I didn't know which one to use so I put both and would return the other...

Thermal compound: - what would you recommend?

Q: - good point! Will do

Compression fittings: - really? Damn like the look of those more than the Primochill ones:( Do bitspower not do acrylic fittings??




deFiniLoGy said:
Are you certain on this?

The AX480 is very much overpriced and if you're not keen on the color you, EK PE480 is essentially the same rad in black.



Please note you cannot control the pump via (most) fan controller e.g. Aquaero.

But you can control via mobo PWM headers.



The EVGA bridge is for 60mm spacing = 3 slots

Not sure why you would need the crystal link tube set for 2 sets then..



Gelid GC Extreme or the Thermal Grizzle instead?



Second set...?
99% IPA would be more versatile... IMO



You might need some stop fittings to block the unused ports.



These are for soft tubing... not hard tubes
Click to expand...
 
deFiniLoGy said:
Rads:
Well, seeing you're buying two of them, that'll cost you an extra £60...

Pump:
D5 Vario have 5 speed settings, also known as MCP655

Crystal link set:
If you are using this set, you will also need to buy the Bitspower Multi-link fitting, also known as the C47 push fitting

Compression fittings:
For the tubing that you've bought, Bitspower's rigid tube fittings are incompatible, you will need the Primochill Revolvers or Monsoon.

If you want to stick to Bitspower, the enhanced multi-link fittings are their rigid tube compression fittings.

HOWEVER the only rigid tube compatible with Bitspower compression fittings are the 10/12 E22 tubes or their own branded tubes.

Hope this helps.

Edit:
Thermal compound:
I have always used Gelid GC Extreme, but the recent release of thermal grizzly seems to take the throne of the king of non-conductive thermal paste, at the cost of a bigger price tag.

The performance difference seems to be 1 to 3C, idle or under load, but either way you cant go wrong with either of them.

(P.S. EK official choice is the Gelid GC Extreme)
Click to expand...

Ah yes forgot about the C47 fittings!

Does the D5 Vario have the ability to control the speed from the fan controller?

I prefer the look of the crystal links compared to the ek bridge... does that link SLI and cool the cards?? I'm also cooling 2 cards not 3, but I'm assuming I need that one as there is a big gap between PCI-E slots 1 and 2 on the MB?

You've been extremely helpful! Thanks!
 
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NMBlack said:
As far as I remember, yes you can, but there's no need to. The vario has a little dial on the underside that gives you different speed settings. All you need to do is select a speed that you find acceptable in terms of noise, and then leave it at that. Pump speed has little to do with cooling (increasing the speed won't make things cooler) so you might as well set the speed and leave it.
Click to expand...

I have heard this before, but the question is what speed would be sufficient and what do people generally use?
 
Trunkey said:
Mine is set at 2.5, and it pumps plenty of water, its in a Monsoon bay res and there is no noise and no vibration at all.
I could probably back it off a little but its not worth the hassle of taking the res out to remove the back cover to get at the vario dial.
Click to expand...

This is why I have gone for the Aquaero 6, so I should be able to control the pump from the front of the case! I've now purchases all the equipment, just waiting for OCuk to get some of the out of stock items...
 
deFiniLoGy said:
Do you want to activate your trust system?
Click to expand...

Huh, sorry not following?

faceman123 said:
how was your first build
Click to expand...

It hasn't so far. Only thing I have received so far is the Case and I only received that because I ordered from Amazon as they had a better price! Unfortunately I ordered the rest from OCUK with my Amazon account and they have informed me they can't send me anything until they have all the items in stock:(
 
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