First time water cooling, Spec me:

[killaklik]

Hello guys,

First post so be gentle.

I have decided to jump into the realms of water cooling, I've been reading through and following some of the forum posts to see if I can get an idea of what products I should purchase for my first project. However their are differences of opinions and so many different variations/ permutations of setups that its difficult being new to water cooling to choose what's best for me. I understand that you guys have a wealth of knowledge and that by posing this question that you could provide a valuable wealth of experience when it comes to choosing the right equipment.

Here is my kit currently, some I've had for a while and some kit is relatively new.

MotherBoard: Asus Maximus IV Extreme P67 LGA 1155
Processor: Intel Core i7 2600K
Case: Enthoos Primo
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1300 G2 Power Supply
Graphics Card :- EVGA GeForce GTX 780 SC w/ ACX Cooler
Memory: Kingston HyperX DDR3 2133MHz DIMM XMP X2 CL9
Current Cooling Solution CPU Corsair H70

I have only just un-boxed the Primo as it only arrived yesterday but I understand this case has many options available for water cooling. I sort of fell in love with the case and bought it on impulse.
I don't have any specific budget but I don't want to go crazy over the top , that said I want to get the best products available for both aesthetics and performance alike.

By the sounds of things I don't really want to get a kit as these kit's don't seem to provide the levels of performance compared to individual parts. That said I'm open to any suggestions.
I would like to cool both the CPU and GPU with expansion for another 780 in the future.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

This case has plenty of cooling options. I would start by sticking a decent 480 on the roof for the GPU and CPU, then expanding with another 240 for the front when you go SLI. TBH you can manage with the 480 alone for two 780's and a 2600k but with all these rad options and how cheap 240 rads are compare to the rest of the loop, itd be a shame not to take advantage an extra bit of radiator can take.

If cash is a bit on the tight side, you can replace the D5 with a single EK 4.0. This will even manage the loop after you expand and you will see little performance difference. The only down side is it will be a tad louder. Not a huge issue, as they run perfectly fine off a decent fan controller.

I prefer separate pumps and reservoirs to combos, as i find these give more flexibility when you are choosing where to mount the res for your most preferred aesthetics.

Fittings are 10,13 for thin tubing, if you prefer thicker tubing then go for it, only difference is that thinner tubing is easier to make tighter loops without excessive amounts tubing.

I went for EK fittings as they are cheap, secure and reliable but if you prefer something a little flashier, monsoons are a good choice.

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-D5 Vario X-TOP - Plexi (incl. pump) £89.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC780 GTX Ti - Acetal £79.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream PE 480 (Quad) £59.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy Clean CSQ - Acetal £49.99
1 x Aqua Computer Aqualis ECO 100ml with Nano Coating £34.99
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 : £366.41 (includes shipping : £8.00).



If this turns out to be a fair bit pricier than expected, i am sure i can pull it to sub £300 without sacrificing cooling performance.

 

[killaklik]

Thanks for your suggestions, to be honest I expected it to cost a lot more, but I suppose there is still fans, fluid etc, I noticed you have indeed favoured EK rather than other suppliers I like the look of the koolance blocks for aesthetic reasons and they generally seem to be a good performer, do you think that if I threw in another 200 quid to the spec that it would change much how and what products you would choose.?

I noticed some of the products chose were in the middle of the range and this maybe just you being cautious as I did not specifically state a budget.
Do EK make the best of everything or is this because you use them that you tend to favour them other other manufacturers ?.

I looked at some koolance rads and some aqua rads / alphacool and get mixed reviews wherever I go, same with the cpu blocks its a nightmare but want to make the right decision first time round.

I would also like a clean straight look to the build so perhaps this changes the game for fittings I definitely like the look of the monsoons fittings over the EK ones. I've also seen some mixed reviews on whether you should use barbed or other fittings. Which is the best for someone new to ensure no leakage.

I would also like to get a second opinion, not that I don't think that your recommendations are not good recommendations, just so I have others opinions and values.
I Really do appreciate the time you have taken though, so thanks very much for your input and it would be good if you could re-spec based on the know how that I've got a higher budget.

Thanks again Avenged7Fold some good solid advice.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

CPU block wise, there is next to no difference between high end blocks, i choose EK because they are clean looking, have plenty of replacement parts available, come standard with universal mounts and are among the highest flow blocks available. If you want to change your look or replace the top due to stripped threads, you can easily order one for about the tenth of the block cost from EK's site. The Koolance 380i is on par with performance, so if it is more too your liking, grab that.

As for choosing the EK PE rad. Your case can accommodate a hell of a lot of radiator. In fact, it can accommodate more rads than you will need even after you expand the loop. The difference between standard mid range radiators and upper range radiators are not all that much in real life performance but these PE rads are not just any mid range radiator. The only thing mid range about them is their price tag, they feature a similar high density, split fin design as premium AX XSPC radiators with a similar quality casing. They are among the top performing 40mm radiator at a low price. In your case where you have plenty of space to mount, it'd be better to spend the extra cash on extra PE radiators if you wanted more cooling rather that paying double for a single premium radiator. The case would look really nice filled up with radiators too.

Fittings wise its a no brainier, whether you are new or not Compression's are the easiest to use and most secure type when it comes to rubber tubing. Monsoons are good fittings, if you prefer their look, use them.

Just because they are middle range prices does not mean you will lose performance. If you have enough pump power to keep the flow high enough so that coolant int he loop is more or less the same temperature all through the loop, you stand to gain next to nothing by having more pumps or a more powerful pump. Having said that, the D5 is the most expensive sensible watercooling pump which is also quiet. There is a few Japanese models which cost upwards of £150-180+ but there is no loop I can think of which can justify that insane pump power. If you plan to have long loops of tubing going up and down the case, it would be better to choose two EK 4.0 Pumps over a D5 but i doubt either will serve you badly if you prefer the look of one over the other.


Price tag seems low but would also recommend:

- 5 liters of mayhem's (can never have enough spare fluid) which costs about £20
- quality fans for the radiators which is about £12 per 120mm,
-Angle fittings. Specifically rotary angle fittings. I cant really choose which you will need or how many until you decide on your loop order and where you will mount things. These can cost a fair amount each and will pump the loop price up a lot if you want to make things super neat and use a generous amount of them.

I will do another spec to include monsoon fittings and, fans and coolant if you'd like. Any colour scheme preferences?
EK back plates will add a fair bit of flash for minimum performance increase, i love their looks and if you have the cash to spend then i'd recommend one!

*Edit*

This one includes an extra 240mm radiator, monsoon fittings, fans, fluid and also two rotary fittings. I chose one 90 degree one to connect CPU block tot her oof radiator cleanly and a 60 degree to connect the GPU to the CPU cleanly (this is just the way i would do it, dont feel the need to follow by the letter and think of this spec as an example).

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-D5 Vario X-TOP - Plexi (incl. pump) £89.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC780 GTX Ti - Acetal £79.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream PE 480 (Quad) £59.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy Clean CSQ - Acetal £49.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream PE 240 (Dual) £39.95
1 x Aqua Computer Aqualis ECO 100ml with Nano Coating £34.99
2 x Monsoon 13/10mm (ID 3/8 OD 1/2) Free Center Compression Fitting Six Pack - Red £27.95 (£55.90)
3 x Corsair SP120 Performance Series High Pressure - Dual Pack (CO-9050008-WW) £22.00 (£66.00)
1 x Mayhems X1 Red Coolant 5ltr £21.95
1 x Monsoon 13/10mm (OD 1/2) Rotary 45° - Red £6.95
1 x Monsoon 13/10mm (OD 1/2) Rotary 90° - Red £6.49
2 x Primochill Primoflex Advanced Tubing 13/10 - Clear £5.99 (£11.98)
Total : £524.15 (includes shipping : ).



I have put red fluid in there but tbh, i think red monsoon fittings and black tubing to be one of the nicest combo's on ROG boards. The tubing is Primochill clear, which is top quality and i have found it to colour/cloud much less than other rubber tubing. If you prefer the Koolance block or other fittings, the build would work just as well.

 

[killaklik]

Thanks for re-visiting and adding fans / coolant, I really do appreciate you taking the time out to re-spec, Looking a the price tag this seems like a more reasonable and more towards my target / allowance, I appreciate you have added another radiator and some angle fittings and understand that you can only spec based on assumption as you're right until I've worked out exactly how I want it to look determines the amount of fittings / angles required. I also agree that it makes sense to have red and black based on the rog board, it also turns out that my PSU is both red and black cabling, so that's another bonus.

When originally looking at the water block for the gfx card I intended on adding the backing plate which reinforces that your knowledge is sound, the main reason I wanted to go with the koolance block was also down to the tests performed on coverage here :- http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18587484 I understand this was the 370 but I would assume the design did not change too much on the 380i and rightly it performs up their with the ek supremacy on my cpu / board when I have been looking at my options and the performance / aesthetics of blocks

I like the Shuriken design of the 370 but appreciate the 380i is probably the better option when it comes to performance.
You have given me a list to work with and perhaps expand on and I really appreciate it as a first timer their is a lot of research to do but you've made my decisions a lot easier.

+rep

 

[Avenged7Fold]

Those tests are for coverage not performance, you need to remember that. Though performance and coverage are related, the tests had to be performed without TIM. With the use of TIM, the heat transfer area is higher and so the performance gap between the blocks lessen. Having said that the Supremacy coverage on that chart is pretty good still. There is far more to a block's performance than coverage, like its restriction and the heat fin design. If you want to compare contact between blocks, then that comparison is perfect but if you want to compare cooling potential, its best to check out a benchmark which measures the temperature drop (you'll find all the high end blocks are essentially the same). The tests were also performed on an i7 950 which has a different IHS surface to yours, so you will find the contact you get will be different to the contact that Frostdragon got in his comparisons. I am not saying the tests are hugely irrelevant but that there are much more relevant comparisons out there if you are looking to reduce temps.

Either way, whether you choose the 370, 380i or the Supremacy, you will have more or less the same temperatures. High end blocks tend to be good enough that your cooling potential is limited more by the amount of radiator/quality of radiator than the choice of which high end block you use.

You can get a perfectly even surface, where you will essentially get a more or less completely red coverage on the IHS, by using a flat faced block like the Supremacy and then lapping the CPU IHS surface using sandpaper, though i very much doubt you will need to do that with the 2600k. With the above spec, no matter which high end block you choose, whether you lap the IHS or not, your overclock will largely be limited by the chip and not the temperatures.

 

[killaklik]

Thanks for the assistance so far, after reviewing what could be potentially the best configuration for me I thought that maybe some of the options could be changed slightly, however I thought I would run it past the experienced ppl here first, I've been considering the XSPC Razor GTX 780 & Titan GPU Waterblock **GTX 780 COMPATIBLE** and backplate as reviews seem to suggest it's on par or in some area's out performs the ek when it comes to temps and is slightly cheaper. I've also been pondering of colour choice as my ethoo comes with blue Led's however I have a rog board which suits red and black, now the corsair fans are fine as they are interchangeable colours and I'm thinking of the most aesthetically pleasing styling products as well as performance the XSPC water block comes standard with blue Led's which would fit the primo , the ek block looks rather plain compared to the XSPC Razor, the OC website seems to list 2 XSPC blocks one being reasonably higher priced than the other, does anyone know what the differences are ?

All these choices and too much reading makes me hesitant to just dive in and purchase based on an individuals recommendation, plus I want to buy all at once and save on time and carriage, do ocuk do partial deliveries if the items are not in stock and deliver at a later date ?

Another question is if I decide to go for the koolance 380i block will I need to re-consider my fittings or do they remain the same ?


Thanks in advance