First time WC tomorrow, some pointers?

pgi947

pgi947

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Hi again :)

So after a few minor setbacks I'm as ready as I'll ever be to fit the water cooling into my system tomorrow, I've read countless guides and viewed many many videos, but theres nothing quite like IMO some personal help and feedback.

The main worries I have at the moment are...

Tubing and compression fittings, the tubing is extremely tight to fit over the compression barb, it does fit over eventually I just need to work it over gradually. My concern is putting too much pressure on connected components, any tips for getting the tubing over hassle free?

Fitting the GPU full cover blocks, is the suggested method from EK the best one? two cross pattern of paste (have MX-4) over the chip, thermal pads over everything else and a dab of paste on each stand-off/spacer to hold them in place?

Also any other general tips or things to look out for that I may have missed in the guides is most welcome :)

Thanks in advance, and a huge thanks to everyone thats helped me out so far - a wonderful forum.
 

VaderDSL

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Fit the tubing before installing any of the water blocks is my advice. But then the last thing I water-cooled was an Athlon T-Bird AXIA with a little river white water and a heater matrix from an escort + an eheim 1250 garden pond pump. Not sure how things have changed.

I don't know if it's the done thing still, but 24 hour leak test? lot's of paper towels underneath the compression fittings etc. to catch and indicate any leakages.

Oh, and don't forget to fit the tubing before turning the pump on :o otherwise you get a very damp computer :D trust me on that.
 
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pgi947

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Plan to install the pump last to avoid that :D Must have been an experience for you?

Some recommend a 24hour leak test, but I suppose it depends how much you trust your own work, I'll give it maybe a few hours, with the exception of a sunday the longest my machine is on is 1-2 hours a day at the very most.

It might be hard to install the tubing to the fittings first and then screw them in as once the tubing is on the fittings the fittings and tubing will all rotate, meaning as I screw one end in the other will un-screw :)

Given my self a 6 hour window, assisted with allot of cigarettes and maybe a couple of beers once its in.
 

zx|muppet

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with the tubing... some hot water. dip tubing in for about 15 seconds and it makes the end nice and easy to work with!

dont rush it.. i built the full loop and checked it all over before putting ANY coolent into it :)

also do a pass with some warm di water for about 30 min and then drain off the system to get rid of any crap that may be in the rad(s) (rad only loop ofc!)

i only used the paste on the GPU itself.. and i just used a line and then covered it using a flat card and then cut the pads to size for the other stuff :)

hope this helps! enjoy yourself tomorrow!
 

SeraphX

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24 hour leak test is a little excessive tbh, If you've not connected anything properly, it will leak asap, anyways, i only tested mine for around 20 minutes? nothing so, just roll with it. Just depends how much faith you have in yourself
as for tubing, the above will work a treat ;)

GPU? yeah you've got the basics, if your lucky and or clever you won't have to use a little paste to keep the spacers in place, i didn't :p don't do two crossed lines, too much paste tbh, use the slightly overlarged rice grain. :)
 

w3bbo

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Enjoy it! Don't panic and fret. After all, building a watercooled system, not just the results is why a lot of folk do it.

Do not power on the pc until you have done the leak test with components in place. I see little point in leak testing outside a pc only to take it apart and then fit it all back together inside again. Jump start the pump if possible without powering on the PC, leave it for an hour with tissue around the fittings. If there are drips, the tissue will show them which otherwise may go undetected unless you notice a pool of water.

When it's all up and running, tilt the pc in different directions to get rid of air locks. 'Pulse' powering the pump (1 second on, one second off) sometimes works too.

Don't worry about little bubbles in the loop, they will go over a period of a few days.
 

pgi947

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SeraphX said:
GPU? yeah you've got the basics, if your lucky and or clever you won't have to use a little paste to keep the spacers in place, i didn't :p don't do two crossed lines, too much paste tbh, use the slightly overlarged rice grain. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I did think the two cross might be a little excessive, I'll try the large grain, check the spread, clean and reseat to double check!

w3bbo said:
Enjoy it! Don't panic and fret. After all, building a watercooled system, not just the results is why a lot of folk do it.

Do not power on the pc until you have done the leak test with components in place. I see little point in leak testing outside a pc only to take it apart and then fit it all back together inside again. Jump start the pump if possible without powering on the PC, leave it for an hour with tissue around the fittings. If there are drips, the tissue will show them which otherwise may go undetected unless you notice a pool of water.

When it's all up and running, tilt the pc in different directions to get rid of air locks. 'Pulse' powering the pump (1 second on, one second off) sometimes works too.

Don't worry about little bubbles in the loop, they will go over a period of a few days.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips :) Going to use a spare PSU I have laying about to avoid even accidentally switching the PC on

wazza300 said:
Dont you realize theres a hosepipe BAN!!!!!! haha
Click to expand...

Not in Aberdeen ;) Hell I don't even have to pay water rates :p

I thought I had both parts of Arcti-clean left, but I can only find bottle 1 (cleaner), safe enough not to use purifier? Its probably in my 'crap cupboard' somewhere but I don't fancy sifting through the mountain of old cables to find it :D

Going to set the rad flushing from the hot tap for an hour or so as its huuuge while I fit the GPU blocks then give it a flush with some DI.

Edit: If anyone wants to follow the stress live I should be logged on to steam on my macbook (pgi947) :)
 

Jokester

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Only thing I'll add is don't rush things, and if you end up struggling with something like getting tube onto a barb, walk away and make a cup of tea or something then come back in 10mins rather than get worked up.
 

pgi947

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Changed, I don't think they were especially important anyhow important anyhow, the water pockets didn't go near them.

First card done in a record time of about an hour and a half :p

Rad is well and truly flushed now too.

Also note to everyone, don't get MX-4 in an open wound, it stings!
 

pgi947

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Both GPU blocks now on, second one took less than half the time :)

Just in the middle of gutting out the H80, changing some fans and sorting pump location!
 

pgi947

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Almost ready for test (I think).

Giving my thumbs a rest, two of the compression fittings I have are 'OcUK tech lab' ones, an absolute nightmare to put on, thanks to which I am now missing skin :p bitspower and EK fittings, a doddle.

The warm water trick worked a treat too!

Got 4 cans of stella and a chinese waiting for me when I'm done too :D
 
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