First watercooling - Spec me?

woohoomoo · 3 May 2012 at 09:46

Hi Guys,

I'm putting together a new Z77/IB build and aesthetics do mean quite a lot so a watercooling setup will obviously help achieve that. I have a Corsair 600T case and will be getting a full acrylic side panel from CyberDruidtheModGod soon with any luck, so the guts of the computer will be on show. Yeah, I'm playing with cable management and will be using BitFenix Alchemy cables and sleeving the cables BitFenix don't have.

ASUS Sabertooth Z77
IB i5 3570K (Hope to OC past 4GHz at least)
2x4GB Corsair Cerulian Blue LP 1600MHz
Crucial M4 SSD
Corsair 600T Case
PSU *NOT CONFIRMED - Likely Corsair AX850*
GFX *NOT CONFIRMED*

I have never done a watercooling setup before so the whole process is completely alien to me. I'm used to having a huuuuge chunk of metal heatsink strapped to the motherboard and hope the board doesn't bend/snap under the weight lol

Could you please suggest a setup that will easily fit in this case for me? I do have value somewhat in mind so an ideal setup for me would be £150-175 - at this range I realise I'm looking at CPU-only loops but would like the possibility to easily add GPU cooling to the loop in the future. I would like white tubing or the same kind of blue on the Corsair Cerulian LP RAM - I've seen the horror stories about blocks 'gunking' up when using coolants etc, so i'm keeping it clean and simple.

PS. I'll be using all 6 hard drive cages in the case and need only 1 5.25" bay - this is what'll set the challenge I think.

hlennie · 3 May 2012 at 10:21

at your price range i would say a custom loop is out remove top fan and fit this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-009-CS&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=2262

woohoomoo · 3 May 2012 at 13:18

Has always been a consideration but I don't really fancy cutting a hole out the top to fit the rad there - plus with a push/pull it would mean using the top mesh would be impossible. If I got an H100 it would be mounted on the inside with two fans on the outside, under the mesh. I would use my own Xigmatek XLF-F1256 fans on it though as the bundled Corsair's are pretty loud on full.

Question is, would an H100 in pull be better than an H80 in push/pull?

hlennie · 3 May 2012 at 21:38

h100 will be better lot more surface area so better cooling

ahenners · 3 May 2012 at 22:25

Go for H100, looking at a lot more for a decent custom setup.

jeff6475 · 4 May 2012 at 09:42

have a look at the water cooling kits they are great and in your price range

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=962&catid=1532

jeff6475 · 4 May 2012 at 09:45

also check images on google for "watercooled corsair 600t" will give you some good ideas at the loop you can fit in etc

woohoomoo · 6 May 2012 at 15:42

Cheers fella's, really appreciate it :-)

I knew in my price range I wouldn't get a lot - certainly not any sort of complexity to allow for CPU + GPU cooling, but I thought it would be enough for a decent single CPU loop system.

I'm not overly confident on the quality of some components in complete kits within my price range and while the pump inside the H100 is low pressure, I feel a bit more confident I won't spring a leak with it and ruin close to £1k of kit, so I guess that's what i'll go for. H100 is cheaper than H80 right now on OcUK so that's a bit of a bonus I guess.

jeff6475 · 6 May 2012 at 18:54

i paid £99 for my watercooling kit http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-077-XS&groupid=962&catid=1532&subcat= and it was a piece of cake to fit and runs great on my system im now planning on my next build either 3770k or a SB-E and getting a switch 810 and getting a triple rad XPCS kit and getting a single EK rad for scope for graphic cards,you cant go wrong with these kits good quality and perfect for your needs without spending big on parts