Going watercooling (Yes, I will actually do it this time...)

FreeStream

FreeStream

FreeStream

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Ok, Im going water now I have a MBP so it doesn't matter if my PC goes **** up :p

Currently its a E6600 + X1900XTX that it needs to cool.

Performance + silence (I MUST have the best lol)


I want to put a 120.3 in the front of my CM Stacker, I assume that will be ok?

Then I have no idea... full block for GPU? *shrug*

Going HD 3870 next and quad so it needs capacity ;)

But also, im a cheapskate, so cheap as poss please!

So, what do I do :p

Cheeers lads
 
Dtek Fuzion GPU and CPU blocks are about the best at the mo. Full cover are a waste of money. I learnt that the hard way. Plus you are stuffed when you change the card. I believe the Fuzion GPU blocks will fit just about anything thats out. Just use ramsinks for the memory and mosfets.

Pump wise i would go for a DDC with plexi top. I think the Ultra is the best one but i am sure someone will confirm this. It's been a while since i built my watercooling loop now and am a bit out of touch.


Performance and silence = I must have the best & I am a cheapskate so cheap as poss, don't really go together when it comes to high end custom WC. :p
 
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pastymuncher said:
Dtek Fuzion GPU and CPU blocks are about the best at the mo. Full cover are a waste of money. I learnt that the hard way. Plus you are stuffed when you change the card. I believe the Fuzion GPU blocks will fit just about anything thats out. Just use ramsinks for the memory and mosfets.

Pump wise i would go for a DDC with plexi top. I think the Ultra is the best one but i am sure someone will confirm this. It's been a while since i built my watercooling loop now and am a bit out of touch.


Performance and silence = I must have the best & I am a cheapskate so cheap as poss, don't really go together when it comes to high end custom WC. :p
Click to expand...

hah I've noticed talking to Weeeeeescott...

I think ebay/MM is how im gonna go about this...
 
DDC best performance tops in order are: XSPC, PTS DDCT-01s, Alphacool Plexi top. Nothing in it though, so won't really make a difference.

That's according to a review site.
 
If you feel confindent enough NOT to have ramsinks on your GPU ram (a lot of folk say it makes no difference) then the swiftech MCW60 is a good all round universal block that isn't too restrictive and the good news is you can buy separate adapter plates to fit GPU's should you upgrade.

I just don't like the idea of running with or without ramsinks (a few of mine fell off my old x800 which could have shorted something). Running without, while may be ok for some, I don't think they should be run without as why would nvidia/ATI go to the trouble of cooling them if they didn't need it? I personally like the full cover blocks - look great, perform well but are costly and cannot usually be transfered from one card to the next.
 
You can pick up a used EK-FCX1900 GPU block for ~£20 if you look hard enough.

But it probably won't be any use if you go down the 3870 route shortly.
 
I'm looking to do this aswell. To have a CPU watercooling what would I need to get. Which parts because I'm so confused by all this.
--
CPU block?
water unit or something? :D
--
Lol I'm such a noob at watercooling. When done, what would it cost at the end ? And ofcourse, should I upgrade, will it be compatible with future motherboards/cpu's?
 
Vir said:
I'm looking to do this aswell. To have a CPU watercooling what would I need to get. Which parts because I'm so confused by all this.
--
CPU block?
water unit or something? :D
--
Lol I'm such a noob at watercooling. When done, what would it cost at the end ? And ofcourse, should I upgrade, will it be compatible with future motherboards/cpu's?
Click to expand...

For starters what case do you have? From here we can see what radiators will fit in and build from there.
 
There may be room in the top for a PA120.2 radiator. I have a Black ICE GT Stealth 240 XFlow Double Radiator which has a total depth of 53mm with fans attached.

If you have that kind of clearance from the top of the case without obstructing the motherboard, then that might be a viable solution for the radiator.
 
My IceQ XTX has mem sinks already attached with LOADS of space round the GPU core itself so thats no problem.

I have a Coolermaster Stacker and no im not cutting holes in it, so the 120.3 in the front bay will have to do :o

So:

Rad: 120.3
GPU: swiftech MCW60
CPU: Dtek Fuzion
Pump: DDC5?????
Pipes: tygon 3/8s?

And all the things with 1/2" fittings?
 
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Hi Concorde. Do you really need to WC the 3870? I have just installed one (need to update my sig) and it runs silent.

I was thinking of WCing it but now I don't think I will bother, but I guess if you wanna clock the nadgers off it then maybe its a good thing to do.
 
Blackout said:
Hi Concorde. Do you really need to WC the 3870? I have just installed one (need to update my sig) and it runs silent.

I was thinking of WCing it but now I don't think I will bother, but I guess if you wanna clock the nadgers off it then maybe its a good thing to do.
Click to expand...

Watercooling for performance?? It's all about the looks man! :p
 
I have run all my GFX cards without ramsinks with no issues. Thats from an overclocked 9800Pro right through to my overclocked 8800GTX's. I ran 2 Fuzion GPU blocks plus an extremely restrictive waterchiller, a shed load of tubing with an 18w DDC pump no problem.

The stock cooling on cards spreads the heat of the GPU over the ram to an extent, take the heat of the GPU away and the ram will run cooler. I have tried with ramsinks and without, it makes no difference!

The Fuzion comes with 2 adaptor plates with a load of mounting options so you shouldn't need to buy anything else for new cards.
 
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I was simply saying the fuzion is more restrcitive than say a mcw60 or fullcover. Paired with a powerful pump, as you have, won't be a problem but stick it in a loop that was only designed to have a single block then it will hurt performance.

As for cooling memory then yeah I remember you saying this and while I don't doubt you I am hesitant NOT to cool something that Nvidia/ATI deem neccesary. Why else would they have big coolers if a simple fan would do the job. Surely the price could be dropped if all that plastic wasn't used - or is it just a marketing thing: big cooler = big performance?
 
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