Help with completing first ever watercool loop.

Soldato
Joined
17 Dec 2006
Posts
2,618
Location
Loughborough
Hi guys, i've decided to finally try something i've wanted to do for years and i'm building a custom watercooling loop.

My current kit is:

Swiftech apogee GTZ cpu cooler
Swiftech mcrx220-QP and mcrx120-QP radiators
Laing 18W DDC-Pump 12V and XSPC Res top
8x EK 1/2" barbs
3m XSPC clear 7/16" tubing.

I need some fans and some fluid. From what i've read, i can get away without hose clips due to the smaller hose diameter in comparison to the barbs but i'll pick some up at some point or peace of mind.

I have no idea on decent fans aside from the Noctua (*!$@ ugly) and gentle typhoons, but would prefer something like a bitfenix spectre pro, or something to match my current xigmatek orange fans. General theme is orange and black so if it can be good for radiators, quiet and orange and black i'll be extremely happy.

I also need some fluid. Again, there's so many i'm not entirely sure what to go with but orange in colour and preferably UV too.
 
what size fans mate 120's?

Yeah, 120mm fans.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Mayhems Pastel - Gigabyte Orange Coolant 1L £14.99
1 x Alpenföhn 120mm Wing Boost Plus PWM Fan - Orange £13.99
Total : £38.88 (includes shipping : £8.25).



any good? just pick how many fans you need. the mayhems isnt uv but their pastel range looks fantastic

Not sure on the fans, it says it's noisier than my current xigmatek fan but doesn't seem to have any air movement benefits.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-007-XG&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4



I also found a few more things that i need tonight, and found some UV orange coolant so have a bottle of Feser one on its way.
Added to the list of things are
Phobya UV o-rings (orange)
XSPC 6-32 Radiator screws
Feser one 1l coolant uv orange
socket 775 apogee gtz backplate
 
Last edited:
Okay, so i got the final bits of my orders through the post today and realised a few things when looking at putting it all together.

1. Swiftech parts have a recessed o-ring groove. So do BK barbs. New, thicker o-rings were required. Luckily b&q had the perfect size in their 3/32" assorted pack so i picked a few packs up and replaced the o-rings.

2. Cutting through the front of my case to fit a 240mm rad with a dremel makes a huge mess in the kitchen!

3. Old pc cases just weren't meant for watercooling!

4. Phobya UV coloured o-rings are pants and you can't even see them anyway. Waste of money.

5. I hate microbubbles, haha.


On the plus side, i now have the computer up and running and leak tested it for around 5-6 hours.

My loop goes Res>pump>120mm rad (push fan at back of case)>CPU block> 240mm Rad (currently only one fan in pull)>Res.

My Orthos stress test temps through coretemp have dropped from 67 degrees with my Q6600 at 3.2, to a max temperature of 47 degrees!!! This makes me very happy indeed, especially considering i'm a fan down on one of the rads.

I'll pop some pictures up in a minute.


owkd.jpg

5mpv.jpg

yyb2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom