Help with first Watercooling Build

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 28 Nov 2018 at 11:37

Hi All,

After many years of wanting, i'm hoping to pull the trigger on parts this week. I'm a complete noob when it comes to watercooling so could use some advice in a few areas, but i'm hoping I'm atleast on the right direction.

For now, I'm just wanting to cool the CPU, but will in the future look to add the GFX card too. Same goes for tubing, i'll move to hard line eventually, but for now and ease, going to go soft.

Planned Parts:

Incredible paint skills:

Going into the Be Quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev2. The top drive bay will be removed. Fans mounted on the bottom side of the rad blowing up and out.

Questions:

PumpRes combo - I know I had some parts with the case, but this is going to be ok to mount here? Preferably via screwing down into something as opposed to backplating it.
Is that the right tubing and fixings? Also enough?
Is 1 Litre of coolant enough? I cant find anywhere that says how much the Res and Rad will hold?
Going to put a ball valve in for easier draining. Put it between the Pump and CPU?
Going to need 3 140mm fans for the Rad. Preferably RGB and not crazy price, any recommendations?

All help greatly appreciated!

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 28 Nov 2018 at 13:51

Ok fair enough, less expense, I like those sorts of solutions. I had just assumed it was a good to have.

Regarding the block, If I switch to EK, it needs to be a Copper one? I think thats what the Rad is?

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 29 Nov 2018 at 18:06

Ok. Now considering hard tubing but I'm a bit confused.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/xspc...al-fittings-matte-black-8-pack-wc-42x-xs.html

These seals say down the bottom:

"Only for use with XSPC 14mm PETG and Rigid Tubing Fittings"

Is that saying I can't use any other brand of tubing? It wouldn't be a problem but I can't find xspc PETG Tubing in a 1m length. Only the massive 20 pack from ocuk!

Help!

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 29 Nov 2018 at 19:32

String said:
Don't buy them if you can't match the tubing.

Have a look at the EK stuff.

I can't find anywhere that sells any size hard tubing in a 1m length with matching fixings. I'm clearly doing something wrong.

Jamin280672 said:
Also, if you do go with what you listed above, your diagram is wrong, or choice of radiator is wrong, you've chosen an X-Flow rad, 1 barb at each end not both barbs on one side, make sure this is what you want before ordering.

Wow! I did not know that's what the xflow meant! Most certainly a mistake. Thanks!

Space Monkey said:
Also if you're planning on making a drain port, you're missing extra fittings and a stop plug

Yep realised that after I drew it up. Good spot.

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 29 Nov 2018 at 21:01

From top right of the case to connect to rad down to bottom left for res will be about a 60-65 length though.

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 29 Nov 2018 at 22:38

String said:
Yea, you could incorporate a drain in that run via a T piece, else a straight coupling.

That's not a bad idea. Will have a think on that. Ideally Id like to just be able to connect an extra bit of pipe when it comes to draining, as opposed to have it there all the time. Putting a plug in the drain exit of the T piece came to mind but then once live, I'd never be able to remove it! Are there such things like a 3 way stop clock junction?

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 29 Nov 2018 at 23:07

Gotcha, think I was over thinking it..

So when time to drain, turn the ball valve closed, remove 1 end of pipe, connect another to drain somewhere and open valve again.

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 30 Nov 2018 at 12:37

Yep thats what I'm going to for. Realise now the KillCoil is unnecessary. Will just be sticking some Orange dye in there.

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 30 Nov 2018 at 14:11

Nasty! I didn't know any better, it was just an assumption. I'm very new to this!

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 30 Nov 2018 at 15:26

Ok. So if I need to connect two pieces of Petg pipe together to make a longer run, what would be the best way?

I've seen that the Res i'm looking at has 2 inlets and 1 out. But someone on another forum said they'd contacted XSPC who said that the second inlet could be used as a drain port without issue. So maybe that's the best way to do it. Stick a pipe out of there and cap it.

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 2 Dec 2018 at 11:44

Ok! I decided to pull the trigger on Friday night and purchased all the main hardware. Also decided to get a EK block for the GPU and swap the CPU block for an EK RGB one to match.

Haven't purchased any pipes or fittings yet. Think I'll put it all in the case, and figure the routes out before doing that.

Reckon I'll do a proper build log of it too.

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 3 Dec 2018 at 14:16

Distracted said:
I haven't seen it mentioned yet so make sure you flush the rad out when you get it. Giving it a good clean to remove anything left over will make sure that it doesn't end up in your loop.

Yep will do, need to get some distilled water.

WantoN said:
I would keep it closed at all times, only opening it when you’re ready to drain. Also, you might want to consider some rotary fittings (at least 1) so you can orientate valve properly. I have 3 on mine, one for each outlet.

Will look into. Was thinking perhaps running a piece of flexi from the second "in" on the pump (the one someone else mentioned can be used to drain) and have it capped off just waiting to be unplugged one day.

WantoN said:
Personally I’d recommend you go for soft tubing for your first outing. It’s much easier to work with, and doesn’t look terrible if it’s not quite right. I prefer the look of flexy anyway, but that’s a personal thing.

I've gone back and forth on this. Ultimately, I wan't hard tubing. If I do flexi, then the very next day I'll be looking at buying hard tubing so I'd rather just cut out the middle man. I know it's going to be very difficult and I'm probably going to throw it out the window half way through.. but, atleast i'll have tried

.

Think I'll buy a couple tubes first just for pure testing before purchasing the whole lot i'll need.