How cheap can you really get custom watercooling?

xtremedetailz

xtremedetailz

xtremedetailz

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I am set on a mission to get custom watercooling cheaper than a pre-built watercooling unit.
Now i am after a decent setup with better results than the pre-built units and the expandability of being able to add further to the build when wanted/needed.

So far here is what i have sourced :

EK Supreme CPU Waterblock (Plexi)
Laing DDC Ultra with Plexi Top & Antivibration kit
2 x EK GTX480 Full cover blocks (Nickel/Plexi) Brand new
Tygon 3603 left over from previous attempts (just under 1m)
Danger Den Filport in anodised red
Silver Kill Coil

Now i am thinking all i need to finish up is a radiator or 3 :)
I wont be using the GTX480 blocks yet until i finalise what rads im going to need,so if i take out the price (for now) of the GTX480 blocks (which have cost the most up to yet) the total price stands @ £38 :eek:
So it looks like i am definatly in with a chance of building a custom kit cheaper than a pre-built unit.

I will update once i have sourced some rads (as cheap as possible i might add;)) andgot my new case the Fractal Arc Midi when its available.

Here is a pic of a few of the bits i have sourced so far :

002co.jpg
 
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A mixture of new and used parts.

Yeah once all done i will look at performance and see what similar pre-built system has performance wise and then compare new and used prices just for you ;)
 
Yes that was my first choice but looking at the arc it has 2 x 140mm fan mounting points at the front and i thought 240 rad straight away.

And i like the design of the fractal cases (minimal 5.25 bays).

Oh and it will be almost half the price :D
 
xtremedetailz said:
Yes that was my first choice but looking at the arc it has 2 x 140mm fan mounting points at the front and i thought 240 rad straight away.

And i like the design of the fractal cases (minimal 5.25 bays).

Oh and it will be almost half the price :D
Click to expand...

Fair enough, although I prefer more 5.25 bays (In my rig I've got two drives, a fan controller and card reader/more usb ports)
 
koooowweeee said:
Buy cheap buy twice. You will never be happy if you get cheap part. Done it a few times
Click to expand...

absolute nonsense,

buying cheap does not mean having a nightmare, i bought 90% of my watercooling parts 2nd + 3rd hand apart from the tubing and barbs and everything worked just fine, i would love to know why people always think brand new is always better :rolleyes:
 
i water cooled my htpc for less then £50 :D so it doesnt have to cost the earth but then again my gaming rig will be well over £500 on just the water cooling i think if i total it up

so you can say i swing both ways :D
 
It can be done cheaply. But you need to know the exact parts you;re looking for that will give the best cooling for your specific rig. I.e rad length, rad width, fan noise/performance, pump power/noise.

What leads to people buying twice is making mistakes on these things and the "it'll do the job" attitude, becuase as someone has pointed out - you wont be happy if it could be a bit better.

looks like a good build though, looking frward to the final result.
 
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