Well, I've bleated on about it for some months now but I've finally taken the 'plunge' (groan) and got specced myself a custom kit for watercooling with.
Sometime ago I bought myself a Lian Li PC-G70 case with the idea of modding a Thermochill radiator into the roof of the case. The full list of parts I've bought are as follows:
CPU Block: Swiftech Apogee
GPU Block: Swiftech MCW60
Pump: Swiftech MCP655 D5 Vario
Radiator: Thermochill PA120.3
Reservoir: DangerDen Single 5.25" Drive Bay Res
Fans: 3x Zalman FM-3 120mm
Tubing: Masterkleer 7/16"
Water: Pure De-ionised, no additive
CPU Block
I've been repeatedly impressed with the Apogee coming up trumps on dual core processors for temperature. When I received mine, I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer solid construction of the block itself. It also comes with a range of fittings, for 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" tubing along with a set of tubing clamps for each barb size. It also includes the AM2 bracket sold seperatly! This thing will fit pretty much any socket you choose to throw it at. Just to top it off, comes with great instructions and a tube of Artic Ceramique paste!
GPU Block
Again, pleasantly suprised by the sheer quality of the swiftech kit. And again, comes with a range of mounting hardware to fit pretty much any video card apart from the 8800 series (which you can get an adaptor kit for). Has the same barb options as the Apogee, 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" and associated clamps. And again, another freebie tube of Artic Ceramique.
Pump
I've long seen the Laing D5 Vario as being a top notch pump - good head pressure and a good rate of flow from this pump, plus the variable notch allows for quiet or performance operation. Not much to say about this part really - comes with a neoprene pad and mounting screws, but not a lot else really.
Radiator:
Ahhhh, the jewel in the crown of my setup. Thats a full PA120.3 radiator for my system, with performance shroud and 2x neoprene gaskets. Interestingly, all the necessary screws came with the Radiator and Shroud for building the radiator, the only screws needed are some 5mm Self Tapping screws that are 20mm long to hold the radiator block to the roof of my case through the fan guards. I have the fans in a push config, and the radiator is built as follows from top to bottom:
Fan Guard
Case
Neoprene Gasket
Fans
Neoprene Gasket
Shroud
Radiator
Res:
A nice clear res with smoked front, its not too bad for the price but the default barbs are a little shoddy if you ask me. Plexi creaks horribly when the you tighten in the barbs to the res but its absolutely necessary to stop leaks.
Fans:
I'm using these with the supplied resistor cable for near silent operation. I have 6 of these Zalman fans in total, 3 for the radiator and 3 for the case to provide equal input/output ratios of air flow.
Tubing:
This was the hardest part of the purchasing decisions really. I'd heard that the 7/16ths tubing of the Masterkleer was hard to work with, but provided a smoother flow path for the loop. I took a chance and decided on this over the Clearflex. After working with it last night, a hot tub of water is useful - soak the ends of the tubing in it for 2 minutes and then the tubing is easy to fit onto 1/2" fittings. In fact, after 8 hours leak testing I can say once its cooled down its tight as anything and isn't going to come off easily.
Water:
I'm going to try getting away with pure de-ionised water for now, perhaps add a couple of drops of iodine to keep the bugs away when I can finally source some locally. All the barbs are nickel plated in my loop, apart from the barbs on the swiftech and cpu/gpu blocks which are some hardwaring plastic. Its all copper blocks as well. Hoping no corrosion for me. Feel free to correct me at this point if any feels the need to!
Okay enough of the wibble, here's some construction photos:
Sometime ago I bought myself a Lian Li PC-G70 case with the idea of modding a Thermochill radiator into the roof of the case. The full list of parts I've bought are as follows:
CPU Block: Swiftech Apogee
GPU Block: Swiftech MCW60
Pump: Swiftech MCP655 D5 Vario
Radiator: Thermochill PA120.3
Reservoir: DangerDen Single 5.25" Drive Bay Res
Fans: 3x Zalman FM-3 120mm
Tubing: Masterkleer 7/16"
Water: Pure De-ionised, no additive
CPU Block
I've been repeatedly impressed with the Apogee coming up trumps on dual core processors for temperature. When I received mine, I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer solid construction of the block itself. It also comes with a range of fittings, for 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" tubing along with a set of tubing clamps for each barb size. It also includes the AM2 bracket sold seperatly! This thing will fit pretty much any socket you choose to throw it at. Just to top it off, comes with great instructions and a tube of Artic Ceramique paste!
GPU Block
Again, pleasantly suprised by the sheer quality of the swiftech kit. And again, comes with a range of mounting hardware to fit pretty much any video card apart from the 8800 series (which you can get an adaptor kit for). Has the same barb options as the Apogee, 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" and associated clamps. And again, another freebie tube of Artic Ceramique.
Pump
I've long seen the Laing D5 Vario as being a top notch pump - good head pressure and a good rate of flow from this pump, plus the variable notch allows for quiet or performance operation. Not much to say about this part really - comes with a neoprene pad and mounting screws, but not a lot else really.
Radiator:
Ahhhh, the jewel in the crown of my setup. Thats a full PA120.3 radiator for my system, with performance shroud and 2x neoprene gaskets. Interestingly, all the necessary screws came with the Radiator and Shroud for building the radiator, the only screws needed are some 5mm Self Tapping screws that are 20mm long to hold the radiator block to the roof of my case through the fan guards. I have the fans in a push config, and the radiator is built as follows from top to bottom:
Fan Guard
Case
Neoprene Gasket
Fans
Neoprene Gasket
Shroud
Radiator
Res:
A nice clear res with smoked front, its not too bad for the price but the default barbs are a little shoddy if you ask me. Plexi creaks horribly when the you tighten in the barbs to the res but its absolutely necessary to stop leaks.
Fans:
I'm using these with the supplied resistor cable for near silent operation. I have 6 of these Zalman fans in total, 3 for the radiator and 3 for the case to provide equal input/output ratios of air flow.
Tubing:
This was the hardest part of the purchasing decisions really. I'd heard that the 7/16ths tubing of the Masterkleer was hard to work with, but provided a smoother flow path for the loop. I took a chance and decided on this over the Clearflex. After working with it last night, a hot tub of water is useful - soak the ends of the tubing in it for 2 minutes and then the tubing is easy to fit onto 1/2" fittings. In fact, after 8 hours leak testing I can say once its cooled down its tight as anything and isn't going to come off easily.
Water:
I'm going to try getting away with pure de-ionised water for now, perhaps add a couple of drops of iodine to keep the bugs away when I can finally source some locally. All the barbs are nickel plated in my loop, apart from the barbs on the swiftech and cpu/gpu blocks which are some hardwaring plastic. Its all copper blocks as well. Hoping no corrosion for me. Feel free to correct me at this point if any feels the need to!
Okay enough of the wibble, here's some construction photos:
Well done. Did you use a hole cutter, jigsaw or a dremmel. If it was either of the last two..............extra well done.
