Pump Advice

snokrystal

snokrystal

snokrystal

Associate
Joined
26 Mar 2009
Posts
33
I'm planning to hitting up watercooling for the first time this summer, I feel confident I can set it up when the time comes. However I need some advice on a pump. My build will be in a 900d case cooling a 4770k to start off with one GFX card 670/680 with SLI in near future. I'm thinking in using 2x 360 radiators with a tube reservoir feeding the loop, unsure on tube ID/OD at this time but with a large case I don't want the tube to look to thin.

Now it comes to the pump I'm a little lost here. Would a D5 Vario Pump with a EK-D5 X pump top be sufficient to circulate the system? Any recommendations on a loop would be grateful.
 
Even through I never watercooled (yet) but I have done homework.

The D5 is regarded as one of the best pumps money can buy, and one of the most powerful pumps ( for watercooling at least)
 
A D5 should be overkill unless you're planning on running it at minimum for that setup. Have a look at this if you haven't already. From everything i've read the majority of the restriction in the loop will come from the blocks you're using.
 
Hi, using a Swiftech MCP35X PWM DDC 18W Pump: MCP35X Top Res with a 560 Black Ice GT Stealth Rad[4x140mm] with latest software from Gigabyte the pump is even quiter than befor3 PLaying Blops 11 pump never goes above 2800rpm > Max RPM:4600rpm.
Specification-
Maximum Flow Rate 1050 lph due to PWM Function
Connection Size 1/4" Threads
Power Connection 4 Pin Molex Power
PWM Connector
Power Input 18W
Delivery Head 4.4m
Voltage 12v
Maximum Temperature 60° C
Overall Weight 440g
Overall Dimensions (WxLxH) 62 x 75.5 x 41 mm
Special Features Compact Pump
PWM Control
Package Contents 1 x MCP35X Pump
Anti Vibration Mounting Pad
2 x 1/2" ID Barbs
2 x Hose Clamps
 
Thank you for helping so far. I've decided to go with
ID 1/2" OD 3/4" tubing, nice and thick inside the 900d.
I would like to get this (XSPC D5 Vario) :-
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-141-XS
but unsure which top to use since I would also like to add the Bitspower D5 Mod Kit to the base of the pump to hide it. Can you guys recommend a good top to use with the XSPC D5 Vario that's compatible with the mod Kit. Also which fittings would you recommend to add to the top to allow me to use compression fittings for the ID 1/2" OD 3/4" Tubing. (I love the look of monsoon fittings but they don't seem to be on sale here)
 
1) Thicker tubes will be harder to get tighter bends on. I went down to 3/8" to 1/2". Get compression fittings too.

2) The recommendation of the Swiftech MCP35X PWM DDC 18W was a good one.

You want PWM to be able to adjust the RPM of the pump when getting the air out of the system on first fill. I have an old DDC without PWM and the cavitation noise is terrible and takes a long time for the loop to settle. Being able to slow the pump so the air can escape is preferable. And never run a pump dry.
 
EK DCP 4.0, 4m of head pressure, 800lph max

just like with fans, head pressure is more important for pumps than flow rate

the advantage of the EK pump is that it is half the price of the D5 for similar performance, so if you run in to flow problems you can just bolt another one in series and get double the head pressure (and you also then get redundancy - if one fails you will still at least have SOME flow) and they come with RPM sensor leads so you can monitor them via the motherboard to get a warning if one fails

connect them to each other and anything else via tubing (e.g. no direct bolting them to a resevoir) and put them both on soft foam or a shoggy sandwhich and they are silent

people like D5's because they are small and quiet... and they are indeed decent pumps for small / normal loops, however if you start getting in to SLI and multi radiators I would go with a DCP 4.0 because they are so much easier and cheaper to run a mulit pump setup

failing that, I would go with the MCP35X which also has 4.4m head pressure and PWM monitoring / control
 
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