Recommend Me Some Watercooling Parts!

Jokester · 16 Apr 2006 at 13:56

Been out of the loop when it comes to high performance watercooling for a while now, so what's the in things? Looking for blocks that are easily available in the UK preferably.

I'm looking at potentially:-
2 120mm radiators, or 1 120mm + 1 160mm radiator (think I can fit the 160 in between the MB and the HD cage in my Stacker)
2 Pumps (preferably 12V Molex powered) (2 seperate loops for CPU/GPUs?)
GPU block for 7800GTXs
CPU block for S939

Is there any merit in going two seperate loops for the CPU and GPUs or is just as good putting them all in one loop. I was considering putting the pumps in parallel rather that series.

Ultimately I'm looking for quietness.

Jokester

welshtom · 16 Apr 2006 at 14:19

Thermochill PA series of radiators are awesome for silence. THey dont need high CFM fans to operate for performance.

Tom

weescott · 16 Apr 2006 at 14:20

Thermochil PA series rads are the best ATM followed by the Swiftech rads. Coupled with some Panaflo fans.

Aquaextreme MP05 is meant to be good. Alledgedly as good at the Storm block. I have seen one report saying Apogee is only as good as the DD TDX, so i would stay clear there.

DD D5 would be my pump of choice.

GPU blocks - There are no real test to say which is best but a DD Maze 4 or Silverprop Fusion SL(T) for a pelt(s).

You could get a PA120.3 in the stacker in 1 loop.

welshtom · 16 Apr 2006 at 14:24

120.3 will fit on the bottom of a stacker. thats where i had mine

pastymuncher · 16 Apr 2006 at 14:31

Here's a comparison of three gpu blocks. The three are supposedly the top three gpu blocks currently available and are the DangerDen Maze 4, AquaXtreme MP-1 and Swiftech MCW60. See here .

I am in the process of going over to watercooling and i have no choice really about the gpu block, as i only have a single slot between my graphics cards i have to get the LP DD maze 4. Otherwise i would have gone with the Aquaextreme MP-1 as they are a tenner cheaper per block.

cypriobrit · 16 Apr 2006 at 14:32

Agree on the Thermochill as well. Top quality Rads. I have the PA160 (great for small, high performance setups if you can fit it in your case), and will shortly be adding a 120.2 into the loop so i can lower my fans even more for silence.

The Storm blocks designed by Cathar are still the best out there performance wise i think (havent seen any reviews of the Aquaextreme).

GPU wise i think they are pretty much all the same. Review of three top end GPU blocks. I woudnt bother with a heavy and expensive full GPU block unless you are really going to be overclocking the memory. RAM sinks and some airflow do just fine.

Pump wise i would take a look at the DDC from Laing as well. Its silent and with a new top (or modded) it can produce flow rates equal to the larger and noiser DD D5. They have recently released the Laing DDC- 1 Plus with higher flow rates.

Edit: lol at same review post.

Jokester · 16 Apr 2006 at 15:44

welshtom said:
120.3 will fit on the bottom of a stacker. thats where i had mine

Hmmm, never thought of doing that, horizontal at the bottom on top of the raised grill? Then sucking air up into the case?

I won't be looking for a GPU+RAM block as they're total overkill at the moment.

Jokester

Edit:- The GPUs won't be fitted with TECs.

welshtom · 16 Apr 2006 at 15:47

Like that, I took the grill off.
The rad is bigger than the hole in the bottom, but i had decent temps on my setup.

I had two CSP-MAG pumps mounted on the bottom of a 4in3 module.

Two loops both going into the radiator.

Tom

Jokester · 16 Apr 2006 at 15:49

Aye, that's what I was thinking welshtom, I was actually thinking of raising the radiator off the bottom a half inch to give it breathing space, but I suppose I could be tempted to get my Dremel out

.

Jokester

Edit:- Actually it's screwed on so no big deal.

Jokester · 16 Apr 2006 at 16:21

Ok looking at the "Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Ultra" and there's also the option of a "Laing DDC Alphacool Plexi Pro Top".

Do I need the second bit to give me a thread for connecting in a 1/4" BSP to 1/2" ID connector?

Jokester

matt100 · 16 Apr 2006 at 16:36

if it were mine I'd be doing...

loop 1:

swiftech storm
ddc12v pump housed in a drive bay wrapped in foam
pa120.2 in the floor
T line or bay res, whatever you fancy

loop 2

dd maze 4 low profile sli blocks (don't mince about with the NV78s)
ddc12v pump mounted next to loop1s pump
pa120.2 in the roof or hung in the front of the case
T line/bayres

Mind you, apart from the cpu having a 120.1 that is pretty much what I had before I got the mach2 and what I'll be going back to asap to shut the bloody pc up

I liked the fact I could control the temps based on the load, so if I was doing something cpu intensive I just whacked up the fans on the cpu loop etc. Anyway, it looks cool, especially if you get 2 different colours.

**someone buy my mach! I want to go back to dual loops!!! grrr

matt100 · 16 Apr 2006 at 16:37

welshtom said:
Like that, I took the grill off.
The rad is bigger than the hole in the bottom, but i had decent temps on my setup.

I had two CSP-MAG pumps mounted on the bottom of a 4in3 module.

Two loops both going into the radiator.

Tom

it looks like you've got stomach bile in one of your loops there.. you didn't have the squits when you were building it did you??

welshtom · 16 Apr 2006 at 16:44

matt100 said:
it looks like you've got stomach bile in one of your loops there.. you didn't have the squits when you were building it did you??

oh shhh you

cypriobrit · 16 Apr 2006 at 17:05

Do a google search for "Radiical "Turbo Head" For Laing DDC-12 Volt".

This is a lovely plexiglass top that:

1. allows us to use 1/2" tubing.
2. acts as a mod to increase flow rate.

I had one shipped over from Australia for aroud £25.

Jokester · 16 Apr 2006 at 18:07

Well this is where am I'm at the moment:-

ThermoChill PA120.3 **NEW**
2 x 3/8" BSP 1/2" Barb - Nickel
DangerDen Maze4 Acetal Top LowProfile GPU SLI KIT (1/2")
DangerDen TDX (1/2") - A64 s754/939/940

As for the TDX, Storms seem to be out of stock everywhere I've checked and I won't grudge a 2-3C temp difference.

Laing DDC-1 Plus with Plexi Top

At a complete loss as to what thread the pump uses, anyone get any ideas?

Jokester

Edit:- Doh, just checked the description of the Plexi Top by itself, it's G1/4.

cypriobrit · 16 Apr 2006 at 18:23

Yeah that plexi top doesnt really help.

I really cant recommend the Radiical top enough if you want a silent but powerful pump. It will cost you around £70 in total with the new rev. DDC.

Here is a little pic of it with 1/2" barbs.

Radiical%20Arylic%20Top%20for%20Laing%20DDC-12v%20pump.jpg

Flow figures taken from another forum:

Laing DDC-1Plus With Alphacool Plexi Top ½” Barbs (top mount inlet - side mount outlet)
Laing DDC-1Plus = 14.5 LPM
Laing DDC-1Plus + TDX (nozzle1) = 10.5 LPM

Added 29/01/06
Laing DDC-1Plus With Alphacool Plexi Top ½” Barbs (top mount inlet - side mount outlet)
Laing DDC-1Plus + NV-78 = 11.5 LPM
Laing DDC-1Plus + NV-78 + TDX (nozzle1) = 9.2 LPM

Laing DDC-1Plus + Alphacool NVXP-3 6800/7800 = 6.9 LPM
Laing DDC-1Plus + Alphacool NVXP-3 6800/7800 + TDX (nozzle1) = 6.9 LPM

Laing D5
Laing D5 (set @ no 5) = 16.4 LPM
Laing D5 (set @ no 1) = 4.4 LPM

matt100 · 16 Apr 2006 at 19:10

cypriobrit said:
Do a google search for "Radiical "Turbo Head" For Laing DDC-12 Volt".

This is a lovely plexiglass top that:

1. allows us to use 1/2" tubing.
2. acts as a mod to increase flow rate.

I had one shipped over from Australia for aroud £25.

you can use 1/2" ID with those pumps easy, I used 2 ddc12v (well actually swiftech 350s but they're the same thing) on 1/2" tubing when I had 2 loops, just got one now. If you use jubilee clips you get a perfectly fine seal.

Jokester · 16 Apr 2006 at 19:23

I've been able to find somewhere that has the D5 in stock (and also shows Storms as being "at supplier" :mad:

).

So it's a toss up between the D5, the Laing DDC-1 and I guess 2 of the CSP-MAG (2-3 day delay).

I'm tending towards the D5, mainly because it's immediately available and seems to have a better flowrate than the DDC-1.

Jokester

Mr Mister · 16 Apr 2006 at 19:37

Ive used a D5 previously and it really is a great pump, you wont be disappointed. It was inaudible over my system which only used akasa amber 120mm fans.

mattup · 16 Apr 2006 at 19:46

Jokester said:
I've been able to find somewhere that has the D5 in stock (and also shows Storms as being "at supplier" ).

So it's a toss up between the D5, the Laing DDC-1 and I guess 2 of the CSP-MAG (2-3 day delay).

I'm tending towards the D5, mainly because it's immediately available and seems to have a better flowrate than the DDC-1.

Jokester

Will OcUK ever stock these items?

Matt