Res + GPU block help needed.

savagesam117

savagesam117

savagesam117

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I have got some bits coming for my first ever water cooling loop but i need help with a res and gpu block.

Below are the two Reservoirs i have chosen, i'm guessing 150ml is about right for a gpu and CPU? Which one would you go for? or are there any others that i should go for?

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-RES X3 150 Reservoir £39.98
1 x Aqua Computer Aqualis ECO 150ml with Nano Coating £39.95
Total : £88.63 (includes shipping : £7.25 Ex.VAT).



And GPU block, OcUK don't sell the water block for my Lightning 290x and where i have seen it, it's selling for £120+ :eek:
No one on here seems to be selling one :(

So what about universal blocks? i know it doesn't look as pretty and probably doesn't work as well but has anyone tried them? Would have to buy VRM heatsinks for it.

Any thoughts and opinions would be great, thanks in advance
 
Sorry for all the questions, if I were to buy that ek block, would I be able to keep my normal back plate on?

I would love to go for a full block but I can't justify £120 for something I'm going to potentially have until the 390x comes out and will lose almost all resale value :(

Think i'm going to go for this. With a couple of packs of VRM Heatsinks

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Thermosphere - Acetal+Nickel £55.99
1 x Watercool passive cooler for VGA RAM 8 Pack £5.59
Total : £71.18 (includes shipping : £8.00 Ex.VAT).

 
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Yeah I did say few packs :)

It's slowly getting closer to the point where I may as well just buy the full block. It's like £85 for all this and the shipping on top an extra £35 and I've got a full block! Plus a back plate, but I don't mind that.
 
spoffle said:
I've got EK VGA Supreme waterblocks on my 290X cards. They need VRM heatsinks, but the blocks seem to be performing well. I tend to get load temps of about 50-55 with a 4.5Ghz 4930K in the same loop.
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That's not bad at all. Mind putting a picture up? I can't seem to find a pic with them in a loop.
 
spoffle said:
Ahh but you can reuse universal blocks! Mine were on 7950s originally, and I moved them to 290Xs easily enough. I will only buy full cover blocks second hand now when they're getting on a bit. My old 7950s are now in a secondary PC, and I picked up some full cover blocks for about £17 each.
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That's very true. I have pretty good cooling over the cards so it should be fine.

spoffle said:
Haha, thanks. I think mine is ghetto though... :p

Speaking of ghetto, I actually managed to change the motherboard recently without undoing any of the watercooling loop, which was a total nightmare, but worked out in the end.
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That's far from ghetto. There's no rads outside or anything!! Apart from that one tube leading out the back, that's tiny bit.

I want to do a build log type thing for it so I can look back and laugh at It!! So then you'll see ghetto :D
 
I do find it a little silly that you have to buy extra fittings for a universal block, defeats the objective of it but hey ho, they are only a couple of quid.

@spoffle I'm assuming you had to buy them for yours, which size did you use? R600 (54 x 54mm)

What's the best way to split a loop then so you don't have to keep draining it to replace parts. I rarely upgrade so it won't bother me too much but still.
 
pastymuncher said:
It depends on your case really. If the rads are tucked out of the way, say at the top and front of the case, it should be easy enough to remove the motherboard with them in situ. Just plan your tubing well so it will allow you to do it. If you just change the cpu (not many do these days) just undo the mounting screws and swing the block out of the way. Tying it back is a good idea so it doesn't drop down on the exposed socket. Drop the new cpu in with tim already applied and refit the block. Same process with the gpu when using a universal block.

It's simple for me because all I have in the actual pc are the cpu and gpu blocks with a bit of tubing. My pumps are in a box along with the small psu that powers them and the fans and my two rads are in another filtered box sitting in a windowsill sucking in the cooler air from outside. :D:D:D
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Yeah I've read about and seen pictures of that! Personally i like to have everything in one area. But i can imagine it's a lot cooler.

Yeah i am yet to do any planning on my loop where tubes are going etc. I will probably need to buy a new case but i'm sure i'll make something work. I'm really nervous though.. water and computer components is a very scary thought!

Am i right in that the XSPC tubing has gone down hill and to not use it? Primochill is currently out of stock on clear :(
 
MrMD said:
IIRC your current case is really impratical for WC,its defiantly worth getting a new case now before you start building your loop IMO.Less hassle and will prob save money in the long run on rads/fittings ect
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Yeah i'm fairly sure it is but I've got rad and sizes of stuff, and have measured it up where i want things to go and it will all fit, i just haven't looked properly at a route for the tube. If it doesn't i'll just buy a new case. I just like this case as it looks plain and simple and i like the door, although it's absolutely useless as i don't have a DVD drive so it just stays closed.

I can fit two 240mm rad in it, one in the front and one up top, i just have to mount the top one outside with the pipes running into the top (there are already holes for this)

And at the end of the day, i like cutting stuff up and making it fit, if it literally will not fit no matter what, then new case. If it does, then great until i get bored of it and move it all out into a new one :)
 
I want to have mine running like this -

Pump > Res > Rad > CPU > GPU > Rad > Back to the pump. But then it goes through two rads not doing anything until then the heat from the cpu will be put through the gpu then back, would this be alright? It doesn't seem the best way to do it but without having all the parts here obviously i won't get the best idea.

Yes, i will be using compression, they look like the best and i've used the same thing when plumbing.

Would i need another 120mm? Seems a bit excessive. I will already have 2 240mm.
And i need to get one of them PSU things, or can i just unplug them cables from the psu?

And one last question, then i'm all sorted and know what i'm getting. What fluid? I want red :D
 
spoffle said:
Yeah I know, but he directly asked me if I had to buy any adapters.
Click to expand...

When I wrote it I thought you had the thermosphere but when I read back through I saw you had the other one. I've found the ones I need so they are on order now :)

Having a look at how everything is going to sit, it would be easier for me to run it series.

pastymuncher said:
Start from the bottom and work your way up to make things easier for bleeding as well. Res>pump>gpu>cpu>rad>rad>back to res. Putting the gpu before the cpu should make little to no difference to cpu temps. After a few hours gaming I only have a water temperature difference of 1 degree C between the outlet and inlet to my case.

To start the psu you just need to do the paperclip trick on the 24 pin connector or for ease you could buy one of those plug in ones that do the same thing.

For fluid take a look at Mayhems range. Blood red looks very good. It also has all the additives you need so no messing around with kill coils.
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Okay, I need to start planning my tubing route and what fittings I want so I will keep that in mind. As long as I see a drop in temps I'm not fussed about 1/2c to be honest :p

Okay, I'll just buy a plug thing. Seems easier!

Ooo, I like that colour. Is 1ltr enough for a full loop? It doesn't seem like an awful lot.
 
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