Returning to water, need ideas.

nick.lidgett · 9 Sep 2013 at 17:55

Hi guys,

I used to have watercooling in my R3, R4 and desk build. It was great, nice temps and all that, really quiet too but I got bored, flogged all my WC gear to a pal and went out and put all my stuff in a 300r.
Now I like this case, its windowed, fits all of my hard drives and SSD and BluRay in, it has plenty of places for fans and can take my 7970.
Its also a good size, not too big, not to small. I don't want to change it.

I want to watercool again, I want to put my 2600k and my XFX 7970 underwater, I don't want to use a bay res/pump combo.
I want to do something different.

Ive seen a project log on here with a radiator mounted on the outside, I really like the look of the rigid pipes being used at the moment.
I don't really want to hack and chop this case too much.
I have looked at passive radiators and water chillers and I cant decide.

I need some ideas from you guys, budget is flexible, I have not set one because I have no idea what route I want to go down.

Uncle Petey · 9 Sep 2013 at 18:06

Go nuts and whack a 1080 Phobya rad on the side?

nick.lidgett · 9 Sep 2013 at 18:22

Uncle Petey said:
Go nuts and whack a 1080 Phobya rad on the side?

See I was thinking this myself, well for one option anyway. I was looking at a website and saw these, one thing I was concerned about was controlling 9 fans at once and more importantly how to hide the wiring and fetch them back into the case.

Uncle Petey · 9 Sep 2013 at 18:36

If running them via the mobo, perhaps a couple of these http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-079-AK and some cable management thingies?

ED: Actually, I own one of these and it's a PITA to get it looking neat.

nick.lidgett · 9 Sep 2013 at 18:59

Uncle Petey I think you are onto something with these, I could mount the radiator externaly on the right hand side of the case, take the fan cables down to the bottom of the rad and then tuck them behind and through a hole id cut into the case behind the mobo tray, where I could have 2 of the Akasa Flexas laying in wait.

So now how do you think would be the best way of getting the tubing inside? flexible tube around the back through the watercooling holes, of make new holes in the top and use rigid pipe through out?

Im really not sure, flexi pipe is easy but doesn't always hold the shape or path you want it to and the 300r is kinda cramped.

Uncle Petey · 9 Sep 2013 at 19:07

As direct as possible and if space allows I guess.
Whether this means drilling your own holes for the tubes to pass through or running them around the back to any pre-existing holes really depends on a number of factors.

If I was going to do it, I'd draw up a few options by hand or on paint/photoshop to better visualize things.

nick.lidgett · 9 Sep 2013 at 19:12

Uncle Petey said:
As direct as possible and if space allows I guess.
Whether this means drilling your own holes for the tubes to pass through or running them around the back to any pre-existing holes really depends on a number of factors.

If I was going to do it, I'd draw up a few options by hand or on paint/photoshop to better visualize things.

Me and photoshop had a fight, we dont talk anymore.
When i get home ill get my felt tips out lol
Any suggestions for a pump and res, i have no experience with this as before i had an xspc dual res and pump.

Uncle Petey · 9 Sep 2013 at 19:19

Something with a D5 pump preferably, though I hear good things about DDC 18w ones too.
Something along these lines:

YOUR BASKET
1 x OcUK Tech Lab - XSPC D5 Vario Pump & EK-D5 X-RES 100 CSQ Value Combo £104.99
1 x OcUK Tech Lab - XSPC D5 Vario Pump & XSPC Acrylic Tank Reservoir Value Combo £99.00
Total : £203.99 (includes shipping : FREE).

MikeTimbers · 9 Sep 2013 at 19:39

DDC with the XSPC res top is brilliant, small and easy to work with. I would use ordinary tubing to get it all working then experiment with the rigid stuff join by join.