Spec Me a Watercooling Setup

mattfinch

mattfinch

mattfinch

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Location
Bristol
Ok, so I want to Watercool my CPU and possible NB, but mainly the CPU and am not really sure where to start, so I'll tell you what I need and hopefully you can tell me what I want.

It's a socket 775 CPU so that shouldn't be too difficult, and I'd want a 240MM Radiator and a fillport (I'm using a HAF932 and might as well use the hole that's there) and really I don't want to break more than £150.

Thanks in advance.
 
I know how it works ETC, just never built one and have no idea who make good whats ETC, so I was wondering if someone who did could help.

Motherboard is a Gigabyte EP45-DS3R

CPU is an Intel Core 2 Duo E8200

And as mentioned I'm using a Coolermaster HAF932.
 
I have the exact same case and it is brilliant for housing watercooling.
Something like the below will get you started of nicely whats your budget btw?

- Apogee waterblock
- MCR220 Radiator
- MCP655 12V DC Pump
- MCRES-MICRO reservoir
- MasterClear 7/16 tubing.
- Feser One coolant
- 2x 120MM Fans Sythe 1200rpm or else Yateloons
Loop
Res => Pump => Rad => CPU => Res
My Old setup
 
I don't see why people set it up that way : -)

Reason
res > pump > cpu > rad > res.

The pump gets warm you are pushing this water over the processor and then cooling it again in the rad and the water gets wasted in the reservoir only to be warmed up by the pump again.

Whereas the other way
Res = > Pump => Gets cooled by the rad => Still cooled processor => warm hits the reservoir again.
 
the difference that the order makes is negligible. set up the loop for ease of routing and filling and that is all. It is more important that the loop should be free-flowing than worrying about the overall difference throughout the loop of a degree or two.

The setup suggested is very Swiftech-oriented and there are better products available. Although the Swiftech Apogee is very cheap the GTZ is much better and will be able to be used with i7 shuold the OP ever upgrade (buy the adaptor now!) whereas the Apogee will never have an adaptor (Swiftech are terrible at supporting new socket mounts with old products).

The MCR220 is at best an average radiator and the newer Black Ice or TFC or Thermochill (best but dear) will give better results with lower airflow (i.e. noise).

There's nothing wrong with what generious is suggesting and it does all depend on the budget as said.
 
For £150 and assuming it is only for cooling the cpu:

D-Tek DB1 pump - £27
OCZ HydroFlow HF-MK1 CPU Waterblock - £28
XSPC RS240 Black Radiator - £27
Tubing (2m) - £10
Two 120mm fans of choice - £10
Use a T-piece instead of a Res (from B&Q) - £2.

£110
 
OK that's given me a lot to think about.
One other question, is it safe to have the lid of a res off when the system is running, so I could have a line from the fill port at the top down directly into the res?
 
You don't need to have the lid off; you should be able to put a line from the fill-port straight down to the res but I suppose it does depend on the res.
 
I don't understand the point of the question. Do you intend to just run some tubing down and dangle it in the res? Will you just pour water down the fill-port and guess whether it's full?

Is it safe to have the lid off? Yes, while you're filling the loop but after that you should really close it to keep dust etc. out.
 
Ok, that answers my question, I was going to use a bay res, and see through the front.

I'll just manufacture some sort of seal for the tubing.
 
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