Spec me a watercooling solution!

paradigm · 22 Jun 2007 at 08:54

Hi guys,

Never gone watercooling before, done extreme air, and phase change (few different vapochill models), but never got round to water before. I'm about to upgrade to a C2D (maybe C2Q if the price drops are significant), and a P35 mobo (probably abit IP35-PRO), and would like to get a loop in to at least cool the CPU, if not the CPU/PWM/Chipset.

Being a newcomer to watercooling I have NO IDEA what the best waterblocks are for this platform, sure I understand the dynamics of setting up a loop, and I have set-up one of the thermochill pre-boxed sets for someone before, so the whole plumbing and filling of the system isn't really going to phase me.

If you could be so kind as to spec me a decent setup i'd be appreciative

And any tips/techniques to get the best out of it would also be welcomed!

Furthermore, i'm intrigued by either waterchillers and/or TEC's on the CPU itself, can anyone shed any light on these as to whether a) they are a good idea and b) what I need should they be a good idea!

Or should I just treat the whole thing as a fad, and go back to phase? (please don't say this is the case, I really fancy a watercooling setup mainly because I haven't done it before!)

paradigm · 23 Jun 2007 at 21:45

Cheers for the help guys, 'preciate it.

lay-z-boy · 23 Jun 2007 at 22:23

Waterblock:

Apogee GT/GTX or D-Tek Fusion

Pump:

D5 or DDC with petra's delrin top

Radiator:
If space is not a problem, thermochill PA range
If it is, Swiftech MCR are much thinner

Res:
I'm not a T-line person, i find them a bugger to bleed, MC-RES, dangerden bayres or thermotube.

Pipes:
any decent, 1/2" or 7/16" tubes should do the trick

The fact you have not listed your pc, case, whether you want it internal, semi external or in a radbox has probably added to the fact nobody has replied.

Ask away if you have any detailed questions.

paradigm · 23 Jun 2007 at 22:30

You know, I hadn't even considered case as a pre-requisite (hence being a W/C n00b

).

I'm probably switching from my ATCS-201-SKX to a lian-li full tower of some description, so there should be plenty of room.

Perhaps thinking of mounting the rad to the top of the case and cutting a 120mm blowhole for it? Which rads would be suitable for that? And assuming I can only fit a 120.1 up there, is it worth running two 120.1's one on the top and one at the front?

EDIT: At the moment this is still all speculation, if I can get a decent priced Vapochill LS or Chilly1XS, i'll go phase on the CPU and then W/C the chipset and GFX.

If this was the case, what would I be looking at then (GFX: Radeon HD 2900XT)?

lay-z-boy · 23 Jun 2007 at 22:39

For the chipsets i would go with either EK blocks or the swiftech mcw-30

For the gpu, swiftech mcw60 or dangerden maze 5

weescott · 24 Jun 2007 at 04:40

If you are going quad then get as big a rad as you can or a custom phase unit as a stock Vapo LS can't hold the load. A 120.1 would be enough for the GFX, 2 for SLI / crossfire.

pegasus1 · 24 Jun 2007 at 11:22

I bought a basic Swiftech kit and then over time have added NB and GFX cooling as well as getting a bigger Res.
Im adding another Rad and moving the Pump to sit on top of the PSU.
My one piece of advice would be to plan, plan and then plan some more before fitting in anything.

paradigm · 24 Jun 2007 at 11:38

pegasus1 said:
My one piece of advice would be to plan, plan and then plan some more before fitting in anything.

Well that's a given. I can't stand a messy case (even yours is far too "higgly-piggly" for me), so "measure twice, fit once" would definately be my way of going about the fitting.

lay-z-boy · 24 Jun 2007 at 12:16

It's actually rather clean, he just ran out of coil wrap and covered his cables in duck tape

paradigm · 24 Jun 2007 at 12:22

Meh, location of the pump would annoy me, too many "loose" wires, and sorry, but I don't like duct tape or coil wrap

Sinny · 24 Jun 2007 at 12:36

paradigm said:
Meh, location of the pump would annoy me, too many "loose" wires, and sorry, but I don't like duct tape or coil wrap

you dont really need coil wrap, if you want just buy some cable sleeves.

paradigm · 24 Jun 2007 at 12:39

Its all about the braiding for cables, and all about dye for the water

To sum up what I like in a build, in my case currently, you can see only 3 cables, which are all braided.

pegasus1 · 24 Jun 2007 at 12:51

Sinny said:
you dont really need coil wrap, if you want just buy some cable sleeves.

I didnt run out, i just couldnt be arsed to do the whole tube.
Its not for show either, its primarily designed to stop the tubes from kinking and to that end does a great job.
As i said, the pump is being moved and as i'l have the mobo out soon il re-route some of the cables.
Im adding another rad as i have the 8800 clocked fairly high and 1.6V going thru the Cpu and 1.7V going thru the NB.

loltim · 24 Jun 2007 at 20:39

paradigm said:
To sum up what I like in a build, in my case currently, you can see only 3 cables, which are all braided.

Similarly tidy to mine then.

meh, does the job.

lay-z-boy · 24 Jun 2007 at 20:56

WOW, thats tight :eek:

pegasus1 · 25 Jun 2007 at 12:34

was that made after watching blue peter, im sure i can see an old cornflake box being used someware

loltim · 25 Jun 2007 at 18:33

It's not as bad it looks, honest

Swiftech 6002
Maze 4
Eheim 1250
Thermochill PA160 & 120mm Panaflo
Tubing from local garden centre

I just couldn't be bothered with tidying it up, I don't have a case window anyway. Temps are great, couldn't care less what it looks like.