Spec me: Custom Watercooling setup

C.K

C.K

C.K

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24 Jun 2007
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Solihull, B'ham
Hi, just wondering if anyone could help me spec parts out to create a custom water cooling setup for system.

My CPU is a Intel i7 950 3.06GHz running @ 4.00GHz
My GPU is a GTX470.

I have selected some water cooling parts, and have listed them below. I'm looking for any advice whatsoever, as this is my first time at attempting water cooling.

I need to know if the radiator will be big enough to cool both my CPU and GPU, and which barbs I would require and tubing etc. It would be best if I can get away with a 240 radiator though, as I’m certain I will make this fit inside an Antec 300, as long as I can mount the rad in the front!

Looking to do this as cheap as possible, but with good quality parts. One thing I know for sure is that I don’t want a loud pump! lol

Any help will be much appreciated.

Swiftech Laing D5 Vario MCP655 12V DC Pump £89.99

EK-Supreme HF - Full Nickel CPU Water Block £59.98

EK 470 GTX - Nickel Acetal Full Cover VGA Water Block £59.98

EK Multioption Reservoir X2 250 Advanced £39.99

EK CoolStream Radiator XT 240 (120.2) £32.99

PrimoChill Dye Bomb - Invisible Blue £1.99

Total Inc VAT: £284.93 :o

Cheers
Adam
 
I don't think that all of that will be cooled by a 240 rad. You'll need a bigger rad. Also, I wouldn't get that dye. If you want dye, I'd recommend Mayhem's dye, or you could get coloured tubing.

Barbs or compression fittings, it's your choice. I went with barbs on my build, and used clamps to secure it. You should decide what tubing you want: 3/8", 7/16", or 1/2"
depends on what size is best for the inside of your case.
 
a double rad will just about do that loop

you will need some high cfm fans on it though.
perhaps a 120.3 would be a better choice.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I will remove that dye from the list.

I would like to keep the rad mounted inside the case, so it would have to be a 120.2 if possible. Would it be ok to use a 120.2 rad with 2 x apache black fans? (57CFM each)

I think I will use barbs instead of compression fittings. Are these ones ok? I'm assuming I would need 2 for the CPU block, 2 for the GPU block, but are these the ones I would use on the res too?

Does everything else look ok for my water cooling setup?

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated

Cheers
Adam
 
Not sure if you would need push pull fans or 38mm fans on a dual rad. Someone more experienced can tell you that.

Those fittings are fine for the res as it lists them as G1/4 fittings. You are also right you will need 2 for each of cpu block, gpu block, res, rad etc. All you need to decide then is your tubing, which a lot of people like to use 7/16 tubing over 1/2 barbs.

The rest of the set up looks good though.
 
Thanks Greboth.

Ok, so this is what I plan on purchasing once I know I will definitely be fine with the 120.2 rad with 2 apache blacks @ 57CFM each.

basket.png


Cheers
Adam
 
Whether a 240 with apache's is sufficient depends on what temperatures you're hoping for.

Considering you're spending £40 on a reservoir, you should get a thermochill radiator instead of an EK one. Apache fans will do if you already own them, but don't buy a pair specifically to put on a radiator. Scythe gentle typhoons or pretty much any 38mm thick fan would be significantly better.

If you don't mind it being loud, a 240mm radiator with good 38mm fans will trounce air cooling. If you want it to be quiet, see if you can fit another radiator somewhere, even if only another 120 it'll make a considerable difference.
 
If this is going in a relatively compact case then I wouldn't chose that res, it is a bit big. You'd be better off with a bayres in this instance.
 
I would suggest you change this pump to Laing mcp355/350.Good performance pimp for more less,you can always connect this pump with 150mm res.
 
JonJ678 said:
Considering you're spending £40 on a reservoir, you should get a thermochill radiator instead of an EK one. Apache fans will do if you already own them, but don't buy a pair specifically to put on a radiator. Scythe gentle typhoons or pretty much any 38mm thick fan would be significantly better.
Click to expand...

Thermochill rads will at best dissipate a couple of watts more than thinner rads at the same temperature delta, sometimes less (depending on the fin density and fan speed of the thin radiator). So I'd advise against wasting £40 on a more expensive radiator that will not net you a performance increase.
 
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