Spec me please

colinmcr

colinmcr

colinmcr

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Joined
17 Mar 2009
Posts
2,475
Location
Scotland
Hi guys, I'm planning a new build and never tried watercooling so this time I'm planning a custom loop.
I only want to WC the cpu initially (consider it cutting my teeth) so I have listed the motherboard, case and cpu I have waiting below. I want to OC the cpu to a nice stable level for Folding when I'm not gaming, so I'm looking for high quality. Budget is not a concern.
Intend to use tubing not any fancy acrylic bending :D

I intend putting in dual 780ti which I hope to WC in the future, so this may/may not effect the initial cooling choices. I've chosen the case for this reason as it seems to offer quite a flexible layout.

Anyway very noob to WC, so will try understanding your responses..... ;)


YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel 4930K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge-E) Socket LGA2011 Processor - Retail (BX80633I74930K) £439.99
1 x Asus X79 DELUXE Intel X79 (Socket 2011) DDR3 Motherboard £287.99
1 x Phanteks Enthoo Primo Full Tower Case £199.99
Total : £944.47 (includes shipping : £13.75).

 
If you're going to wc dual 780s in the (near?) future you'll want a total of 600mm of radiators - 240 for the CPU and 360 for the dual GPUs. You could probably get away with just 120 for the CPU and 240 for the GPUs but I wouldn't, especially in a case like that with all that room :)

Coloured tubing or dyed liquid is personal preference really.
 
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cahonis said:
If you're going to wc dual 780s in the (near?) future you'll want a total of 600mm of radiators - 240 for the CPU and 360 for the dual GPUs. You could probably get away with just 120 for the CPU and 240 for the GPUs but I wouldn't, especially in a case like that with all that room :)

Coloured tubing or dyed liquid is personal preference really.
Click to expand...

With those choices, just get full thickness rad's ? Considering the case will accept up to 70mm in the top (I think). How much fpi should I be looking at?
 
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Well, I have two HD7950 GPUs and a 4770k in the 800D loop I'm building at the moment and I'm using an EX240 and an EX360 and no one's said to me that won't be enough. I'm using Scythe GT fans also.
 
A decent 360/240 rad setup would suffice, but since you have the space in the Enthoo, why not stick a couple of nice juicy 480's in there? It's always nice to have plenty of overhead.

If you want to show off the gold bit on the cpu block, I'd go with coloured tubing and clear fluid.
 
Uncle Petey said:
A decent 360/240 rad setup would suffice, but since you have the space in the Enthoo, why not stick a couple of nice juicy 480's in there? It's always nice to have plenty of overhead.

If you want to show off the gold bit on the cpu block, I'd go with coloured tubing and clear fluid.
Click to expand...

I like your thinking :D I'd certainly consider 480 for the gpu loop for the eye candy value but more importantly to considering I'll be folding the gpu's. CPU loop I think I'll stick with a decent 240.

So far I'm thinking this... Decided I might as well spec the gpu loop also while I'm at it.
YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-D5 Vario X-RES 140 (incl. pump) £107.99
1 x EK-CoolStream RAD XTX (480) £98.98
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy Clean CSQ - Gold £79.99
1 x EK-CoolStream RAD XTX (240) £64.99
Total : £363.35 (includes shipping : £9.50).



Ok I take it I should keep these loops separate??? So I need two pumps and two reservoirs right? Any recommendations? I see reservoirs come in various volumes, how do you decide which you need?
I really like the Monsoon fittings, the gold finish would be ideal. Are these ok to use based on my choices so far?

Also yes I agree clear fluid and try find a coloured tube that will match yellow/gold (could be tricky that).

I really ought to read more guides ;), but thanks for the input so far folks.
 
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That's fine, though a single loop covering all components would be my preference. You don't need a separate rad/loop for the cpu and gpu's.

The size of the reservoir is down to what fits in your case and what you like the look of.
Having a larger res only affects the time it takes for the liquid temp to equalize.
 
Uncle Petey said:
That's fine, though a single loop covering all components would be my preference. You don't need a separate rad/loop for the cpu and gpu's.

The size of the reservoir is down to what fits in your case and what you like the look of.
Having a larger res only affects the time it takes for the liquid temp to equalize.
Click to expand...

Ok bare with me, if I use a single loop (which sounds less complicated to me) do I only use one rad now? Albeit a big one?
 
Uncle Petey said:
No, you use one pump and one res to supply both rads and your blocks :)
Click to expand...

Ok thanks, I'll do some research on how the sequence/layout should work. Any recommendations for pump and res to be using with the two rads I mentioned earlier? I will worry about the gpu blocks when I finalise which boards I'm getting and check for compatibility.
 
A D5 pump with an EK pump top would be my recommendation in conjuction with a separate res. Which res is down to what you like the look of really.

Have a look at the res/pump combos like the XSPC Photon and EK D5/Xres if you want an all in one solution.
 
Thinking after seeing another post that I'll go for 16mm tubing, will look better in such a big case, gonna have to google some images to see if its gonna look good in Yellow/UV. The gold Monsoon fittings look just what I need also.

Edit - Just wondering if black tubing would look better, I just can't find any decent images of yellow filled systems they seem to change colour depending on lighting etc. Just looks like it'd be a pain to match, the braiding will bring some more colour subtly into it.
 
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Grab 2m. You'll likely use less.

Just one thing to bear in mind; Solid black tubing can make it a little awkward when bleeding the loop as you can't see where the air bubbles are.
It won't make it impossible or anything, just a little more of a hassle.

Would look great with that mobo and the gold fittings though :)
 
If you go coloured coolant, you wont see the gold of the Supremacy block.

As for loop sequence, as long as the reservoir feeds coolant to the pump, you dont have to worry about the order of everything else.
 
Uncle Petey said:
Grab 2m. You'll likely use less.

Just one thing to bear in mind; Solid black tubing can make it a little awkward when bleeding the loop as you can't see where the air bubbles are.
It won't make it impossible or anything, just a little more of a hassle.

Would look great with that mobo and the gold fittings though :)
Click to expand...

Yeah I was worried about that but I read in the description it says.."Glass-like" transparency (Clear LRT) so its maybe not as opague as it looks in the image. Here's hoping...

@ Avenged, yep mate will go clear fluid. I was gonna ask about loop sequence but you've just answered it for me.
I'm pretty certain it'll be a combined res/pump probably the Photon D5, but I might go with the dual bay xspc one for less cluttered look. So sequence wise it should be something like this...

Res/Pump / 480 Rad / CPU / GPU's / 240 Rad / then back to Res/Pump

Not sure about the rads should I be going from CPU / 240 Rad / GPU / Res/Pump?

Thanks guys
 
Ok Petey I'll try remember that when the time comes, I guess the pumps gonna sound a bit ragged until the air is expelled.
There is a little bit of me wondering where or not to up the 240 to a 360, just for the looks :D
I also liking the idea of this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-140-XS&groupid=962&catid=2133 instead of the Photon. Just need to be sure the top cage doesn't have to come out for the 480 Rad, altho it could go on the bottom of the case instead.
 
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