Spec me potential watercooling setup :)

madindehead

madindehead

madindehead

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Help me spec a potential watercooling setup

Hello,

I am seriously toying with the idea of watercooling my PC. I don't have a budget set out currently, as I want to see what you guys can come up with. I want something good, but a setup that doesn't break the bank.

I have a Coolermaster ATCS 840 case (I know it can be used for watercooling, I have seen setups with it), an overclocked i7 which I want to cool, and potentially, watercool two GTX 470s in SLI. The rest of my current build is in my sig (GTX 470s hopefully coming soon, hence the idea behind this).

I know that at least a dual rad (possibly even a triple can be fitted in the roof, and one in the floor. I have 5 free 5.25" bays, so feel free to fill those :) The case also has a fan in the bottom, and I know there are fan mounts designed for Swiftech pumps, so that could also possibly be mounted there.

Could you also potentially spec me a watercooling circuit just for the 470s in SLI, which could in future be expanded to include the CPU? CPU temps are very good currently, but want to try and cool the graphics first (space saving and better cooling and overclocking potential)

So, off you go, and advise away :) If you need more info, just ask :)
 
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Can I say all 3 :p

But seriously, given that 470s can get pretty hot with stock cooling at load (80-90C if I recall correctly) and a custom spec is going to cost 3 slots worth, I thought, it would be worth seeing what could be achieved by watercooling, at a reasonable price. Not top of the range everything, just stuff that is good, and does what it's meant to. My current system (in sig) can generate a LOT of heat. I want lower temps on my kit, as it's better for it :p

Even if the processors can take it, 90C on a graphics card isn't nice. And as for overclocking and overvolting, that always generatex extra heat, so it's wise to deal with it.
 
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Haha sorry, didn't mean to make it look like I was being lazy :p I just wanted a bit of help, as I really know very little :(

I am currently looking at some parts, and reading some stuff to find out about watercooling etc :) will post what I find here, and see what people think

Thank you for your offer of help :) I will definitely do a bit more reading myself, and looking around to understand what is available
 
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mike gunnz said:
Start here:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70

Have a look through the Liquid Cooling Worklogs to see what the hard core set are doing. This will give you all the inspiration and ideas you will need and some idea of the budget required. Also check out the specialist water cooling sites and their forums, some of which are competitors so can't be named.
Click to expand...

Excellent, thanks very much mate :) I will post again once I have had a proper read of everything

Update: Already managed to find a few guys building cooling loops in ATCS 840s. Which is good news for me :D
 
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Ok, I've done some research, so far just looking at what other people have done with the same case.

Most going for CPU and SLI cooling (some single graphics also). I know they have two rads in there, just not sure if that's two loops or what. Would you be able to cool those off one loop? Or is it more sensible to have two pumps, and use a dual rad for the i7, and a triple rad for the SLI'd 470s? Some of them using triple rad for 470s in fact, so it seems to work. Will read a bit more on that :)

I know I can mount a 120.3 rad in the roof, either on the huge 230mm fans, or replacing them. And I should be able to mount a 120.2 at least on the back of the hard drive bay (guessing radiators in vertical doesn't affect performance?) and possibly even a 120.3 rad there. Will have to have a look at my case properly when I get home and see it.
 
This whole thing, still has to revolve around whether I go GTX 470s in SLI, take one 470, or take a 480 (greater expense however).

Going to draw up a plan for each case, and see what I like the sound of :)

I am thinking (not that I know much yet) that a 120.3 and a 120.2 rad should be enough to cool my board, CPU and at least one GPU (correct me if I'm wrong however please). Still need to read more on that front.

I saw someone on xtremesystems was using a triple rad to cool a GTX 470 and an i7. Not sure if the mobo cooler was on that too.

My CPU cooler isn't really loud, so I might look into cooling the GPU(s) first, and look to expand the build later, once I feel a bit more comfortable (or maybe the other way round i.e. CPU first and expand from there). Money and time will be a factor here. Also, still learning this, so not sure if I want to fly in with a full two loops right away.

I am certainly starting to understand more, about pump tops etc :p It it all very interesting, you are right mike gunnz, this is certainly very fun :p And, it will help me a lot in the long term also!

Update: What I'm doing of doing to begin with, is a simple loop for my CPU, which has capacity to be expanded.

So, we have it as follows: Triple rad in roof > Pump > Reservoir on mobo backplate > (In future mobo cooler if it's worth it) > CPU > Rad

Now, I'm guessing, from what I've seen, I could probably also include one GTX 470 on that, and not cause huge problems? So, having the GPU follow the CPU. If I wanted to cool GPUs in SLI, would I be best to have a seperate loop for them? Or place a twin rad between the CPU and then GPU? Or is that not advisable? Just speculating as to what would work best :)
 
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Excellent thanks mate :) As an engineering student, budget is a slight constraint over doing it all at once. But I should have the time to add to it as I go :) I really don't mind stripping it all down as I go and adding to it after a few months. It also gives me time to save :p

So, updated loop order would be this:

Triple rad in roof > Reservoir > Pump > CPU > And back to the rad

Out of interest, would you say it is worth cooling the motherboard with water, or does it not really benefit? No one seems to really comment on it in their builds, they either do it, or not. Again, I could add it later, as I really don't mind doing it in stages :)

Now I just need to research on parts, and get a basic spec together :)
 
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Excellent. That does actually sound like a much better loop mike. What would call a "quality" rad? One of the Thermochill 120.3s? I will take in what you said about cooling and SLI config. Is it generally just less hassle?
 
Thank you for all the advice :) I will be looking at parts tonight, and would appreciate any criticism/approval of what I choose. Will do that later. All the advice so far has been great. Thanks for telling me to go research mike :)
 
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Ok. Here is my list of components. Please advise/criticise/let me know what you think in general. I will link to each component in the name, so you can see what I'm going for :)

CPU Block: ek supreme i7 high flowclear top
radiator: ek coolstream radiator xt 360 (120.3)
pump: Laing DDC-Pump 12V DDC-1T (MCP 350) Please say if this is suitable or not :p
Pump Top: EK-DDC X-TOP V2 - G1/4 White Acetal I think this works with my above pump
Reservoir: EK-Multioption RES X2 - 250 Basic
Tubing: Masterkleer 3/8" tubing PVC UV-active white 5 metres of that, to be safe :D
Fans: Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000 120mm Fan - 3/4 Pin Need 3 of these for my rad
Fittings: I need a hand with these. I know I need 8 fittings for input and output from components, but I'm not sure who makes the best. I hear Bitspower make good fittings?
Fluid: Whatever is best really :) Not quite sure yet, need to read up on that :)

I don't think I have forgotten anything, but please mention if you notice something is missing

Update: Anyone care to comment? :p
 
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Thanks for the info.

Would something like this res be a bit better?

And as for a pump, I couldn't see the 18W version on the EK site. But I found it from an OcUK competitor. What kind of fittings would be best? As that does confuse me slightly :( And does the rest of it look ok?
 
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I'm basing it partly on someone else's loop with the same case :) I have a rough idea in my head how it is all going to fit in, and I'm semi working on a mock up in Photoshop :D so yeah, I have a rough idea :p haha

Can I ask, for barb fittings, I guess I need hose clamps to keep them on? And compression fittings are a bit posher, and they screw on over the the piping? I like the look of the compression fittings I must say :D Might have to look into some, can you recommend some good ones?
 
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Ok. Thanks :) I have found some nice fittings, and some different tubing that will work with them. Any particular tubing manufacturer that should be avoided? I think I have this sorted now. Looking at the 18W DDC pump, and compression fittings. The rest all seems to be ok I think :) Does the pump top seem ok for what I want also? Just want to check the general components are right.

These are the compression fittings I found. They look suitable? :confused:



I also found 90 degree fittings, and 45 degree fittings which were the same type.

Having said that, I'm not sure which tubing size is best :( Will go and read.

Update: From reading, 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD seems to give good cooling performance. Will look for fittings for that, and then make a final list for looking over. Hope my components are a good choice :)

I'm assuming, that when a reservoir comes with attached barbs, they can be removed by unscrewing them yes?
 
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This is my final list of components. I hope it all looks ok :) And again, if I missed anything just say

CPU Block: ek supreme i7 high flowclear top
radiator: ek coolstream radiator xt 360 (120.3)
pump: Laing DDC-Pump 12V DDC-1T (MCP 350) Not quite this pump, I will be getting the 18W version of it
Pump Top: EK-DDC X-TOP V2 - G1/4 White Acetal I think this works with my above pump (18W version)
Reservoir: EK-Multioption RES X2 - 150 Basic
Tubing: 5 metres of some tubing that will fit the compression fittings I want. Can't link sadly (competitor)
Fans: Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000 120mm Fan - 3/4 Pin Need 3 of these for my rad
Fittings: I found some nice Bitspower compression fittings, so that's sorted
Fluid: Whatever is best really :)
 
I hate to bump this, but can anyone check over my list of components to make sure I've got this right? Don't want to waste money when I do buy, or need to start a new thread.
 
Excellent. Thanks for all your help :D I will try and make a work log in the case section when I have all my parts (should be around September time). Thanks again.
 
One final question for you. And it's quite important: what is the best size of tubing to use?

This will obviously impact on my choice of compression fittings, so I need to know what tubing size is best. I am currently going for 1/2" ID and 3/4" OD. But I don't know if this is the best size (there are so many it's confusing!). Hope you can help.
 
JeffyB said:
One of the good things with ek is they have PDFs of every block the do containing nice technical drawings with dimensions :)
Click to expand...

Yeah. Problem is, I can't find the technical drawing for the CPU block. But there is one for everything else...lol. There isn't a product spec sheet for it :( but there is for the GPU block.

Update: If the spacing on this block is the same as this block then I can check the specs.
 
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I sent them a message with a question about it. If I don't get an answer in a few days, I will post on xtremesystems. Thanks for the tip. I'm quite amazed there are so many different sizes of tubing! Given everything else is one standard.
 
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