spec request

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Hello all,

So I'm taking the plunge into *true* watercooling, and after quite some searching and whatnot I've got a good idea of what I need.

Or not.

Call me a retard, but I can't get my head around all the different measurements of ID and OD, and I'm also quite worried that I will match components incorrectly and get some galvanic corrosion and **** up everything. I do also tend to be a bit paro.

So I'm asking for a WC spec. I've got a few cpu blocks in mind and a couple of rads, though nothing set in stone. there isn't a budget as such, as I'll be buying progressively over the next couple months, but let's not get too excited.

I'm debating between the XSPC Raystorm, EK supremacy nickel and the AquaComputer Kyros; I'm trying to keep in with my current colour scheme which is blue/silver.

The setup will be cooling CPU only to start with, until I can sell my 670's and grab a 290x/780ti (or two :D)

It's to be packed into a fractal design r4, I don't mind modding the front a little to fit a monsta in, as that's my intention anyway!

current build spec is:

i7 3770k @ 4.5/1.2v (thinking of delidding when putting underwater...)
16gb 2400 avexir
asus P8-z77 v
x2 MSI gtx 670 PE-OC
seasonic 850w gold
m500 480gb
asus xonar dgx

Thanks in advance gang!

Oh, also does anyone know where I can get my PSU cables sleeved? I really don't have the time/patience to do it myself and would happily pay someone to do it.
 
I'd advise going for the sr-1 version of the rad. It gives the best performance for low to high rpm fans.

As for tubing/fittings I advise compressions (only because I'm scared of barbs. Unfounded paranoia). I really like xspc tube and compressions. With diameters from my knowledge the thicker tubes have less chance of pinching due to larger diameter but don't allow as tight bends. So as a trade off I've always gone with 16/11 tube allowing best of both worlds :)

If your going to include a gpu in the loop I'd advise a bigger rad to begin with saves buying again/buying twice. 360mm at the minimum.
 
Thanks for the advice! Problem is with the rads, I can't get a 360 in my case, the most I can go to without carving my case up completely is a 280 and a 240. Though I think I could get a 120 in the bottom too. So I was kinda set on two rads at some point anyway.

Is the sr1 a slim, as from googling round I don't think I'll get a fill thickness rad in the top of my case without it interfereing with ram or MOSFET/vrm heatsinks on my particular board :/
 
Arrgh :( no its not sorry I completely skimmed the part about the case :(
In which case you are completely correct in your rad choice I apologise. If you can do a 240 and 280 that will be more than sufficient :)

Can you get a measurement from the top of your case to the top of your mobo.

As for corrosion grab some mayhems clear dye. Contains anti-corrosion/anti-bacterial stuff you need. If you use it or similar you won't have to worry about mixing metals :)
 
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Trying to work out the fattest rad we can get in there :D my old case was rather tight ended up putting the fan externally and using fan grills looked rather good in my opinion :)

If you have no qualms about this route.
 
might be an option, though I would rather keep everything inside if possible. What are teh bay/res combos like? I'm looking at the OCUK kits and thinking this might actually be a good starting point, and I'd be happy with the Raystorm and a reduction in initial price. I'll have to get a another fan controller though hmmm
 
I use a DDC and xspc bay res I love it. I would reccomend them for tight cases. They tend to be a little louder than tube/pump combos as you can't decouple them but its not a huge noise difference. If you go the kit routes I don't believe they have a slim rad version(leaves either ask ocuk if they can swap out/use the kit as a basis for ordering parts individually/back to the external fans and shroud). I highly reccomend getting a d5 pump in either kit you choose due to the 750 pump being quite low powered/ can be ruddy noisey :(.
 
ok sorry for the lack of updates, but here is what I have decided to go for initially, will be adding another rad and gpu to the loop later on down the line.

I'm still unsure what size tubing and fittings ill need though, and if anyone has any recommendations as to some fans it would be mucho appreciated :D

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-BAY RES D5 Vario (incl. pump) £99.95
1 x Aqua Computer Cuplex Kryos XT for 775 / 1155 / 1150 / 1156 / 1366 - G1/4" £62.32
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator GT Stealth 240 - XFlow £36.98
Total : £208.85 (includes shipping : £8.00).

 
I have space constraints at the top of my case too and I used an XSPC EX240 rad which seems to do the job nicely :)

What fans are you going to use on the rad?
 
Any suggestions before I pull the trigger on this later? As for there being 8 fittings, It's because I'm putting another rad in the front, the black ice is for the top and will have the x2 apache blacks on it.


The Rad in the front will be a Monsta in push pull, with x2 noctua nf-f12s pushing, (which I already have) in the front part where you can't really see them, and the x2 corsairs I'm ordering pulling.

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-BAY RES D5 Vario (incl. pump) £99.95
1 x Aqua Computer Cuplex Kryos XT for 775 / 1155 / 1150 / 1156 / 1366 - G1/4" £62.32
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator GT Stealth 240 - XFlow £36.98
1 x Corsair Fan, SP120 PWM Low Noise High Pressure Fan 4 pin, Dual Pack (CO-9050012-WW) £25.99
2 x Akasa AK-FN058 Apache Black Super Silent 120mm Fan - 4 Pin PWM £9.98 (£19.96)
8 x EK Water Blocks EK-CSQ Fitting 16/11mm G1/4 - Black Nickel £5.99 (£47.92)
2 x XSPC 7/16" ID [16/11mm] High Flex Hose - Clear [1m Length] £2.99 (£5.98)
Total : £299.09 (includes shipping : FREE).



Have I got the fittings and tubing right? Also I'm going to need a fan controller that doesn't require an odd bay for mounting and can handle upto 10 fans, if any of you kind sirs has any suggestions...
 
I don't have any HDD bays, I've removed them all :/ though I found the NZXT grid, the same 10-port fan hub they use in the switch case... but I think it's only pwm controlled.
 
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