Taking The Plunge

916Mick · 28 Jun 2022 at 22:39

Ok , so i've decided to go custom loop.
Current system is:-
Corsair 300r case
Asus Crosshair VII with a 5800x
RTX 3080 ti FE
EVGA 750W psu

I wanna move to a Lian Li 011 Dynamic midi case with EKWB side Distro plate.
I'll be putting 360 radiators top & bottom.- which rads and fans to use ?
Which GPU waterblock to use, corsair or EKWB ?
Which type of rigid tube is best & easiest to work with ?
Which coolant for long term stability?
Finally , i'm giving in to 15yr old Gaming Warrior and need RGB that will play nice together

Sorry for newby questions but we all gotta start somewhere

pigeonguyuk · 29 Jun 2022 at 20:40

Go for the O11D EVO - (Newer revised variation)

If you want to go all out with build there this is pretty much the way to go

Check out EKWB page https://www.ekwb.com/shop/stl-dragon-blood

EKs new Matrix7 compatibility has made hardline cooling simple. Just wish they could release a velocity2 monoblock for some am4 boards to make it even better

Priced in extra tubing as max on fitting it let me add was 11 instead of 18 to keep cost as accurate as possible

My basket at OcUK:

2 x EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Surface P360M X-Flow Triple Fan Radiator - Black (SKU: WC-AAC-EK) = £99.95
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Reflection² PC-O11D EVO D5 PWM D-RGB Distro Plate - Plexi (SKU: WC-ABZ-EK) = £299.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB CPU Water Block For AMD AM4 - Nickel + Acetal (SKU: WC-A7L-EK) = £109.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Vector² RE RTX 3080/90 D-RGB Water Block - Nickel + Acetal (SKU: WC-A87-EK) = £169.99
10 x EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Torque HDC 14mm Hard Tubing Fitting - Black (SKU: WC-9TT-EK) = £6.95
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-CryoFuel Clear 1L Premix Watercooling Fluid - 1 Litre (SKU: WC-9P9-EK) = £7.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CryoFuel Solid Azure Blue Concentrate - 250 ml (SKU: WC-9N8-EK) = £11.99
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-Loop Hard Tube 14mm (800mm Length) Pre-Bent 90° - Acrylic (6pcs) (SKU: WC-A5R-EK) = £49.99
3 x EK Water Blocks EK-Loop Hard Tube 10/14mm 500mm (2pcs) - Clear (SKU: WC-9VW-EK) = £7.99
1 x Lian Li O11D EVO Mid-Tower Case - Black (SKU: CA-7A4-LL) = £149.99

Total: £1,164.47 (includes delivery: £13.20)

Gavster · 29 Jun 2022 at 20:50

As you are going to be using the Founders Edition 3080 ti then this is the cooler you need if you choose EK

EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Vector FE RTX 3080 D-RGB Water Block - Black Special Edition

Order EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Vector FE RTX 3080 D-RGB Water Block - Black Special Edition now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

Personally I think they`re the best looking GPU waterblock out there and they perform very well too

916Mick · 30 Jun 2022 at 00:04

Thanks for the ideas and advice.
I can see this is gonna cost more than I thought.
oh well, another month hiding the bank statement

MikeTimbers · 30 Jun 2022 at 14:04

£1164!

seriously? and this will then look like every other 011 build. Distro plate builds are so dull. It takes out all the individuality.

YMMV

ballj · 30 Jun 2022 at 18:05

Gavster said:
As you are going to be using the Founders Edition 3080 ti then this is the cooler you need if you choose EK

EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Vector FE RTX 3080 D-RGB Water Block - Black Special Edition

Order EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Vector FE RTX 3080 D-RGB Water Block - Black Special Edition now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

Personally I think they`re the best looking GPU waterblock out there and they perform very well too

It is a very nice block, but the price on it is pretty steep - like 3x price of a normal one.

916Mick · 30 Jun 2022 at 20:30

ballj said:
It is a very nice block, but the price on it is pretty steep - like 3x price of a normal one.

I actually prefer the look and layout of the corsair block.

MikeTimbers said:
£1164!

seriously? and this will then look like every other 011 build. Distro plate builds are so dull. It takes out all the individuality.

MikeTimbers I don't mind that it will look like many other 011 builds. I, personally, like the look and the distro plate makes it easier for a first time water builder , like me.

MikeTimbers · 30 Jun 2022 at 21:08

916Mick said:
MikeTimbers I don't mind that it will look like many other 011 builds. I, personally, like the look and the distro plate makes it easier for a first time water builder , like me.

Hmm, respectfully, a distroplate makes any (any!) imperfections in your tubing look worse and results in massively higher costs. It all sounds great: straight tube runs yay! except to get straight runs needs fittings that straighten out the runs or subtle small bends that are hard to get perfect.

Hey, it's your money.

Noxia · 18 Jul 2022 at 15:53

@pigeonguyuk Thank you for that link, I have this case and was going to do my usual AIO and leave GPU as is but I could actually achieve that as it's all listed. It's a high barrier for noobs, for example, I have no idea how or where I could put any other pumps because I'm not very practically minded. I take Mike's comments but it's still going to look better than what I had planned and I couldn't care less if it looks like someone else's build, I don't take it out and about with me..

Always been confused how WC is better than an AIO for a CPU considering the parts are the same.

VortexA1 · 18 Jul 2022 at 23:47

916Mick said:
I actually prefer the look and layout of the corsair block.

MikeTimbers I don't mind that it will look like many other 011 builds. I, personally, like the look and the distro plate makes it easier for a first time water builder , like me.

Yes I like the look of the distro plate. It appeals to me in the li lian mini.

ballj · 19 Jul 2022 at 22:37

Worth getting a set of cheap 12/14/16mm tubing to confirm if thats what you wanna go with for you build. Its expensive to chance after you have all the fittings in hand.