Watercooled Rig...

Skilty

Skilty

Skilty

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Joined
18 Nov 2004
Posts
535
Location
Brixham, Devon
So I have the Corsair Carbide 540 along with a reference design r9 290 and an overclocked 2600K. The r9 isn't exactly quiet under load :)

I was looking at a H100i/H110 for the CPU and something similar for the GPU using a G10 and another H110.

This will run to around £250 so I started looking at WC. I toyed with this about 7 years ago and have a D5 in the loft (Assuming it still works).

This is the build I was playing with to fit in the 540. Would love some feedback, do I need a res at all? I am assuming it removes the need to bleed the system etc.

YOUR BASKET
1 x XSPC Razor R9 290X / 290 VGA Waterblock £89.99
1 x XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock (Intel) £49.99
2 x XSPC EX240 120mm Radiator - Black £37.99 (£75.98)
1 x XSPC Photon 170 Tube Reservoir £37.99
2 x Corsair Fan, SP120 PWM Low Noise High Pressure Fan 4 pin, Dual Pack (CO-9050012-WW) £25.00 (£50.00)
1 x XSPC Razor R9 290X / 290 Backplate £24.95
1 x Mayhems X1 Clear Coolant 5ltr £21.95
3 x Primochill Primoflex Advanced Tubing 16/11 - UV Blue £5.99 (£17.97)
12 x XSPC G1/4" to 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting (Black Chrome) £3.49 (£41.88)
Total : £410.71 (includes shipping : ).

 
Always best to go with a res or you will run into problems later on.

Personally if it was me, I would try and add a 120mm rad in the exhaust if you're going full wet 'n' wild.

My rule of thumb is one 120mm rad space for each component that needs cooling plus one extra 120mm. So if you want cpu and gfx you end up with 3x120mm rad space required.

Maybe try and get the thickest rad you can fit too, that will always help. Maybe someone with more experience with the 540 case can provide a little more insight.

Maybe these:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-044-BX&groupid=962&catid=1523&subcat=1525
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-017-BX&groupid=962&catid=1523&subcat=1524
 
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You can get 2 60mm thick 240mm rads in a 540 with ease. They have cooled my sli 780's and 3770 under some hefty clocks with ease in a 540
Also, buy some 45º + 90º fittings too as you will invariably need them :)
 
You can put a 360 in the front and a 240 on the top.

Here's another set up for you. Tubing changed to 13/10

YOUR BASKET
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC R9-290X - Nickel (Original CSQ) £69.95
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy EVO - Nickel £52.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream PE 360 (Triple) £49.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-RES X3 150 Reservoir £39.98
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream PE 240 (Dual) £39.95
1 x Mayhems X1 Clear Coolant 5ltr £21.95
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC R9-290X Backplate - Black £20.99
1 x Three Fan Bundle - Silverstone SST-FQ121 FQ Series 1225 PWM - Watercooling Optimised Fan £19.99
2 x Silverstone SST-FQ121 FQ Series 1225 PWM - Watercooling Optimised Fan £7.99 (£15.98)
3 x Primochill Primoflex Advanced Tubing 13/10 - UV Blue £5.99 (£17.97)
12 x EK Water Blocks EK-CSQ Fitting 10/13mm G1/4 - Black £2.99 (£35.88)
Total : £395.20 (includes shipping : £8.00).

 
Out of interest is there a huge difference between the EK and XSPC rads? I did read some good reviews about the Hardware Labs rads as well.

Do most people run the fans on the front rad inside or outside the case? I went for thin 35mm rads to ensure I could keep the dust filters.

I am really looking for something that is quiet as the rig is in the lounge.

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I did think about acrylic tubing but it adds another £65 to get the shaping kit...
 
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You can run a 60mm thick rad in the front with 2 25mm thick fans pushing through the rad with a reference 780 in and still keep the dust filter ;)

All of the rads OCUK sell are of good quality, phobya is another decent brand :)
 
Any reason why you're going for xspc blocks?

And I would definitely get a reservoir. It's not worth the headaches.
You can run the fans in the case. And I would get thicker rads so you don't have to run your fans full pelt all the time. It'll keep the noise down
 
Looks rather than anything the XSPC block has blue backlighting so fits in with the colour scheme of the rig (Blue MSI motherboard etc).

Nothing against the EK blocks, habit I just get everything from the same company as in theory it all fits well together.

So thicker rads, FPI is lower than the slim rads? With 60mm rads can you still run a 240 in the top and a 360 at the front without it fouling etc?
 
That's fair enough. I like to keep the same brand as well.

Regarding the FPI question: not necessarily. You'll have to check the individual specs of the rad you're interested in. But it's more common as thicker rads can get away with lower fin density.
And I'm not sure as I don't have that particular case but you can always go and ask in the 540 thread
 
Anybody heard much about the Alphacool NexXxoS GPX for ATI R9 290X & 290 M01?

Seems it cools the GPU with a block and the rest is passive, comes with heat pads, back and so on.
 
Skilty said:
Anybody heard much about the Alphacool NexXxoS GPX for ATI R9 290X & 290 M01?

Seems it cools the GPU with a block and the rest is passive, comes with heat pads, back and so on.
Click to expand...

I have looked at it and whilst the idea is good etc I personally would much rather use a EK or Aquacomputer or XSPC block that covers the VRMS that is just my own feelings I am sure they work well enough
 
Any thoughts on the below list as an alternative to a custom WC rig?

YOUR BASKET
1 x Corsair Hydro H105 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler (CW-9060016-WW ) £89.99
1 x Corsair Hydro H90 140mm High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler (CW-9060013-WW) £70.00
2 x Corsair Fan, SP120 PWM High Pressure Fan 4 pin, Dual Pack (CO-9050014-WW) £25.00 (£50.00)
1 x NZXT KRAKEN G10 GPU Cooling Adapter - Black £24.95
1 x Corsair AF140 Quiet Series Low Noise High Airflow - Single Pack (CO-9050009-WW) £14.99
1 x Corsair Fan, SP120 PWM High Pressure Fan 4 pin, Single Pack (CO-9050013-WW) £13.99
1 x Be Quiet! Shadow Wings Fan Mid-Speed - 92mm £8.99
1 x BitFenix Alchemy 24Pin ATX Extension 30cm - sleeved black/blue/black £7.49
1 x BitFenix Alchemy 8Pin PCIe Extension 45cm - sleeved black/blue/black £5.99
1 x BitFenix Alchemy 6Pin PCIe Extension 45cm - sleeved black/blue/black £5.99
1 x BitFenix Alchemy 4-Pin ATX12V Extension 45cm - sleeved blue/black £4.99
Total : £306.95 (includes shipping : £8.00).

 
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