Watercooling Setup

SavellM

SavellM

SavellM

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Joined
15 Nov 2010
Posts
668
Hey Guys,

I have never WC before.
So its another one of these threads.

I want to WC my machine moving away from a Corsair AIO.
But a few things, what fittings are best?
And the sizes confuse the crap out of me.

I have space for anything as I am building a custom desk.

So what are the best sizes and best fittings?

What I have been thinking is using:
XSPC Twin D5 Dual Bay Reservoir/Pump Combo
2x XSPC XSPC AX360 Triple Fan Radiator OR
XSPC XSPC RX360 120mm Radiator (Not sure which is best)
XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock

OR some EK blocks and rads, what would you recommend? XSPC or EK?

But as I say above, what would the best tubing and fittings be?

Also I will do a GPU loop into this, might cool my current 560 TI, but im waiting for the new nvidia 700 series.
Also waiting on a new haswell cpu's as im currently on 1366 socket.
But want to start cooling now, and can always upgrade cpu and gpu blocks later.
 
Or maybe this EK alternative?

EK-BAY DCP 2.2 Combo Unit
EK Water Blocks EK-Coolstream RAD XTC 420
EK-Supremacy Elite - CPU Waterblock - Intel 1366

Its quite a bit cheaper than XSPC.

But ye, thoughts on tubing and fittings, please?
 
Is that big enough for a loop of CPU, + 2 GPU's?
I just flicked through a page that said 1/2 is good?

Sorry first time for everything.
 
Thanks for the help so far :)
And then fittings what are the best?

I dont love the look of barbs as they dont feel so secure to me :)
What are those ones that you push on and screw down to hold them in place?
And bitspower any good?
 
Would this work?
Am I missing anything?

XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock (Intel) Copper £96.98
(£80.82) £96.98
(£80.82)
XSPC AX360 Triple Fan Radiator (Black) £88.98
(£74.15) £88.98
(£74.15)
XSPC D5 Vario (Body + Screwring) £56.99
(£47.49) £56.99
(£47.49)
EK-BAY SPIN Reservoir - Plexi CSQ £55.99
(£46.66) £55.99
(£46.66)
EK-D5 X-TOP CSQ - Acetal £25.99
(£21.66) £25.99
(£21.66)
XSPC HighFlex Hose 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD, 19/12.7mm, 2m, White £6.98
(£5.82) £13.96
(£11.64)
Bitspower Premium G1/4" Matte Black High Flow 1/2" Compression Fitting (For Tygon 1/2" ID) £6.98
(£5.82) £83.76
(£69.84)
ModMyMachine Shoggy Sandwich V2 for your Watercooling Pump £6.98
(£5.82) £6.98
(£5.82)
Sub Total : £358.08
Shipping cost based on delivery to paypal address, RG1 1NH with:
FREE SHIPPING (DPD Next Day)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : FREE
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £71.62
Total : £429.70
 
Thanks Space Monkey.
Updated basket:
YOUR BASKET
1 x XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock (Intel) Chrome £96.98
1 x XSPC AX360 Triple Fan Radiator (Black) £88.98
1 x XSPC D5 Vario (Body + Screwring) £56.99
1 x EK-BAY SPIN Reservoir - Plexi CSQ £55.99
1 x Bitspower Mesh Radgard II 360 Aluminium - Black £31.99
1 x EK-D5 X-TOP CSQ - Acetal £25.99
2 x Mayhems Pastel - UV White Coolant 1L £17.99 (£35.98)
3 x Noctua NF-F12 PWM 120mm Focused Flow PWM Cooling Fan £15.98 (£47.94)
12 x Bitspower Premium G1/4" Matte Black High Flow 1/2" Compression Fitting (For Tygon 1/2" ID) £6.98 (£83.76)
1 x ModMyMachine Shoggy Sandwich V2 for your Watercooling Pump £6.98
Total : £543.65 (includes shipping : £10.00).



Just need compression fittings.
Also is that the best tubing?
Or is there better out there?

I've heard good things about Primochill tubing, any advice?
Or Tygon R3603 tubing and then I can use those Bitspower compression fittings?
 
Last edited:
Man all this advice is totally a God send.

Thanks all for your help... :)

Another question, does it matter mixing minerals, as in the Chrome cpu block, Copper Rad, and so forth?

Thanks again.
 
I found some Tygon R3603 Hose 1/2 ID and 3/4 OD.
So will get those Bitspower compression fittings.

Hope this is good tubing.

I will try to get another Rad to place in a different part of my desk, but I will only know more later as the desk is still being built.

Another thing, I will WC the GPU at a later stage, so right now its just the CPU.
Unless there is a WC Block that will fit a Asus 560 ti Top 1gb?
At least then I can practice on this one, while waiting for the 700 series :)
 
I have been playing with this for ages now :)
WC has me hooked and I havent even started.

But now I have changed it slightly from the above, by using the kit.
YOUR BASKET
1 x XSPC RayStorm Twin D5 AX360 WaterCooling Kit £329.99
1 x Bitspower Mesh Radgard II 360 Aluminium - Black £31.99
2 x Mayhems Pastel - UV White Coolant 1L £17.99 (£35.98)
3 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm 1850 RPM - 3 Pin £12.58 (£37.74)
2 x ModMyMachine Shoggy Sandwich V2 for your Watercooling Pump £6.98 (£13.96)
12 x Bitspower Premium G1/4" Matte Black High Flow 1/2" Compression Fitting (For Tygon 1/2" ID) £6.98 (£83.76)
Total : £544.86 (includes shipping : £9.50).



I can also then sell all the extras that I dont want.
And continue to use the 1/2 tubing and my bitspower fittings :)
Would that work?
 
Last edited:
Nope im building a desk.
You can see the project here: (Its a bit on hold atm due to life)
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18471358

So I will have some space to play with.

I thought that kit, it works out at £5 more, and it had the dual pumps, and everything included. I totally understand its overkill, but I can always run 1 pump or run them really low.
Also that way I have the flexibility to include a lot more, eg GPU x2, maybe mobo at some stage, ye?

I will swap out to GT1850's I was a bit undecided by them :)
 
Or to save some cash, I just use the kit, and the tubing and fittings provided.
And then revisit the tubing and other bits later on when I do my GPU and what not?!
 
Firstly, it will be 1 cpu.
Then I will integrate the GPU on same board.

After I will look at joining it to the other pc, and cooling that cpu.

But as you say, its the only pump that comes in that kit, so its a pretty good saving if you look at the 2 baskets.
 
If im 100% honest with you.. I have absolutely no plan :D
I was first going to just use Corsair closed loop coolers in both.

But then I thought stuff it, im going to do this properly.

So currently I have space for 1x 360 rad on the slanted angle in the middle of the desk.
So that will suck air out and under the desk.
Then I could possible fit 2 or more along the back edge, and these can be 480's (if they will fit width wise)
But I wont know too much more about the back until I have the desk a bit more built.
But I do think they will fit, and I can make them fit while were building it.

But ultimately I would like to cool the gaming machine first and foremost.
And this would hopefully be with 2x770's, cpu and possibly mobo in the future.
And then if wanted join in the server, which I would look at doing for definite.
But that would only be a cpu and maybe mobo again.

Lastly, if this is a full loop between the 2 boards, and the server would run almost 24/7 it almost makes sense to have the dual pump incase im not around and 1 fails.
And then what about the loop, do I just let it flow over the gaming machine while its off?

Hopefully this is a bit more info :)
 
So further to this.
I have a whacky idea... Let me run it by you.

My brother is a plumber, so obviously deals with piping all the time.
I was thinking about making the watercooling a feature and run like copper pipes to all the components.
Im thinking this would look the best, as I was wondering how I could connect both PC's without it looking crud.

And then this occured to me, and it would look pretty good.

So another few questions.
1) Do you know of anyone that has done this?
2) Do you know what size copper piping would be the best for this (as in fittings wise)
3) What kind of fittings can I get that would work for me?

Thanks all, if you can help :D
 
Thanks for the links man.

I was thinking of using 12mm Copper pipe.
And then the Bitspower SLI fittings.
I have seen these uses multiple times, they have 2x O-Rings inside where the pipe pushes into.

But that just worries me a bit.
I would love those fittings, but with compression fittings just to be 100% safe.
In-case someone knocks the desk or something, I dont want them popping out.
 
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