Watercooling Spec Check

sw1ft

sw1ft

sw1ft

Associate
Joined
13 Aug 2008
Posts
220
Hi Guys,

Hoping someone can give this spec a quick look over and let me know if I've missed anything, or if I could save money/improve it considerably.

I've already got a PSU, HDD, SSD and a CD drive, so I haven't missed those out!

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £179.99
1 x Asus Z77 Maximus V Gene Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard ** Free ROG 16GB USB ** £149.99
1 x Fractal Design Arc Mini Tower Case - Black £69.98
1 x Samsung Green (MV-3V4G3D/US) 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz 30nm Dual Channel Kit £59.99
1 x XSPC D5 Vario (Body + Screwring) £56.99
1 x XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock (Intel) £49.98
1 x XSPC RS240 120mm Radiator - Black £30.59
1 x XSPC RS120 120mm Radiator - Black £27.59
1 x XSPC Acrylic Tank Reservoir for Laing DDC £24.98
1 x XSPC HighFlex Hose 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD, 19/12.7mm, 2m, White £6.98
1 x EK-PSC Adapter Rotary 90° G1/4 Black £3.59
2 x EK-PSC Adapter Rotary 45° G1/4 Black £3.59 (£7.18)
8 x XSPC G1/4" to 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD Compression Fitting (Black Chrome) £3.49 (£27.92)
Total : £709.86 (includes shipping : £11.75).




I also haven't got an idea on coolant, what's the norm?

General loop plan is 240 in the roof and 120 in the front with the pump infront (both HDD cages removed with the HDD in a 5.25" bay and my SSD mounted to the mobo tray) going:

Res+Pump > CPU > 240 > 120

Eventually I plan on upgrading my GPU to a 670 (under water) or crossfire 7850s (again, under water) hence the 2 rads, but for the moment i'll be using my old 8800GT (possibly finding another one on ebay for a budget SLI setup). I only plan CS:S at the moment, my main use is development (no hyperthreading needed) so GFX is not a huge concern currently.

Cheers!
 
The reservoir you have listed is for a DDC pump, you need one for a D5. Mayhems X1 or pastel for the liquid is a good choice.

edit - looks like OCUK don't sell a pump mountable reservoir for a D5 but XSPC do sell one.

Also the Ex series rads are only a few quid more and probably a good upgrade (and you will need fans)
 
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Ahh ok, fan's I need to look into, I was planning on using the 2 120s that come with the case for push/pull on the 120 in the front, is it worth getting all new fans, 2 pull/exhaust on the 240 rad, 2 push/pull/intake on the 120, and 1 exhaust in the rear of the case? if so i'm assuming gentle typhoons are still the fan of choice?

Is the d5 absolutely necessary? or could I go with a DDC pump? what are the advantages?

Sorry for the questions, want to get it right first time as i've just decided to move to WC.
 
Ahh I see.

It seems a lot of people don't have CD drives these days though.

Personally i only use it when doing a clean install and you could just balance it on top of the case when needed.
 
IMO, a D5 is worth the small premium over a DDC due to ariable power settings and on the whole being a little more powerful
 
What about with 2 x 240mm rads? one in the roof and one in the front, i think that works as there is space for 2 120mm fans in the front.

Also, rather than putting this spec together myself, is there a D5/raystorm kit that I could buy and add an extra rad into at some point?

Cheers guys
 
hmm, I can't see me getting more than 2 240s in an arc mini, perhaps a 120 in the floor infront of the PSU?

that would mean 240 in the roof pulling out, 240 in the front push/pulling in and a 240 in the floor pulling in.

I think it might end up looking hideous, so a rethink might be in order, dammit.

Anyone got an opinion on using a dual bay res+pump combo, I'd love to do it but i'm not sure if it will work logistically.
 
Yeah I agree, just logistically if I need to use a disk (or more likely, my girlfriend does) it means she will need to open my pc and start plugging stuff in, making me unhappy at life.

I need to look at more builds really as having the 3 rad setup might look hectic, so need to see one really. Would it be ok to start off with just the one 240 and up the rads when I get a new gpu? Or is it better to set the loop up with the rads and just chuck blocks on as and when?

The ideal would be to go with the dual bay res and use all of the other space for rads, it's just working out how to make it all fit that's the issue!
 
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