general water cooling questions

[imported_Truenofan]

yes i know, there's quite afew of these, but none of them answer my questions. im going to a C2D cpu and board, and i want to oc pretty high, im looking for somethign that will cool it enough, along with my overclocked video card, x1900xt run rather hot, i dont know any websites for watercooling.

also want to know, i was asking someone, they dont oc, but plan to water cool, and dont belive it requires any thermal paste(as5 ect.) i was in the beliving that it does require it, pretty much like regular cooling solutions. if someone can point me in the right direction that would be great.

edit: hose length is an issue with my questions as i plan on upgrading to a large lian li tower case.

 

[Elfear]

I'd put together a custom H2O setup if you're going to go watercooling. For regular parts you'll be into it ~$250-275 after all is said and done. Are you willing to spend that much on watercooling?

You WILL need thermal paste of some sort for your blocks. You're correct in that it's the same as air-cooling solutions in that regard.

 

[ELicious]

http://www.ocforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71

Thermal paste is the way heat will get from the CPU core to the water block. W/o paste, your cpu will fry up just like if you forgot to use goop attaching your heatsink/fan.

And pre-made kits that sell for $50-100 suck. You'll usually get better performance with a highend air-cooled solution. The best way is to buy components and build the system yourself. It's really not that hard, and you'll get lower temps and/or quieter solutions than you could with air cooling.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

im willing to spend quite a bit, as long as its quieter than my current setup. i got 3 120mm fans going at 120~ cfm a piece. cpu temps as it is, idle is like 30-32C and load is up to 34-36C, but its quite loud, not a whine but a loud blowing noise, im looking to remove that, eventually im going to a crossfire setup, i know thats gonna raise the price abit but as long as i can get it going eventually.

edit: how do you remove the cooler from the north bridge if its like, permanently on that thing, i'v used freezing it on a board from awhile ago, but i had to replace that eventually(didnt mess it up but it was getting old and the usb was finiky)

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
im willing to spend quite a bit, as long as its quieter than my current setup.

High end watercooling is not quiet. A fact of life is that the more air you put through a Rad, the more heat you take out. Multiple 150+ cfm fans are commonly used.

Monthly roundup of water cooling's best components:
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=369416

 

[imported_Truenofan]

well considering i have three of these
http://www.directron.com/fba12g12h1bx.html
in my comp right now, its relativly loud, but not a whine loud, just a blowing noise loud, like i said. i wouldnt mind the noise of a pump and a low/mid rpm fan because i have noise cancelling headphones or a loud sound system to drown it out if i need to.

edit: thing is, i do plan on oc'ing quite a bit, and i would like to be able to up the voltage w/o worrying about jumps in temp. i tried oc'ing this thing to 2.4ghz, and it jumped easily into the mid 40's. im just kinda worried when i get my C2D that when i oc it, its gonna jump into the 50's. i found a bit on what i need to buy, and i got a friend that knows a bit about water cooling helping me out....so hopefully i get through this w/o incedents.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

this is the setup im looking at, with some modification to my lian li full tower case that i will be getting, if this all plans out, i'll probly go to a window setup too....it just looks too cool otherwise.

radiator(fans are to be determined, of course ill be getting the correct connections too).
http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-rad-42

video card cooler.
http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-blc-290.html

im still kinda iffy on what color hoses to get, but 3/8th's is what ill be running all around
http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-tub-29.html

im still looking for a good coolant, but someone refered this
http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-liq-12.html

i figured this reservoir will probly do me well, since i can view the level easily,i was looking at one of the passive reservoirs but i wasnt 100% on that so i decided this one.
http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-res-101.html

im still in the air on the pump if someone can give me a good reliable one, but im lookin at this one
http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=37&cat=26&page=1

cpu block, i'v seen nothing but good references, and that web site stated this was a good one, im lookin for a heavy overclock so im probly gonna go with this one.
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-Storm-Universal-Waterblock-Rev-2-pr-3022.html

edit: reason i went with such a large radiator, is because i do plan on running dual x1900'x or higher in the future. so i figured that would be more than enough.

edit 2: the price will run into the 400's with shipping, but i dont plan on removing any of this stuff, and testing it for leaking for at least 48hrs prior to installation of the system. since this will be my first water cooling build. im going to take my time and do things right the first time. as well as the fact that this computer will be running 24/7 for the better part of the time.(there will be lapping involed on the cpu as well, heh)

edit 3: one last thing, if you could tell me anything im missing, that would be great. since im such a newb at this.

 

[ELicious]

That reservoir is ridiculous! $89 for a plastic box? The reservoir doesn't do anything besides hold water and look cool. You can get a dualbay 5 1/4" reservoir from dangerden for $30. http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=53&cat=27&page=1

Coolant? Just use distilled water and anti-freeze. 90/10 mixture is all you need. I've been running mine for 2 over 2 years and I haven't touched it. No funky growth or anything in my system.

For the pump you'll want to look at the head rating. This is much more important than the gallons/hour because WC setups tend to have a lot of restrictions. Check the monthly roundup of WC products for pump recommendations.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

well my case is going to be for the most part black aluminum, im trying to stick with either a black/red or black/blue theme if possible for the outside/bays, it does look like it would be better to go with that, because it has a split in the middle so its not just drawing the same water back in. where would i place it in the system, between the radiator and the first block, or between the last block and the radiator. i was either going with that buy one, or this http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-res-90.html

here's a review of it
http://www.moddin.net/review.asp?ReviewID=193&PageNo=1
and another
http://www.xtremecomputing.co.uk/review.php?id=159&page=6

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: Truenofan
this is the setup im looking at, with some modification to my lian li full tower case that i will be getting, if this all plans out, i'll probly go to a window setup too....it just looks too cool otherwise.

edit 3: one last thing, if you could tell me anything im missing, that would be great. since im such a newb at this.

The BIX3 rad works best with high pressure (and CFM) fans. the 150+ i mentioned earlier. For the 104 cfm fans (and quieter operation) you's be better off with the BIP3 rad which requires less air flow. The BIX3 is really for all out cooling with massive airflow.

That fan can be had here for $11.95: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/pa12mesp.html
Check out some of the Delta high performance fans too.
You can always use a rheostat to control fan speed (and noise).


An Ehein 1048 will be totally inadequate for cooling an OC'd system with just a Storm block (highly restrictive jet impingment technology), much less any other heat sources. Eheim pumps are extreemely quiet and reliable, I know I have one running 2 feet ftom me and it's been on for 2 years. You need to look at pump PQ curves...they relate pump output (pressure) to volume. As the pressure requirement increaces, (ie. with a restrictive cooling loop) the flow goes down. My Eheim 1048 flows about (on a flow meter) 0.6gpm through a loop with a Storm block, 2 x MCW55's, a 3 x 120 rad and a 2 x 120 rad. I use it when I'm not overclocking. Check out the graph (labeled Thermal Tesistance vs Flow Rate) for the Storm block on the Swiftech website.

The DD video blocks, while they do cool both the GPU and the memory, are difficult to get installed correctly (Ie. make good contact with both the GPU and the memory). Their selling point is their low restriction. But, alas, they require high flow rates to cool OC's cards. You'd be much better off (especially for a first time WC'er) with the Swiftech MCW60 block and some good ransinks.

As for a rez, a T-line is much less expensive and will make your (WC'ing) life much easier.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

well if i were to have high flow fans, i may as well keep the three high power 12cm panaflo's i got now, and use them on that rad, would that be the best, i'd save money, and use parts i know are good? where can i find a good article on radiators, which ones work the best and such.

 

[govtcheez75]

I have a Corsair COOL WC kit. Since I was a complete NOOb at WC'ing, I thought it would be good for me. I'm VERY happy with how it's worked out for me. I'm only cooling the processor and the video card, but I think there is also a chipset block available for it. YOu can also add non Corsair blocks to the loop.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

would it cool a oc'ed cpu and two oc'ed x1900's though, im building the system to handle that....and the chipset. and whatever future developments i add....i do plan on keeping this system, and if i were to replace the computer, i'd probly keep the system and move it onto the next one and just modify whatever i need. im not saying its not a good system, but im jus asking if its up to the task. im looking at better pumps for the time being, whats a good type to go with.

i AM a newb at this(lol), and im now going into uncharted territory for me, and nobody else in the remote area knows anything about what im doing with a computer of my type. everyone else gets laptops or pre-built desktops from dell(the low end ones though), or HP. i have another question with the current one, how often should i change the fluid in the WC system. i remember reading around once a month or two, should it be more often or less.

edit: should i enable cpu throttling or should i disable it if i overclock. i've never run any computer before with any kind of throttling ever. oh and Billb2, thank you for pointing out that picture, i didnt notice that. considering that, what type of pump can handle 1-2gpm.

 

[efnethore]

after seeing so many boxes with custom watercooling, you know what i realized?

custom watercool look good on paper only, individual parts' specs look so good

but when everything come together, (and it's a bi*ch to put everything together, might i add), they are really no better than premade watercool kits.

premade watercool kits might not have the most powerful waterpump, or a radiator with whatever area whatever shape fins, but everything just work together seamlessly.

i'm looking at your odd shaped video card block with like 20 bolts, and all i can say is, you are overdoing it. look at how thick that thing is...

if you want a good kit, swiftech's h20-220 apex ultra is a powerhouse, and it's reasonably priced at around 250. there is also a + model which gives you the mcw60 vga block, it's more than enough for your 1800/1900.

p.s. i don't like pumps with bunch of cheap plastics. polarflo makes good pumps, all made out of steel.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

it does look pretty nice, can i use any type of hose with that? because like i said, i do need alot of cable with my future setup, big case, lots of room. would i be able to swap any parts with that kit?

Would the ramsinks be enough to cool the ram at high overclocks? i'd like a nice kit that could handle it, but it would seem to make more sense to have everything watercooling instead of some passive and some water, i wouldnt think the ram could overclock as well as the core if it were like that.

it seems that everyone gives it a good review as well. i can probly just upgrade things later on when they become inadequate. but for a price of 350 or more......

 

[nealh]

Go here and read the stickies...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70

Ok...high end watercooling does not have to be loud..the best radiator out there is the PA series designed for lower cfm fans

PA120.3 is the best radiator....

DIY is better than kit ..period...you pick what you want and can get excellent performance..better than swiftech kit ..although as a kit this is a good one

My recommendation:

Radiator: PA 120.2 or PA 120.3
2 or 3 YL fans or 2 or 3 Panaflo 120x38 L1A on fan controller better static pressure
$100-120
YL 3 x $4=$12
Panaflos $ 12/each??

Pump:
DDC ultra with alphacool top with top used for inlet and if you enalrge the inlet a small amount you get excellent head pressure(most important) with very good flow
$120
BTW 2 in series is unbeatable

Cpu block:
Storm rev2 or Aquaextreme MP-05 SP LE
$75

Gpu block:
MCW60 w/ram sinks
$60

7/16in ID 5/8in OD tubing
Masterkleer..which can be had for 50cents a foot
Tygon top notch but about $2/ft

No reservoir..use a T-Line

Clamps to secure tubing..got mine at Lowe's
$5

Coolant:
Distilled water

additive:
Zerex racing coolant
Pentosin(can get red or blue)
HydrX


Teflon tape for barbs

BTW I recommend EK barbs and cooltechnica barbs
http://ekwaterblocks.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=126 G1/4 barbs for pump and can be sued on blocks as well

http://www.cooltechnica.com/Merchant2/m...IFLO-G38-12&Category_Code=Barb_Fitting

 

[0roo0roo]

for quiet, use more radiator. a big 3x120mm so you can run low rpm fans. more area for thermal exchange the better. so yes, of course those that try to overclock using a 1x120mm radiator are gonna be loud as hell

course if you got the cash, a couple resorators in series would be badass

 

[imported_Truenofan]

nealh, thank you for that website, im gonna read over that post of how things work in the watercooling world a few more times to get the whole gist of it. very informative posts made by maxxxracer. ill hafta contact em through aim to get info if i ever need it. thank you for that though. also learned a few things, the danger den gpu cooler(ram/gpu) isnt good apparently ,so ill go with a gpu cooler ramsinks.

 

[Praxis1452]

NealH is right. You wantlarger tubing btw. And MP-1 would be better for higher flow rates. Only 1-2C but still higher...

 

[Billb2]

Check out some of BillA's rad testing: http://swiftnets.com/Technical/Assessment%20of%20Radiator%20Performance.pdf