Hi all,
Longtime lurker, rare poster, bugt I know you guys are helpful so here goes. I need a good pump, and probably a reservoir. I have a bunch of components that use 5/16" OD tube. Ideas?
Background: I've been watercooling for a few years now. I've never custom assembled a set-up before; I simply got the Evercool WC-202 (specs) a few years ago and it had everything I needed so I've been happy.
My kit has a fairly small pump/reservoir/radiator in a 5.25 drive, a CPU block, GPU block, a 2nd radiator with a fan that attaches to the pump via a three-prong plug, and 5/16" OD tubes. They attach with what look like proprietary screw mounts and o-rings, but those could come off and I'd just have regular tubes.
Anyway, after several years of good operation, the pump seems to have died; filling the reservoir doesn't work, tilting it 90 degrees and pinching the out-tube to remove bubbles (which has always worked in the past, is recommended by the manufacturer, and is crazy annoying) doesn't work either. I could probably order and install a replacement pump, but for a similar price I could probably upgrade. So what are your thoughts?
Considerations:
- I don't overclock much, or really at all. Mostly I'm interested in having a very quiet rig, which the WC-202 has given me. As long as the water is flowing through the system, my parts haven't melted and I get to tell my friends about my "thirsty" computer.
- I would like to salvage as much of the current set-up as possible, as it seems silly to junk a bunch of good equipment. "Good" is defined here as working and sufficient, as opposed to "best on the market," which I don't need. I could probably even remove the main reservoir/radiator and use it as such, without the pump. I do, however, put a premium on parts that will last. There's no point in buying a $50 dollar pump every six months when a $100 pump will last two years (or whatever).
- The 2nd radiator fan is a bit noisy at full speed, which is what I get when I plug it into the motherboard directly. Are there any kits that let you control the speed of the radiator fan using a three-prong plug? Is that even a good idea? Alternately, I could take the fan right off and replace it with some other item, either now or in the future. And while I'm asking about the radiator, will it be sufficient to cool the loop without what Evercool calls the "main" fan in the 5.25" bay? I can't imagine that one's doing much, sandwiched between my hard drives and a DVD-drive, but if I don't replace it I'll have a CPU/GPU loop cooled entirely by one radiator block with one fan.
- What are the considerations for attaching other kits to these tubes? I know that the Thermaltake Aquabay M5 (which uses a P500 pump), for instance, has connectors for either 3/8" or 1/2" tube... will I be able to attach my 5/16" tube to that? Do I need an adapter of some sort? Can I use mostly 5/16" components and tubes elsewhere in the loop if the tubes running between the M5's pump and reservoir are 1/2"?
- I like having control over the unit, and information about temperature and flow, via the faceplate. Pulling out the machine from the desk to check on flow, or to refill it, would be less than optimal. I'm also fine with an external set-up, but that is less preferable simply on a clutter level. My desk has enough crap as it is. On the other hand, if it's the best way to go I'll drill a hole in the side of the desk to do it.
So, I'm looking at that M5, because it has a nifty faceplate and everything else I need... but I've heard mixed things about the pump. I am also considering the M6 (here), which is the M5 minus the pump (ie temp sensor, flow sensor, faceplate, reservoir), and then another pump (maybe a Swiftech mcp655or 355? Is the 655 overkill?).
Alternately, I could get the 355 and acrylic top (here). But then I lose the monitoring of temperature and level via the front (unless I also get this kit)
Could I mount any of these externally for easier filling and/or more efficient cooling? Do they need to sit above the level of the case or are they okay on the floor?
Thanks for reading this super-long post.
(EDIT: Links added, specs corrected)
Longtime lurker, rare poster, bugt I know you guys are helpful so here goes. I need a good pump, and probably a reservoir. I have a bunch of components that use 5/16" OD tube. Ideas?
Background: I've been watercooling for a few years now. I've never custom assembled a set-up before; I simply got the Evercool WC-202 (specs) a few years ago and it had everything I needed so I've been happy.
My kit has a fairly small pump/reservoir/radiator in a 5.25 drive, a CPU block, GPU block, a 2nd radiator with a fan that attaches to the pump via a three-prong plug, and 5/16" OD tubes. They attach with what look like proprietary screw mounts and o-rings, but those could come off and I'd just have regular tubes.
Anyway, after several years of good operation, the pump seems to have died; filling the reservoir doesn't work, tilting it 90 degrees and pinching the out-tube to remove bubbles (which has always worked in the past, is recommended by the manufacturer, and is crazy annoying) doesn't work either. I could probably order and install a replacement pump, but for a similar price I could probably upgrade. So what are your thoughts?
Considerations:
- I don't overclock much, or really at all. Mostly I'm interested in having a very quiet rig, which the WC-202 has given me. As long as the water is flowing through the system, my parts haven't melted and I get to tell my friends about my "thirsty" computer.
- I would like to salvage as much of the current set-up as possible, as it seems silly to junk a bunch of good equipment. "Good" is defined here as working and sufficient, as opposed to "best on the market," which I don't need. I could probably even remove the main reservoir/radiator and use it as such, without the pump. I do, however, put a premium on parts that will last. There's no point in buying a $50 dollar pump every six months when a $100 pump will last two years (or whatever).
- The 2nd radiator fan is a bit noisy at full speed, which is what I get when I plug it into the motherboard directly. Are there any kits that let you control the speed of the radiator fan using a three-prong plug? Is that even a good idea? Alternately, I could take the fan right off and replace it with some other item, either now or in the future. And while I'm asking about the radiator, will it be sufficient to cool the loop without what Evercool calls the "main" fan in the 5.25" bay? I can't imagine that one's doing much, sandwiched between my hard drives and a DVD-drive, but if I don't replace it I'll have a CPU/GPU loop cooled entirely by one radiator block with one fan.
- What are the considerations for attaching other kits to these tubes? I know that the Thermaltake Aquabay M5 (which uses a P500 pump), for instance, has connectors for either 3/8" or 1/2" tube... will I be able to attach my 5/16" tube to that? Do I need an adapter of some sort? Can I use mostly 5/16" components and tubes elsewhere in the loop if the tubes running between the M5's pump and reservoir are 1/2"?
- I like having control over the unit, and information about temperature and flow, via the faceplate. Pulling out the machine from the desk to check on flow, or to refill it, would be less than optimal. I'm also fine with an external set-up, but that is less preferable simply on a clutter level. My desk has enough crap as it is. On the other hand, if it's the best way to go I'll drill a hole in the side of the desk to do it.
So, I'm looking at that M5, because it has a nifty faceplate and everything else I need... but I've heard mixed things about the pump. I am also considering the M6 (here), which is the M5 minus the pump (ie temp sensor, flow sensor, faceplate, reservoir), and then another pump (maybe a Swiftech mcp655or 355? Is the 655 overkill?).
Alternately, I could get the 355 and acrylic top (here). But then I lose the monitoring of temperature and level via the front (unless I also get this kit)
Could I mount any of these externally for easier filling and/or more efficient cooling? Do they need to sit above the level of the case or are they okay on the floor?
Thanks for reading this super-long post.
(EDIT: Links added, specs corrected)