Newbie's Guide To WaterCooling

[TheRyuu]

hose clamps http://www.jab-tech.com/Plasti...mps-Black-pr-3522.html get 4 of the large size and 12 of the med. More than you need but if one is bad your not waiting three days for another to come in the mail.

If there is one thing I can recommend about watercooling, it's use the metal worm clamps. Don't get the plastic stuff, don't use zip ties. You'll thank me later on.

I'm (hopefully) going to be rebuilding my loop before the end of the year so I'm happy. I'll be ditching my storm for a fusion since I plan to go quad core soon.

Other then that, it's pretty much just a rebuild of the current loop. Case is the same, but new mobo/CPU. Since I know a lot more now (and how I do not like the current setup) I think I'll just redo the whole thing.
Another thing, I do NOT like reservoirs (I got a reservoir and I'm ditching it). T-Lines are cheaper, and much better 99% of the time.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Dragon5152

hose clamps http://www.jab-tech.com/Plasti...mps-Black-pr-3522.html get 4 of the large size and 12 of the med. More than you need but if one is bad your not waiting three days for another to come in the mail.

If there is one thing I can recommend about watercooling, it's use the metal worm clamps. Don't get the plastic stuff, don't use zip ties. You'll thank me later on.

I'm (hopefully) going to be rebuilding my loop before the end of the year so I'm happy. I'll be ditching my storm for a fusion since I plan to go quad core soon.

Other then that, it's pretty much just a rebuild of the current loop. Case is the same, but new mobo/CPU. Since I know a lot more now (and how I do not like the current setup) I think I'll just redo the whole thing.
Another thing, I do NOT like reservoirs (I got a reservoir and I'm ditching it). T-Lines are cheaper, and much better 99% of the time.

actually zipties with 1/2OD barbs using 7/16ID tubing works fine. This is what i use, and a lot of other long time watercooling experts at XS forums as well.

1/2ID tubing with 1/2OD barbs need worm drive clamps tho. Zipties wont work for them at all.

 

[gOJDO]

OK, I am noob with water cooling. I am finishing my first water cooling which is a home made one.
http://www.xcpus.com/forums/wa...ade-water-cooling.html
The coolant I am going to use is going to be a home made too, distiled water with antifreeze. In what proportions should I mix the liquids and do I need to put something else in the mix?

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: gOJDO
OK, I am noob with water cooling. I am finishing my first water cooling which is a home made one.
http://www.xcpus.com/forums/wa...ade-water-cooling.html
The coolant I am going to use is going to be a home made too, distiled water with antifreeze. In what proportions should I mix the liquids and do I need to put something else in the mix?

are you mixing metals? if not sometimes just straight distilled is the best.

 

[gOJDO]

The radiator is Al, the block is Cu. I guess I'll need an additive to kill any microorganisms.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: gOJDO
The radiator is Al, the block is Cu. I guess I'll need an additive to kill any microorganisms.

you need additives to stop corrosion would be more of a worry here..

Your going to need a good premix, because your mixing metals. I would recomend XSPC coolant, seeing how i have yet to see any corrosion threads from there coolant. Also they use ALU a lot so i figure they put a decient amount of water wetter.

But yeah... mixing metals is kinda dangerous with homemixed coolants.

 

[CH3VYMAN]

Great Thread! Thanks for all the information! I have wanted to know about this!

 

[QueBert]

awesome tread, about to dive into WC and this info here has helped me tons. I still have a lot of learning to do, but everything here really got me off on the right foot. I think reading what people have said here even stopped me from wanting a full GPU cooler and deciding to probably go with one that only cools the GPU only.

question though, would an 8800GTX block work on an 8800GT? I'm still tempted by the Dangerden 8800GTX block I saw, I know it's like 1/2 the price of card itself but looks really sweet.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: QueBert
awesome tread, about to dive into WC and this info here has helped me tons. I still have a lot of learning to do, but everything here really got me off on the right foot. I think reading what people have said here even stopped me from wanting a full GPU cooler and deciding to probably go with one that only cools the GPU only.

question though, would an 8800GTX block work on an 8800GT? I'm still tempted by the Dangerden 8800GTX block I saw, I know it's like 1/2 the price of card itself but looks really sweet.

heh... if you thought the DD block looked bling....

Heres one that performs better and i think looks a heck of a lot better also.

http://www.jab-tech.com/EK-FC8...el-plated-pr-4038.html

Might want to email john the owner and ask him when he expects to get more in. He's a friend of mine also. :]

 

[imported_dinGLeBeRRy]

dumb question but just curious,

lets say i got a wcing comp and what not, can you install leds so just the wc tubes light up within that system??? or could u run some sort of led tubing within the wcing tubes???

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: dinGLeBeRRy
dumb question but just curious,

lets say i got a wcing comp and what not, can you install leds so just the wc tubes light up within that system??? or could u run some sort of led tubing within the wcing tubes???

LOL...

No, because if you put something in the tubes, you'll cause restriction and lose head pressure. This isnt something you want.

If you want something simular to this, you can use EL Wire and wrap it around the tubes. But that would look a bit too tacky for my taste personally.

 

[WoodButcher]

Tacky???
You,,,,, scmuck you!!!!
What Aigo didn't mention is you can get UV tubing or colorants for the water, The greem tube you see is a combination of this tubing and a 90- 10 mix of distilled water and antifreeze.

TACKY???? (wags tongue in defiant gesture!!!) :laugh:

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: WoodButcher
Tacky???
You,,,,, scmuck you!!!!
What Aigo didn't mention is you can get UV tubing or colorants for the water, The greem tube you see is a combination of this tubing and a 90- 10 mix of distilled water and antifreeze.

TACKY???? (wags tongue in defiant gesture!!!) :laugh:

lol no he's talking about physically putting a LED inside the tubes somehow.

Also your is straight UV illumination. I was talking about using EL Wire to wrap the tubing for a lighting effect.

 

[imported_dinGLeBeRRy]

just to get the tubes to illuminate only.
the tubes only like this.....


p.s. dont hate me aigo....hahhahaha the pic is only for reference.

 

[imported_dinGLeBeRRy]

ok nvm i found it.

thanks wood...

 

[WoodButcher]

8mm is small tubing, the smallest I'm willing to run is 3/8" ID. I use the PrimoFlex thin wall because I can stretch it to fit the 1/2" barbs. The 1/2" barbs I use I'll flare the inside with a countersink to reduce turbulence at each barb. The barbs for 1/2" ID tube that are so common actually have a 3/8" ID so there is little if any flow reduction by using the smaller than commonly used and popular 7/16" ID Masterclear or Tygon.

 

[bigpow]

My other hobby is keeping tropical fish; Got an idea from this post:
What if I do a ghetto water cooling with my aquarium parts?

- 10 Gallon Aquarium filled with distilled water
- ViaAqua water pump inside the aquarium, sucking water from aquarium.
- Flexible hose carries cold water from aquarium/pump to
- a CPU water block inside the PC,
- and another flexible hose to return (warm) water from CPU block back to the aquarium

Correct me if I'm wrong but, since it's an open loop system, without any T or Rad - it's simple and easy to maintain.

My only concerns are:
1) Will I get condensation?
2) How long/soon will my 10 Gallon of cold water turned warm from a 100W CPU? (before I have to cool the aquarium LOL)



Comments/suggestions?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: bigpow
My other hobby is keeping tropical fish; Got an idea from this post:
What if I do a ghetto water cooling with my aquarium parts?

- 10 Gallon Aquarium filled with distilled water
- ViaAqua water pump inside the aquarium, sucking water from aquarium.
- Flexible hose carries cold water from aquarium/pump to
- a CPU water block inside the PC,
- and another flexible hose to return (warm) water from CPU block back to the aquarium

Correct me if I'm wrong but, since it's an open loop system, without any T or Rad - it's simple and easy to maintain.

My only concerns are:
1) Will I get condensation?
2) How long/soon will my 10 Gallon of cold water turned warm from a 100W CPU? (before I have to cool the aquarium LOL)



Comments/suggestions?

First and foremost, there aren't going to be any fish in said aquarium are there?

If no, please skip to next paragraph, if yes, stop reading and begin banging your head on the table till you can no longer un-cross your eyes then go walk down a flight of stairs.

Ok, 10 gallons is a lot of liquid and depending on the surface area you'll have for evaporation you may or may not actually need to actively cool the loop but, I don't know that there is any way for us to give you an actual concrete number there. Especially without knowing more about the pump and how much heat it's going to dump into your water. Finally, you're going to have chemical problems with this set-up. I have no idea what all chemicals may be in that pump and in the aquarium but, you're more than likely going to need something to supress galvanic corrosion and deffinatly going to need an algae/mold suppressant/killer. To be honest it would probably end up being more expensive and more trouble than it would be worth to just go ahead and buy a $35 radiator and a couple $5 fans.

 

[Mourn]

Hey there,

Thanks for a very intresting guide! Although I have some questions of my own. I would like to build for low noise and am planning on using;

Radiator: Black Ice GTS 3x120
CPU Block: D-Tek Fuzion
GPU Block: *undecided*
Reservoir: Swiftech Micro
Pump: Swiftech MCP350

I was wondering if you could help me with 2 aspects;
1. The GPU block for a 8800GT (I prefer blocks that completely cover the card)
2. The MCP350 seems like a quiet pump and i have chosen it due to internal space restrictions. Is this pump sufficient for this setup? Im worried about the pumps ability to deliver suficient flow to the blocks after passing through such a big radiator. Should I rather plan on a 2x120 radiator?


Thanks for your help and a great guide.

 

[bigpow]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: bigpow
My other hobby is keeping tropical fish; Got an idea from this post:
What if I do a ghetto water cooling with my aquarium parts?

First and foremost, there aren't going to be any fish in said aquarium are there?

If no, please skip to next paragraph, if yes, stop reading and begin banging your head on the table till you can no longer un-cross your eyes then go walk down a flight of stairs.

Ok, 10 gallons is a lot of liquid and depending on the surface area you'll have for evaporation you may or may not actually need to actively cool the loop but, I don't know that there is any way for us to give you an actual concrete number there. Especially without knowing more about the pump and how much heat it's going to dump into your water. Finally, you're going to have chemical problems with this set-up. I have no idea what all chemicals may be in that pump and in the aquarium but, you're more than likely going to need something to supress galvanic corrosion and deffinatly going to need an algae/mold suppressant/killer. To be honest it would probably end up being more expensive and more trouble than it would be worth to just go ahead and buy a $35 radiator and a couple $5 fans.

No fish, just plants & shrimps
I haven't had any algae problems with my tanks for a while (all are planted tanks), but you're right - without fish/plants, I'd have to use my chemicals.

Thanks for entertaining my idea.

I also have a spare 50 gallon aquarium and a strong 850GPH ViaAqua
Won't be able to use that pump with any CPU waterblock I take it...

 

[dileepsv]

Awesome guide!! This will help me a lot when i watercool my system...i just send u an email to get started...Thanks for all your great efforts, bro.

 

[IanY]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
wow, no one has to comment on my guide?? any advice is gladly accepted.

If something is unclear i can add more to make it comprehendable.

If soething was missed, i can add,

Hello folks Greetings.

Man, this guy aigomorla is really clueless. What a n00b . Just kidding lol We've known each other for quite a while now and he's really good at water cooling.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: bigpow

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: bigpow
My other hobby is keeping tropical fish; Got an idea from this post:
What if I do a ghetto water cooling with my aquarium parts?

First and foremost, there aren't going to be any fish in said aquarium are there?

If no, please skip to next paragraph, if yes, stop reading and begin banging your head on the table till you can no longer un-cross your eyes then go walk down a flight of stairs.

Ok, 10 gallons is a lot of liquid and depending on the surface area you'll have for evaporation you may or may not actually need to actively cool the loop but, I don't know that there is any way for us to give you an actual concrete number there. Especially without knowing more about the pump and how much heat it's going to dump into your water. Finally, you're going to have chemical problems with this set-up. I have no idea what all chemicals may be in that pump and in the aquarium but, you're more than likely going to need something to supress galvanic corrosion and deffinatly going to need an algae/mold suppressant/killer. To be honest it would probably end up being more expensive and more trouble than it would be worth to just go ahead and buy a $35 radiator and a couple $5 fans.

No fish, just plants & shrimps
I haven't had any algae problems with my tanks for a while (all are planted tanks), but you're right - without fish/plants, I'd have to use my chemicals.

Thanks for entertaining my idea.

I also have a spare 50 gallon aquarium and a strong 850GPH ViaAqua
Won't be able to use that pump with any CPU waterblock I take it...

depends on the pressure, what kind of head does it have?

 

[Tim]

I didn't read through the ENTIRE thread to see if anyone else stated it, but perhaps it would be a good idea to add to the guide cases that are watercooling friendly?
If this is in the post I'm sorry and ignore me, but do not shoot me as I'm easy to hurt.

(edit: My 100th post and it's a possible stinker)

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: thepladfad
I didn't read through the ENTIRE thread to see if anyone else stated it, but perhaps it would be a good idea to add to the guide cases that are watercooling friendly?
If this is in the post I'm sorry and ignore me, but do not shoot me as I'm easy to hurt.

(edit: My 100th post and it's a possible stinker)

Watercooling friendly is kind of hard to peg. There are a lot of cases that can be made to work with water but, very few that come from the box ready to just toss parts in and go. Guys who really get into the hobby like aigo and admittedly myself with air, tend to loose sight of the easy way to do things for the sake of doing them our right way. I actually just messaged one of out more prominant case guys one here, zepper about compiling a one shot case list in hopes of getting it stickied and I'm going to start on a fan guide, mostly copying and giving credit to a guy on XS but, with some ammendments and a different layout.