Thoughts on watercooling for a newb

[runninkyle17]

Well I am thinking about getting into watercooling and have been looking around at prices of all the hardware.

There is a Koolance Exos-AL for sale locally on craigslist and I just wanted to get everyone's opinions on it as a beginners WC setup. I will be looking at other waterblocks of course, but just wanted people's thoughts on the Koolance.

Here is my system setup.
Q6600
Asus P5Q-E
Thermaltake Armor+ tower
Sapphire 4850 512MB x2

Okay guys, start throwing out your opinions. Thanks.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: runninkyle17
Thoughts on watercooling for a newb

* It's not worth it for your old school 65nm quad.
Use the money you would waste on tubing, coolant, water blocks, radiators and pumps, and simply upgrade to a good 45nm quad core.

 

[Gillbot]

Simply put, NO!

 

[runninkyle17]

Why spend over $500 on a whole new motherboard, CPU, and RAM when I can most likely spend around $200 on a watercooling setup I can use indefinitely???

I didn't ask if I should upgrade my setup, I asked about water cooling. Please if you aren't going to talk about water cooling, don't even post.

 

[Gillbot]

Read the sticky, then come back and ask again. watercooling is NOT something a true beginner should try and tackle, especially with unfounded expectations.
Also, I'm guessint the Koolance Exos-AL is an aluminum part. You are going to be VERY hard pressed to find a waterblock to use with it. Most waterblocks are copper and you CAN NOT mix Aluminum and Copper in the same loop. That's a HUGE beginner NO, hence my reply of "NO".

 

[runninkyle17]

Yes, the Koolance radiator is aluminum; however, Koolance water blocks are Nickel plated and can be used with aluminum radiators. I understand about the aluminum radiators and stuff. However, I can get the Koolance system for $40, plus I would need to get a CPU water block and then probably a NB water block.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: runninkyle17
Why spend over $500 on a whole new motherboard, CPU, and RAM when I can most likely spend around $200 on a watercooling setup I can use indefinitely???

* Your MB will support a 45nm quad core.
* Your subject is "Thoughts on watercooling for a newb"
* You also posted... "start throwing out your opinions"

I am staying on topic...
I have setup a water cooled system before.
I gave you my opinion on water cooling your system.

 

[daw123]

A reasonably decent CPU only loop will cost $300+ buying new parts. You can get it for much less if you buy second hand parts from eBay, FS/FT, etc.

Water cooling is not something that you should tackle lightly; it is expensive and it can become very addictive.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: runninkyle17
Yes, the Koolance radiator is aluminum; however, Koolance water blocks are Nickel plated and can be used with aluminum radiators. I understand about the aluminum radiators and stuff. However, I can get the Koolance system for $40, plus I would need to get a CPU water block and then probably a NB water block.

Many blocks are plated, and my point still stands. NO, do NOT mix metals.

 

[daw123]

If you still want to go with liquid cooling then Aigo, who is very knowledgeable about liqud cooling, specified a CPU only loop recently for some one else with a Q6600. Here's a copy of his post. Not all of it may be relevant to your own loop (such as the coloured tubing). Also read this stickie.

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: Scionix
Alright, here's my list. Do I have everything?

Radiator: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835108098

Pump: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835108082

Tubing: http://www.petrastechshop.com/7id5odmagepu.html

Block: http://www.frozencpu.com/produ...LGA1366_Included_.html

Barbs/Fittings: http://www.acousticpc.com/fitt...mps_misc_hardware.html

Reservior: http://www.xoxide.com/swiftech-mcres-micro.html

Dye: http://www.frozencpu.com/produ...Red_FV-0012.html#blank

And obviously the distilled water.

Am I set?

You might want to check out jab-tech and sidewindercomputers.com. All those vendors your jumping around, the shipping will own you.

My recomendations:

For your rad assy:
http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-R...-radiator-pr-4384.html
+
http://www.jab-tech.com/YATE-L...igh-Speed-pr-3771.html x 3
+
http://www.jab-tech.com/Sunbea...Kit-BLACK-pr-2530.html

For your pump Assembly:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swifte...v-DC-Pump-pr-3510.html
+
http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-A...Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html
This is a combo res pump top. It makes your pump into a res and its one heck of a performing top.

Cpu Block:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swifte...aterblock-pr-4246.html

its a very flexable block, meaning if you want to add something else to your loop, the block will allow that. Its not the best performing block, but its better then supreme your looking at.

Tubing:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Master...ID-5-8-OD-pr-3079.html x 15 feet. Assuming OOPS factor.

+
http://www.jab-tech.com/Bitspo...WP-C01-pr-4397.html x 6

I HIGHLY recomend you changing your barbs. Those are also silver plated barbs, so the silver will act as a anti microbe.

Coolant:
Do you really want color? If you dont need the color, plain old distilled. Goto the super market, get a bottle of distilled, NOT drinking, but Distilled, and use that.

Your die wont last very long, and it will only speed up clouding on your tubing. How about colored tubing instead?
http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-7...ve-Orange-pr-4236.html

Use Zipties as clamps.

Btw I fixed Aigo's link for the barbs.

 

[Zap]

Koolance EXOS Al? Is that the one which uses 80mm fans? How retro! I wonder if you can mod it to use 120mm fans?

I've used a Koolance EXOS² and it was a pain to fill because the fillport is right above the pump.

One thing to consider is how well that unit was cared for by the previous owner. It may be immaculate or it may have stuff clogging up the rad. How is one to know?

 

[runninkyle17]

Thanks for all the information guys. I do want to get into water cooling and I really don't want to upgrade my processor right now. I will take a close look at all those parts listed in Aigo's link. Thanks again.