Watercooling - Would someone mind creating me a list of what to get?

[d3fu5i0n]

Hey guys,

It's the first time I'd be going WCing and this is only for the CPU - no dealing with VGA blocks here.
I'm not on a loose budget, but nor an extremely tight one either [well, you can't be for WCing...]

I've been looking at kits to make it easier and haven't been particularly 'wowed' with the XPSC Rasa kits - cheap fans [from what I've seen on reviews] and not the most amazing waterblock [but then again, they are starter kits and that can be expected].
So far the EK H3O 240 LTX and EK H3O 240 HFX kits have interested me; although I'm unsure about how things would fit with the HFX - as in, if they will or wont and if anything would need changing to accommodate the parts included in the HFX kit.

The important aspects:
Case: Corsair 650D
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 Deluxe [B3 Revision]
CPU: 2500K
Fan setup (currently): All fans except the front Corsair 200mm fan (which has been disabled as it pushes little air/little temp. differences - and is noisy) have been changed to a 120mm BeQuiet! SilentWings USC fan and the fans in the roof have been changed to two 140mm BeQuiet! SilentWings USC fans.


I'm not exactly sure about everything that is included with the kits and may perhaps prefer someone who is experienced and will know what fits in the 650D to help me choose parts (knowing what definitely works with what).

P.S. I don't mind purchasing new fans to deal with a radiator. The roof can also accommodate 120mm fans, as well as 140mm fans. I don't think the current fans would provide enough static pressure for a rad. anyway.

Another factor is that I live in the UK; so for those who are also in the UK, you should see the same component availabilities and costs of different e-Retailers as I do.

My current system layout looks as follows:

 

[bookwormsy]

Tubes, fittings, pump, radiator, fans for the rads, reservoir, distilled water/uv liquid (I recommend just water), silver kill coil (biocide). I'm not familiar with those kits, but look at reviews of them and see what other people said. Also, you could replace those fans with some quality Noctuas or something. Alternatively, buy the parts yourself. Look over the classified here, at Toms Hardware, Overclockers, craigslist, or even eBay for used blocks or other parts.

 

[JS17]

If you are willing to pay for it, the xspc raystorm kits have a better pump/block/rad, and seem to be pretty okay deals. The RX kits being better than the EX in general, unless you like fast fans.

 

[dma0991]

It is possible to fit a XSPC RX240 at the top but you'll have to take into consideration on how tall is the VRM heatsinks are. My assumption with my 400R is that it could fit a H100 pretty easy but the VRM heatsinks are too tall and as a result, I had to install my fans outside.

You could mimic the loop that I have in my signature but some tweaks is necessary. Get an internal reservoir like the Swiftech MCRES or any reservoir that fits inside the case. I have a single bay reservoir and maintenance is a little bit tricky at times. You'll definitely want to do some research on which tubing leeches less plasticizer if it is clear tubing you're after, doesn't matter too much if you're going with colored tubing.

Compression fittings can be very expensive, barbs with cable tie/worm drive is cheaper and works almost the same minus the good looks. Scythe Gentle Typhoon is a common choice, basically any fans that focuses on static pressure works. Last but not least, silver coil to keep the distilled water free from algae.

 

[Meghan54]

OK.....the 650D will easily fit a double thick radiator w/fans internally, well...unless you want 38mm fans. Standard 25mm fans, no problem. (Sitting here looking at my 650D w/MV Gene installed and an H100--temp use--in the top and the roughly 1 1/4" space between the H100 and the topmost heatsink on the Gene.

CPU waterblocks---realize the top end blocks are very close to one another in performance, 1-2C is about the blanket needed to cover all the "good" cpu waterblocks.

So, it many times comes down to looks, mounting ease, and hate/love of a company.

That said, for the money, this block is excellent:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swaphdcpuwab.html

Here are testing results of that block on an OC'd 3930K cpu at Martin's Liquid Lab:
http://martinsliquidlab.org/2012/03/22/i7-3930k-cpu-swiftech-apogee-hd/4/

(That link takes you directly to the thermal testing results, incl. comparison to other blocks.)


For the money, I'd take a long look at it. As far as what I'd choose, I've got a Koolance 370 in the box, awaiting me to get off my duff and install my new loop. Love the looks of the 370; darned precision machining of the top and gorgeous plating.

As far as the other components, your choice of space you'll have to dedicate to a pump is something you'll have to decide. The two more popular pumps are these:

D5 Vario: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmc12vdcpu.html

Laing/Swiftech MCP-35X: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmc12vdcpu1.html


The 35X is much smaller and more compact vs. the D5, but reliability of it was an issue in earlier iterations. The 35X seems to be the equal of the D5 in that respect.

Pump testing: http://martinsliquidlab.org/2011/02/25/swiftech-mcp-35x-reservoir/


Personally, I've used the earlier iterations of the Laing pump--DDC, DDC2, 3.1, and 3.2 and have never had a problem with any of them over more than a few years of use. Then again, I've always actively cooled the pumps, so may account for some of that.


Radiators.....I think you'll find the same amount of variability in performance in radsm that the top performers are all very closely packed.

Roundup of triple rads:
http://martinsliquidlab.org/2012/04/14/360-radiator-shootout-summary/


The meaning of all this? You really can't go wrong with almost any choice you'd make.

3/8" vs. 1/2" tubing.....testing showed no appreciable difference between the two diameter tubing. Your call.

Compression vs. barbs......compression fittings are more expensive, give a "polished" look to a loop, and sometimes have fitment problems on some cpu blocks; depending on brand and size chosen, the bases of the fittings touch when mounted or prevent both from being mounted in the first place. So, if you go with compressions, make sure they won't have fitment problems on the block you've picked.

Barbs are cheaper but not as "cool" or "finished" looking as compressions. But you're not limited to zip ties or worm clamps for tubing clamps, either. There are some darned nice looking ones out now:

Phobya: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1..._Hose_Clamp_-_Black_68121.html?tl=g30c289s722

Lamptron: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...g_Clamps_-_Anodized_Black.html?tl=g30c289s722

Bitspower: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...amp_-_Black_BP-SLTC6AL-BK.html?tl=g30c289s722


Even a touch of copper from Alphacool: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...mm_OD_Hose_Clamp_-_Copper.html?tl=g30c289s722




Have fun with it. Hard to make a bad choice these days. Just take your time, read, then dive in!

 

[d3fu5i0n]

Everything you wrote.

Thanks for that.
I am planning for a 240 or 280mm rad.
Those hose clamps/worm clamps look nice.

I do live in the UK - so hopefully you can look around.
The websites I mainly use are Amazon.co.uk, Play.com, ebuyer.com, scan.co.uk and specialtech.co.uk
...well, what I'm happy using.

So far [this is copied from a YouTube personal message], this is what I had initially planned.
If you go off of this, feel free to take some of my plans and modify the list.
At the moment, without fans, I'm hoping it'll be around the £200 mark [if I can]. But don't make components worse and cut corners, just list how much everything would cost.

So yes, here it is:

Hello DazMode,

I've been watching your Watercooling guide on selecting parts but am still very nervous and would appreciate you personally helping me - as long as it doesn't trouble you.
I know that I should be able to understand, but I am still not confident.

Unfortunately I live in the UK and don't believe that I can order from your website; this only makes me feel like I'm putting you to work without any gain for yourself - so I apologise in advance.

I posted a forum page here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2256904

I would appreciate it if you would look.
Some of the parts that I have been looking at so far are:

PUMPS:
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...Pump--Reservoir-Combo--X20-200-pid-13834.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...with-Acrylic-Reservoir--X2OP450-pid-8332.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...DC-Deep-Quiet-Pump-Station-700-pid-15165.html

TUBING:
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...0-13mm--Semi-Transparent-White-pid-14244.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...0-13mm--Semi-Transparent-Black-pid-14243.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...D---12-OD-10-13mm-Tubing--Clear-pid-5799.html

CPU WATERBLOCK & BACKPLATE:
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...1156-1155-775--EN-Nickel-Plexi-pid-14006.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/EK-Intel-and-AMD-Universal-CPU-Backplate-pid-11164.html

COMPRESSION FITTINGS:
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...-ID--12-OD-Tubing--Black-Nickel-pid-9829.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...for-38-ID---12-OD-Tubing--Black-pid-9837.html