sneakypete260
n00b
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2014
- Messages
- 4
Long time reader, first time poster. I'm getting ready to do my first ever water-cooled rig, and I'd like some feedback on the system as I currently have it planned. I've spent several months perusing the water cooling forums on various web sites as I've researched various parts and concepts to make sure the system is decently engineered on paper before I start buying parts.
The concept is I want a powerful, yet generally "quiet" system, that will be used for both gaming and work.
So here's the current part list:
CPU: Intel Haswell i7-4770k
MB: Asus Maximus VI Formula
Memory: Corsair DDR3-1600 Vengeance (16GB, CAS 9-9-9-24)
GPU: Asus Poseidon GTX-780 (x2 in SLI... assuming I can find them to purchase :na: )
PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 800W
Rads: Alphacool NexXxos XT45 Full Copper 360mm
CPU Cooler: EK-Supremacy Full Copper
HD: Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256 GB (x2) (I may buy a larger or third SSD...)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE (either with G-Sync or G-Sync capable)
Case: Enthoo Primo
Given the case and the places where rads can go, the cooling loop will be pump -> top radiator -> cpu -> gpus (in parallel) -> bottom radiator -> back to pump.
I'm open for suggestions on the tubing, barbs, pump(s) and reservoir for the cooling loop. I'm probably going to go with Bitspower True Brass Barbs and Bitspower Acrylic Plugs. I'd like some suggestions on the clear tubing to use, and a pump/reservoir combo. I don't have a major preference here other than I would like the loop to be as maintenance free as possible. I'm leaning towards using a Swiftech MCP (probably an MCP35X or MCP35X2) as the pump.
For the fans, if I'm understanding the thought process correctly, I want high air-flow for the case fans, but high static pressure on the rad fans. Ultimately, I would like all of the fans to be "quiet" (i.e. around 30db noise level). For the rads, I'm planning on 6 fans total in "push" configurations. What are some of your preferences for case and rad fans, and why?
I would prefer to control all of the fans speeds via the mobo's on-board PWM system if possible. The mobo has 6 fan connectors (3x chassis and 3x optional), and the case has a 5-fan PWM hub. I'm thinking that I may "link" all of the fans on each radiator so they function as a single unit. So that would be 2 PWM "units" for the rads and then however many case fans I use. I would like to hear some thoughts on this as well, especially on whether or not this is feasible, and why I should perhaps not link the fans. If I can't or shouldn't link the fans, what recommendations are there on a fan controller?
If I can't get the Poseidon's anymore, I will probably switch over to the EVGA GTX 780 Hydro Copper video card. Cost wise, the EVGA is similar to what I would spend on an as Asus GTX 780 Direct CU2 with a EKWB water cooling block.
I'm looking at using either Innovations Cooling's Diamond 24 or Gelid's GC-Extreme for a TIM if I need it. I'm not planning on cracking the heat spreader off of the CPU this time around; I'd prefer to save that experiment for my next system. That's also why I'm looking at buying the video cards with the water cooling built in. This time around I simply want to get used to creating a solid loop for a water-cooled system. Once I'm more comfortable with the concepts, I'll start experimenting with installing the water blocks myself and on maximizing the cooling potential.
Any thoughts and feedback relevant to this build would be appreciated.
The concept is I want a powerful, yet generally "quiet" system, that will be used for both gaming and work.
So here's the current part list:
CPU: Intel Haswell i7-4770k
MB: Asus Maximus VI Formula
Memory: Corsair DDR3-1600 Vengeance (16GB, CAS 9-9-9-24)
GPU: Asus Poseidon GTX-780 (x2 in SLI... assuming I can find them to purchase :na: )
PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 800W
Rads: Alphacool NexXxos XT45 Full Copper 360mm
CPU Cooler: EK-Supremacy Full Copper
HD: Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256 GB (x2) (I may buy a larger or third SSD...)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE (either with G-Sync or G-Sync capable)
Case: Enthoo Primo
Given the case and the places where rads can go, the cooling loop will be pump -> top radiator -> cpu -> gpus (in parallel) -> bottom radiator -> back to pump.
I'm open for suggestions on the tubing, barbs, pump(s) and reservoir for the cooling loop. I'm probably going to go with Bitspower True Brass Barbs and Bitspower Acrylic Plugs. I'd like some suggestions on the clear tubing to use, and a pump/reservoir combo. I don't have a major preference here other than I would like the loop to be as maintenance free as possible. I'm leaning towards using a Swiftech MCP (probably an MCP35X or MCP35X2) as the pump.
For the fans, if I'm understanding the thought process correctly, I want high air-flow for the case fans, but high static pressure on the rad fans. Ultimately, I would like all of the fans to be "quiet" (i.e. around 30db noise level). For the rads, I'm planning on 6 fans total in "push" configurations. What are some of your preferences for case and rad fans, and why?
I would prefer to control all of the fans speeds via the mobo's on-board PWM system if possible. The mobo has 6 fan connectors (3x chassis and 3x optional), and the case has a 5-fan PWM hub. I'm thinking that I may "link" all of the fans on each radiator so they function as a single unit. So that would be 2 PWM "units" for the rads and then however many case fans I use. I would like to hear some thoughts on this as well, especially on whether or not this is feasible, and why I should perhaps not link the fans. If I can't or shouldn't link the fans, what recommendations are there on a fan controller?
If I can't get the Poseidon's anymore, I will probably switch over to the EVGA GTX 780 Hydro Copper video card. Cost wise, the EVGA is similar to what I would spend on an as Asus GTX 780 Direct CU2 with a EKWB water cooling block.
I'm looking at using either Innovations Cooling's Diamond 24 or Gelid's GC-Extreme for a TIM if I need it. I'm not planning on cracking the heat spreader off of the CPU this time around; I'd prefer to save that experiment for my next system. That's also why I'm looking at buying the video cards with the water cooling built in. This time around I simply want to get used to creating a solid loop for a water-cooled system. Once I'm more comfortable with the concepts, I'll start experimenting with installing the water blocks myself and on maximizing the cooling potential.
Any thoughts and feedback relevant to this build would be appreciated.