Starting my custom Loop.. little advice.

C

Copyright

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Nov 17, 2000
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Well I ordered some parts today and still need to get more. I am only cooling the CPU at first with a 280 rad.. I will be adding another rad and will be cooling the video later on.. I expect it will be months down the road when I add these on. I need to know what size tubing I should run to support current and future cooling upgrades. I have read bitspower fittings are among the best to use so I will be getting those. I planned on using primochill LRT hose but still unsure of best size option.


Here is what I have so far for CPU cooling.

EKWB 140 REVO D5 PWM Pump/Res combo + mounting bracket
EK Supremacy EVO nickel water block
Black Ice Nemesis 280GTX Radiator (using existing Noctua Redux PWM fans)

What I need...

Primochill LRT hose (SIZE???)
Bitspower fittings
Drain option?
Silver Kill coil?
What liquid to use? (color will be white or purple)
Any additives I should be using?
 
PM Tsumi or W.Feather in my opinion they will bring the better advice for you =). this part of the forum may be kinda abandoned sometimes.
 
Araxie said:
PM Tsumi or W.Feather in my opinion they will bring the better advice for you =). this part of the forum may be kinda abandoned sometimes.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was hoping Tsumi would pitch it but I know he does have a hate for EKWB lol. I personally have talked with many who love them and their products.. I know each of us has our own opinion of a company based on our own experience so that can vary. I do plan on using bitspower fittings because I have read of issues with the EKWB but mostly with their rotary style fittings.
 
I used to hate on EK until I just bought two blocks for my 980 Tis.
The blocks are superb.

With that in mind you might want to take a look at the new Heatkiller Rev 4 block.

I have heatkiller cpu blocks and they are sweet.
Very well made and beautifully presented. I have the solid copper blocks, but if you like bling they have a plated block that is beautiful.

Anyhow, I use 3/8 x 1/2 inch tubes. Most people use a slightly larger diameter, like 1/2 x 7/16, I just started out with what I have and ran with it.
I generally use Primochill tubing, essentially because it tends to be cheap and lasts a long time.
I use colored tube and forego adding color to the coolant.
I use distilled water and one silver kill coil added to the reservoir. Honestly I have never had any algae or other shit. I tend to change out the water once a year. No additives are necessary. I actually buy silver ribbon on eBay and make the kill coils myself.

Bitspower makes excellent connectors. I use all compressions. You can go full out crazy or just buy straight fittings and a few 45 or 90 degree extensions to make the turns and bends easier. Just remember if you use compressions, they need to exactly fit the tubes you use. Compressions, to me look way better. You'll never need to buy more once you have done the initial investment.

Unfortunately, these days the shops are few and far between.
About the only place in the US now that has a good stock of all things watercooling is Performance-pcs.
I bought my EK stuff directly from EK off their on-line store.
The price was the same as here, the shipping really isn't much more. They use UPS and I got my stuff in three days direct from Slovinia.
I even got a fucked up backplate. I emailed the guys and they sent me out a new one free of charge. All I did was send them a photo attached to my email. they were more than nice to me.
I've also bought direct from Heatkiller. Again, no price difference, but the shipping from Germany is like 30 dollars, kind of steep.
 
The best place IMHO is overclock dot net for advises about water cooling. Very active. I have a water cooled system (4790k + 980ti) with 2 240 rads. Not for the look but cool temps and silence.

Your choice of pump is great D5 with pwm. This lets you adjust the speed exactly like you want. I tend to prefer 3/8 - 5/8 tubing and fittings. Fittings seem easier to find. I may be wrong. I run distilled water with 2 drops of biocide. No problems in 2 years. Quick disconnects might be interesting if you plan to change components (CPU and or GPU) often. Install a drain at the lower part of the system. My setup does not allow that and it's a pain to drain....

Usually temps will drop more on GPU (my case from 82C to 48C) than CPU (80C to 65 even though my 4790k is delidded). The rule of the thumb is at least 120-140 rad per component plus 1. Right now your setup is perfect. I suggest you get rad of the same size when you watercool your GPU.
 
Copyright said:
Primochill LRT hose (SIZE???)
Bitspower fittings
Drain option?
Silver Kill coil?
What liquid to use? (color will be white or purple)
Any additives I should be using?
Click to expand...

Hose: I use 3/8" x 5/8". Not too big but a nice combination of large enough for good flow and thick enough to not kink.

Drain: I built mine using...

http://www.performance-pcs.com/bits...tting-180-degree-water-cooling-accessory.html
http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-g1-4-silver-shining-male-to-male-rotary-adapter.html
http://www.performance-pcs.com/bits...silver-shining-with-black-sparkle-handle.html

Put it at the lowest point in your loop and hook a fitting + tubing from it to a bucket when you are ready to drain. Normally I keep a stop fitting on the output hole for security.

Coil/liquid/additives: I used EK-Ekoolant EVO in Blood Red with clear tubing so no need for a kill coil, additives, or colors.
 
I will not say any current EK product is bad, because they aren't, at least as far as their waterblocks and pump accessories are concerned. I will continue to say that EK as a company is a bad, corrupt company that shouldn't be dealt with, but whether or not you choose to buy their products is up to you. They may have changed their practices recently, I'm not sure as there hasn't really been any meaningful history of them stepping up their practices.

As said, 3/8" ID 5/8" OD tubing is by far the most practical tubing. 3/8" ID does not restrict flow in a typical computer watercooling system, and the thicker wall allows tighter bends.

I prefer the distilled water + killcoil method. Hasn't failed me, and distilled water is cheap and readily available at any grocery store. If you want coloration, I hear Mayhems dye is one of the best on the market. No additives needed if running a silver killcoil.

Drains can be made using a T and a plug or using quick disconnects.
 
Tsumi said:
I will not say any current EK product is bad, because they aren't, at least as far as their waterblocks and pump accessories are concerned. I will continue to say that EK as a company is a bad, corrupt company that shouldn't be dealt with, but whether or not you choose to buy their products is up to you. They may have changed their practices recently, I'm not sure as there hasn't really been any meaningful history of them stepping up their practices.

As said, 3/8" ID 5/8" OD tubing is by far the most practical tubing. 3/8" ID does not restrict flow in a typical computer watercooling system, and the thicker wall allows tighter bends.
Click to expand...

EK is the only maker of a monoblock for my board. I would've preferred Bitspower to match my video card blocks. Bitspower is the only maker of the block for my cards. ;)

I'm glad we agree on tubing. :)
 
Awesome now I know what to get.. looks like clear distilled water plus a kill coil will work for me.. I purchased all my stuff from performance-PCS... I have been dealing with those guys for a very very very long time. I got the pump sleeved as I had read about the wires looking horrible on the pump. Is all distilled water rated the same or any brand I should look for? Also, how do you put the kill coil inside the setup so that it doesn't pumped around or if it's in the res can it bounce around and scratch the inside of the res up?
 
EK got the shit due to a problem they had now about 5 years in the past.

They sold a bunch of nickel plated waterblocks and the plating was bad and eventually flaked off, a lot.

EK put the blame squarely on the consumer, backed by some bogus lab in eastern Europe.
Good solid science here in the old US showed the plating was bad, period. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone got refunded by EK.
Sidewindercomputers did refund people's money but had to eat the loss as EK didn't give anything back.
Hence they stopped carrying their products.

I simply don't buy anything plated from them.;)
 
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Copyright said:
Awesome now I know what to get.. looks like clear distilled water plus a kill coil will work for me.. I purchased all my stuff from performance-PCS... I have been dealing with those guys for a very very very long time. I got the pump sleeved as I had read about the wires looking horrible on the pump. Is all distilled water rated the same or any brand I should look for? Also, how do you put the kill coil inside the setup so that it doesn't pumped around or if it's in the res can it bounce around and scratch the inside of the res up?
Click to expand...

Any distilled water at any pharmacy or grocery will be fine. It's all done the same way.
Just make sure it's distilled.

You can insert a Kill coil in many ways.
I have a Swiftech micro-Res, so I just bent the top of the coil to fit the small hole in the divider, it just sits there.
I have another system with a pump top Res, so I just fashioned the coil to sit inside the tubing just downstream from the pump output. It just sits there.:D
 
Thx for the info I will give that a shot! I had read EK revised their plating method but not sure how true that post was.. if they say it wasn't bad then why revise it right? At least it was Performance-PCS who got my money. I will always use those guys.

Please take a look at the pump I got.. I saw a picture of a guy who had a tube in the bottom and top of the pump/res combo.. he then had some tube hanging off it looked like as a drain valve. I like this setup.. is this ok to use?

(not my setup)
http://cdn.overclock.net/3/34/34bdcf9c_2015-10-1116.59.19.jpeg


And then I find this that says the port on top is not intended to be an inlet port... So is his setup wrong?

https://shop.ekwb.com/EK-IM/EK-IM-3831109843079.pdf
 
Copyright said:
Thx for the info I will give that a shot! I had read EK revised their plating method but not sure how true that post was.. if they say it wasn't bad then why revise it right? At least it was Performance-PCS who got my money. I will always use those guys.

Please take a look at the pump I got.. I saw a picture of a guy who had a tube in the bottom and top of the pump/res combo.. he then had some tube hanging off it looked like as a drain valve. I like this setup.. is this ok to use?

(not my setup)
http://cdn.overclock.net/3/34/34bdcf9c_2015-10-1116.59.19.jpeg


And then I find this that says the port on top is not intended to be an inlet port... So is his setup wrong?

https://shop.ekwb.com/EK-IM/EK-IM-3831109843079.pdf
Click to expand...

I can't tell where that tube behind the funnel is going?
I have that reservoir, not attached to a pump, and it only has one connection hole at the top.
and correct, EK says the top port should only be a fill port, and not an inlet.....so I think that's an illusion of two tubes attached at the top.

That is a great pump. I have three of them and they have never given me an ounce of trouble.

I have a pump-Res combo in one of my systems, but I use an XSPC Res, same difference, they work very well and don't take up much space.:D
 
magoo said:
I can't tell where that tube behind the funnel is going?
I have that reservoir, not attached to a pump, and it only has one connection hole at the top.
and correct, EK says the top port should only be a fill port, and not an inlet.....so I think that's an illusion of two tubes attached at the top.

That is a great pump. I have three of them and they have never given me an ounce of trouble.

I have a pump-Res combo in one of my systems, but I use an XSPC Res, same difference, they work very well and don't take up much space.:D
Click to expand...

It's no illusion I had a different pic that shows the hose at the bottom going down is to a drain valve and does not go anywhere else in the system.. I will avoid that setup lol. Can you guys give me some ideas of how to do the drain setup? Do I just use a T fitting somewhere low in the hose maybe coming back from the CPU to the pump?
 
Copyright said:
It's no illusion I had a different pic that shows the hose at the bottom going down is to a drain valve and does not go anywhere else in the system.. I will avoid that setup lol. Can you guys give me some ideas of how to do the drain setup? Do I just use a T fitting somewhere low in the hose maybe coming back from the CPU to the pump?
Click to expand...

If that is the case that guy is going to have one expensive lesson on his hands pretty soon lol. That res/pump combo is pretty clearly marked with the inlet and outlet. The port on the top is just used to fill up the reservoir.
 
Primochill LRT hose (SIZE???)
Bitspower fittings
Drain option?
Silver Kill coil?
What liquid to use? (color will be white or purple)
Any additives I should be using?
Click to expand...

3/8" x 5/8" Primochill is what I prefer. I have had great luck w/ Barrow fittings off of ebay although my friend opted for bitspower in the build below. They don't seem as tight when installing and are much cheaper.
For a drain i simply remove a line from the lowest point in the loop and drain the fluid, no additional fittings necessary.
Mayhems coolants are probably the best, I also recommend the cleaning kits he offers. You would be amazed of the junk that comes out of the radiators.
Few shots of a recent build I did with a friend

Seth_PC_1.jpg

Seth_PC.jpg
 
For me, I have a QDC at the bottom of my system (it separates the bottom radiator and the CPU). I disconnect that QDC, rotate it out, and disconnect it from the tube to drain it into a bowl. Starrbuck's method is the cleanest, but also probably the most expensive.
 
So I added another 240 radiator to the build.. so I will have a 240 up top and a 280 in front.. this allows me to clear my 5 1/4 bay ( I hope ) so I can keep my silent HDD enclosure in place and the Bluray drive I do use. I also picked up the Primochill LRT White 3/8 - 5/8 tubing. I went with a larger OD to help wtih bends like suggested. I know distilled water and a kill coil is the most perferred method.. is there any coolant I could use that would come up as a purple? It's to make the wife happy and will only show up in the res tube. Thx again for all the help guys.. as the build starts I will post pics in here and get your advice along the way!
 
Just a starter pic... this is the current setup being air cooled. I do plan to add a waterblock onto the video card later on but at the moment my budget is maxed.

 
Like I suggested earlier, Mayhems dye. Just add a couple drops to distilled water, unless you want the solid milky look.
 
Are Enzotech fittings anygood? I can shave 20$ off my fitting cost by using them over bitspower...
 
Copyright said:
That's sexy! It also looks damn expensive.. lol.. I need it in black!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yes, unfortunately, the parts aren't cheap, but if you're gonna do it, do it right. ;)

I thought about black or even black sparkle, but in the end I went with chrome because 'chrome' is my favorite color. ;)
 
Copyright said:
Are Enzotech fittings anygood? I can shave 20$ off my fitting cost by using them over bitspower...
Click to expand...

Don't skrimp on fittings.
Like I said....I bought BitsPower once and have used them over and over again.
Some of my fittings are 8 years old now, look like new.
 
magoo said:
Don't skrimp on fittings.
Like I said....I bought BitsPower once and have used them over and over again.
Some of my fittings are 8 years old now, look like new.
Click to expand...

I hear ya but I keep reading the Enzotech are pretty good as well.. Some guys like the XSPC also. Are you saying Bitspower are the only good fitting? I don't want leaks so I will go with what I need to use if that is the case.
 
If you are trying to save a bit from compression fittings, buy xspc. They're pretty good and affordable. For other type of fittings (rotarys etc..) bitspower has been the most reliable in my experience.
 
All parts ordered... Final parts list...

EKWB 140 REVO D5 PWM Pump/Res combo sleeved + mounting bracket
EK Supremacy EVO nickel water block
Black Ice Nemesis WHITE 280GTX Radiator (using existing Noctua Redux PWM fans)
Black Ice Nemesis WHITE 240GTX (unsure of 120mm fans maybe fanless until video card gets in loop)
Primochill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT 10ft Tubing
XSPC 3/8ID 5/8OD Black Chrome compression fittings
Bitspower 90degree adapter fitting in sparkly black chrome (matches close to XSPC color)
Mayhem Silver kill coil
Distilled Water

Anything else I am missing? Do I need to flush the new parts like the radiators when they come in? Also would you recommend Gelid Extreme or Cool Labs Liquid Pro thermal compound?
 
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Looks good.

Nothing wrong with XSPC fittings.......I use their radiators exclusively.
 
It's always recommended to flush the rads. Thermal paste is up to you.
 
Man.. I need one of you guys located in Houston to come give me a hand lol. So it looks like I have to build a setup to pump water through the rads before I can even install the rads.. geeze.. do you flush all parts in the loop or just the rads?
 
I simply boil distilled water and flush it through the rad 2 or 3 times.
When I dont see anymore particulate, flush a couple times with room temp distilled.
Done
 
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