Possibly considering watercooling, but need a little help.

M0rph3us

2[H]4U
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Sep 5, 2002
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So I've never done the whole water cooling thing and I've decided maybe it's time to try. So my question here is if I want to go basic how much would it cost me to just do my CPU and GPU. Also, do I need to do more than one loop or can I do them both in one loop? And another question is I'm probably going to upgrade my GPU and CPU in the near future, but I'm going to use the same Socket for CPU and probably going to get a GTX 275 for a GPU, will I need to update the blocks or can I still use the same ones since the new stuff is so similar to what I have now.

My Rig as of now is:
Athlon X2 4850e
GeForce GTS 250 1GB
PCP&C Silencer 750W
(1) WD 1TB Caviar Green
(1) Seagate 1TB 7200.11
(1) Seagate 160GB
(1) Seagate 300GB
(1) WD Old Caviar 500GB
(1) Lite-On DVD-RW
(1) Sony DVD-RW
Antec P180 (the old one without routing holes)

All the drives are SATA except the sony one. Will my PSU be enough for Watercooling? And I'm thinking I should probably buy a newer case also. Thoughts?


Thanks,
M0rph3us
 
you can cool with one loop, you don't need two+
Really all you would need is
3x120 radiator (for the future stuff)
CPU Water block
GPU Water Block
Pump
Reservoir
Tubing
barbs (dont use plastic barbs)
clamps.

Most CPU water blocks are usable on just about any socket, they usually have different mounts with them. The GPU might be a problem because many of the cards or different and require different blocks. This is specially true with the full cover water blocks. You can get something like the Swiftech MCW60-R REV 2 and it seems to fit most cards. Might need to purchase a different mounting base though.

It's not cheap...
You are looking at, probably, 200+ dollars just to do it, if not more. I think I spend close to 500 to water cool my system.
 
Alright thanks man, and even though I'm going to be going from a GTS250 to a GTX260 the block would be different? Maybe I should wait until I get my new video card to do a GPU into the loop and just do CPU for now?
 
I would not recommend buying a GPU cooler for your GTS250. It is a completely different series compared to the GTX260/GTX275 and so on so the block will be quite different if you go full-coverage. If anything try to find a used block to mount on it if you can find one cheap.
 
buy used from the fs/ft section of hardforums. you can save a lot.
 
I would not recommend buying a GPU cooler for your GTS250. It is a completely different series compared to the GTX260/GTX275 and so on so the block will be quite different if you go full-coverage. If anything try to find a used block to mount on it if you can find one cheap.

This is why I suggested just the core block like the swiftech and then you could just get ram heatsinks.
 
I actually have a box of ram heatsinks somewhere, so maybe I will go the swiftech route, or maybe I'll just do CPU. Thanks for all the help guys, hopefully I'll get some money soon and I'll post a worklog of my first loop.
 
Since it is your first time, just go ahead with a simple Swiftech single-loop. Since you have the extra swiftech ram sinks, they can be used in the future. I do not know too much about the 250GTS, but I think you should wait until you get your new videocard before purchasing the waterblock since the waterblock for the GPU is probably the most expensive part you will buy for your watercooling setup.
 
alright sounds good, I think it might be time to break out the dremel and make room on my case for a 3x120 rad, but just fans for now until I buy all the stuff. Is there somewhere that I can get a screw layout for a 3x120 rad so I can tap the screw holes and everything already and not have to go back and do more work?
 
I'm not too sure, but isn't the radiator holes pretty much identical to 120mm fan holes? Thats what I did before and used the middle fan in the middle of the radiator to mount my radiator to the my Tower. I picked up my 120mm fan and used that as a stencil for 4 screws and used a dremel and had my mount. I Think that is more than enough to support a 3x120mm radiator. Just gotta make sure the screws are long enough and can support the radiator's weight
 
Ok sounds good, and in the radiator all the fans are touching each other right? There is no gap between them?
 
Ok sounds good, and in the radiator all the fans are touching each other right? There is no gap between them?

I'm not sure if they are touching each other because I had some radiators that did and some that had gaps. I recommend just using that middle fan as reference.
 
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