A few watercooling questions

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[H]ard|Gawd
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Dec 27, 2002
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Hello guys. i'm setting up my first water cooling setup right now, and i have a few quick questions

1) if the heatercore is physically above the waterblock and pump, is it better to have the water go through it first or the waterblock first?

2) the pump is supposed to be the lowest part of the system, right?

3) what do i use to clean off the goop from the processor so i can reapply it cleanly to the waterblock/chip?

4) i'm going to be using distilled water. is there anything i should put into it so that i can better see leaks when i go to test the setup outside of my computer (over paper towels, most likely)?

5) is there anything i should put into the water to improve performance? i intend to change the water out every 5 or 6 months.
 
1) Some say in the Heater core first, to have the coolest water going thru the Waterblock. Pump can add heat to the water.

2) Pump wherever it can be.

3) I use dish soap with water and alchool after that.

4) Some put UV dye in water to test for leak. Most Watercooling store sell some of various color. Paper towel is a good method.

5) Purple Ice, Water wetter, Swiftech HydrX, different of coolant liquid that you can add to increase performance. Check what your favorite watrercooling store is selling. Here is a review of the most popular one : Here
 
1) It doesnt matter. Do what looks the best and saves tubing.

2) No. It doesnt have to be, but usually is becuse of the easy mounting to the bottom of the case.

3) Use some sort of isopropl alcohol, nailpolish remover et.. and a gause pad. Something to wipe off the gunk and clean it with the alcohol.

4) You can buy UV dye, or any kind of dye that will show up on while paper towels. See #5

5) I would get some Water wetter. It helps prevent corrosion and improves heat transfer (says the bottle). Any kind of antifreeze, racing coolant etc.. will work as well. Just choose the color you want your water to be. You should mix these things in about a 1:20 ratio with your distilled water. Because youve added a colored additive, you should be able to check for leaks too.

Good Luck
-OMP
 
1)Radiator before or after is your choice. I personally prefer before the waterblocks and after the pump.

2) yes. But you cna raise it if you want, but the higher in the loop it is, the more likely for you to have conditions that could actually damage your pump.

3) I use isopropyl alcohol. Lighter fluid is good for getting the baked-on stuff off, but I wouldn't use that unless the alcohol is not working.

4-5) Mix in 10% antifreeze to your water...this will give you many bonuses. One being hte ease of finding leaks, the others being:
corrosion inhibitance
anti-microbial resistance (stops crap from growing in your loop)
some actually have UV dye in them as well.

Only bad to antifreeze is it lowers your thermal conductivity a bit, so temps will not be as good as pure water, but still the benefits are rather plenty. Water wetter works well too.
 
The pump adds heat to the water. If you can put the pump before the rad, the rad will shed the extra heat the pump just put into the water.

The pump should be self feed by gravity. So mabye put the inlet below the resevior.

To clean the grease off you need isopropyl alcohol.

I use water watter and windsheild washer fluid in my coolant. The windshield fluid has alcohol in it and alcohol changes temps faster than water does.

This is the way I do it. There really isn't a wrong answer to your question though...well as long as you use common sense.

[H]'er
 
Originally posted by [H]'er
The pump adds heat to the water. If you can put the pump before the rad, the rad will shed the extra heat the pump just put into the water.
Click to expand...

The difference in temperature between pump > rad > block and pump > block > rad is extremely negligible. (less than 1C)
 
Well that depends on pump but yeah say 1C...If you don't care about 1C why do OC'ers lap the IHS on a P4? Why do they lap HS's? Why do they spend 2 hours changing from a 3/8 WC system to a 1/2 WC system?

1C is what OC'ing is all about man!!!
 
Originally posted by [H]'er
Well that depends on pump but yeah say 1C...If you don't care about 1C why do OC'ers lap the IHS on a P4? Why do they lap HS's? Why do they spend 2 hours changing from a 3/8 WC system to a 1/2 WC system?

1C is what OC'ing is all about man!!!
Click to expand...

Hahaha. How true.

Yes, if you want that extra 1 degree, you should try and go pump -> rad -> blocks.
 
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