Budget WC system. Suggestions?

[BrandonB]

Hi,

I'm looking at getting in to watercooling again. Just wanted some suggestions on what setup I should get for about $300 SHIPPED. I've got an E8400 and a Radeon HD 4870 and that's all I'd be watercooling. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[MrE]

What case and how big of a Rad can you fit? Will you mount the Rad internally to the case or externally?
Finally, stock or overclocked?

 

[BrandonB]

What case and how big of a Rad can you fit? Will you mount the Rad internally to the case or externally?
Finally, stock or overclocked?

All stock, and I have a Lian Li PC-V1000B, I will probably have no choice but to put the rad outside and I'd like to avoid drilling holes if possible. Probably a rad the size of the Swiftech MCR220.

 

[MrE]

Well, you could always run a Swiftech kit with the external Radbox and add a D-Tek GFX2 GPU water block that you can replace with 3/8" barbs since Swiftech kits run 3/8" and the D-Tek comes with 1/2" barbs. You'll need to add at least 5' of 3/8" tubing.

Here is the kit: http://www.petrastechshop.com/swh2cocpulic1.html $170
Here is the block: http://www.petrastechshop.com/dfugfx2gpuwa.html $47
Here is more Noprene 3/8" tubing: http://www.petrastechshop.com/3id1odtyanot.html $7.50
Here are the 3/8" barbs for the GPU block: http://www.petrastechshop.com/dhifig1th3od.html $4.60

=$230 before tax and shipping

 

[prasvt]

I got the Swiftech Apex GT kit for $200 and after killing My MCR220 rad, been using the MCR320 rad. But assuming you don't do something noobish like I did, it's a great kit. The clamps that come with it are crap, but the kit itself is great. Even with 1.51Vcore @ 3.6ghz, my Q6700 idles at about 32C and under load hits the mid 40s. It's just beautiful. But I do have like 4 fans on the rad running around 1500rpm. I've got my rad mounted on the back using the radbox. No gpu cooling yet though until the next gpu upgrade.

 

[Kuyt]

I got the Swiftech Apex GT kit for $200 and after killing My MCR220 rad, been using the MCR320 rad. But assuming you don't do something noobish like I did, it's a great kit. The clamps that come with it are crap, but the kit itself is great. Even with 1.51Vcore @ 3.6ghz, my Q6700 idles at about 32C and under load hits the mid 40s. It's just beautiful. But I do have like 4 fans on the rad running around 1500rpm. I've got my rad mounted on the back using the radbox. No gpu cooling yet though until the next gpu upgrade.

How's the noise with that? I've always had my radiator (Black Ice Pro II) ran internally and always thought that running it externally wasn't worth it.

 

[prasvt]

With the fans on 8.0V, it's whisper quiet, though up until today I was running them around 9.5V b/c it was 105F+ last week. They only ramp up when the cpu temp crosses 35C - and even that is kind of overkill. I would think running the radiator internally, although a very neat/tidy setup, wouldn't be as effective as an externally mounted radiator. I think it helps to have it attached in the back since the ambient temperature is lower than the case temperature. I rerouted the PSU exhaust as well, so it's not blowing directly into the middle 120mm area of the radiator.

Still, I'm using a midtower case so until I get the time/money to get like an Antec 1200 or something I kind of have to mount the rad outside.