Cheapest setup possible

[FluidG]

I want to try watercooling for the first time but I'm drawn back by the prices. I know it's possible to avoid alot of cost on most parts besides the waterblock.
Here's what I'm thinking:
High flow aquarium pump - I've seen some for around $20-25
Hardware store tubing (i've seen tygon before) - No idea on cost, can't be much
Homemade or really cheap reservoir - Under $20
Danger Den Athlon64 Waterblock - $55
Fittings, fluid additives, ect - $15
Radiator - It's getting damn cold out here now, so I was thinking to run a loop of the tubing out the window and maybe a couple feet long underground (3 or so inches below the surface). My computer is right next to the window.

Would this setup 1) work 2) cool an overclocked A64 3) really cost about what I estimaded?

Thanks.

 

[Deadlierchair]

You can definitely get a pump for that much, I bought a MaxiJet 1200 for <$20 and it's served me quite well. Tubing, it will probably cost you $10 or so, but it won't be as nice and flexible as Tygon (which you might not need depending on your setup). Reservoir - google around a bit and see if you can find that PVC pipe res guide, many have used it and it's dirt cheap. Waterblock - will be the most expensive part, but it's worth it to pay a bit more because of how important it is in the system.

What you are thinking for the radiator probably isn't a great idea. Tubing is usually a pretty good insulator, so just using that might no be enough. One guy used metal tubing underground and that seemed to work alright for him. I'm not sure exactly how cold it is where you are, but 3 inches down might freeze during the winter. Plus, digging up your yard for that wouldn't be that fun would it? Other people have put their reservoirs outside their windows but then you run into the problem of condensation if it gets really really cold. If you want to go cheap, run out to your junk yard and find an old automobile heater core or radiator. Wash it out a bunch and then use it. You could probably get one of those for $20 or so.

 

[bink]

my setup:

dangerden maze4 cpu: $35
resevoir: lowes special $10 with about 8' of 2" PVC left over...
bonneville heater core: $17.99
2 - panaflow M1A 120mm fans: $26.00
fittings and tubing: <$20 (got the tubing for free)
pondmaster 250 gph pump: petsmart for $30

edit: i also threw in a relay since the pump is 120VAC, but you dont have to have one of those...

 

[Little Grabbi]

What you are thinking for the radiator probably isn't a great idea. Tubing is usually a pretty good insulator, so just using that might no be enough. One guy used metal tubing underground and that seemed to work alright for him. I'm not sure exactly how cold it is where you are, but 3 inches down might freeze during the winter. Plus, digging up your yard for that wouldn't be that fun would it? Other people have put their reservoirs outside their windows but then you run into the problem of condensation if it gets really really cold. If you want to go cheap, run out to your junk yard and find an old automobile heater core or radiator. Wash it out a bunch and then use it. You could probably get one of those for $20 or so.

I believe I am "that guy".

And it works fine... I basically reused a pipe that runs below our lawn, which fed the now-defunct sprinklers. It's copper, and about a foot deep. It'll freeze in the winter, but only if the PCs (four of them) are off for a day or so...

 

[Deadlierchair]

I believe I am "that guy".

And it works fine... I basically reused a pipe that runs below our lawn, which fed the now-defunct sprinklers. It's copper, and about a foot deep. It'll freeze in the winter, but only if the PCs (four of them) are off for a day or so...

That's sweet...it'd be great to be able to use the environment around you in that way. But I'm not sure a lot of people are going to want to dig and put that stuff in if they didn't have to. And, his idea of doing just regular tubing wouldn't work well because while copper is a great conductor, plastic-y tubing isn't.

 

[FluidG]

Yeah, I meant run a copper pipe throught the ground, and I wouldn't expect the water to freeze as long as it's running. Here are my current thoughts:

Radiator
However, I think I am going to go with a '89 Camaro Heater Core. There isn't any room in my case for this stuff, so I will have to build an all-in-one enclosure. The heater core is pretty freakin' big (8.5x7x2.25 inches) so there will be a 1/4 inch overhang if I make it to sit on top of my case.

Water Block
I want this to be as usable as possible when it comes to future upgrades, so I think I might use a Swiftech MCW6000 water block because you just buy a new retention clip if you change sockets.

Pump
I went over to Petsmart and saw a pump for $22 that pushes out 500 gph and one for $18 that pushes 250 gph. How powerful do you need it to be? 500 gph sounds like alot, but it's only $3 more, lol.

Tubing
I think I am going to use 1/2 inch Silicone if I cant find Tygon. I will probably just but the fittings at a hardware store or maybe online if I also have to order something else.

Reservoir
I think I am going to make this myself. I will find some thick-walled clear plastic container and mount it in a way that it's very visible on/in the enclosure.

Liquid
75% deionized water and 25% antifreeze. That should cover it

Also, what diameter tubing should I use? I'm not really sure how you pick that stuff.

I'm going to draw up some plans in CAD tonight and if all goes well with the planning stages. I'll start some sort of worklog tomorrow.

 

[FluidG]

here is a possible design. I like how this looks and it would probably sit either on the floor next to the computer or on top of the case.
design:

side view:

next to a box the size of my computer:

details:

the water cooler would be 10x4.3x10 inches. the front of the enclosure would have a window to see the reservoir. the 120mm fan would be controlled by a speed dial.

so what do you think

 

[Deadlierchair]

Sounds like an excellent idea. Your plans look great, definitely keep us posted and make a worklog for it for the Mods section. There are things called quick disconnects that allow you to click in and out your tubing so you can move your two boxes seperately, you might want to look into those. http://www.xoxide.com/qudi.html There are a good example of what I'm talking about, search around and you can buy them from someone else than XoXide.

 

[FluidG]

hmmm, those are pretty cool. The design is done, but I gotta think of something to make the enclosure out of.... my main goal was to make a CHEAP watercooling setup, but custom acrylic or metal is anything but cheap. I am going to try to keep this entire project under $100

 

[Deadlierchair]

Yeah...acrylic is anything but cheap when you get some nice stuff to work with...You could take an existing box and use that. If you go to a bargain place you'd probably be able to find something that wasn't meant for this sort of project but that you could modify. And if it all came down to it...use wood

 

[Little Grabbi]

You know, If you take one of these Eheim micro1000 pumps with attatched res, you could fit that, and a 1x80mm rad into one of those removabla HD cases... The rad _will_ stick out, but it'll be _tiny_

 

[FluidG]

lol, I just realized i forgot to add the pump into the enclosure. i gotta go back to petsmart today and see how many watts the pump I was looking at uses and what it's dimentions are

 

[Deadlierchair]

You know, If you take one of these Eheim micro1000 pumps with attatched res, you could fit that, and a 1x80mm rad into one of those removabla HD cases... The rad _will_ stick out, but it'll be _tiny_

But once you start going that small your cooling capacity is greatly reduced. Besides that, the water cooling 80 mm rads cost an arm and a leg compared with a heater core.