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Critique my WC setup(s)?

S

Star Fox

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 29, 2006
Messages
203
I am builidng a PC with these specs:
Gigabyte DS3 mobo
e6300 Allendale
2x GB DDR2 800
Geforce 7900 GS

I plan on OC'ing the proc and GPU, and so I've been researching a liquid system to keep temps low. Anyways, I plan on purchasing one of these WC sets to keep things cool....

Set 1:
DD MAG II - LE (39.95)
DD Dual 3.5" Res ($24.95)
Bonneville 77 heater core ($20)
tubing/connectors from Home Depot ($10)
Coolant fluid ($10)
DD Maze4 GPU ($35)
MCW30 (for NB)($30)
DD TDX ($50)

OR

Set 2:
TT BigWater 745 L.C.S. ($160)
TT Aquarius Series VGA ($32)
MCW30 ($30)

So...which set should I get, and what changes should I make to it?
Personally, I am leaning toward Set 2 because it comes with a 12cm rad and a 2x12cm rad (both of which I can fit in my case), and because it seems like an easier set up than Set 1. However, I am not ready to sacrifice cooling performance just because I don't want to get my hands dirty by going to the "Auto-Zone", finding said "heater core", and pitching together my own custom designed WC kit.

That's pretty much it...thanks in advance for helping me. ;)
 
Stay away from the Thermaltake stuff... The first set you put together isnt bad but if your worried about fitting things in the case why go with the heatercore when instead you can go with a more compact rad. Also you will need a good shroud and higher cfm fans if you plan on using the bonneville core.

The MAG II pump will not cut it with all those blocks in the loop. Get something like a laing D5 or laing ddc ultra.
 
see my sig.

hmm pretty boring in here, need to get the Tt flameboys riled back up.

Most Tt stuff is crap, but they are getting better with the new stuff and per my sig I can recommend the Bigwater 745 for a conroe. My main point is, you wont get anyting else up and runnings as quicky, the external 2x120mm rad uses ambient air and doesnt either suck warm case air thru it or discharge warm air in the case. And it works PLENTLY GOOD ENOUGH for the Conroes lower heat output even with a GPU block in the loop. The higher level stuff will give you lower temps after you hack up your case figuring out how to mount the rad but the point is, for a conroe, its overkill, and if it costs more money then its wasted money unless you can think of some future use that will actually use this higher performace. (quad core ? )

However if you go with the Tf you will have to constanlty withstand flames from people that dont understand the economic side of a balanced engineering design decision methodology. i.e. you wont be cool or popular with the "in" crowd :D

The only thing I dont like about the Tt Bigwater is the green UV wish it was blue.



I am not ready to sacrifice cooling performance just because I don't want to get my hands dirty by going to the "Auto-Zone", finding said "heater core", and pitching together my own custom designed WC kit.
Click to expand...


If you actually mean, ability to overclock then the Tt is in the race, if you mean "low temps I can brag about" go with something else and be sure to specify the "equipped with Air Conditioner" version of the heater core, its thicker,and use 38mm thick fans,. get a shroud or make one.
 
I love TT stuff.....but I would never buy thier water stuff.....if it's going to leak, it's going to be because I'm a complete moron, and can't put things together correctly
 
i really wish people would stop buy tt's stuff. their innovation attempts are commendable but their actual execution of product is horse doo.
 
Go with Petra's stuff. Thermaltake needs a seat \_


That TT 745 + blocks is about $220. Petra's setup for that price this is $205 or so, then add on your 2 blocks.

It's not much more, and it's still better than the TT.
 
heh, i like thermaltake's marketing for the big water 745 on their site. "Remarkable 120mm Radiator", "Superb Liquid Pump", "Second-to-none Copper Water Block", and "Durable 3/8 Tube".

With adjectives like that how can you go wrong!
 
Thermaltakes Air products are IMO, pretty good. They're really trying very hard to bring affordable watercooling to the masses... And to do this they must use REALLY cheap products. Dont get the TT set. Please? You'll only regret it later.

Petra has good kits. They're not the BEST IMO, but are only second to a custom-made loop. You can get the parts in Petra's (or better equivilents) used here on the FS/FT for about 70% of their market cost... In some cases you can get some deals that are really-really good.

Also, Get the Masterkleer tubing. The Home Depot stuff is crappp.
 
i second or third the petras kits. they are well priced and come with everything

if you want to mix and match and make your own loop the only thing i saw that was really not good was the mag LE you can run 2 in series like performance-pcs does and get decent performance but one will only push a cpu block and a 120mm rad... anything else and i dont think it has the head for it....


get a laing DCC

like these....

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=201&products_id=4508

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=201&products_id=4509

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=201&products_id=2539


i would get the alphacool top... oh wait i have the top.. i really increases performance..

or the TDX+D5 combo at dangerden is really unbeatable at like $100

http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=170&cat=69&page=1

D5 is one of the best pumps.. runs 1/2 and is definately on par with the lang dcc ultra..

they both are good and each is better for different loops..

but those are my suggestions
 
Stay away from TT stuff like everyone else says!

Also the DD Mag II pump sucks. I had one for a few days, its obnoxiously loud for its very mediocre performance. Get the MCP655 or the Alphacool Top Ultra DDC+.
Also, look into getting some other quality tubing rather than the vinyl stuff from home depot, especially if you will be using additives to your water loop. It also kinks like crazy!
 
I've read all the suggestions, and I've come up with a new setup...critiquing is welcome:
Laguna Statuary Pump 3 ($35) (5.5ft head @ up to 6.8GPM)
2x B'Ville Heater Core w/o AC ($40)
MCW30 ($30)
DD Maze4 GPU ($45)
White Water - LE ($35)
Fluid and tubing/connectors ($20)


System would run like this:

........... /Radiator1>CPU>----\
Pump-<.............................. >Pump
........... \Radiator2>GPU>NB/
 
Star Fox said:
I've read all the suggestions, and I've come up with a new setup...critiquing is welcome:
Laguna Statuary Pump 3 ($35) (5.5ft head @ up to 6.8GPM)
2x B'Ville Heater Core w/o AC ($40)
MCW30 ($30)
DD Maze4 GPU ($45)
White Water - LE ($35)
Fluid and tubing/connectors ($20)


System would run like this:

........... /Radiator1>CPU>----\
Pump-<.............................. >Pump
........... \Radiator2>GPU>NB/
Click to expand...

The problem you will run into here with this setup is that the CPU loop will get much less waterflow than the GPU & NB loop. Remember, flowing water will take the path of least resistance. Since you are already doing two loops, it would be best to just not skimp out and get two pumps and run the loops independently.
 
Star Fox said:
I've read all the suggestions, and I've come up with a new setup...critiquing is welcome:
Laguna Statuary Pump 3 ($35) (5.5ft head @ up to 6.8GPM)
2x B'Ville Heater Core w/o AC ($40)
MCW30 ($30)
DD Maze4 GPU ($45)
White Water - LE ($35)
Fluid and tubing/connectors ($20)

System would run like this:

........... /Radiator1>CPU>----\
Pump-<.............................. >Pump
........... \Radiator2>GPU>NB/
Click to expand...

That's not a good idea at all. That's way too much restriction for that tiny pump. Also, there is really no good reason to run a split loop for that setup. Like pawstar said, odds are the flow is going to be rather unbalanced, leading to suboptimal cooling...

What's your budget? It seems like you're trying hard to keep the total bill down for this project. In that case, I'd have to ask for a few more details. What's your CPU/mobo/GPU setup, and what case are you building in? You might be able to get away with just putting a large passive sink on the NB. That might not be possible if you've got one of the newer stove power units, but if it's possible it takes one item out of your loop.

Why are you running twin radiators? Is it due to case layout - not enough room for a 240 size, or is it because you think you're going to save a lot of money by using heatercores?

If you can't swallow the price of the alphacool DDC, then just get a plain DDC (18W version). It'll push enough water for any loop, and it's small enough for any case.

Hint: If you think you're going to build a 3 block loop for under $200 (at retail prices) that doesn't suck, be prepared to hear people here saying some nasty things. The loop you planned for $205 is so much worse than what $250 will get you from petras, it's not even worth comparing. (Except that youve still got to do the NB - which you probably shouldn't bother with anyways.)
 
Just run a single, simple loop like the rest of us :).

Why 2 radiators? Just like tylenol, More isn't always better. You're adding restriction to the loop, a big headache to mount it all, and price. For the price of 2 of those heatercores, get a BIP320...

Swap out the MCW30 with a Passive Zalman heatsink, and use the 20$ you're saving to get a better Pump... You will see NO gains from using a chipset WB. I have a maze4 waterblock lying around here for my NB. It's lying around because it was hard as hell to install with a GPU block, and cuz it did nothing but restrict flow. You're welcome to have it for 80% of it's retail cost :).
 
agree one heatercore with strong fans ( I still say go with the AC version and 38mm think panaflows on zalmam fan controller) will easily handle all the heat any core 2 duo + gpu can put out.
 
If you do use two heatercores, I'd suggest putting just the cores in parallel. This will be the least restrictive path and will provide the best cooling.

There isn't anything wrong with using heater cores. I use them, and they work very well. The downside is they are fairly restrictive (in terms of airflow) and require fans with enough static pressure to get reasonably airflow. These fans tend to be a bit more noisy.

If you want silence and something a bit more compact, you will need to spend more money and get a radiator designed for high performance and slow turning low-airflow fans. I think the thermalchill series does this well. You could probably get away with using yate loon (or other quiet) fans on the heatercores if you put two 240mm's in parallel. Heck, you might be able to passively cool them, but your temperatures will be about 5-10C warmer.

And, as always, make sure you build or buy a shroud. This will increase your heat transfer efficiency by about 40%.
 
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