Custom Kit or Koolence Exos?

[cnick79]

I'm thinking of getting this custom setup or the Koolence. I'm a virgin to WC. I don't know if what I have listed below is overkill or if anything is cr@p and I would be better off with a pre built system. $334+ seems like a lot of money but if I can quiet and overclock my 3.4 P4 and 6800 ultra then I'll be happy. Don't know what difference it makes but I never OC'ed either.

PLEASE I NEED SUGGESTIONS!!!

CPU Water Block:
Danger Den- TDX $52.95
Video Card Block:
Swiftech- MCW50 $38.95
6800 adapter $12.75
Radiator:
Black Ice Xtreme $65.95
Swiftech Radbox $15.00
PCI pass through $6.00
Pump:
Danger Den- D4 12Volt $74.95
Tubing:
DD- 7 ft Clear Flex $10.50
Swiftech Coilsleeves $3.95
Reservoir:
Danger Den- HDPE Res $17.95
Water Additives:
4oz Zerex & Green Dye $12.50
Misc:
12 Hose Clamps &
Y and T Fittings $9.00
*Fan Shroud $13.95

TOTAL $334.40

 

[MikeP]

Well, there is one way to cut out a fair bit of that cash.

65.95 -rad
15.00-rad box
6.00-passthrough
13.95-fan shroud
100.90-total and does this include the fans?
Alternative:
20.00 -77 bonneville heatercore
20.00- 2 sunon, or similar, 120MM fans
0.00-homemade fan shround, you can even use cardboard.
40.00-total and this does include fans.
This is just one way to save some money with no loss in performance.

P.S. The Exos is a very good choice for an external stand alone, easy to use, water setup but it cant beat a custom setup like you listed.

 

[cnick79]

Right, but I'm not that handy to prep my own heater core or make my own shroud. It's much easier for me to purchase something already made.

I also ask if the Exos will be able to provide adequate cooling for CPU, GPU if I overclock both or just the CPU?

Secondly, if I get the Swiftech radbox do I need a shroud? It looks like all the pics of it on their site don't use one. Is the fan pushing or pulling air through the radiator?

 

[Alex41290]

well, fans are more powerful pulling, so most likely pulling...

to answer your question, i'm sure an exos could cool a CPU and GPU...

now, to answer your original question:

DD RBX - ~$50 (temps are slightly better if not the same...its really ur cup-o-tea...if u don't like the 3-barb look, go for the TDX

i don't know anything about that GPU block, so i can't say...

don't get a BIX, get a heatercore from DD, its like $30 and its already got 1/2" ID barbs, so you don't hafta "prep" it...they also sell a shroud and al. fans...

that pump should do the trick if you're okay running it through your PSU...i'd rather plug it into a wall, but that's just me...

i would suggest 10' of clearflex, as its only 10 bucks (DD gives you $1 per foot for 10'+)

unless you are really scared about kinking, you don't need coolsleeves, as mine bend fine w/o it...

good choice for the res...

u don't need the Y and T fittings...T fittings are if you don't want a res and Y is if you want to have 2 inlet or outlets converged to one...you really only need the hose clamps, and you can buy them separatly on dd's site

not sure how the "new" price comes out, but if you would get the Exos, you won't be dissapointed, but I think you will be much happier with a custom setup, and it feels like you actually did something to make it...i care much more about it because I chose the parts and put it together myself...but that's just me

good luck, its not very hard, just concentrate and take your time...its really a lot of fun...welcome to WCWorld...

 

[cnick79]

well, fans are more powerful pulling, so most likely pulling...

It seems like the pictures swiftech has shows the fan sucking air out the back of the case and pushing it through the radiator. I'm sure you can configure the rad box any way you like.

DD RBX - ~$50 (temps are slightly better if not the same...its really ur cup-o-tea...if u don't like the 3-barb look, go for the TDX

I don't like the 3 barb look.

i don't know anything about that GPU block, so i can't say...

Can you recommend one?

[that pump should do the trick if you're okay running it through your PSU...i'd rather plug it into a wall, but that's just me...

Hmm... do you think my 550 watt PS can supply enough power to my 6800ultra, 3 HDs, DVD Rom, Floppy Drive, 1-3 Fans plus the water pump? I'm I better off getting one to plug into a wall? I can't see myself adding any more hard drives or Rom's.

[...welcome to WCWorld...

I can't wait to get set up and become "official"

 

[TehQuick]

hey where did u see Swiftech's radbox for $15? i want it too... if I go WC way that is Thx!

 

[cgrant26]

For GPU, I recommend the DD Maze4. (if it works with the 6800 ultra)
For a pump, I'd suggest the Maxijet 1200. I've been using one for about a year and it's a great pump. (note, you'll need a 1/2 ID nylon hose barb from home depot for it)
Also, if your looking for something easy for a rad, check ebay for oil coolers. I use a B&M stacked fin oil cooler which comes with threaded inlet/outlet. All you have to do is screw in the barbs. Also, the variety in size is much better with oil coolers and their performance is very close to what a heater core can do. And since they are made for flowing oil, the flow resistance will be quite low.

Mine is just like this, only 1/3 as tall.

*EDIT* I just checked ebay, only went through the first 3 pages and I found about a dozen coolers that could fit the bill all under $25.

 

[cnick79]

For GPU, I recommend the DD Maze4. (if it works with the 6800 ultra)

It works for everything but the 6800's.

For a pump, I'd suggest the Maxijet 1200. I've been using one for about a year and it's a great pump. (note, you'll need a 1/2 ID nylon hose barb from home depot for it)

I changed my mind and I'm going with a D-TEK C-Systems CSP750 as used by cornelious. It's bite-size and will save me a ton of space in my already packed case.

if your looking for something easy for a rad, check ebay for oil coolers. I use a B&M stacked fin oil cooler which comes with threaded inlet/outlet. All you have to do is screw in the barbs. Also, the variety in size is much better with oil coolers and their performance is very close to what a heater core can do. And since they are made for flowing oil, the flow resistance will be quite low.

I'm going to get DD's heater core instead of the black ice.

Thanks a lot for the recommendations. I've been stuck with a lot of "which one" questions when deciding on parts but it's slowly piecing together.


As far as where to get the radbox. Swifttechs.net sells just the radbox for $15 and the PCI pass through for $6. They also sell a rabbox kit that includes the Housing, PCI pass-thru bracket & adapters, retention hardware for various configurations, (4) worm drive clamps, 20" Clear Coolsleeves™, 2 feet of 1/2" OD tubing for $24.95.