External Liquid Cooling Rig

[Volkov]

Hi everyone. I am lurker but have been here for a little bit.

So, I plan on building a new rig in the somewhat near future, and while I plan on initially air-cooling it (probably for a while), eventually I would like to use liquid cooling with an externally powered and positioned pump and heat exchanger. So basically I am browsing the market for alternatives.

The cooling would be for at least a CPU, GPU and bridges, so talking at least 500W, hopefully more. All over one circuit I think- so need a relatively high head pump. However, if it's really preferrable to split into parallel circuits - I suppose I could swing with that.

Two pre-built kits caught my attention the most and those are:

1. Zalman Reserator XT: http://www.sharkacomputers.com/zarext.html
Expensive as hell, but seems to get the job done and more. One thing that [H]ardForum warned against is the fact that while most heat exchanging components are copper, some are aluminum. But what I was thinking - I know a few people in their CNC shops - so if need be, I can pay for and custom machine the copper parts to replace aluminum. How feasible is that?

2. Koolance external cooling systems. This page basically: http://www.koolance.com/water-coolin...hp?cPath=28_41
Less pricey, but also seems like less powerful (the way the radiator is cooled seems less efficient as it's not a through-flow, plus I believe without the upgrade the pump has less head). But yeah, the much less expensive is in fact attractive.

After reading a few comments here I am basically leaning away from Koolance.

I know a lot of people here recommend the Petra's Tech kits (aka http://www.petrastechshop.com/pecosliel.html) - and I can see how they are good, but again, what really scares me is the way the radiator is set up there. That's also what tilts me toward Reserator - I can swing with low head and even potential corrosion (see above why + copper coatings exist and I can get my hands on some) - but the thru-flow of the radiator is something I really haven't been able to find on most lone radiators (as they seem to be intended to be inside the case and I want mine to be external).

So thoughts and/or recommendations? Anything's appreciated.

 

[jws2346]

It seems to me if you're going to spent a lot of money and not have a DIY loop (IMO much, much better) why not look at, from what I've read and heard, the best external water cooling "all in one" kit on the market

http://www.externalpccooling.net/

I've read a few articles on several forums about how good the Waterkeg is and I've also heard the individual that invented the Waterkeg is, himself, an avid water cooler

Just my $0.02 cents worth, with US inflation probably less

 

[leezard]

It seems to me if you're going to spent a lot of money and not have a DIY loop (IMO much, much better) why not look at, from what I've read and heard, the best external water cooling "all in one" kit on the market

http://www.externalpccooling.net/

I've read a few articles on several forums about how good the Waterkeg is and I've also heard the individual that invented the Waterkeg is, himself, an avid water cooler

Just my $0.02 cents worth, with US inflation probably less

Is it just me or are there no prices for the waterkeg on that website? That looks like exactly what I'm looking for but cant find any pricing info

 

[jws2346]

Is it just me or are there no prices for the waterkeg on that website? That looks like exactly what I'm looking for but cant find any pricing info

I may be wrong, but from what I understand it's best to PM the author/inventor of the Waterkeg and tell him just exactly what you're doin' and what you expect. I think he's very flexible and you can talk $ with him at the same time

The Waterkeg, as far as I know, is a "high level and very capable" WC'ing system The best external WC'ing system produced for the masses and not custom built, although I imagine he'll tweak a system especially for your boxen ).

I'm not in any way affiliated with the product (Waterkeg), I prefer DIY WC'ing systems myself , if you just gotta' have an external WC'ing system why don't you just PM Petra (Petra's WC'ing shop), Scott (Swiftech), Cathar (overclockers.com, Whitewater block, etc), Dtech, DD or some of the other WC'ing specialists? I believe they'll tell you the same thing about external WC'ing systems (I think they're experts in their field)

 

[leezard]

I have a decent DIY WC set up, I'm just fed up with it so been looking for something simple

 

[jws2346]

I have a decent DIY WC set up, I'm just fed up with it so been looking for something simple

I can dig it

I have never looked for anything simpler than a DIY WC'ing loop, they seem to be pretty simple already. (rad, pump, T-line, WB(s), clamps and tube)

As far as "simple" goes any old external kit will do, but if you want decent performance in an external kit and are willing to pay for it I don't think you could go wrong with a Waterkeg. Even though there are other external kits out there by some very respectable players (Koolance, Swiftech, etc) I think the "keg" is #1 in the external WC'ing arena.

Check with a forum like this or overclockers.com to see if the Swiftech H20-220 Compact CPU water cooling kit might work for u by changing out the MCR220 rad for a MCR320 rad (or whatever brand that floats your boat) I'm pretty sure the Swiftech H20-220 pump (I think it's a MCP350) can handle the added blocks, if it can't just run another MCP350 along with whatever the original one is.

Personally, I don't think the Zalman Reserator XT ($409, head 1.8m) has enough head pressure to run a CPU block (no matter how low pressure high flow it is), a GPU block and whatever the "bridges" thing is. (memory blocks, HD blocks ?)

The top of the line Koolance Exos-2.5 ($399), has what Koolance calls a PMP-400, 4.6m (15 ft) and it looks to be a DDC2 pump (also 4.6m, 15 ft) . The only real problem, IMO, is it has an aluminum rad and non performing WB's.