External Watercooling Options

[burningrave101]

I have a new Lian Li V1000B and i'm thinking about buying a watercooling setup this summer. I would like something external so that the only thing inside the Lian Li would be the hoses running from through a rear PCI bracket.

Here is what i'm looking for:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/cases/200/9/

Are there any good external kits that you would suggest or is there any small external watercooling cases that i could install and internal wc'ing kit into and run it from that?

I dont know very much about watercooling yet but i thought i would start looking into it. I definitely know i want something external and small as possible though.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

Well, there aren't any high performing external systems that I know about. Well, I take that back, the exos and exos II are fairly good, but the cost of the exos II is enormous. The exos is easily outperformed by a modest external DIY system.

Take a look at my thread, I am in the process of making an external system myself, although I am going a little more overboard than you probably care to.

As for a PCI bracket - that will work, but I highly suggest the quick disconnect fittings made by colder. You can get them at www.usplastics.com. They cost a bit, but they are extremely convenient.

 

[burningrave101]

I dont have the skill or ambition to construct an external case to put the kit in myself so if i put together a DIY wc'ing setup then i'll have to try and find something small already built to house it in.

I dont want it to sit on top of my case like yours. I would like a small cube enclosure that would sit beside my Lian Li V1000B.

Dont any of these places that sell watercooling parts and kits have small enclosures you can install the stuff in? Maybe even a little acrylic cube case.

http://www.cool-cases-usa.com/Erect-A-Case.html

http://www.aerocool.com.tw/aerocool-files-v3/lubic/kit.htm

http://stores.ebay.com/8020-Inc-Garage-Sale_Quick-Frame_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQtZkm

 

[R1ckCa1n]

I think you will end up spending more time and money to acheive the desired external setup unless you by a Corsair or Exos system. Basically you will give up a lot of performance at the cost of not having to cut your case.

 

[Top Nurse]

In order of preference:

EXOS II, EXOS Aluminum, EXOS I, Corsair.

Now how about a hybrid? Say an Aquatube for those LAN party looks, and an external pump and outside radiator on 1/4" quick disconnects to finish off the picture.

 

[burningrave101]

I think you will end up spending more time and money to acheive the desired external setup unless you by a Corsair or Exos system. Basically you will give up a lot of performance at the cost of not having to cut your case.

Why is it so hard just to buy an external box to house it in and buy the same high performance internal kit that you would install in the case and get the same kind of performance for around the same price?

Doesn't anyone sell small acrylic cube cases that would be just big enough for a watercooling kit? It doesn't seem that revolutionary and you would think something like this for external watercooling would be marketed. I know alot of people would still like to have the higher performance watercooling but they dont want to install it inside of their case where it takes up room and there is a greater risk of leaks and what not.

http://www.clearpc.ca/catalog/index.php?cPath=21

http://www.custom-display.com/ct_CGcubes_risers_ballotboxes.htm

 

[R1ckCa1n]

I am not saying to can't be done but you might end up spending more time and money getting this exeternal setup. I tend to equate total cost to how many extra hours will it take and times that by what I make an hour. I did that on my first watercooling adventure and it lasted until I wanted to move my rig once. After that, I always put everything inside the case.

With a V1000, you could make a nice watercooled setup without cutting one hole and would be much easier than an external build. Remember you have that 120mm fan in the front bottom and in the rear that can also house a radiator.

 

[whitewale]

There is the slight issue of safely refilling your reservoir in an internal case. The reason I went external was that I can refill my 1 gallon reservoir once a year with a garden hose, without worrying about spillage.
I build my own enclosure. But if you don't want to do that, why not take any small computer case? Noone needs to know that it's just a fancy box for a water pump, and they start at $20.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

There is the slight issue of safely refilling your reservoir in an internal case. The reason I went external was that I can refill my 1 gallon reservoir once a year with a garden hose, without worrying about spillage.
I build my own enclosure. But if you don't want to do that, why not take any small computer case? Noone needs to know that it's just a fancy box for a water pump, and they start at $20.

I'm curious, what did you do for your external system?

 

[whitewale]

I try to shoot some pics and upload them, but basically I build it around a 77 boneville core.
I made a wooden box, about 12" high and long, and 5" wide, out of particle board, in which the heater core could stand upright. I mounted 2 120 mm fans in the core, blowing through the case. On the other side of the core sits a 1 gal rubbermaid container with my Eheim 1250 submerged in it. Holes at the small ends of the box allow for a good air flow. Connection to the PC is made with quick connects from McMaster-Carr. Sprayed everything black, and got an easy maintenance external kit.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

I try to shoot some pics and upload them, but basically I build it around a 77 boneville core.
I made a wooden box, about 12" high and long, and 5" wide, out of particle board, in which the heater core could stand upright. I mounted 2 120 mm fans in the core, blowing through the case. On the other side of the core sits a 1 gal rubbermaid container with my Eheim 1250 submerged in it. Holes at the small ends of the box allow for a good air flow. Connection to the PC is made with quick connects from McMaster-Carr. Sprayed everything black, and got an easy maintenance external kit.

Yeah, this sounds extremely similar to the setup I am going with, except that I am using 2 cores. I also want to use metal because I don't like the look of wood. I want a nice mirror finish to match my case .

 

[whitewale]

Yeah, this sounds extremely similar to the setup I am going with, except that I am using 2 cores. I also want to use metal because I don't like the look of wood. I want a nice mirror finish to match my case .

I have a nice collection of woodworking tools, but I'm a lousy welder. So its wood .
What I really want to do is move the set-up outside to completely eliminate the noise. But after some testing I found that I will need a stronger pump if I add 20 ft more tubing to my setup.

 

[Top Nurse]

Why is it so hard just to buy an external box to house it in and buy the same high performance internal kit that you would install in the case and get the same kind of performance for around the same price?

Doesn't anyone sell small acrylic cube cases that would be just big enough for a watercooling kit? It doesn't seem that revolutionary and you would think something like this for external watercooling would be marketed. I know alot of people would still like to have the higher performance watercooling but they dont want to install it inside of their case where it takes up room and there is a greater risk of leaks and what not.

Well how about this little device made by Aqua Computer for their Evo 240 and 360 radiators. Looks really nice too!

 

[autobot]

If you would like, I could create an external housing for you like the temporary stand I made for my DangerDen dual-120 heatercore. Here is a picture...

The stand is constructed out of 3/4" x 3/4" angle aluminum stock riveted together with 1/8" aluminum rivets. The mesh is perforated aluminum I obtained from a local metal recycling shop. The mesh should look real nice painted to a satin black finish to match the Lian Li V1000B.

The heatercore shroud is made out of cardboard and duct tape. Its just something I threw together inside of an hour to get my WCing setup temporarily installed in my WaveMaster case until my casemod is completed.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

If you would like, I could create an external housing for you like the temporary stand I made for my DangerDen dual-120 heatercore. Here is a picture...

The stand is constructed out of 3/4" x 3/4" angle aluminum stock riveted together with 1/8" aluminum rivets. The mesh is perforated aluminum I obtained from a local metal recycling shop. The mesh should look real nice painted to a satin black finish to match the Lian Li V1000B.

The heatercore shroud is made out of cardboard and duct tape. Its just something I threw together inside of an hour to get my WCing setup temporarily installed in my WaveMaster case until my casemod is completed.

Ya know, the mesh looks really nice...

I think I might do the same thing, mesh is a lot cheaper than sheets. It also looks cool and I won't feel like I need to have a mirror finish.

I hope I can find some perforated aluminum like that at a hardware store...

 

[autobot]

Look around at your local metal recyclers and steel yards. I got 3'x4' of 18ga. perforated aluminum for only $2 at the local metal recycler. It was rather ugly looking until I sanded it a little bit to bring it to a nice shine.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

Look around at your local metal recyclers and steel yards. I got 3'x4' of 18ga. perforated aluminum for only $2 at the local metal recycler. It was rather ugly looking until I sanded it a little bit to bring it to a nice shine.

Hmm...maybe i'll find and pay a visit to my local metal recycler. Sounds like you can get good deals there.

I am mainly looking for something like you would see on a grill...not exactly circular holes, but a diamondish criss-cross design.