First time water...should I do it? And how?

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mrand01

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 22, 2002
Messages
341
Well I've been toying w/ the idea of going water w/ my next system, specs are:

Silverstone TJ07
DFI LP X48-T2RS
Intel E8400
PCP&C 750w Silencer
9800gtx (i think...might skimp and wait for the 9900)
2x2gb G.Skill DDR 1066

I'm pretty much lost w/ how to do this, and also a bit scared to try, should I mess anything up. I'm not sure how/where to mount a radiator in this case (top/bottom...left/right?) or how big the rad (or rads) should be. Basically what I want to know is what some of you would do w/ this setup with a $400ish budget for cooling (which I believe should be PLENTY). So how should i go?
 
I just got done researching the crap out of water for my own personal use and basically found that <300.00 was not worth my time or money, just MY opinion. I could certainly find something for over 300.00 and thought it would give the results I wanted, but I was not willing to make that investment. Anyway... google "guide to water cooling" and you find plenty on installation, etc. This topic requires a lot of research, kind of like when you first introduce yourself to all the different socket t chipsets. :)
 
get a TRUE extreme if u want air or swiftech kits are nice.
D-tek and EK cooling hardware is also nice at a price premium.

I have 3 switech kits now, but i started with a thermaltake bigwater SE a few years ago on a P4 3.0 OCed to 3.6.

If you what quiet and MONSTER OCs water is the way to go.

you can use multiple 120mm rads on your various fan mounts if you are tight on space
i have run 2x 120mm on a E6600 with Northbridge and vid card in the loop with small Oc and very good temps and quiet.
 
Aright, I scrapped the video card idea, maybe I'll add an additional loop later down the road, so for now, just going to be cooling the NB and CPU. Here's what I picked out over at petra's...haven't ordered yet, want to make sure I included everything and want to make sure I didn't pick out any garbage parts:

Laing D5 Vario/Swiftech MCP655 Inline 12V DC Pump
Swiftech MCR-320 "Quiet Power" Series Radiator - Black
Swiftech Apogee™ GTX CPU Waterblock/Copper Top Combo (1/2", Intel Socket 775)
Swiftech MCW30 Chipset Waterblock
1/2" ID (3/4" OD) Tygon R-3603 Laboratory-Grade Tubing (15 ft.)
Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Hi-Flo Reservoir
Arctic Silver Combo (AS5 and cleaner stuff)
(UN)Designs 360 Pump Bracket (for Laing D4/D5 pump)...to mount pump wherever
Swiftech HydrX Extreme Duty Coolant (4 bottles?)

Also, I have a few questions:

1. How do I go about filling the system?
2. Should I build the system outside of the case and make sure all is well first? If so, whats the best way to move it inside the case once I've deemed it acceptable?
3. What should I use for water? I've seen people say regular tap is fine, and I've seen distilled water...what's best?
4. If I have to move the system (like, if i move out of my appt.), whats the best way?
5. How often do I have to change the water?
6. Is this really worth it over some nice air cooling (Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme)?
7. How much water do you need in a system like this? Is the Swiftech additive necessary? I want it to glow, but I don't want the additive to mess anything up either...
 
this is what i just got

from petratech:
Swiftech Apogee GT (cpu block) 47.99
Swiftech MCW60-R (8800gt block) 46.95
Swiftech micro reservoir 19.95
markleer 7/16ID 5/8OD tubing 14ft 0.59/ft
Swiftech smart coils 5/8OD tubing coils x2 2.95/ea
PT_nuke biocide 2.50
5/8OD plasti clamps x14 0.25/ea

145.49 total including shipping

from Newegg
Swiftech MC14 Ramsink x2 for 8800GT ram and mosftset 12.99/ea
Swiftech MCP655 variable voltage pump 74.99
Swiftech MCR220-QP Radiator 35.99

total 150.84 including shipping

so $300 is about how much it costs for a good water cooling vga-cpu setup add 30 for NB
 
Drop the Swiftech block for a D-Tek Fuzion CPU block. Arguably the best block on the market right now, and not much more than the Apogee GTX.
 
looks ok othe then that apogee block, other thin to think about is barbs. the swifty stuff comes with so so barbs and it will be way easier to fit the masterkleer over the Dangerden high flow fittings, Petra's has the best price i have seen on them lately so i would get them there.
 
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