• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

first wc setup, need some help

K

kidicarus74

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 23, 2004
Messages
397
hi all, just got a new A64 3500+ setup and I was looking to get a watercooling setup. i consider myself pretty experienced in PC building and overclocking (2.6 ghz w/ air cooling from 2.2 on my newest proc) but watercooling is really the high end that i'm trying to achieve, so here's a few starter questions i have (that i haven't been able to find on my own)

1) most important: i move my computer around... not a lot (e.g. every weekend) but some, probably anywhere from 3 to 4 times a year (till i'm out of school), so how safe (or hard) is it to move a wc setup around (it will always be put in a trunk or back seat of a car)? would i have to empty the system completely?

2) what is the best setup to start with? i don't think i want to go balls to the wall all at once, i'd much rather take my time with it. so, with that said, should i go with cpu & vga blocks, or a cpu & northbridge setup instead?

and finally:

3) i was leaning towards mix and matching parts for better performance. any good arguments for going with a kit?

thanks a lot in advance, no place better to go than [h]forums for a little modding advice...


edit: i have an antec performance II SOHO fileserver case w/ a window already, and a 500w ultra x-connect modular psu on the way... so i don't think size will be that much of a problem
 
1) Moving your computer around with watercooling is fine, provided you take some care in putting together and leaktesting the system, and transporting carefully. You want to make sure hoseclamps and waterblocks are tight. Also, when you actually go about putting the computer in the car, pack it in something. I find that using the box the computer case came in works well because of the fitted styrofoam keeps the computer from getting knocked around a whole lot. If you don't have that, then make sure the computer is secure and wont fall over or anything, and you may want to wrap a blanket around it or something to at least dampen whatever migh jar it around durring the trip. No big deal. Besides, if it leaks, then dry the components completly before turning the computer back on and everything should work.

2) The easiest setup to start with is a single CPU waterblock with a pump, radiator and waterblock. You can always add a GPU or NB block later on. Watercooling the NB is pretty worthless, so I would go for a GPU block rather than a NB any day. You could do all three, but that takes a little more $$$.

3) What components were you looking at? What is your hesitation about using a kit. Most of the time, components by companies are meant to work with each other and you may not get the best results if you mix and match from several places. Kits from people like Dangerden (www.dangerden.com), Dtek (www.dtekcustoms.com), Swiftech (www.swiftnets.com), and other places like polarflo are all pretty good as far as waterblocks go. I like shopping at Dangerden because they have some of the highest quality stuff out there as well as a good selection of pumps and radiators. I would recommend a Dangerden TDX CPU waterblock, a Maze4 GPU block to start, with a D4 12v pump (if its too $$, the check out the Swiftech 12v pump, an Eheim 1250 or a Hydor L30) and a single or dual heatercore for a radiator. That would be a nice starter kit. Similarly, look at the Dtek whitewater and the swiftech 12v pump.

Good luck!

-OMP
 
thanks a lot... that really helps...

when i said "kit" i guess i meant more of a self contained thing like the coolermaster double bay cooler or the ones that sit on top of the case... i actually was looking pretty closely at a dangerden kit, i'll take a look at those other places too.

edit: couple more questions... would my 500watt psu be good enough for the 12v pump? and should i go w/ a res or a fill/bleed setup?
 
ok... so i figured out what to order... lemme know what you think:

Danger Den TDX cpu water block
DD Maze4 GPU water block
Black Ice micro 80mm radiator (due to size restrictions)
Hydor L20 pump
PCI pump relay (not sure if it's better just to leave the loop on or not)
T fitting for a tline fill/bleed
3/8" fittings and tubing

so, any major problems? i want to go w/ 3/8" because it looks a lot better and i don't really need THAT hard core of a setup
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top