• 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.

Good Mid-Range WC Solution

C

chinabean

n00b
Joined
Aug 15, 2006
Messages
5
Hi,

Im somewhat of n00b to WC. Im looking to spend $250 max on a kit, but I don't know what's good. I'm more interested in low temp's than noise for my OC box. Can anyone suggest a good kit that runs about 250?
 
I'll just chime in one one suggestion, if you want to cool both your video card and cpu, go with a 2x120 rad. a 1x120 will be ok for just cpu or just vid.
 
Ok so I'm looking at this setup:

Black Ice Xtreme II Radiator
Fillport Reservoir
2 x Evercool Aluminum 120mm Fan
MCT-40 Non-Conductive Solution
7/16" ID (5/8" OD) Masterkleer General Purpose Clear PVC Tubing
TDX CPU block w/ Brass top conversion kit
D5 pump

I will probably get a gpu block, I just dont have the $$$ for it right now... Any suggestions for a gpu block? I have a saphire x1600pro 512mb pcie.

Any other comments/suggestions are much appreciated!
 
2nd the danger den blocks, and don't forget PAGLAN06 for 20% off at DDstore :D

and I would just run 90% Water, 10% Pentosin instead of the MCT -40
 
Gyrfalcon said:
2nd the danger den blocks, and don't forget PAGLAN06 for 20% off at DDstore :D

and I would just run 90% Water, 10% Pentosin instead of the MCT -40
Click to expand...

Actually he should go with the MCT-40, too many benefits over the water + pentosin combo not to. Check this Link out. I posted in another thread as well.
 
da killa said:
Actually he should go with the MCT-40, too many benefits over the water + pentosin combo not to. Check this Link out. I posted in another thread as well.
Click to expand...
Sorry bub, but that "test" is completely bunk. They didn't do anything to even attempt to control any of the multitude of variables that they didn't bother mentioning, no calibrated instruments were used, ambient temperatures were not reported, etc., etc. Regardless of what their "results" were, you'd still get better temps with straight distilled water--toss in a little bit of biocide and you're good to go.
 
Agreed. If your room temperature changes even a degree C there can be huge impacts on your CPU temperatures.

I personally enjoy a 29'c idle (34'c Dual + GPU loaded) system with 96% Distilled Water, 3% ELF supercoolant (similar to the HyperLube) with .5% bleach and 99% iso. alcohol.

This seems to keep all the nasties away and my temps quite low!


Now, Don't get the Xtreme radiator! The BIP or the GTS will perform much better with quieter fans. The BIX is made for 70+Cfm fans (as it's almost 2" thick).

If I were you... I'd skip the TDX CPU block w/ Brass top conversion kit and the 2x aluminum Evercool Fans (they're REALLY not that good, but I'm too lazy to change mine). Get 2 of the 4$ Yate Loons from Jab-Tech.com. The savings between these 2 items almost makes up the cost of a maze 4 GPU block :).
 
I'd get either the DD maze GPU or the Swifty MCW60 GPU block to go with what you're running. If you shop around, you should beable to get a great performing kit for right around your price range, no reason to spend much more than $250............. :D
 
Petra said:
Sorry bub, but that "test" is completely bunk. They didn't do anything to even attempt to control any of the multitude of variables that they didn't bother mentioning, no calibrated instruments were used, ambient temperatures were not reported, etc., etc. Regardless of what their "results" were, you'd still get better temps with straight distilled water--toss in a little bit of biocide and you're good to go.
Click to expand...

What I would have liked to see in any comparison was first a table of all the physical characteristics (i.e. thermal conductivity, dyn/kin viscosity, density, etc.). Then do a "shootout".

The problem is that just doing a shootout (even a well controlled and calibrated one) on one rig doesn't account for how different fluids might behave in different setups. For example, if fluid X is very viscous but has high thermal conductivity, and fluid Y is less viscous, but less thermally conductive, then fluid X might outperform fluid Y in a high flow box, whereas fluid Y might in in a more restrictive low-flow setup. (It might end up being the other way around but that's my first guess, as the more restrictive blocks need to be able to induce turbulence to operate effectively, whereas the performance of less restrictive blocks is less sensitive to the amount of turbulence in the flow. Also high flow setups would tend to have thicker tubing, which helps make the system less sensitive to viscosity anyways.)

You really need to see the physical constants before you go comparing these things, or else you're pissing blindfolded.
 
Here's a smattering of parts for ya:

108.75 - TDX/D5 combo
89.99 - Thermochill PA160
17.30 - PA160 shroud
4.90 - 10' 7/16 masterkleer tubing
13.70 - fillport with T
------------
234.64
-20%
-----------
187.69 + shipping

Throw in a yate-loon (or 3) from jab-tech ($3.99 each, or $3.49 for 3+), and it's a done deal. (And the additive/fluid of your choice.)

If you can't mount the PA160, you can get a 240 radiator of your choice, and save some money. Thermochill PAs are da shit though. bar none. The PA160 is designed to extract a LOT of performance from a 120mm fan, while keeping things whisper quiet.

If you are serious about $250 being a realistic max, then it's worth the PA160 (if you can mount it). If you were stretching for $250 and money is tighter, then get a 240 radiator. It'll still be a solid setup.

edit:
I guess that setup I quoted doesn't quite fit the requirements. You asked for a "mid-range" setup. If you're just cooling a CPU, that is definitely NOT mid-range. About the only thing you could do to make it better (and only marginally so) would be to swap the TDX out for a Storm - and that wouldn't be cheap. But if you're going to start dabbling in premium parts, you're best off starting with the radiator. ;)
 
Adidas4275 said:
i agree this is a nice setup... dont like the block but the pump, res, and rad are great..
Click to expand...
Photos show the DDC pump while the description states that the kit includes the Eheim 1000 Station thingy... soooo.... which is it? (I'd hope the DDC... though, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense because Frozen sells that version of the DDC separately for $189.99 which is more than the cost of that whole kit)
 
It's the Eheim 1000. I looked it on the alphacool site.

Makes for a great big :(.
 
Bbq said:
It's the Eheim 1000. I looked it on the alphacool site.

Makes for a great big :(.
Click to expand...

That's a big downer. When I saw the picture of that combo, I was amazed that a DDC (plus?) with plexi top was in a combo that cheap. An eheim 1000 takes the wind out of it for me too. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top