HELP finding watercooling parts for beginner

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lord infamous

n00b
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
29
Hey guys.

I recently thought i solved all heat issues on my system when i learned of VRM bottleneck on my 5970 GPU's. I have a small room and it heats up quick with two VRMs hitting 90C in games.

I have decided to do my frist water cool on my PC and i understand the basics like res > rad > pump > cpu > gpu > gpu, but I am not comfortable finding the correct fittings and O rings, etc.

I have a small case ( antec 902 ) that I have modified by removing all HDD bays and mounting my HDD's on the botton of my case. I have a pretty high end system so I dont want a kit that will choke or be hot when install on my system..

I was wondering if something simple like this ( http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...o_MCR320-Drive_Rev2.html?tl=g30c97s1076#blank ) would suffice for my system.. I doubt it, but I sure hope so..

Can you guys please see if the above would work for me and if not, please give me a list of ALL parts and fittings I would need to water cool my system. I am trying to spend about $ 300 bucks.

Specs:

EVGA x58 3x SLI
Antec 902
Corsair AX1200
i7 920 @ 4ghz on air
2x HD 5970 (2 dual GPU cards, 4 gpu's total)
6GB OCZ gold DDR3 Triple channel
1x 128GB SSD
1x 500GB HDD
Sound Blaster Xfi Xtreme Music

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE .. I really need help on this
 
if you only want to spend 300 then you may want to look else where...

A few weeks ago i redid my system and it cost me 800 to cool my GPUs and CPU

for 300 you may get GPU blocks and a RAD... also what you linked will not cool your entire system...

For CPU your looking at a atleast a 120.3 to be able to cool it with Yate Loons of GTs and get good temps. The GPU is a whole nother story thats 600 Watts you need disipated and you will need at least 2x 120.3 to cool those quietly...

I'd say your looking at 1k to cool it all without cheaping out on shit parts...
 
Res > Pump <--- ALWAYS, everything else does not matter.

Do NOT get the Swiftech Drive radiators, especially on a budget. You pay a huge premium, approximately $50+.

Attempting to cool CPU and two GPU's with only $300 is impossible, since you're going to have to use full-cover blocks, universal ones won't work since you want/need to cool the VRMs. Each GPU block costs $100+. I would recommend at least a 4x120 radiator to cool everything, which would cost ~$100. There goes your $300 budget right there with just the GPU blocks and radiator, haven't added the pump, fittings, CPU block etc. yet.

Contrary to what tory said, you only need approximately 2x120 to cool the CPU quietly. 2 3x120 should be sufficient to quietly cool everything. However, you did not say you were going after quiet, you just want lower temps. Either way, a single 4x120 will give you better temps than air while being quieter than air.
 
Tsumi said:
Res > Pump <--- ALWAYS, everything else does not matter.

Do NOT get the Swiftech Drive radiators, especially on a budget. You pay a huge premium, approximately $50+.

Attempting to cool CPU and two GPU's with only $300 is impossible, since you're going to have to use full-cover blocks, universal ones won't work since you want/need to cool the VRMs. Each GPU block costs $100+. I would recommend at least a 4x120 radiator to cool everything, which would cost ~$100. There goes your $300 budget right there with just the GPU blocks and radiator, haven't added the pump, fittings, CPU block etc. yet.

Contrary to what tory said, you only need approximately 2x120 to cool the CPU quietly. 2 3x120 should be sufficient to quietly cool everything. However, you did not say you were going after quiet, you just want lower temps. Either way, a single 4x120 will give you better temps than air while being quieter than air.
Click to expand...

Im sorry i cannot agree with a 120.3 cooling his whole system quietly... I personally try and go for under a 10*C DT for all parts and to do that on a 120.3 He would need 3000RPM fans and that puts you right at a 10* DT...

I mean he is going to be dissipating 800+ Watts of heat... Not trying to argue i was just throwing out my opinion. I just think it would be better to have a little Over Rad then have the bare minimum and temps are possibly no diffferent than they were on air...
 
my fault, I did not explain. 300 dollars not including GPU blocks

I do NOT want it louder than it is currently and I do want it cooler.. just please give me a complete parts list, i can probably stretch the 300 (not including gpu blocks and cpu block).

basically my birthday is coming and i already crapped a ton of cash into my pc and i told my girl i want $300 water cooling parts and I was going to order the blocks ou tof my own wallet
 
You could probably get everything sans blocks for about $300. Here is what I would probably get:
rads: 2x Swiftech MCR320 ~$100
fans: 6x Yate Loon medium ~$20
pump: Swiftech MCP355 ~$74
res: XSPC res top ~$33
fittings: barbed fittings ~$2.50 each/~$25 total
tubing: whatever ~$15
clamps, silver, other misc: ~$20
shipping: ~$20
I think we're at about $307 with that. Jab-tech offers a 5% discount with code "facebook" so that brings it down to about $292. That of course doesn't include other stuff like fan controller, fan grills and filters, and other random stuff. So yeah, $300 not including blocks is doable. I would be wary to use less rad than (2) 3x120s like I listed, but it is probably doable depending on fans, ambient, OCs, and such.
 
You might want to tell them your entire budget....

You will prolly want a mcp655 pump which runs about 80 plusa res which vary about 40 or so for a nice one, do you want barb fittings or compression? You should throw more info out. Its hard to work with 300 without knowing what all you want.

Generaly barbs are a hell of a lot cheaper 2.99 each while compressions can run 12 each.
Tubing size i recommend 1/2" ID...

More info plz and thank you lol
 
tory said:
Im sorry i cannot agree with a 120.3 cooling his whole system quietly... I personally try and go for under a 10*C DT for all parts and to do that on a 120.3 He would need 3000RPM fans and that puts you right at a 10* DT...

I mean he is going to be dissipating 800+ Watts of heat... Not trying to argue i was just throwing out my opinion. I just think it would be better to have a little Over Rad then have the bare minimum and temps are possibly no diffferent than they were on air...
Click to expand...

I did not say at any point he should cool his entire system with a single 3x120. I said he should go with 2 3x120 radiators to cool everything, at a bare minimum a 4x120 radiator. I just said that you don't need a 3x120 radiator to cool just the CPU, and you don't need 2 3x120 radiators to cool just the GPU's.
 
Cruiza said:
You could probably get everything sans blocks for about $300. Here is what I would probably get:
rads: 2x Swiftech MCR320 ~$100
fans: 6x Yate Loon medium ~$20
pump: Swiftech MCP355 ~$74
res: XSPC res top ~$33
fittings: barbed fittings ~$2.50 each/~$25 total
tubing: whatever ~$15
clamps, silver, other misc: ~$20
shipping: ~$20
I think we're at about $307 with that. Jab-tech offers a 5% discount with code "facebook" so that brings it down to about $292. That of course doesn't include other stuff like fan controller, fan grills and filters, and other random stuff. So yeah, $300 not including blocks is doable. I would be wary to use less rad than (2) 3x120s like I listed, but it is probably doable depending on fans, ambient, OCs, and such.
Click to expand...

OK perfect, now for the tubing and barb fitting stuff... do I have to get a certain kind if im going to do 1/2" tube.. do the EK 5970 blocks fit 1/2" tube? do I need to get like 3/8" to 1/2" adapter to fit the tube to the gpu water blocks?
 
lord infamous said:
OK perfect, now for the tubing and barb fitting stuff... do I have to get a certain kind if im going to do 1/2" tube.. do the EK 5970 blocks fit 1/2" tube? do I need to get like 3/8" to 1/2" adapter to fit the tube to the gpu water blocks?
Click to expand...

Do you want barbs or compression fittings? If you're just going with barbs, you just need to make sure the fittings you choose have G1/4" threads (which the vast majority do) and are made for 1/2" ID tubing. You shouldn't need any adapters or anything - most components don't come with fittings anyway.
 
Cruiza said:
Do you want barbs or compression fittings? If you're just going with barbs, you just need to make sure the fittings you choose have G1/4" threads (which the vast majority do) and are made for 1/2" ID tubing. You shouldn't need any adapters or anything - most components don't come with fittings anyway.
Click to expand...

what is the difference of barbs and compression fittings? I saw on a tutorial video the dude put a threaded nut type thing over on the tube and then screwed the nut thing on the block and he didnt use clamps or anything, it looked clean...
 
barbs fittings: what it sounds like a barb. Then you put the hose over it, and put the clamp on it. Cheapest option to go. I suggest getting a couple of worm gear clamps to go with these, they're much easier to work with than traditional clamps.

compression fittings: probably what you saw on the tutorial video. Basically, a barb with a screw attachment to clamp down on the hose. Easily twice as expensive as a barb, typically 3-4 times as expensive or more. Since you're on a budget, I would avoid these.

Fittings attach directly to the waterblock or other component like radiator, and then you attach the hose to that. Most components follow the standard G1/4 thread, as do most fittings. Fittings can come in any size ID for any size tubing.
 
lord infamous said:
well I rather spend a little extra and make it better looking/safer on fittings.. would these work with g1/4 to 1/2" tubing (http://jab-tech.com/Bitspower-True-...-Fitting-1-2-to-3-4-BP-SLCPF-CC5-pr-4400.html) so if I have 2 rads, 1 pump, 1 res and 3 blocks then I need 14 fittings?
Click to expand...

Yep, those will work. Compression fittings are made for a specific ID and OD of tubing. For example, the ones you linked are made only for 1/2" ID and 3/4" OD tubing, which is a popular choice. If you go with the MCP355 pump and the res top I linked, they actually piece together so you only need one set of fittings for that. So two rads, pump/res, and three blocks would mean twelve fittings. However, when water cooling multiple video cards in the same loop, some people use special fittings such as the following: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/slifittings.html. I don't know squat about those, though, so someone else will have to chime in.

In addition, many people like to use a quick disconnect fitting or two somewhere in their loop to make draining infinitely simpler. Another popular alternative for is to have a t-line somewhere near the bottom of the loop with a plug at one end.
 
Cruiza said:
Yep, those will work. Compression fittings are made for a specific ID and OD of tubing. For example, the ones you linked are made only for 1/2" ID and 3/4" OD tubing, which is a popular choice. If you go with the MCP355 pump and the res top I linked, they actually piece together so you only need one set of fittings for that. So two rads, pump/res, and three blocks would mean twelve fittings. However, when water cooling multiple video cards in the same loop, some people use special fittings such as the following: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/slifittings.html. I don't know squat about those, though, so someone else will have to chime in.

In addition, many people like to use a quick disconnect fitting or two somewhere in their loop to make draining infinitely simpler. Another popular alternative for is to have a t-line somewhere near the bottom of the loop with a plug at one end.
Click to expand...

do i NEED those special fittings for my dual 5970's? I really dont care if one card is 5c cooler than the other.. cant i just run a small bit of 1/2" tube from the first card down to the second
 
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can do that. I just have no experience in multiple card water cooling, so I don't want to say something that isn't true.
 
lord infamous said:
do i NEED those special fittings for my dual 5970's? I really dont care if one card is 5c cooler than the other.. cant i just run a small bit of 1/2" tube from the first card down to the second
Click to expand...

if you mean barb to barb yes you can. if you mean just shoving some tube between them then LOL NO!!!! haha :D
 
ok sweet, so I think i got this down. Im going to order all the parts friday when I get paid, then ill make my GF pay me back :p. Now i just have to find a way to mount the 2 radiators on my case..
 
lord infamous said:
well I rather spend a little extra and make it better looking/safer on fittings.. would these work with g1/4 to 1/2" tubing (http://jab-tech.com/Bitspower-True-...-Fitting-1-2-to-3-4-BP-SLCPF-CC5-pr-4400.html) so if I have 2 rads, 1 pump, 1 res and 3 blocks then I need 14 fittings?
Click to expand...

IMO, barb fittings with worm gear clamps properly tightened is more secure than compression fittings.

lord infamous said:
do i NEED those special fittings for my dual 5970's? I really dont care if one card is 5c cooler than the other.. cant i just run a small bit of 1/2" tube from the first card down to the second
Click to expand...

At the cost, I would just go with one of those special fittings. All they do is make a direct link vs fitting -> tube -> fitting. There's a set on there for $4, so I would just get those vs getting additional compression fittings. You only need one for serial flow. And there won't be any temperature difference between the two cards, maybe 2 C at the most.
 
OK so I ordered everything and it all comes tomorrow.. ONE last question please.


I ordered

RAD:2x SWIFTECH MCR320-QP
PUMP: 1x SWIFTECH|MCP355
CPU BLOCK: Swiftech APOGEE-XT
GPU BLOCKS: 2x Danger Den 5970
Res: EK-MultiOption RES X2
14 Foot of 1/2" ID 3/8" OD Tubing
14 x 1/2" ID 3/8" OD Compression fittings
6x Yate Loon fans

My question is SHOULD I/will it make a difference if I do res>pump>rad1>rad2>cpu>gpu>gpu

OR would I have to go res>pump>rad1>cpu>rad2>GPU>GPU

I rather do the first one as it would be not be as much of a tubing mess.. BUT I am cooling TWO DUAL gpu cards (4 gpus)
 
It won't make a difference as long as you keep flow rates up. Water doesn't change temperature much in a system.
 
Besides res before pump, theoretically the best setup is the one that uses the least amount of tubing and angled fittings, but really it won't make much of a difference as Tsumi said. Question: Did you get some sort of biocide? PT Nuke, silver coil, or something similar?
 
Cruiza said:
Besides res before pump, theoretically the best setup is the one that uses the least amount of tubing and angled fittings, but really it won't make much of a difference as Tsumi said. Question: Did you get some sort of biocide? PT Nuke, silver coil, or something similar?
Click to expand...

no :( what is that
 
It's something you put in your loop to kill algae, bacteria, etc..
 
You should be fine to set up your loop and run it for a little while without any biocide, so I wouldn't worry. I would order some soon, though, and add it as soon as you get it just to be safe.
 
Just use some glycol in the loop, makes the loop poisonous to pretty much everything. If you got it in your first aid kit a squirt of iodine would do the trick too
 
Last edited:
Well, i finished a bit late because the GPU blocks were special order, took me about 7 or 8 full hours to get everything how i wanted it. the MCP 355 w/ aftermarket top broke on me after a little water spilled on it, so i decided to go with a more durable pump (MCP 655).. I also bought a silver coil and put in the res for algae. i7 920 @ 4ghz maxes at 68-69C in prime 95,
GPU's max out in the 50's and the GPU VRM's get up in the 80C's during gaming while overclocked to 940mhz core from 725mhz. ( I mainly did this because of the GPU VRM's )

heres the pics...

 
Get metal bars to give more spacing. That little space is going to have a large effect on your radiator's cooling capabilities. You'll probably see at least 5 C drop in load temps if not more once you do.
 
lord infamous said:
a pretty small gap.. think this makes a big difference?
Click to expand...

Yes it does your adding more pressure back on the fans. There isnt enough space right there to let the air flow away from the rad now half the hot air is just hanging there untill it can all get out. Look for some spacers... There like L clamp looking things...
 
FYI, I picked up 4 "L" Brackets from home depot and gave both radiators a good 1"-1.5" space from the case and it dropped my gaming temps 13c!

thank you!
 
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