Help with WC

[Russ]

WC stuff (prices as of 4/8/05):

Blocks:
Swiftech MCW6002-64™ 1/2" OD CPU Waterblock $45.00
2 GPU blocks - none b/c only a 6600GT for now.
Pump:
1 Danner Mag 5 $59.95
2 300" ROLL TEFLON TAPE $.96 + $5.10 shipping
alternative:
Blocks:
1 Danger Den Copper TDX with extra nozzles $55.94
alternative:
1 D-Tek Whitewater $48.99
2 Y fitting $1.75
Pump:
1 Danner Mag 3 $44.99
2 Teflon Tape - hardware store $?
alternative:
1 AquaXtreme 50Z-DC12 $75.00
Radiator:
Modded Heater Core $34.99
Reservoir:
1 Danger Den Bay Reservoir High-Density Polyethylene $17.95
Tubing:
ClearFlex 60 1/2" ID 10 ftx $1.12 = $11.20
Fittings:
1 1/4 NPT Polypropylene Fittings for 1/2" ID tubing $1.00 x6 = $6.00
Clamps:
1 Metal Worm Clamps - hardware store $?
Other:
Zerex Racing Super Coolant 4 oz. $4.50
Radiator Shroud $15.00
Radiator Mounting Kit $10.00
Panaflo FBA12G M1A $11.99 (additional)

total: $ + shipping
(alternative choices not factored in)

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Here's what I think I'm gonna buy. I'm looking for budget maximum OCing here. Anyone have any suggestions on my setup?

Should I get the Hydor L35, L40, a Danner Mag 3, or a Danner Mag 5? Are those good sites for Danners/Teflon Tape?

How's my CPU block? I was also considering a Danger Den TDX/RBX or a D-Tek WhiteWater.

Is that Heatercore a Bonneville? I want to get a Bonneville but al lthese sites that people say "sell" them don't say what the heatercores are. I have yet to see "Bonneville" on a heatercore site. So, is this the right heatercore? I am unable to mod one, as it would cost at least as much money and much more effort and wasted time. Any suggestions for a different site/heatercore?

 

[Russ]

is anyone even gonna look at my setup? I really want to know if anyone prefers something else over the parts I have chosen, and you guys seem to be the best people to ask.

I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I think I'll get a really high flow pump. I have heard that higher restriction blocks work well with this. Which ones would work well?

Danger Den TDX/RBX (one of em) is highly restrictive right? Which one is more restrictive, I can't remember the difference between them.

is D-Tek Whitewater restrictive?

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or should I just go with a weaker pump and a block with low restriction? Which option would give me better temps? The Swiftech 6002 is the main block with low restriction that I have found a site for. Are there any others that are good?

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I want to keep this pretty cheap. Does anyone have a good site to get a Danner Mag 5 from? It's hard to sort through all the google results since 90% of them are reviews/message boards that mention Danner Mag 5 in them. Anyone know of a site(s) with better prices for the other parts I have listed?

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How much harder is it to bleed a system with a T-Line. I guess I might just get one of those if I must, but a reservoir seems a lot easier to work with, especially when getting rid of air bubbles. How often do you have to bleed/refill the system anyway?

 

[Nikola]

Ok, my first question, is what is the teflon tape for? I have built a couple w/c rigs and never used it, let me know what your logic is. The Hydor L35 should be more than enough for a budget w/c rig, even a high flow one. I have used both a T-Line and Reserviors and the rez. does seem to be easier for me to use, plus it looks better and you usually don't need to bleed/refill very often, not very often meaning months, with a rez.

That's my $.02

 

[Top Nurse]

Ahhh...yeah. I don't think anyone is too interested in doing your homework for you in deciding where you should get stuff. If Google gives you crap results there are a ton of search engines out there or you could try a more specific search. Oh and everything is restrictive so it's a dubious term Why not put both a T-Line and a reservoir in

 

[Russ]

i am doing my homework. -_-

why are you here if not to post? I just want a few comments on my stuff, things people have alreeady bought. Not asking you to go out and look for it yourself.

Teflon Tape is for the Danner Mag since it leaks w/o it. None of the other pumps will need it.

thnx for the thoughts on the L35.

 

[MTXR]

Thing is, people see these threads millions of times.

I never once posted my setup in WC. I searched the forums heavily.

If you do the same there is no need for this unless you have a very unique question that you can't answer with search.

 

[Top Nurse]

i am doing my homework. -_-

why are you here if not to post? I just want a few comments on my stuff, things people have alreeady bought. Not asking you to go out and look for it yourself.

Teflon Tape is for the Danner Mag since it leaks w/o it. None of the other pumps will need it.

thnx for the thoughts on the L35.

Okay...get a kit

 

[Sideroxylon]

You guys are so freakin' mean sometimes...

I'll try to help you out Russ...

Your setup looks pretty good with a few exceptions. I would personally kick a bit more cash for the AQX-50Z or the NEW MCP655 pump. Both are great pumps and out-perform the ones you have listed. Also, no mods to make sure they don't leak.

Save your money on those plastic clamps. They don't work worth a crap. Spend your money on some stainless steel worm clamps from an auto parts store.

I don't care much for the Zerex either. If you have some coolant laying around the house that should work fine.

Hope that helps.

 

[Russ]

Thanks for the suggestions. What I have read about different CPU blocks (http://www.procooling.com/reviews/) say that the TDX with #4 nozzle is about equal to the D-Tek Whitewater and the RBX. For about the same price I'll go with only two pipes (no Y connector) and an easier mounting (tbx vs. rbx) and from a site that I am already ordering stuff from (tdx vs. WW). Therefore I wil probably buy a TDX waterblock. Anyone disagree?

For the pump, I am either gonna get a AQX-50z DC12v or a Danner Mag 3 or a Danner Mag 5. The DM5 doesnt seem that much better than the three, so it's really a choice between the extra $30 for AQX or budget with the DM.

It's hard choosing between these three options. For 166% of the DM3's price ($45 vs. $75), will I get much better performance/temps with the AQX(MCP600)? Also is it a lot less of a hassle to use a DC pump than an AC?

Another problem I'm having is finding a case to fit my radiator. The only one I have found with room for a 120.2 radiator/heatercore was the Cooler Master Stacker. That case is like $165!!!! Does anyone know of a different case that has a slot for 2x 120mm fans in the same place so I don't have to mod my case? The stacker seems really well-made and not THAT much larger than my current case, so I don't think I'd go with anything more expensive than it, but knowing about other options, if there are any, would be nice.

 

[Nikola]

I agree with you on the TDX decision although I don't have any cases in mind that can fit a 120x2 rad. in them without modding.

 

[MTXR]

Thanks for the suggestions. What I have read about different CPU blocks (http://www.procooling.com/reviews/) say that the TDX with #4 nozzle is about equal to the D-Tek Whitewater and the RBX. For about the same price I'll go with only two pipes (no Y connector) and an easier mounting (tbx vs. rbx) and from a site that I am already ordering stuff from (tdx vs. WW). Therefore I wil probably buy a TDX waterblock. Anyone disagree?

For the pump, I am either gonna get a AQX-50z DC12v or a Danner Mag 3 or a Danner Mag 5. The DM5 doesnt seem that much better than the three, so it's really a choice between the extra $30 for AQX or budget with the DM.

It's hard choosing between these three options. For 166% of the DM3's price ($45 vs. $75), will I get much better performance/temps with the AQX(MCP600)? Also is it a lot less of a hassle to use a DC pump than an AC?

Another problem I'm having is finding a case to fit my radiator. The only one I have found with room for a 120.2 radiator/heatercore was the Cooler Master Stacker. That case is like $165!!!! Does anyone know of a different case that has a slot for 2x 120mm fans in the same place so I don't have to mod my case? The stacker seems really well-made and not THAT much larger than my current case, so I don't think I'd go with anything more expensive than it, but knowing about other options, if there are any, would be nice.

I have a Mountainmod case UFO or whatever they are called, it fits my 120.3 easy.

Check it out. www.mountainmods.com

 

[Sideroxylon]

Why don't you wan't to mod a case? With a Dremel and some re-inforced cutting wheels it's really very easy. I really didn't want to mod my case either but after the first couple of cuts it was simple. Most setups require some modding so you might as well just jump right in. Just gotta use some common sense and make some careful measurments.

 

[DFI Daishi]

better prices on mag pumps:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/category.xml?pcid1=2181;category_id=3855
with more searching, you can probably do even better, but i use a retail location of this chain near where i live. see what local pet stores near you stock.

and as i tried to point out in your other thread, you just use a little bit of teflon tape on the male threads of the barbs and pump before you screw them together. you can get it at the hardware store, and you don't need a huge roll of it. it just helps to seal the threads. that is all.

if you get leakage around the impeller housing, you need a new O-ring or some caulking to fix that type of leakage. if you don't take the pump apart, it probably won't be a problem.

 

[R1ckCa1n]

I would go the Swiftech route with the new pump. Just get a kit from Swiftech and you won't be disappointed.

 

[DFI Daishi]

For the pump, I am either gonna get a AQX-50z DC12v or a Danner Mag 3 or a Danner Mag 5. The DM5 doesnt seem that much better than the three, so it's really a choice between the extra $30 for AQX or budget with the DM.

It's hard choosing between these three options. For 166% of the DM3's price ($45 vs. $75), will I get much better performance/temps with the AQX(MCP600)? Also is it a lot less of a hassle to use a DC pump than an AC?

the MCP600/AQX-50z are excellent pumps that are easy to set up and use. they will offer a bit better performace than the mag 5. a degree, maybe two. they just cost more.

yes, i know that the danners put more heat into the coolant. it's not likely to even be measurable so long as the flow rate is comperable. the mag 5 holds it's own in terms of matching the flow of the MCP600 a bit farther along the flow vs head curve.

if you use an AC pump, you need to set up a relay to power it on and off along with you computer. it's not hard, but it is one more thing that you need to do while you are building.

 

[Russ]

Well I can leave it (DC pump) on as much as I want, right? How much do relays cost If I was to get one?

Thnx for the danner prices. I stuck with petsmart when i found it because I know of a location near my house.

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I don't have any tools. No dremel, no circular cutters. It would cost a lot more money, time, and labor to successfully mod a case. And it is hard to tell with the pictures of most cases if the psu and cd drives together will block installing a 120.2 radiator. The CM stacker is a safe bet, and it will have INSANE air flow. I am probably going to have a lot of fans in my case, I have a 80mm, 92mm, and 120mm in it right now, and I'll probably transfer those over if I need to, as well as the ones that come with any case I buy. I want to keep my ambient/case temps down so that I can get the most out of my watercooling and therefore the most out of my overclocking.

Another problem with the modding is that I am at a residential high school right now. They don't let us have knives longer than two inches, it would be hard to successfully set up a workstation to do my modding. Also I am lazy.

The mountain mods case is way too expensive for me, I'm going to have to draw the line at the CM stacker's price.

I was leaning towards the Danner M 3 because the price that I saw it at on Petsmart was a lot lower compared to the DM5. On this site, however, they are a lot closer. I don't think I can justify $25-30 more for just the pump for 1-2 degrees. I guess I'll put the DM5 back at the top of my choices, with the DM3 close behind. I went for restrictive stuff so that I could use a powerful pump and get good temps, so that's why I was focusing on the DM3/5 and AQX 50z. The 3 and 5 had similar head, and with the AQX offering such good performance with low flow, I figured it wouldn't matter much, especially with the heat increase. Since you seem to be saying the heat increase will matter even less than the flow difference, the DM5 appears the best. I am still a little worried at the huge drop in flow rates the DM5 took as the head went up. The DM3 had a smaller slope so that's why I was thinking about getting it. The 5 was always on top though, so o well.

Sorry for the long rant, I'm just getting my thoughts on this out.

I'd rather not get a kit as I'm trying to cut costs.

edit: well yeah thats what i thought the teflon was for.

 

[DFI Daishi]

DC pumps power on and off when you computer does, since they run off of the computer PSU.

i picked up my relay for about $5 CDN, and a matching terminal block for $3 CDN. you might do better, you might do worse. i don't know what your prices are like.