I'm a newbie, need advice..

[simonabram86]

My current air-cooled specs:
- Asus Rampage 2 Extreme Mobo
- Intel core i7 920
- GSkill 6Gigs DDR3 (1600MHz)
- 2x EVGA GTX 275 in SLI
-1100 Watt ABS Tagan PSU
- Xigmatek Dark Knight Heatsink + Zalman thermal compound

I feel like my setup needs to go further than 3.8GHz on air. I paid $400 for this mobo, and I am now ready to step it up and watercool it. But this will be my first watercool attempt, so i need tips and advice from you experts. (i've built 3 pcs so far, so i'm not really an expert, but i know enough.)

I have a list of parts that i might be getting.

-Swiftech Apogee GTZ w/ 1366 backplate.
-Swiftech MCP655 Pump
-Swiftech Reservoir
- Feser X-Changer 360mm Xtreme Performance Radiator - Thermochill Killers! (paired w/ 3x Antec tricool 120mm fans) possibly some more fans for push n pull
- a flow meter
- 5ft Koolance Tubing, Blue UV-Reactive PVC, 1ft/30.5cm [ID: 13mm (1/2"); OD: 16mm (5/8")]
-Lots of Koolance Reusable Hose Clamp [16mm, 5/8" OD]
- Feser One F1 Cooling Fluid - UV Blue - 1 Liter
- Arctic Silver 5 Compound
That's what i have in my list, I need to know if they are all compatible, or what else do i need??

And i've been wondering how does a Watercooling system work? (ex: where does the water start & which direction it flows, etc)

I appreciate all advice and answers

Thank You.

 

[ekuest]

i dont think anyone wants to explain to you "how it all works" but a lot of it is outlined in the FAQ which is at the top of the water cooling subforum. if you still have specific questions after reading that, feel free to ask back in this thread and someone will help. id say wait for this if youre not in a hurry. its a better waterblock for the same price, but its usually out of stock. the rad is a good one. it will be PLENTY for just a cpu loop, and should give you good temps. i would ditch the feser fluid and get distilled water from the grocery store for a buck, and stick a silver coil from petras or some pt nuke in there. the direction should be on the pump or the pump instructions, and you need to make sure this matches with the IN and OUT labels on the cpu block.

 

[lilfiend]

i would go for the heatkiller 3.0 instead of the gtx, the pump and res look fine...im not familiar with any other brand besides swiftech but i was recommended to the mcr 320's because they are very good for my low speed yate loons, the med's are much better with very little sound increase, as ekuest said the rad is plenty for a cpu only loop, i think that almost any 3x120 rad is good for a cpu only loop with room for a little more... you will need more tubing then 5ft i got 13 myself and was very close to short some, too close for comfort! i'd also get tygon tubing b/c water doesnt evaporate through it as fast...... as ekuest said ditch the feser fluid go for distilled water with some pt nuke, and i have to recommend 3/8id if you want to keep it clean and easy to work with, i got 1/2 but if i had the chance i would go back and change it to 3/8, looks soooo much easier to work with then the stiff 1/2, but at least with 1/2 you know its not restricting any flow so ur choice mate!

 

[simonabram86]

thanks all !, i was googling for heatkiller 3.0 for my i7 but ekuest is right. Theyre hard to find, but i will pre-order it. so if i get that swiftech pump, reservoir, 2x120mm rad will be enough to cool my cpu??
as far as tubing, 1/2" ID is bigger than 3/8" rite?? so more water flows, the better?

Thanks

 

[simonabram86]

Here is the link: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/heatkiller775.html

is that good enough for my i7? i will buy 1366 backplate for this.
it's the only one that available.

 

[lilfiend]

yea the bigger the tubing the better but but some argue weather or not it really does make that big of a difference. yea that should be good as long as you get the 1366 bracket. many people say that a 2x120 can handle their i7's but i dont know how much room heat wise you would have to overclock in, personally i would stick with the mcr320 or something but if you get a 220 you should be fine, you could even put another 1x120 in there just in case

 

[Arcygenical]

Alrighty... Just some thoughts.

First, let's go over your proposed setup.

-Swiftech Apogee GTZ w/ 1366 backplate. Great choice.
-Swiftech MCP655 Pump Fantastic choice
- Feser X-Changer 360mm Xtreme Performance Radiator - Thermochill Killers! (paired w/ 3x Antec tricool 120mm fans) possibly some more fans for push n pull If you're just doing a CPU only loop, you don't need the Feser... You could get by with a triple black ice radiator, or a swiftech MCR320... Course, the feser will allow you to add a single chip GPU in - down the line.
- a flow meter. Which one?
- 5ft Koolance Tubing, Blue UV-Reactive PVC, 1ft/30.5cm [ID: 13mm (1/2"); OD: 16mm (5/8")]
-Lots of Koolance Reusable Hose Clamp [16mm, 5/8" OD] Get the metal ones, they're pretty badass.
- Feser One F1 Cooling Fluid - UV Blue - 1 Liter. I'd just get distilled water, a bit of biocide and maybe a tiny bit of pentosin... Since you're using colored tubing.

Now, tubing size makes absolutely no difference... Go with 3/8", 7/16" or 1/2" - whatever you like the looks of.

I'd stick with a triple radiator for your CPU only as well, but as stated above, you could downsize to a double if you wanted to save some space and cash.

 

[simonabram86]

that's what im plannning to do. I might as well get a bad ass rad like the feser. And as soon as EVGA drops the price for their gtx 295 h2o's. Then i'll just have to put em all in one loop. That would be my plan.

for tubing, i might just get 1/2"ID (uv reactive) n i'll just use distilled water. =)

Thanks Y'all

 

[simonabram86]

13ft tubes?? that's too long dude...LOL mine will only be a cpu loop....at least for now =)

Thnx anyway..

 

[simonabram86]

know what..I'll just get Swiftech h20-220 apex ultima. Cause i think it'll be my first one, so i cant really go all out. i have a lot to learn n experience it on first hand. Scratch the h20 cards !! too much work.

Thanks