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Need help: Water Cooling Newbie

B

BrandonB

2[H]4U
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Jan 25, 2007
Messages
2,490
Hello,

I've decided to switch over to watercooling, mainly for the noise reduction, cooler temps and it will allow me to overclock pretty well. Anyway, if you guys don't mind, I'd like to get some suggestions on what I should get for my first system. I have a $300 budget ($300 shipped that is, if it goes over a few dollars that’s ok), and I plan on watercooling the following:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
XFX 8800GTS

I will not be water cooling the motherboard chipset as it has passive cooling already installed (heatsink connected to heatpipe).

Basically I'm completely lost, I've been looking at all in one kits (such as the Zalman Reserator 1 Plus) but I decided against that and I'd like to build a custom system. If at all possible I would like for it to be all inside my case, the problem is I have a mid tower Lian Li case with little room to work with, so I need something good and yet small.

I have done some looking around my self, but because I know so little about watercooling I'm not sure what I'm looking for, or what I need.

Thanks in advance.

Brandon
 
Here's a good start...

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=759705

All in one kits are for n00bs.... since you've started your watercooling quest with a question on an awesome forum, you're not in the same category. Kits are a good place to start, but you should probably look into a "customizable" kit.

Do some reading, check out various hardware forums to see what others are using. The link above makes for some very interesting reading and will help edumakate joo 2.

Good Luck
 
It might help to post your specs too. Like which CPU / GFX cards etc. And check out the water cooled case gallery at www.XtremeSystems.org. Its in the Liquid Cooling Forum.

Some kits are good at some of the shops they have basically Bundles with the best of breed parts. Although theres always at least one thing that Id like to substitute.

The Reserator is a nice unit. Very quiet. The only issue is it is alluminum and most of the really good stuff on the market is copper. Copper and Aluminum dont mix well. (Galvanic Corosion) Also, the reserator doesnt have all that much heat removal capacity. The waterblocks of Zalmans are awfull.
 
CPU Block - Swiftech Apogee GT
VGA Block - Swiftech MCW60
Radiator - Swiftech MCR-220 + 4 Yate Loon 120mm fans
Pump - Swiftech MCP655

Tubing- 7/16 ID or 1/12 ID, your preference

Additive - Swiftech Hyrdx
T-Line or Resevoir - Dangerden Fillport / Swiftech MCRES

If your lian li has a 120 mm exhaust in the back you can use the Radbox to mount the radiator in the back of your case.

Without the radbox it comes out to $242.00 (prices from jab-tech.com)
 
D-Tek FuZion ~ Proven Best Block for Core 2 Duos
EK 8800GTX Full Cover Block
Black Ice Xtreme III
Danger Den D5/MCP 655
T-Line or MRES-MICRO

Tygon 1/2 or MasterKleer 7/16 (really cheap) + Pentosin + Clamps and some Yate-Loons should be around $10

Do not get Hydrx. Mixed it with 9 parts water as told and it still left all this goop and sh*t in my blocks.
 
Konquest said:
CPU Block - Swiftech Apogee GT
VGA Block - Swiftech MCW60
Radiator - Swiftech MCR-220 + 4 Yate Loon 120mm fans
Pump - Swiftech MCP655

Tubing- 7/16 ID or 1/12 ID, your preference

Additive - Swiftech Hyrdx
T-Line or Resevoir - Dangerden Fillport / Swiftech MCRES

If your lian li has a 120 mm exhaust in the back you can use the Radbox to mount the radiator in the back of your case.

Without the radbox it comes out to $242.00 (prices from jab-tech.com)
Click to expand...


Thanks for the suggestions, with that setup plus the tubing, clamps etc it comes to 264 shipped which is perfect, so I think I'll go with this setup. Thanks again!

PS. the fan on the back is 80mm not 120mm.
 
NordicRX8 said:
Here's a good start...

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=759705

All in one kits are for n00bs.... since you've started your watercooling quest with a question on an awesome forum, you're not in the same category. Kits are a good place to start, but you should probably look into a "customizable" kit.

Do some reading, check out various hardware forums to see what others are using. The link above makes for some very interesting reading and will help edumakate joo 2.

Good Luck
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll take a look at that. :D
*edit* I forgot to mention that I have already read that thread, so I'm not completely lost but I still need help =P.
 
Kuyt said:
D-Tek FuZion ~ Proven Best Block for Core 2 Duos
EK 8800GTX Full Cover Block
Black Ice Xtreme III
Danger Den D5/MCP 655
T-Line or MRES-MICRO

Tygon 1/2 or MasterKleer 7/16 (really cheap) + Pentosin + Clamps and some Yate-Loons should be around $10

Do not get Hydrx. Mixed it with 9 parts water as told and it still left all this goop and sh*t in my blocks.
Click to expand...

I'll be using Fluid XP+ if you guys think thats good stuff? If not PC ICE. I'll also be going with the 7/16 tubing with plastic clamps (but I'd rather have the clamps that you can screw down, where can I find those?).
 
I use the hyrdx stuff it works fine for me. I got those metal worms clamps from home depot .99 each. Yeah the D-Tek Fuzion is nice but I figured it would be easier to order everything from one place. If Jab-tech carried the Fuzion I would get it over the Apogee GT.
 
BrandonB said:
I'll be using Fluid XP+ if you guys think thats good stuff? If not PC ICE. I'll also be going with the 7/16 tubing with plastic clamps (but I'd rather have the clamps that you can screw down, where can I find those?).
Click to expand...

DO NOT GET FLUID XP+.

I REPEAT: DO NOT GET FLUID XP+!

Search these forums and you'll realise that practically everyone has encountered problems with the blue color going away after a matter of days, and leaving weird goopy deposits.

If you like blue, go with Pentosin.
 
Kuyt said:
DO NOT GET FLUID XP+.

I REPEAT: DO NOT GET FLUID XP+!

Search these forums and you'll realise that practically everyone has encountered problems with the blue color going away after a matter of days, and leaving weird goopy deposits.

If you like blue, go with Pentosin.
Click to expand...

Supposedly they fixed this problem. But I still agree, PC ice is the only non-conductive stuff I'd go for.
 
Konquest said:
I use the hyrdx stuff it works fine for me. I got those metal worms clamps from home depot .99 each. Yeah the D-Tek Fuzion is nice but I figured it would be easier to order everything from one place. If Jab-tech carried the Fuzion I would get it over the Apogee GT.
Click to expand...

Whats the price difference in the Fuzion and the Apogee? If its really that much better I don't mind getting the Fuzion somewhere else. And thanks for the tip about the clamps. :D
 
Kuyt said:
DO NOT GET FLUID XP+.

I REPEAT: DO NOT GET FLUID XP+!

Search these forums and you'll realise that practically everyone has encountered problems with the blue color going away after a matter of days, and leaving weird goopy deposits.

If you like blue, go with Pentosin.
Click to expand...


Where would I find Pentosin? I never found it on jab-tech, I have not looked somewhere else for it though.
 
Do lots and lots of research, be willing to take the risk, and make sure you got all the supplies you need and take your time assembling.
 
Caliche said:
Do lots and lots of research, be willing to take the risk, and make sure you got all the supplies you need and take your time assembling.
Click to expand...

I've been looking around these forums a lot, checking out different threads n' stuff so I'm learning more about watercooling. As for the risk, I don't think there is much risk involved, if done right I won't have anything to worry about and I don't plan on rushing as I don't want to mess up my very expensive parts hehe. :p
 
Alright guys, I'll be ordering the parts in the next few minutes, is there anything else I should get thats not on the list?
CPU Block - Swiftech Apogee GT
VGA Block - Swiftech MCW60
Radiator - Swiftech MCR-220 + 4 Yate Loon 120mm fans
Pump - Swiftech MCP655

Tubing- 7/16 ID
Clamps

*edit* Additive - Pentosin
Resevoir Swiftech MCRES
 
BrandonB said:
Alright guys, I'll be ordering the parts in the next few minutes, is there anything else I should get thats not on the list?
CPU Block - Swiftech Apogee GT
VGA Block - Swiftech MCW60
Radiator - Swiftech MCR-220 + 4 Yate Loon 120mm fans
Pump - Swiftech MCP655

Tubing- 7/16 ID
Clamps

Additive - Swiftech Hyrdx
Resevoir Swiftech MCRES
Click to expand...

Not bad... But remember, if you're going to be cooling a GTS with the MCW60, you need to get the ADAPTER PLATE for it, and about 15-19 Ramsinks. Don't get the swiftech copper ramsinks, because they don't really stick... Instead look for the low profile blue ones made by zalman, they stick like hell.

card.jpg


My card. I used the Copper ones as my card is in the BTX position (IE the chips are facing UP rather than DOWN like in a normal ATX case).

Additionally, you'll need a FAN pointing over that SUPER HOT chip on the side...

Honestly, I REALLY suggest getting a full cover block from somewhere! These things are just as expensive with the RAMsinks, and such a bad solution...
 
Arcygenical said:
Not bad... But remember, if you're going to be cooling a GTS with the MCW60, you need to get the ADAPTER PLATE for it, and about 19 Ramsinks. Don't get the swiftech copper ramsinks, because they don't really stick... Instead look for the low profile blue ones made by zalman, they stick like hell.
Click to expand...

Alrighty, I'll add in the adapter plate. As for the RAM sinks I'll have to wait on those, I'm on a budget and 19 of those will put me over . :p
 
BrandonB said:
Alrighty, I'll add in the adapter plate. As for the RAM sinks I'll have to wait on those, I'm on a budget and 19 of those will put me over . :p
Click to expand...

Ok, well don't run the card without at least the MOSFET Ramsinks (the 4 of the VERY LEFT in the picture I posted) or ESPECIALLY without a sink on that small chip on the right of the card.

Running that chip without a HSF will destroy your card in a few seconds.
 
Arcygenical said:
Ok, well don't run the card without at least the MOSFET Ramsinks (the 4 of the VERY LEFT in the picture I posted) or ESPECIALLY without a sink on that small chip on the right of the card.

Running that chip without a HSF will destroy your card in a few seconds.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I'll get a block that covers the whole card then. Like that new one that has come out, its 100 bucks yeah but it covers the whole thing. I'll hold off on water cooling the card untill I can get that.
 
BrandonB said:
Hmmm, I'll get a block that covers the whole card then. Like that new one that has come out, its 100 bucks yeah but it covers the whole thing. I'll hold off on water cooling the card untill I can get that.
Click to expand...

Sounds good!
 
Arcygenical said:
Sounds good!
Click to expand...

Ok, just to be sure I have everything I'll go tell ya what I have in the cart, let me know if thats everything

1x Swiftech Apogee GT universal water block
1x Swiftech MCR-220 Radiator - Black
4x YATE LOON 120mm Case Fan
1x Swiftech MCP655™ 12 VDC Pump
10 feet of Masterkleer Tubing 7/16" ID 5/8" OD
1x Swiftech MCRES-Micro Reservoir
10x Plastic Tubing Clamps - Black
1x 4oz Pentosin Water Additive

*edit*
Also, I've seen much better results with AS5 when you just put a small amount of it in the center of the CPU/GPU, since when it heats up it spreads on its own. I've had much better temps when doing that, what do you think?

*edit again*
Would the Swiftech MCR-80 still be ok? It'll fit in my 80mm exhaust thing, its just a better size for my case, or should I stick with the MCR-220?
 
BrandonB said:
Ok, just to be sure I have everything I'll go tell ya what I have in the cart, let me know if thats everything

1x Swiftech Apogee GT universal water block
1x Swiftech MCR-220 Radiator - Black
4x YATE LOON 120mm Case Fan - Get an extra BECAUSE 8% are faulty
1x Swiftech MCP655™ 12 VDC Pump
10 feet of Masterkleer Tubing 7/16" ID 5/8" OD
1x Swiftech MCRES-Micro Reservoir
10x Plastic Tubing Clamps - Black
1x 4oz Pentosin Water Additive

*edit*
Also, I've seen much better results with AS5 when you just put a small amount of it in the center of the CPU/GPU, since when it heats up it spreads on its own. I've had much better temps when doing that, what do you think?

This is the OFFICIAL application method. I stand by it 100%.

*edit again*
Would the Swiftech MCR-80 still be ok? It'll fit in my 80mm exhaust thing, its just a better size for my case, or should I stick with the MCR-220?

The MCR-80 WILL NOT cope with your heat load!
Click to expand...

fix'd :)
 
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