New Watercool Setup FD Arc Mini - Your Thoughts?

F

FrostBite

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 2, 2004
Messages
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I've got a 3570k and 7970 I want to cool, and my current setup, which works very well, is extremely messy and very loud. I am using dual Antec 620 AIO's and my temps are 60c and 65c max, respectively, both items overclocked, in a very hot room (high 80, low 90 fahrenheit). The reason why the rig is so loud is I've got 8 fans running, all on full blast to keep the temperatures down, especially on the 7970 VRM which don't even break 70c, and I've tried different fans too. I am on the fence on whether to build a custom water loop because it would be purely to silence the machine and would cost around $400. Here is what I am planning, and I am wondering if [H] can give me any suggestions on solid parts but at better prices or replacements that would be better bang for my buck?

Current Computer Setup
CPU: Intel 3570k

Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352008

Motherboard: ASRock Z77E-ITX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157312

Video Card: Reference 7970
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129204

Case is a mATX, I've removed both the HDD cages so my hard drives are in the 5.25 bays. I am thinking of mounting a 240 rad on top, 2x AP-15's pulling the rad, keep the front 2x 120mm fans and rear 140mm fan, undervolt all fans to 7v.

Watercooling Purchase List:
CPU Block: XSPC Raystorm CPU Waterblock $50
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata..._info&cPath=59_971_498_1124&products_id=32331

GPU Block: Heatkiller GPU-X³ 79X0 $120
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...e_Design_Full_Coverage_Water_Block_15020.html

Rad: Swiftech "eXtreme Performance" Dual 120mm Radiator $52
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...t_info&cPath=59_457_667_674&products_id=31350

Pump: EK-DCP 2.2 (12V DC Water Pump) $47
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...e=product_info&cPath=59_201&products_id=26772

Res: EK-Reservoir Combo DCP 2.2 $35
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...e=product_info&cPath=59_367&products_id=27325

$100 for compression fittings, angles, and tubing. Still doing research on this.

Parts I Considered But More $$$:
EK-CoolStream RAD XT (240) $68
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=26776

EK-DCP 4.0 (12V DC Water Pump) $60
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...e=product_info&cPath=59_201&products_id=26773

EK-Reservoir Combo DCP 4.0 $35
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...e=product_info&cPath=59_367&products_id=26774

With the parts I am looking at, it's going to be around $400, and I'll be shopping around to get the best prices. Not sure if it's worth it to spend the extra for upgraded parts since I don't plan and can't crossfire on an itx board, and honestly, I'm not interested in switching cases which I know would be considerably cheaper. Will my temps be the same when using a single 240mm rad considering that I'm using 2x 120mm right now anyways? Thoughts, considerations, opinions, recommendations?
 
With a 240mm rad, your temps will probably be slightly better, but nothing spectacular. Can you squeeze in at least another 120mm rad somewhere?
 
I don't think your temps will get too much better, since you'll be running the same amount of rad area. Also, the extreme performance swiftech rad you picked is for pretty fast fans. if you want something to work with low-med speed fans, you want their QP series. I'd also ditch the EK stuff and get a DDC or D5 pump, but that's just me.

Is there room for another 240mm rad up front in the arc? I know I had to remove ALL drive cages to fit one up there in my Define mini.
 
Yes, there is room for another 240 rad since I drilled the rivets out of the bottom HDD cage. I don't know if I honestly want to fork out another $52 (or more for the QP series) since my goal is noise reduction and keeping costs low; I'm perfectly happy with my temp now, just not the mess inside my computer and the noise.

I'll definitely look into the QP series. As for the EK stuff, any reason why? Before I started to research, a few other watercooled FD Arc Mini's used the combination res and pump. Also, I'll look into a D5 pump, any recommendations?
 
FrostBite said:
Yes, there is room for another 240 rad since I drilled the rivets out of the bottom HDD cage. I don't know if I honestly want to fork out another $52 (or more for the QP series) since my goal is noise reduction and keeping costs low; I'm perfectly happy with my temp now, just not the mess inside my computer and the noise.

I'll definitely look into the QP series. As for the EK stuff, any reason why? Before I started to research, a few other watercooled FD Arc Mini's used the combination res and pump. Also, I'll look into a D5 pump, any recommendations?
Click to expand...

Mr. Sidewinder summed up avoiding EK nicely:

http://www.realredraider.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=201633&postcount=4

EK pissed off lots of people in the watercooling community with their lack of QC and then blaming customers for their problems.
 
FrostBite said:
Yes, there is room for another 240 rad since I drilled the rivets out of the bottom HDD cage. I don't know if I honestly want to fork out another $52 (or more for the QP series) since my goal is noise reduction and keeping costs low; I'm perfectly happy with my temp now, just not the mess inside my computer and the noise.

I'll definitely look into the QP series. As for the EK stuff, any reason why? Before I started to research, a few other watercooled FD Arc Mini's used the combination res and pump. Also, I'll look into a D5 pump, any recommendations?
Click to expand...

The more rad(s) you have, the lower RPM you can run your fans, which will more than offset the additional noise generated from adding fans to your system. I have 8 120mm fans running at 800 RPM or less on my rads alone, and they are completely silent to me.

Both the DDC and D5 pumps also have pump/res combo options available.

You'll probably save some money if you shop at www.sidewindercomputers.com and/or www.jab-tech.com. Jab-tech also has a 5% coupon code "facebook" that works on everything, so that usually roughly offsets shipping costs. If cost is really that big of an issue, maybe start by water cooling just your CPU or video card. You can always add to your loop later as more funds become available. That way you can make sure you get high quality components without totally breaking the bank all at once. I started with just my GPU and a 240 rad since my GTX 470 was loud and hot as heck, but now I also have my CPU under water.
 
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I think the QP series rads are a couple bucks cheaper. I think it would totally be worth it to add at least 1 more 120mm rad. I've got 1 240mm and 2 120mm and I'm wishing I could fit in more - the 1.45v it takes for my chip to hit 5ghz makes it push 85C under Intel Burn test.

As for a pump, D5s, from brand to brand, are all pretty much the same. Mine is a swiftech branded MCP655, with an adjustable speed. They also make an MCP655B that is has only 1 set speed. I'd skip any 24v version you come across for now though. If you wanted to go DDC, there is the MCP355 or the MCP35X if you want it PWM controlled. There are other brands of the same pump, those are just examples.
 
Great info, too bad on the EK as I do find customer service, and working relations with venders important, and prices on both Jab-tech and sidewinder are better prices too; thanks again ya'll. Here is what I am looking at from a combination of jab-tech and sidewinder:

Swiftech MCR220-QP Res $45
Swiftech MCRES-Micro Rev 2 $29
Swiftech MCP655 Watercooling Pump - w/ Speed Controller $84
XSPC RayStorm CPU $50
Watercool HEATKILLER® GPU-X³ 79X0 Ni-Bl - for ATI Radeon 7950 / 7970 $115
Total is $312 + 23 shipping

Now I need to figure out how tubing and fittings work.

Edit: Oh yeah, still thinking about an additional 120 or a 240 rad. If the temps get worse or I have to run the fans too loudly, I'll just get a 240 more likely.
 
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Get the QP rad without the res. The res adds an extra 1" in height that isn't neccessary, especially if you pick up the micro-res.

Swiftech Radiator - MCR220 Quiet Power Series Dual 120 mm - Black

For tubing, I've found that it's all pretty much teh same plasticizer embedded crap. Unless it's colored, it'll eventually get cloudy. Treat it as a consumable, like an oil filter for you car. If you plan on making any tight bends, get a tubing with thicker walls, like 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD. I've got 5/8"ID x 3/4" OD tubing in my machine and I can barely make a bend with a 6" radius.

For fittings, barbs are cheap. If you use the same size barb as you do tubing, ie 1/2" barbs with 1/2" ID tubing, use some clamps. If you have a little more testicular fortitude, you can go with a size slightly smaller than your barbs, ie 1/2" barbs with 7/16" ID tubing, and not use clamps. With compression fittings, you want the same size ID/OD as your tubing or it will most likely not fit. Compression fittings will chew your fingers up after a day or 2 of test-fitting, fitting and re-fitting, so be ready for sore hands.
 
I think I'll be going for barbs since I don't mind the asthetics (and my case doesn't have a window). Seems like 1/2" ID is the way to go, maybe get some stainless steel worm clamps from the local hardware store to tighten it up real well.

I'll be on traveling on business so I may be doing my purchases in a few weeks, hopefully will be watercooled by next month.
 
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