questions about a watercooling setup

[jmg873]

Hi, I'm new to posting on the forums but i've been reading here for a few months. i'm looking at building a new system and have a fair amount of general watercooling knowledge but no real experience.

this is what i'm looking at putting into the system, please tell me if there are any other choices that would be better, also bearing in mind that this system is designed for performance/overclockability, not silence (though that doesn't mean that i want vantec tornado style noise either)

please note i made a list of specific questions as the bottom of the post

Case: ThermalTake Armor
MoBo: Gigabyte p35-DQ6 (P35 chipset to allow for 45nm process/ddr3 later)
CPU: Intel Q6600 (i'm at ends about this, should i go with a quad or get one of the xx50 models w/ ddr3? i should say that i'm leaning towards the q6600)
RAM: 4GB (2x2GB) Patriot eXtreme pc6400 5-5-5-12 (i chose 2x2GB because i've heard that you get lower latency with 2x2GB vs 4x1GB, i'd like to hear input on this if anyone knows)
i'll leave the other specs out because i don't really need advice on them: now onto the water cooling part.

Pump: Swiftech MCP-655
Radiator: Dangerden double heater core w/ shroud
Fans (on radiator): 2x Sunon 42dB/108CFM
CPU Block: apogee GTX bowed and lapped (as well as lapped CPU heat spreader)
GPU Block: Dangerden MAZE5-GPU (i intend to use this block for an 8800 gts videocard and chose it because i read that a full video card block creates higher restriction and is a waste of money as ram-sinks will provide equal performance w/ a standalone gpu block.)
Reservoir:Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Small Form Factor / High-Flow Reservoir
Tubing: no specific company but probably 1/2ID, 3/4OD
Cooling liquid: Thermal XP High Performance (can be seen at frozencpu)

Loop: reservoir -> cpu -> gpu -> pump -> radiator -> reservoir

ok, all that being said here is where i will group my questions:
1. are the component specs (cpu, ram, etc.) the best performance for the money?
2. based on what you all know, is there any reason to waste money on the xx50 processors/ddr3 memory?
3. for the ram is it necessary to get pc1066 or will pc800 suffice? also, i read that it's better to have 2 ddr sticks as opposed to 4 (for whatever amount of memory), what's your take on this?
4. will i get a performance boost from 4GB of ram vs 2GB w/ a quad core (provided that i'd be using a 64-bit OS)?
5. do i want to use a heatercore? before that i was considering the PA 120.3 but i read in many places that heatercores offer the best performance by far.
6. for that loop do i need fans that have that many CFM's?
7. do you think that the MAZE5 will fit the 8800? i didn't seen anything on the website
8. is there any problem with using thermal xp? I know most of you say distilled water + additives is the way to go I am just wondering.

i realize this is a lot of info i'm asking for. thank you VERY much in advance for any additional information you can provide me.

 

[Ranker]

Hi, I'm new to posting on the forums but i've been reading here for a few months. i'm looking at building a new system and have a fair amount of general watercooling knowledge but no real experience.

this is what i'm looking at putting into the system, please tell me if there are any other choices that would be better, also bearing in mind that this system is designed for performance/overclockability, not silence (though that doesn't mean that i want vantec tornado style noise either)

please note i made a list of specific questions as the bottom of the post

Case: ThermalTake Armor
MoBo: Gigabyte p35-DQ6 (P35 chipset to allow for 45nm process/ddr3 later)
CPU: Intel Q6600 (i'm at ends about this, should i go with a quad or get one of the xx50 models w/ ddr3? i should say that i'm leaning towards the q6600)
RAM: 4GB (2x2GB) Patriot eXtreme pc6400 5-5-5-12 (i chose 2x2GB because i've heard that you get lower latency with 2x2GB vs 4x1GB, i'd like to hear input on this if anyone knows)
i'll leave the other specs out because i don't really need advice on them: now onto the water cooling part.

Pump: Swiftech MCP-655
Radiator: Dangerden double heater core w/ shroud
Fans (on radiator): 2x Sunon 42dB/108CFM
CPU Block: apogee GTX bowed and lapped (as well as lapped CPU heat spreader)
GPU Block: Dangerden MAZE5-GPU (i intend to use this block for an 8800 gts videocard and chose it because i read that a full video card block creates higher restriction and is a waste of money as ram-sinks will provide equal performance w/ a standalone gpu block.)
Reservoir:Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Small Form Factor / High-Flow Reservoir
Tubing: no specific company but probably 1/2ID, 3/4OD
Cooling liquid: Thermal XP High Performance (can be seen at frozencpu)

Loop: reservoir -> cpu -> gpu -> pump -> radiator -> reservoir

ok, all that being said here is where i will group my questions:

1. are the component specs (cpu, ram, etc.) the best performance for the money?
2. based on what you all know, is there any reason to waste money on the xx50 processors/ddr3 memory?

G0 stepping of the new processors will allow for a ridiculous overclock just on air. I'd hold off on purchasing anything at the moment and wait for the G0 stepping. The increase in FSB to 1333 is equivalent to roughly a 3-5% performance boost according to tests on Anandtech, XS, and Tom's Hardware. If that's important to you is up for you to decide.

3. for the ram is it necessary to get pc1066 or will pc800 suffice? also, i read that it's better to have 2 ddr sticks as opposed to 4 (for whatever amount of memory), what's your take on this?

Very true. The more sticks you have, the more likely stability problems you'll likely to encounter. Just getting 4 sticks to run on a Striker required me to perform a rain dance, sacrifice my first born, and hold and leprechaun hostage. In the end, I got better sysmarks by dropping to 2 sticks and just tightening the timings farther than I could with 4 sticks.

4. will i get a performance boost from 4GB of ram vs 2GB w/ a quad core (provided that i'd be using a 64-bit OS)?

See above. It's a yes and no question. Depending on how good you are at tweaking your RAM settings, 2GB can beat 4GB on certain benchmarks. The 4GB really only provides a boost in specific real world applications very similar to how quads only shine over faster clocked duals on certain applications.

5. do i want to use a heatercore? before that i was considering the PA 120.3 but i read in many places that heatercores offer the best performance by far.

Heatercores are best if you have total disregard for hearing loss. Toss on some of the meanest fans Delta has to offer and let it rip. Just don't be surprised that you'll be deaf within the year =). Heatercores require the use of high CFM fans to be competitive with the standard water cooling radiator.

6. for that loop do i need fans that have that many CFM's?

I wouldn't use anything less than 80CFM fans for a heatercore.

7. do you think that the MAZE5 will fit the 8800? i didn't seen anything on the website

Some say yes, some say no, some say "yes with tweaking". As I don't own a Maze5, (only a 4), I'd suggest you contact Danger Den for the official response.

8. is there any problem with using thermal xp? I know most of you say distilled water + additives is the way to go I am just wondering.

Just say no like you did in D.A.R.E.

 

[grinchy]

Just say no like you did in D.A.R.E.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[sd11]

Just getting 4 sticks to run on a Striker required me to perform a rain dance, sacrifice my first born, and hold and leprechaun hostage. In the end, I got better sysmarks by dropping to 2 sticks and just tightening the timings farther than I could with 4 sticks.

I'm tempted to go into the horror stories of getting my 4gb of corsair 6400c3d working on my striker, was not fun.

Toss on some of the meanest fans Delta has to offer and let it rip. Just don't be surprised that you'll be deaf within the year =).

I've always wondered why Delta fans stopped being the thing to own. They perform better then anything else out there. Granted they're loud as fuck, but I guess I didn't get the memo when that stopped being OK.

Then again, some of their fans can actually get louder then my dust buster

8. is there any problem with using thermal xp? I know most of you say distilled water + additives is the way to go I am just wondering.

This really depends on who you ask. Some people have no problems with it, others claim it gunked up their blocks.

In the end it costs more then distiled + additives and is not anymore effective... but does come in some interesting colors.

 

[jmg873]

so keeping above 80 CFM, does anyone have a good fan recommendation for the heatercore? also, is the performance i'd get from a double heatercore substantially different than what i'd get from a pa 120.3?

thanks again

edit - - -

also, can i go with a 120x25 fan? or do i need a 120x38 for pressure?

 

[Ranker]

so keeping above 80 CFM, does anyone have a good fan recommendation for the heatercore? also, is the performance i'd get from a double heatercore substantially different than what i'd get from a pa 120.3?

thanks again

edit - - -

also, can i go with a 120x25 fan? or do i need a 120x38 for pressure?

Better to get the 38's. Your best bet would be either then San Aces or Delta's if you don't mind having your ears bleed.