quietest watercooling options?

I

IDversusEGO

Supreme [H]ardness
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Oct 30, 2003
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I am considering watercooling because it seems like an opportunity to greatly reduce noise. I don't mind an external radiator to get more surface space and use a larger fan. Any suggestions on components that keep noise in mind? I understand the fans are the main source of noise in a WC setup but a more efficient radiator and a well manufactured pump will help. A noisy pump would drive me crazy. Right now I have an Antec VSK 2000. I wouldnt be opposed to getting a new case but I kind of like the understated appearance and the surprise under the hood of this budget case. I am looking at cooling a q6600 and an HD5870.
 
XSPC radiators offer the best performance at low RPMs. And fan RPM is generally what causes the most noise. If you use an XSPC triple rad with say 3x Gentle Typhoons and THEN add a fan controller to undervolt the fans, the silence will be music to your ears. I have heard that the MCP 355 is a quieter pump and that's why I picked it instead of the more powerful 655 for my loop.
 
Quick start shows a few triple options from XSPC

RS360 for $50
R120-T for $65
RX360 for $94.95

I am a WC noob so I cant tell much of a difference. I see the RS360 has 1 row and the R120 has two. greater surface = more efficient cooling so I see the benefit. I dont see the difference in the last one though. I already own some 4 pretty new Yate Loon D12SL fans and have an NZXT fan controller.

I see the link for the Swiftech MCP655 is $77 and I found the MCP355 for $68. Not much of a price difference so I will do some more searching for details.

What about the Swiftech MCR320 Drive? triple rad with built in pump to save space for $185. Might be a touch more expensive, depending on performance levels, but would save me some space in the mounting.

that leaves me needing some tubing and the blocks. I will grab that off the sticky. Do I need a res? I dont see one listed in there.
 
 
A few comments on suggestions in this thread:

- Laing DDC 3.2 = swiftech mcp 355; DDC 3.25 (aka koolance pmp400 sold at performance-pcs) is slightly more powerful, and thus slightly louder
- Laing D5 = Swiftech mcp655. After modifications (new pump top), it has slightly less performance potential than an mcp 355 (not a big deal). It is bigger and more robust, but I'm not sure that it's quieter.

The best aftermarket pump-tops for the DDC series: EK X-top v2 or XSPC. I'd prefer the EK.
For D5 series: EK X-top, but it's more expensive than for the DDC.

- Radiator: XSPC RX360 is a good option, and so is the Swiftech MCR 320 or 420 if you want the best bang for the buck. The RX 360 will perform slightly better than the MCR 320, but not by much (even at the 800-1200 RPM fan speeds you're likely to run). The MCR 420 will obviously require an additional fan, but it'll perform the best for the price.

- Tubing: Primochill LRT is good, and so is tygon r-3400 for black tubing, and tygon b-44-4x for transparent tubing. These 3 tubings seem to have the best bend radius and fewest complications (leakage of plasticizer, clouding, resistance to kinking, etc)

- FANS: Scythe Gentle Typhoon AP-15 1850 RPM is probably the best, but the Yate Loon low speed fans ( http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa.html ) are pretty close in performance. Do not mount yate loons horizontally - sleeve bearing will fail sooner.

- You'll want a fan controller. The Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme supports 6x30w, so you can run multiple fans on the same channel. Scythe GT AP-15's run GREAT at 9-10v. You can even run a DDC PUMP on one of the channels, but do not go below about 9-10v on any DDC pump. The Lamptron FC-5 is another option, but I believe it only supports 4 channels (could be mistaken). Make sure you get a voltage-controller, and not a PWM-controller.

bah... I don't feel like typing anymore... but reservoir is optional: EK, swiftech, and others make good ones. It can make filling/bleeding a little easier sometimes...
 
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