Recommendations.

[Twoilms]

Okay so i want to install a water cooling system (my first time) and i just dont know what to get. Ive spent quite a few hours researching different setups and what not and it all seem squtie convoluted. different websites report completely different results for the same setup etc. So im pretty much where i started.
My current setup is:
E8500 wolfdale @3.8ghz 1.3V
Zalman 9500 cooler for the cpu
Gigabyte EX38-DS5
Coolermaster Stacker 830
It currently runs at 36C according to speedfan or 41C according to coretemp at idle (the difference scares and confuses me), and around 56 - 61 load. ambient temperature is fairly low as it is winter here.
Basically i want to replace the rather noisy Zalman, push my cpu further whilst keeping it at around 60 under load. Also would like room to expand the water cooling to 1-2 GPU's. My budget is around 300$(AUD) so around 280$US.
So having said that anyone know an particular cooling setup that would suit my system. Thanks = )
P.S. i probably couldnt fit anything larger than a radiator with 2x 120mm fans.

 

[MrE]

Well, you will always get different results based on CPU type, ambient temp type, etc... Also, I've noticed a lot of review sites do their reviews on a bench as opposed to putting into an actual case. Cases have quite an impact on how well a WC setup will run. Is the Rad inside vs. Outside? How many GPM (Gallons Per Minute) will the pump push? Is the setup a low flow system? Yes, it may cool well for the CPU, but how does it do when you add a GPU or two into the mix? There will always be variances you cannot account for and a review cannot possibly cover.

Now, getting to your setup. Were you looking for a kit, or a full blown setup? You said you wanted to start out with a CPU setup and then grow into a GPU add on later. Since you are working on the Slacker case, I'm going to assume you want to keep the Rad internal (bottom of the case) and as a single loop. You could do this using a good 2x120 Rad as long as the pump provides adequate flow and there aren't a lot of restrictive elbows and what not. Probably something like this:

D-tek Fuzion Rev2 with 1/2 barbs
D5 Vario Pump
Tygon 3606 1/2" ID tubing
PA120.2 Rad with two Yate Loon Fans
Swiftech Micro Res

Its up to you to figure what kinda fluid, though most will tell you to just use distilled water and some water wetter. I personally like Feser One fluid as if anything spills or leaks, its non conductive properties means I'm not out a motherboard or other components. Plus, it matches temperature wise to distilled water.

Just some suggestions to get the ball rolling.

 

[sd11]

That rad is overkill for a dualcore, save some cash and go with an MCR220

 

[Twoilms]

thanks for the recommendation, additionally i was wondering what are the sorts of things that cause a bad flow? (aside from bends in the tubing). initially i thought rises and falls in the tubing but assuming its in a complete loop this shouldnt be a problem.

 

[prasvt]

Well when I was putting my Swiftech kit together, about the only thing I had to do when doing the initial fill and getting all the bubbles out, was to keep the res elevated (according to the instructions). Once all the initial running / testing was done it seemed fine. My setup is kind of a vertical circle. My rad is mounted on the outside back of the chassis, the pump is on the floor of the case next to the pci cards, the microres sits elevated about 2 inches off the floor the case in the front of the case, and then the last part of the loop is the cpu waterblock. No problems thus far.

 

[MrE]

That rad is overkill for a dualcore, save some cash and go with an MCR220

Re-read the OP's request. He plans on adding graphics to his config. I'm running an MCR220 and a GTX120 in a single loop, and it does the job. A single PA120.2 will more than suffice if he decides to run say a GTX260 or 280 in the loop.

As far as what to watch out for: Obviously elbows kill flow, but so do restrictive water blocks. A lot of the one piece GPU blocks tend to be extremely restrictive by design. EK and Danger Den one piece blocks come to mind. If you have a strong enough pump (and the D5 Vario is plenty strong) then you can overcome this. Also, small tubing diameter size and long tubing runs can reduce efficiency.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

My only recommendation is to use 5/8" OD 7/16" ID tubing instead of 1/2" ID tubing. There is almost no difference in flow, but the 7/16" ID is MUCH easier to use as it has a smaller bending radius.