Request for feedback on proposed WC setup

[Atragon]

I'm thinking of putting together a watercooling setup for my system now that I'm upgrading my video card to an 8800GTX and I would appreciate some feedback on the components I'm thinking of using. I'm also considering an upgrade to SLI at a later date, so I'd want to have enough capacity in the watercooling loop to handle a second 8800GTX or similar card.

First off, my hardware setup:

AMD Opteron 165 @ 2.97GHz (9x330) /w Thermalright Ultra 120 heatsink
4x512MB Kingston KHX3200 RAM (BH-5) @ 247MHz, 2-2-2-6 timing
DFI Lanparty NF-4 Ultra-D
ATI X800XL /w Zalman VF700-Cu (being replaced with a BFG 8800GTX OC)
Seagate 80GB SATA HDD (7200.8)
Lite-On DVDRW SOHW-1633S
Lite-On DVD SOHD-167T
Seasonic S12 430W PSU (being replaced with a Seasonic S12 Energy+ 650W PSU)
All this is sitting in an Addtronic full tower server case, I'm planning on migrating to a mid-tower case eventually, one that can fit a 2x120mm fan radiator in the front, but I can stick with the full tower case if I need the space.

And now for what I'm thinking of WCing with:
CPU: Unknown, I was thinking of the LR White Water block, or the D-Tek customs version of it, but apparently there are better blocks out there now.
GPU: A full coverage block, again, I was thinking of DD, but apparently EK's block is better, so I'll probably go with it instead.
MB, chipset: I was thinking either the MIPS Computer DFI series freezer, or the Aqua Computer Twinplex Pro
RAM: Hard to find info, was thinking of a pair of Koolance RAM-30-V06 blocks, or something similar. If I were to go with the koolance blocks I would probably run a pair of them in parallel to reduce restriction.
Radiator: I was originally looking at the Black Ice 240 GTS, but apparently the Thermochill PA120.2 is better for lower airflow applications and I'm aiming for a relatively quiet system.
Pump: I have no idea here.
Reservoir: Not too sure, something with good build quality and relatively small size. I'd probably mount it so that it's the highest component in the loop to make filling easier.

 

[Ranker]

And now for what I'm thinking of WCing with:
CPU: Unknown, I was thinking of the LR White Water block, or the D-Tek customs version of it, but apparently there are better blocks out there now.

Get a D-Tek FuZion or Apogee GT. Get the Apogee GTX if you plan on migrating to a quad core in the future. Other than that, no other blocks compete with those 3 in terms of performance at the current time.

GPU: A full coverage block, again, I was thinking of DD, but apparently EK's block is better, so I'll probably go with it instead.

DD FC blocks are utter trash. EK is having a worldwide shortage due to their immense popularity. EK is probably the hottest block maker at the current time. By the time he gets in stock, the Swiftech will probably have released their Stealth FC block. I'd suggest taking a hard look at it as it looks promising.

MB, chipset: I was thinking either the MIPS Computer DFI series freezer, or the Aqua Computer Twinplex Pro

MCW30's are the best as their unrestrictive and have a huge compatibility list. However, the EK NF4 1.1 block is almost as good, but much sexier.

RAM: Hard to find info, was thinking of a pair of Koolance RAM-30-V06 blocks, or something similar. If I were to go with the koolance blocks I would probably run a pair of them in parallel to reduce restriction.

It's pointless to WC ram. RAM degradation is caused mainly by high voltages. Heat doesn't really become an issue since if it's generating that sort of high heat, its because you put way too much voltage into your RAM. Also, most RAM WC blocks require small tubing. Unless you're deciding on running a separate loop for it, you'll be killing flow for anything in the same loop.

Radiator: I was originally looking at the Black Ice 240 GTS, but apparently the Thermochill PA120.2 is better for lower airflow applications and I'm aiming for a relatively quiet system.

Stay away from Black Ice. If you're looking for the best price/performance ratio, then get a Swiftech MCR220QP or a MCR 320QP radiator. If you want the best performance that has no competition, then get the thermochill PA120.2 or PA120.3

Pump: I have no idea here.

Laing DDC-2 pump w/ Petra's modded top. Get it at www.petrastechshop.com. It's the best performing pump on the market under 200$.

Reservoir: Not too sure, something with good build quality and relatively small size. I'd probably mount it so that it's the highest component in the loop to make filling easier.

Swiftech mcres-micro is the best res in terms of ease of installation and functionality. You can mount it almost anywhere and bleeding is easiest with this res than any other res on the market.

EK's multioption res is quite aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Atragon]

Get a D-Tek FuZion or Apogee GT. Get the Apogee GTX if you plan on migrating to a quad core in the future. Other than that, no other blocks compete with those 3 in terms of performance at the current time.

Ok, one of those three blocks then, consensus seems to be that they're the 3 best blocks out there, but the real question is which one of the three? Also, I doubt quad core is in the cards since I'm on a s939 platform with DDR1.

DD FC blocks are utter trash. EK is having a worldwide shortage due to their immense popularity. EK is probably the hottest block maker at the current time. By the time he gets in stock, the Swiftech will probably have released their Stealth FC block. I'd suggest taking a hard look at it as it looks promising.

Ok, either EK full cover or Stealth full cover then. Depending on which I can find (assuming the stealth FC comes out soon and performs as good as (or better than) the EK,

MCW30's are the best as their unrestrictive and have a huge compatibility list. However, the EK NF4 1.1 block is almost as good, but much sexier.

Doesn't work for my MB unfortunately, the chipset location is right under the 1st PCI-E slot, so only specially made blocks work really, see link for a detailed photo:
http://us.dfi.com.tw/Upload/Product_Picture/LP nF4 SLI-DR.jpg

Which is why I was looking at either the MIPS Computers one or the AquaCool one, they're low profile enough to fit under the video card..

It's pointless to WC ram. RAM degradation is caused mainly by high voltages. Heat doesn't really become an issue since if it's generating that sort of high heat, its because you put way too much voltage into your RAM. Also, most RAM WC blocks require small tubing. Unless you're deciding on running a separate loop for it, you'll be killing flow for anything in the same loop.

I'd agree with you, but I'm running BH-5 RAM at 3.3V, it dumps enough heat to require a 120mm fan blowing over it, and I'd rather not have to figure out how to work in a 120mm side fan in a way that doesn't block tubing.

Stay away from Black Ice. If you're looking for the best price/performance ratio, then get a Swiftech MCR220QP or a MCR 320QP radiator. If you want the best performance that has no competition, then get the thermochill PA120.2 or PA120.3

Ok, thermochill or swiftech it is then. In my case I can fit a 2-fan rad at the front and a 1-fan rad at the back. So perhaps a PA120.2 and a PA120.1 or PA160.

Laing DDC-2 pump w/ Petra's modded top. Get it at www.petrastechshop.com. It's the best performing pump on the market under 200$.

Sounds good, the DDC and D5 come up most often as being good pumps.

Swiftech mcres-micro is the best res in terms of ease of installation and functionality. You can mount it almost anywhere and bleeding is easiest with this res than any other res on the market.

EK's multioption res is quite aesthetically pleasing.

The EK res looks nice, thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Ranker]

If you plan on running 1 loop, get the D-Tek FuZion. It performs well without regard to the flow rate.

You can purchase an EK block for your chipset. The EK NF4 1.1 blocks are low profile and dead sexy.

If you want to cool your RAM, I'd suggest the corsair dominator fans. I've purchase the CD fan, the OCZ fan and then Antec Coolspot. The CD fan seems to be the best of the bunch in terms of air pushed, ease of installation, and noise.

It's a good thing you're going with Swiftech or Thermochill. Measure the maximum thickness you can allow and that should help you decide on which to get.

 

[Atragon]

I'm leaning towards one loop since this is my first WC setup and I'd like to keep it relatively simple, but then again, here I am thinking of chipset + RAM cooling and a pair of radiators, so I suppose this isn't really all that simple. Then again, 2 loops would mean 2 pumps, more cost, and more complexity.

OTOH, I am considering SLI eventually and a setup that can handle it would be nice. So 2 loops just may be the way to go.

In which case it looks like this:
Loop1:
D-Tek Fuzion or Swiftech Apogee GT/X
BK or Swiftech full cover
Thermochill PA120.2 or Swiftech MCR220
DDC-2 /w Petra's top.

Loop 2:
2X RAM blocks of some kind (Koolance, MIPS, other)
Chipset block, either MIPS Computing DFI Freezer, or Aqua Computer Twinplex Pro
Thermochill PA120.1 or PA160
DDC-2 /w Petra's top

Though it looks as though the rad for loop 2 would be overkill compared to loop 1.

Now, do I need 2 seperate reservoirs for this, or would one bigger res work?

 

[Ranker]

I'd avoid the MIPs and other blocks and stick with EK. Their quality is proven.

I'd also try to avoid using ram waterblocks as they'll all require 1/4" tubing which will rape your flow. Trust me. I'm the king of overkill as you can see from my sig and I won't even WC my ram.

You'd want two different reservoirs as the GPU loop will probably be much hotter than the CPU loop. That's the reason for separating those components into two loops in the first place.

If you're going two loops, get the GTX for sure over the FuZion.

 

[Atragon]

So the EK chipset block would fit on a DFI board without blocking the PCI-E 16x slot?

As far as the loop layout, something like this?

Loop 1:
CPU, Chipset, RAM?, 120.1 radiator

Loop 2:
GPU, GPU, 120.2 radiator

 

[Ranker]

That would work. However, I'd once again not recommend watercooling the ram, especially with such a loop. Your CPU will be starved the flow rate it needs to keep it cool with such a small radiator.

And yes, the EK blocks are low profile for the specific reason of allowing SLI setups. You can purchase the "EK NF4 1.1" blocks from petra's tech shop.