Waterblocks

[Buyers]

Right now i have a Koolance Exos-Al, and its been doing a good job so far as my first jump into watercooling, but lately i've been throwing around the idea of putting together my own custom setup. I'd like to hear what people think about waterblocks for CPU's, GPU's, and chipsets... ideally i'd like to cool the cpu, 2 video cards in SLI, and the chipset to eliminate as many fans as possible, and keep a few quiet 120mm case fans for general air flow. So what would the more experienced suggest in the way of blocks, pumps, radiators/heatercores? Some current system specs are in my sig., for reference.

 

[Punx_Clever]

Storm CPU block
Maze-4 low profile GPU blocks, or the swiffy mc-55 (if it fits)
one of those swanky EK chipset blocks.
BIP2 radiator
7/16" tubing
1/2" fittings
d5 pump or ddc
whatever res or t line you want.


there is my suggestion, and I think that setup would look mighty fine in any cooling setup, and be fairly cheap to boot. Just throw some pentosin inthe water and your good to go.

 

[Top Nurse]

You already know that a 6mm ID system with a super low flow pump works, right? So step up to an Aqua Computer setup and have class, more cooling power, and some serious bling.

Aqua Computer Cuplex XT

Aqua Computer Aquastream pump

Aqua Computer Aquatube reservoir with Aquajet

BI Pro 2 radiator

6mm x 8mm ID tubing

 

[Punx_Clever]

1) Class - overrated. Reference the revolutionary war if need be.
2) More cooling power - than the koolance he is replacing yes... but than a good american system? nah.
3) Bling != skinny little tubes running everywhere making things look far too busy. I define bling as the "Super Clean Watercooled machine" that just so happened to be 1/2" tubing and DD blocks. Best W/C comp i've ever seen.

I guess it all boils down to how much the OP wants to spend and what exactly his goals are with the WC setup. Of the above mentioned charecteristics, only the cooling power is analytical, and it's pretty common knowlege that the highflow, big-bore setups cool the BEST (maybee not by much, but they do on almost all occasions). The rest is just opinions.

One major, major issue however, is that of cost and delay.

A good (american) high-flow system will have a very short delay from when you order the parts to when you can build the system cause you dont have to worry for the parts to ship direct from germany or for a middle-man to get their crap together and actually get parts in stock.

A big-bore setup will also cost less. So, even if ( verybig if here) the cooling between say an AC system, and a DD system is exactly the same, the DD system will be more economical in the end. And thats not an opinion.

 

[tsuehpsyde]

You already know that a 6mm ID system with a super low flow pump works, right? So step up to an Aqua Computer setup and have class, more cooling power, and some serious bling.

Aqua Computer Cuplex XT

Aqua Computer Aquastream pump

Aqua Computer Aquatube reservoir with Aquajet

BI Pro 2 radiator

6mm x 8mm ID tubing

He said he wanted to upgrade, not have tiny little tubes that do more for looks than function. He can keep his Exos if he wants that BS. 1/2" tubing with 1/2" fittings and high flow ftw, AC ftl.

Full Folding Ahead!

 

[sprocket]

Oh plueeze...can't we all just get along?
Time for a group hug.

The large bore/small bore debate rages on every forum across the web and it's getting boring.
For the most part I think it comes down to aesthetics and implementation.
And cash.
Define your goals, figure out a budget (don't forget the odds and ends...even if you hate the setup, Top Nurse's excellent worklogs give a very comprehensive explanation of all the fiddly-bits you might run into), and then pick a look.

Or even better...build two identical machines using a loop of each design and settle this once and for all.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

I'd go with 7/16'' ID tubing instead of 1/2'' ID tubing. It fits just fine over 1/2'' barbs, is much more flexible, and for loops under around 15' IIRC, it has zero performance loss when compared to a 1/2'' ID system.

As for blocks, it all depends on what you want to cool. If you want to use the swiftech storm, you should definetly go with a strong pump, such as an aquaxtreme 50z or D5. The former is quieter and puts out less heat, but isn't quite as powerful. The difference is probably negligible for most systems, though.

Watercooling the chipset really isn't worth it imho. It causes more restriction, more clutter, and doesn't offer a real performance gain in most cases. A decent upgraded air cooling solution would suit you best.

As for the gpus, the maze 4 low profile work well.

If you don't want to use the storm, then a d-tek WW LE or danger den TDX should work well. Many people overlook the d-tek WW nowadays, even though it is still a good block.

Good luck.

 

[BellaCroix]

A good (american) high-flow system will have a very short delay from when you order the parts to when you can build the system cause you dont have to worry for the parts to ship direct from germany or for a middle-man to get their crap together and actually get parts in stock.

Wow... I don't know where you're shopping! This is no commercial:

I've ordered Innovatek and Aqua Computer parts from FrozenCPU, HighSpeedPC, andSharka Computers and all arrived with VERY little delay. In fact, because those companies understand that you're paying a premium for the parts and shoppers for those items tend to be of a certain enthusiast market, most "middlemen" take special care to service those customers very well.

As for shipping, unless you're dealing with "Bob's Computer Surplus and Muffler Service" most companies ship in-stock items the same day or within 24 hours of payment clearing. If it takes too long to get something that's UPS/USPS/FedEx's fault. True, you may have to wait for some items to come in stock (I have that problem now) but I also have to wait to open my Christmas presents... it build's character.

And regardless of how insignifigant a gain you'll get from big bore (we're talking about 1-2 degree C in most instances) I've never seen someone using small hoses with a case that looked like a bird's nest. How would that work anyway. You use the exact same number of hoses in a large bore as you do in a small bore. If anything, I think the large bore looks more cluttered with garden hose twisting all over the inside of a case. Plus, the 1/2" hoses tend to not arc as easily so you end up with longer hoses to keep from kinking. If you want your "Super Clean Watercooled machine" build an immersion rig and skip the hoses entirely.

 

[DFI Daishi]

And regardless of how insignifigant a gain you'll get from big bore (we're talking about 1-2 degree C in most instances) I've never seen someone using small hoses with a case that looked like a bird's nest. How would that work anyway. You use the exact same number of hoses in a large bore as you do in a small bore. If anything, I think the large bore looks more cluttered with garden hose twisting all over the inside of a case. Plus, the 1/2" hoses tend to not arc as easily so you end up with longer hoses to keep from kinking. If you want your "Super Clean Watercooled machine" build an immersion rig and skip the hoses entirely.

with regards to small bore turning into a bird's nest of tubing: i've seen a few builds with HDDs, memory, chipset, mosfets, CPU and vid card all water cooled. the end results was a bird's nest of tubing.

people do it with small bore typically do something like that "because they can" and that's their call.

with a big bore solution, it's usually not an option to WC as many parts, and that CAN cut down on clutter.

in other news: exams are over! yay me!

 

[Top Nurse]

I brought up the AC or Innovatek stuff because the OP already knows that big bore is mostly BS seeing how he has been running Koolance stuff currently without any problems. Going AC or Innovatek will allow him to, in all probability, double or triple his flow and at the same time get a kool looking system he can build on. Lets face it about big bore...it's basically boring because there is no innovation into system integration like the smaller bore stuff on the market.

 

[Punx_Clever]

Wow... I don't know where you're shopping! This is no commercial:
et al

With regards to where i'm shopping...this is from what I see posted in the AC thread, a lot of:
"hey, has so and so gotten in those parts yet?"
"No, but it should be on the next shipment!"
I was refraining from using names, such as sharka. This in turn applies to shipping, cause like you said, they ship it within 24 hours of it being in stock. Key here is "in stock", gotta wait for that shipment! I will also admit that I was referring almost specificly to Aqua Computer parts, Ivonnotec and alphacool seem to be more easily found.

The super clean watercooled machine... that was in reference to a specific build. Link here:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=813371
And a quick pic for those who dont want to go look:

TN: yes, he has been using a koolance system so far. They make hellaciously good intro kits. You thought he would like to look at a low-flow system that looks "good" and has "class", I thought he might like to look at something with a much better cost / performance ratio. I guess I just subscribe to the idea that simplicity and efficiency trump having every possible feature (regardless of usefulnes). Bottem line: we have two different options for the OP to follow, a big bore setup, and a low-flow setup. Everyon is happy, no?

Daishi: I was done with exams a week ago today!

 

[Top Nurse]

Yes I suppose so. BTW, try out an Aquaero on your big rig and you will be sold too. Not too bad of a big bore pic, but isn't that an awful lot of big tubing running around in that case.

 

[sprocket]

Not too bad of a big bore pic, but isn't that an awful lot of big tubing running around in that case.

This illustrates perfectly my comment re: aesthetics.
I look at that pic and think it looks quite elegant ( an opinion partially leavened by experience routing 1/2" tubing and an appreciation for the difficulty).
TN sees "an awful lot" of big tubing (although, to be fair TN, your FF project seems to sprout new tubing almost daily and certainly contains more than the cited pic, doesn't it? Your multi-loop setup might eliminate longer runs and you've certainly gone to greater lengths to hide things, but FF is undeniably more complex).

 

[DFI Daishi]

Yes I suppose so. BTW, try out an Aquaero on your big rig and you will be sold too. Not too bad of a big bore pic, but isn't that an awful lot of big tubing running around in that case.

i was actually thinking about ways that a big bore rig could add in all the bells and whistles that the A-C crew seems to value so much, a few days ago.

i was halfway thinking that:
one http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/Theta/theta_tp101.htm
two http://www.cooltechnica.com/Merchan...ROD&Product_Code=AQX-50Z-DC12&Category_Code=P
and a http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_info.php?pName=blk202awbbk&cName=lcd-pc-bay-inserts

3/8" tuning all around, with normal fans rad and blocks would be getting about all of the features of the aquaero, with that big-bore power.

but hey, the OP has a viable big bore loop and a viable small bore loop in the thread: now he has links to some products that could pretty up that big bore system.

 

[BellaCroix]

With regards to where i'm shopping... *snip*

I'll admit, that's a good looking rig... remember seeing the original post a while ago. To be honest (IMHO) the best looking parts of the case are the color of the fluid/hoses and the great work done with hiding the electrical. Although the hose routing is pretty impressive too.

One question about that case that I never noticed before though: That's a hell of a lot of flex on the video card... isn't it? Or is that just perspective distorting the picture? Looks like he put a little too much of a bend on that NB > Video hose. Some nice 8x1 hose might have taken a little of the downforce off the card. Heh... I couldn't resist... sorry.

 

[Punx_Clever]

It does look as though it has a bit of flex, but not nearly as much as I've seen on some of the monster coolers people are putting on cards these days, know what I mean?

As for the routing... this is one of those few rigs that really really make me want to go with a t-line as opposed to a resivoir.

 

[haelduksf]

i was actually thinking about ways that a big bore rig could add in all the bells and whistles that the A-C crew seems to value so much, a few days ago.

i was halfway thinking that:
one http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/Theta/theta_tp101.htm
two http://www.cooltechnica.com/Merchan...ROD&Product_Code=AQX-50Z-DC12&Category_Code=P
and a http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_info.php?pName=blk202awbbk&cName=lcd-pc-bay-inserts

3/8" tuning all around, with normal fans rad and blocks would be getting about all of the features of the aquaero, with that big-bore power.

but hey, the OP has a viable big bore loop and a viable small bore loop in the thread: now he has links to some products that could pretty up that big bore system.

Sorry to be so late to the party, but...don't get the Theta. Get the T-Balancer, and save yourself the headaches.

 

[TehRoflcopter]

Do what I did.

1/2" barbs.

3/8" tygon tubing.

Not to fat, not to skinny, just right in the middle =D. Comfort!

 

[DFI Daishi]

Sorry to be so late to the party, but...don't get the Theta. Get the T-Balancer, and save yourself the headaches.

looks good.......not like a personally own either product, though.

http://www.mcubed-tech.com/eng/produkte.htm

although i must say that i wish that the XL and SL4 used linear (analogue) voltage adjustment, in order to avoid some of the fan motor/circuit noise that PWM can give you.

regardless of what specific products you choose to use, i just wanted to point out that big bore, high performance, cooling solutions can be full featured as well.

 

[Top Nurse]

i was actually thinking about ways that a big bore rig could add in all the bells and whistles that the A-C crew seems to value so much, a few days ago.

i was halfway thinking that:
one http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/Theta/theta_tp101.htm
two http://www.cooltechnica.com/Merchan...ROD&Product_Code=AQX-50Z-DC12&Category_Code=P
and a http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_info.php?pName=blk202awbbk&cName=lcd-pc-bay-inserts

The Sunbeam is dubious, but the T-Balancer has possibilities. Unfortunately all of the alternatives to the Aquero leaves a LOT to be desired in terms of software and system integration. MBM, jalCD, and others don't offer much.

BTW, Aquaero's have analog fan outputs.

 

[Timmee]

Do what I did.

1/2" barbs.

3/8" tygon tubing.

Not to fat, not to skinny, just right in the middle =D. Comfort!

Hey, that's the same thing I'm doing (unless I end up getting a D5, then I'll be changing to 1/2" Tygon).

 

[TehRoflcopter]

Keep the 3/8" tubing with the D5, lol.