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Which Watercooling?

W

WipeoutFTW

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
357
Hey guys, im currently building a new system and plan on using watercooling. Can anyone recomend me a good water cooling kit that has a pump strong enough to run a CPU block and 2 VGA blocks? Also can anyone reccomend a good CPU block to fit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115002 and a VGA block to fit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130072 .
Also the case im using is a Thermaltake Armor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133021). Do you guys think there will be enough space?

Thanks in advance.
 
Generally the advice is to steer away from kits, and pick parts separately.

Are you looking for the best performing watercooling - regardless of the cost?
Are you looking for something that does the job, don't care how it looks, and you don't want to overclock?
Are you looking for the best looking kit around?

There's lots to choose from, but without more information people won't know what to recommend.
 
WipeoutFTW said:
Hey guys, im currently building a new system and plan on using watercooling. Can anyone recomend me a good water cooling kit that has a pump strong enough to run a CPU block and 2 VGA blocks? Also can anyone reccomend a good CPU block to fit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115002 and a VGA block to fit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130072 .
Also the case im using is a Thermaltake Armor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133021). Do you guys think there will be enough space?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

How many 5-1/4" bay drives are you planning to use? If you use 5 or less, you can start with a 2x120mm radiator and work from there by mounting it in the front of the Armor where the bay drives are.

However, since you're planning to cool a CPU and 2 VGA blocks, you'll most likely need a 3x120mm radiator. However, that means you'll only have access to 3 5-1/4" bay slots (including the floppy/power bezel). I've managed to fit a Swiftech MCR320 (a 3x120mm radiator) in the front.

I'd suggest you leave us with your budget and whether you care more about performance or looks just like Halk asked.



96redformula said:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-Apex-Ultra-H20-220-With-Apogee-GT-pr-3198.html

I just got it and it rocks. It is the best price you will find on it as well.

Just add the MCW60 for the video cards and you are set.
Click to expand...

I agree. It's probably the best performing kit for a new person to jump into. However, if he's going for the performance route by choosing this kit, there's also an alternative kit which I believe is even better as it's a hand-picked kit with some of the best performing parts around: Petra's kits - http://www.petrastechshop.com/wacoki.html

They'll say they're out of stock (they're the most popular US based WC store and sell out quick) but if you call them up, they'll find a way to make it work for you.
 
Well, im looking for something that gives a pretty good bang for the buck. Im not looking for something that looks kool but if I have to sacrifice looks for performance then so be it.
 
Ultimately it'll be you that decides the best option. I don't believe there's any real difference in price between a 120.2 and a 120.3 radiator (by the time you get all the components together) so that's going to be down to your own choice.

As for the blocks and so on - I use AquaComputer stuff, I don't know enough about other blocks to make a recommendation, and assuming since you use Newegg you're based in America AquaComputer stuff is already expensive, but by the time you pay the costs to get it over there it's way more expensive. So I'm afraid I couldn't make any recommendation on specific blocks for you.

What I will say is that the thermal paste you use matters, it matters how good a mounting you get of the waterblock, and that if you want bang for buck, you don't want "the best" performance, and you aren't too concerned about looks. Then really you can go for cheaper blocks.

Blocks are easily replaced, your radiator/pump is not so easy. I'd spend the money on them over the blocks.
 
WipeoutFTW said:
Well, im looking for something that gives a pretty good bang for the buck. Im not looking for something that looks kool but if I have to sacrifice looks for performance then so be it.
Click to expand...

Then that means you'll want a Thermochill/Swiftech/D-Tek type build then.

What's your budget?
 
Ranker said:
Then that means you'll want a Thermochill/Swiftech/D-Tek type build then.

What's your budget?
Click to expand...

Hmm. I'd disagree there. That's the top end stuff, not bang for buck.

Bang for buck is an AMD X2 5000+ not an Intel QX6800.

It's not to the same degree with watercooling, not as huge price differences. But the Thermochill radiators (as I understand it) are the more expensive ones in the US. Sure they're the best, but the most expensive.

Although if he's going to spend cash on one expensive item in his kit, let it be the radiator.

Swiftech and D-Tek are the high end as well. Bang for buck would be (I'm lost for names in watercooling) some of the Danger Den stuff seems to be cheaper these days.

Really dependant on how much Wipeout wants to spend.
 
Ok guys, here is what im thinking of going with.

Swiftech H20-220-APEX-GT CPU Liquid Cooling Kit - $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835108076

I still need to find a good VGA cooler for a EVGA GeForce 8800GTX but can't find any good ones in stock. If you know a good one that works with the cooling kit let me know.

Down the road I may add a VGA HDD cooler and another radiator but I think that would be fine for now. Let me know if you guys can find something better for my budget.
 
I'd watch with a HDD cooler. From my experience they don't produce a huge amount of heat, not enough to warrant watercooling. A very slow fan can do all that's needed.

As for the kit - it seems pretty decent to me. All I'd do is go to a watercooling specalist shop and price up the individual parts to make sure it's a good deal.

As far as an 8800 cooler is concerned, the Swiftech Stealth one exactly matches the CPU cooler, so that's got to be big plus points for it.

I personally went for a full cover block, and with retrospect I may have been better going for a unisink (Dtek make one that covers the important parts on the card and leaves the GPU bare) and a simple block.

Certainly you won't go wrong with Swiftech, but as I said, price separates. If you go for a Dtek fusion block (currently seen as the best block) and a ThermalChill PA120.2 and it comes out to roughly the same then the Swiftech kit isn't the best option.
 
Halk said:
Hmm. I'd disagree there. That's the top end stuff, not bang for buck.

Bang for buck is an AMD X2 5000+ not an Intel QX6800.

It's not to the same degree with watercooling, not as huge price differences. But the Thermochill radiators (as I understand it) are the more expensive ones in the US. Sure they're the best, but the most expensive.

Although if he's going to spend cash on one expensive item in his kit, let it be the radiator.

Swiftech and D-Tek are the high end as well. Bang for buck would be (I'm lost for names in watercooling) some of the Danger Den stuff seems to be cheaper these days.

Really dependant on how much Wipeout wants to spend.
Click to expand...

See, that's what most AC fans fail to grasp. Swiftech's Apogee GT runs circles around all DD blocks and its not in range of the GTX nor the FuZion. Swiftech/D-Tek bocks are not only high end in performance, but they're reasonably priced compared other companies out there.

Swiftech radiator's are probably the best bang for the buck stateside. Anywhere else in the world, Thermochill's are competitively priced and pretty much dominate the radiator scene.

Best bang for your buck build for someone in the US would be:

D-Tek FuZion = $60
DDC-2 w/ Petra's top = $90
Swiftech Radiator MCR-320-QP =$45

So for under $200 he has one of the best performing loops out there. Swap in a Thermochill PA120.3 for the MCR320 and he has probably the best CPU loop possible. That's like 40% of the cost of something like the Aquaduct 360 and gives him better temps.

For another $65 ($45 + $20) for a Swiftech MCW60 + D-Tek Uni-Sink, he'll have the best performing VGA block on market which also happens to be one of the cheapest.

$260 before tax/ship is "bang for your buck" to me for a top end performing loop. However, I do agree with you that the radiator should be your most important investment, hence the preference for Thermochill radiators.
 
WipeoutFTW said:
Ok guys, here is what im thinking of going with.

Swiftech H20-220-APEX-GT CPU Liquid Cooling Kit - $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835108076

I still need to find a good VGA cooler for a EVGA GeForce 8800GTX but can't find any good ones in stock. If you know a good one that works with the cooling kit let me know.

Down the road I may add a VGA HDD cooler and another radiator but I think that would be fine for now. Let me know if you guys can find something better for my budget.
Click to expand...

I listed the same product as you, but My link is $30 cheaper though and free shipping.
 
96redformula said:
I listed the same product as you, but My link is $30 cheaper though and free shipping.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I wanted to order all my parts from New Egg, but thats prob not gunna happen just because they are out of stock of almost all the good VGA blocks.
 
Ranker said:
Hello Pot, I'm Kettle, hate to tell you but we're both black.
Click to expand...


Sorry to be offtopic but read Cathar's summary of the temp difference betwen 6mm and 1/2" for further clarity. It appears we have one pot here and he just joined recently.

6.35 (1/4") ID with quick-fit = +0.53C
8mm ID over 8mm barbs = +0.45C
8mmID with quick-fit = +0.19C
3/8" ID over 3/8" barbs = +0.13C
3/8" ID with quick-fit = +0.04C
7/16" ID stretched over 1/2" barbs = +0.01C
1/2" ID over 1/2" barbs = 0.37 + 0.24 = +0.00C
Click to expand...
 
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