feedback needed on a watercooling setup

[aberavon]

I am in the midst of building a new rig and have decided to go the route of watercooling it as I want good performance and QUIET. I am interested in some feedback about my choices and have some specific questions as well so here goes.

system:

1.4 AHJAH
ABIT kg-7
Gainward geforce2 pro
256mb crucial pc2100
IBM 40G 7200
aopen 16x cdrw
Antec PP412X 400W
Addtronics 6896A
old 32x cdrom
old vortex2 sound
linksys NIC

I have read through quite a few forums and reviews etc and am leaning towards going with this setup from Dangerden.com:

Cooling Cube
Eheim 1060
Maze2 CPU block
Copper GPU cooler
Copper NB cooler
Requisite tubing and fittings etc.
Panflo 120mm on Cube (maybe one on each side)


And here are all my questions in no particular order ;)

1. Am I missing anything?
2. Has anyone used this pump and radiator? If so, what are my mounting options? The Addtroncs case ( http://www.addtronics.com/6896a.htm ) has a 120mm intake fan in the lower front..was thinking of mounting the Cube there and bolting it down somehow through the bottom of the case and then mounting the pump a bit in front of it and bolting it down through the case bottom as well. Any thoughts?
3. I am assuming the 1060 is an inline pump..should I go that route or use a reservoir?
4. The 1060 pump is rated at 600GPU is that enough throughput with the Cube to cool my CPU, NB, and GPU?
5. I have read about worries that the water will be too hot once passing through the CPU block to effectively cool the NB and GPU in succession. Do you have to setup it up in a straight line from the pump? or could you use some Y splitters to split the tubing from the Cube outake into 3 lines...one to each block...and then use Y splitters to reintegrate into one line before going into the pump intake?
6. Will mounting the pump on the case bottom a few inches in front of the Cube block my air flow through the bottom of the case too much? I was going to install a 92mm outake on the back of the case to direct the flow. I want to be able to secure all the parts of the watercooling system so the whole rig is easily moveable.
7. Is there a nice integrated way to have the fans controlled automatically depending on the temperature of the radiator? Maybe using a Digidoc?
8. Should I use the 3/8th inch tubing or the 1/2 inch or 5/8ths? Any specific tubing recommendations to limit kinking etc?
9. The pump is 110volt. Anyone know a good way to set it up so it shuts down at system shutdown? Anyone have a good way to run the plug for it?


thanks in advance for all help and input

mike

[joshiieeii]

ok, I have the DD cube, and the Maze 2.

Personally would not worry about cooling the NB or the GPU UNLESS you plan on overclocking it to hell and BACK. Cooling the CPU is the main heat monster, and I would focus on it. I would just make sure that the NB and the GPU has some ASII on it or something similar (anything but those pad things ICK!!). You might even want to upgrade the fans on the HS's or replace them with better HS combos.

Trying to get all 3 of these components in the water line and cool them efficently is virtually impossible unless you have 3 radiators. Because the heat from the previous unit is going to be transferred to the next one, thus defeating the purpose. If you try to use splitters, I think you will be reducing the flow to the components dramatically, plus its not very equal on splitting it.

**Update** I have OCed my Axia CPU 1333 @ 1492 Solid @44 Idle 50 Load (ambient temp is 40C :( )

[aberavon]

Far as I have read the 600gpus is way overkill. I was hoping that it would help to drive the split lines though. You are right though in that the flow is not going to run evenly along each Y split. Hoping that the 600 would provide enough flow even if it doesnt move evenly down each line.

mike

[joshiieeii]

Originally posted by aberavon
Far as I have read the 600gpus is way overkill. I was hoping that it would help to drive the split lines though. You are right though in that the flow is not going to run evenly along each Y split. Hoping that the 600 would provide enough flow even if it doesnt move evenly down each line.

mike

Well yes having some extra "umph" would compensate a little bit, but you still have to consider all the extra heat that would be present in your water by the time it got to the 2 other components.

I have considered what you are thinking about PLUS cooling the 2 raided HD's I have. It is just not worth the effort, they don't get that hot to warrant water cooling. IF anything, I would narrow it down to the CPU and the GPU.

Like I said, the NB and the GPU are not as important as the CPU. Again unless you O/C the GPU, it is not going to get that hot. The NB is not going to get that hot either, unless you O/C the CPU to hell.

To try to answer a couple more of your previous questions:

should I go that route or use a reservoir? - I personally have a resevoir, it works fine, although I understand inline's are a bit more efficent and easier to set up. (Don't have to worry about container getting a leak, BUT there is not as much water in the system:( )

Should I use the 3/8th inch tubing or the 1/2 inch or 5/8ths? Any specific tubing recommendations to limit kinking etc? - I am using 3/8" stuff, it is pretty big, it does the job, I would go with it. 1/2" would be nicer, but a bit overkill.*edit* Oh and regular vinl or silicon tubing is fine, but I have heard that the kind of tubing like they use in pepsi machines is better (the kind with the nylon looking inner mesh built in) It doesn't kink up as easily, although I bet it is not as forgiving on cornering

The pump is 110volt. Anyone know a good way to set it up so it shuts down at system shutdown? Anyone have a good way to run the plug for it? - Go to 'Da Shack, ask one of the unknowledgeable clerks where the DC switches and stuff are. It is basically a switch of sorts that is put inline with your 120V to your pump, but is also connected to your DC too. When the DC kicks on it flips the switch basically.

Is there a nice integrated way to have the fans controlled automatically depending on the temperature of the radiator? Maybe using a Digidoc? - There is, but I think it is a waste of time and money. I would just use a dual voltage system like I have (7V & 12V). I use the 7V at night (very quiet) and the 12V when I am playing games or other CPU intensive progs (a bit loud).

[SavageHenry]

5. I have read about worries that the water will be too hot once passing through the CPU block to effectively cool the NB and GPU in succession. Do you have to setup it up in a straight line from the pump? or could you use some Y splitters to split the tubing from the Cube outake into 3 lines...one to each block...and then use Y splitters to reintegrate into one line before going into the pump intake?

I agree that watercooling the GPU and NB is probably overkill, but if you want to do it you can probably find some sort of manifold at any hardware store. Look in the pneumatic tools section.

You could use larger tubing for the CPU that the other two (1/2" v. 3/8" maybe?), which would ensure that most of your cooling is directed there. Finding the correct fittings might be tricky, but I believe that most pneumatic stuff has NPT threads on it so the fittings should be available. Make sure to use teflon tape on the threads to prevent leaks . . .

[Owenator]

I put a Water Block on my CPU and my North Bridge. As long as the NB is hotter than the water it will be cooled. Right now the water in my system goes from: Radiator => CPU => NB => Pump => back to rad. My NB water block seems to be as cool as my CPU water block, which is just barely warm to the touch, 35C idle 40C load. Now I am wondering if I should change the order? As far as teh pump switching I connected to the Power Supplu switch so the pump comes on when you turn the PS on then I turn on the PC with it's power button. That way the pump is running before the system starts to heat up. I use a LM317 transistor to make a voltage regulator with a knob so i can vary the fan voltage on my two 120mm intake fans. If you want quiet you can try like four 80mm fans like I did. The 80mm fans are Panaflo L series that put out 24 CFM with only 21 dBA of noise. Also I have my fans sucking air through the rad they work better that way than trying to force the air through all the fins.

O