Watercooling project

[]-[itman]

I'm going to be building a new rig and I've decided to go watercooling. I can't do a bong system because I don't have a lot of room to set one up so I was going for a radiator system completely in my case. Money is a factor and I was wondering how much a good radiator setup would cost. If it's too much then I guess I'm back to air cooling.

[ve6jhc]

I bought the Danger Dan Maze 2 water block ($50), A used car heater core ($4) a fountain pump ($20) Brass fittings, 3/8 tubing and assorted screws ($15) I also used a pair of 120 mm fans on my rad (1 in and 1 out) that I bought some time ago for $12 each..That makes my total less than $100 and it runs my TBird 1.4 at 32 under full load.

[cowanrg]

well, im looking to spend about $150-$200 on my whole setup, im doing a little more insane than ve6jhc though.

here is my parts list:

dangerden maze2: $50
500gph pump (overkill, but that's me!): $40 (onsale)
1 120mm sunon, 1 80mm sunon, grills, etc: $30
heater core: $7.50 (gotta love ebay!)
nylon reinforced kink free hose: $15
resevoir: $15

i still have various fittings, clamps, valves, etc.... to buy. they wont cost that much though. however, you can get the cost down a bit. the block is the priciest of all components. if you can make your own, or get the maze1 instead (its only $30 something i think), and the pump is a LITTLE pricey (for around $20 you can get a good one). and if you have fans laying around, those will work fine.

[ve6jhc]

Post your results when you get up and running.

[cowanrg]

you can count on that :-) i will also do a ton of pictures. it will be an interesting little thing. my main goal is silence...

the 120mm is a 35dba, and the 80mm is a 30dba. those will be the only 2 fans, plus powersupply fans, so i hope it will be pretty quiet. the pump is near silent, just a little hum, but the fans should cancel that.

[ve6jhc]

I mounted my fan in a 6" PVC res. As the pump is under water and there is a lit on the PVC I can only hear my pump if I really listen for it. My computer is so nice and quiet I went and bought myself a new set of speakers!!!!

[cowanrg]

yeah, im getting a 6x6x6 reservoir. pump will be in that, and setting on my carpet, behind computer desk... probably will drown out all the sound from that.

i dont get it, you mounted your fan in your resevoir? how does that work? should the 35dba and the 30dba fans be quiet enough? i want my system to sound like my roommate's dell system. it is SO quiet, you cant tell its on. anything will be good after my aircooling setup. (fans: 56dba, 45dba, 42dba, 40dba, and a 35dba) it is LOUD.

[]-[itman]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll be going with watercooling. I was hoping to keep it under $100 but I don't want to take any chances with the parts so I'll spend a little extra.

[cowanrg]

you can do it for under $100. that was my original plan, but i got a little extra cash, plus, i OVERDO everything. you should see the snowboard rack i just contructed, it can hold the weight of my jeep :-)

just think things through. a small pump will do fine. you can get some at petsmart really cheap! mine is awesome, and it was $40. for a smaller setup, you can easily get one for $20... and no shipping if you have a store close.

waterblocks are the only expense really. i can tell you of a site to get a panaflo 120mm for $5! so you can get away with spending $10 on fans. (i didnt get them because i wanted the REALL REALLY quiet ones. they cost a bit more). but under $100 is pretty easy. anything you can do by yourself, do it that way. for instance, if you have the tools, get some tupperware, drill the holes, silicone them all up, and boom, you have a resevoir for under $5! and if you do it right, it will work just as good as any other one.

Originally posted by ]-[itman
Thanks for the input guys. I'll be going with watercooling. I was hoping to keep it under $100 but I don't want to take any chances with the parts so I'll spend a little extra.

[Christoph]

My plan is to go to an army surplus store and get a huge tank to use as a reservoir for my bong, but bongs lose water appreciably.
As for the pump, I'd question the stability of too cheap a pump. There's a reason that you get that price. I recommend that you find a couple models that everyone would trust their lives with and then find the best price possible on them. Mine was a US$65 Eheim 1250, but you could readily go cheaper with no problem.
Other than that, I look forward to the pix from a fellow nut who puts water into his computer and runs it :mad:faster:mad: than it's made to run. :D :D :D

[cowanrg]

yeah, i dont have the option of a bong, because frankly, its way to dry of climate in colorado. you would have to fill it daily. too much risk.

also, im putting a lot of electronic failsafe measures on my computer. relays that cut computer power if pump fails, etc...

and quite frankly, i didnt care for the eheim pumps. way to expensive for what you get. there are much better out there. my pump for $40 carries a LIFETIME warranty, the eheim has a 2 year.

but many people like the eheims, so i guess they are decent. getting one for $19.99 might not be a good idea, but as long as you play it safe, things should work out. ill even have a temp censor on my resevoir, and trying to rig a flow sensor also.

[Christoph]

Do you mind starting a new thread on your failsafe measures? I need some and I'm not too electronically savvy. I've been having some trouble figuring out how to kill the comp automatically in case there's a leak while I'm gone etc...
Thanks.

[ve6jhc]

In my prior post I had a typo...My pump is in my res...not my fan!!

MBM has a plug in for auto shutdown if you hit a certain temp. Anybody tried it?

[AMDGuy]

Originally posted by ve6jhc
In my prior post I had a typo...My pump is in my res...not my fan!!

MBM has a plug in for auto shutdown if you hit a certain temp. Anybody tried it?

It's called Shut Down Now! and works great. I have it running on my system.

[.. AE 86 ..]

i can't find it in MBM version 509

[cowanrg]

Originally posted by AMDGuy


It's called Shut Down Now! and works great. I have it running on my system.

but im talking about water leaks, not temps. so, when water is detected, comp gets shut off before it even drips down to harm anything...

[AMDGuy]

Originally posted by cowanrg


but im talking about water leaks, not temps. so, when water is detected, comp gets shut off before it even drips down to harm anything...

If water leaks it won't matter if the comp is on or not it's still gonna cause you problems.

[jonnymooshoo]

I'm looking to redo my watercooled setup. I'll thinking Becooling's new Maxijet resevoir and pump with an Aquacoil and 2 120mm Panaflo's. Waterblock is a problem though. Anyone tried the Swiftech MCW462 or the new CPUFx Z4 Intercooler block? Which is better?