My first water cooled rig, need help with part choices

Hi,

This rig is to cool down my cpu (for now) but eventually I'll get a gpu block too.

So here we go (site is Canadian, if prices seem high)

Pump: Danger Den DD-D5 12V DC http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....ctDetail.php&DisplayProductID=7765&SID=149720
(theres also the Danger Den DDC-12V Rev2 DC Pump at the same price)

Reservoir: Danger Den Single 5.25in Bay Reservoir (big enough?)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....ctDetail.php&DisplayProductID=8584&SID=149720

Radiator:HW Labs Black Ice® Xtreme Radiator
http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....ctDetail.php&DisplayProductID=7753&SID=149720

CPU block: Danger Den TDX Copper CPU Water Block for Intel 775
http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....ctDetail.php&DisplayProductID=7761&SID=149720

Chipset block (dunno if I need)
http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=258&cat=89&page=1

GPU block (expensive dunno if it's worth it)
http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=257&cat=89&page=1

Fittings:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....ctDetail.php&DisplayProductID=7746&SID=149720

Hose:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....ctDetail.php&DisplayProductID=8115&SID=149720
My rig:
Intel E6600 (overclocked at 3ghz on air right now, stable way higher but temp gets too crazy for my nerves)
Evga 680i Motherboard
XFX 8800GTX Video card
Corsair Dominator 6400 ram (2gigs)
2x 320gigs seagate 7200.10 HDs (raid 0)
Sound blasters Xfi extreme music
Thermaltake armor aluminum case
OCZ 700W power supply

Thx a lot for your help

Well for starters if you are cooling more than a CPU you need at least a 120.2 rad not a 120.1, stick with that brand though. I would not go with the DD TDX block I would go with a Swiftech Apogee or better yet a Swiftech Strom. I would skip the chipset block. I would eiter get a DD Maze4, DD Maze5 or Swiftech MCW60 block for the GPU. It is worth WCing the GPU. Mine went from 75C loaded to 45C loaded with a MCW60 (7800 GT SLI). If you are running SLI/Cross Fire I would consider a 120.3 rad. I personally perfer Masterkleer 7/16ID 5/8OD tubing. Don't forget clamps, use metal worm drive clamps w/o exception, no plastic clamps or zip ties.

Oh and BTW

^ do what he said.


the dual rad will help a lot. a single rad isn't enough.

Hi, thx for the fast replies.

The local shop where I usually buy my stuff doesn't have a million choices.

Here's another rad I could get http://www.memoryexpress.com/index....ctDetail.php&DisplayProductID=7738&SID=149720 It's more money, but if it's really worth it I guess I can go for that.

I'm also debating going for something smaller with just a CPU block. That's what I really want to OC anyways.

Also you said this cpu block ain't too good. Again I don't have a million choices here. I could get it at ncix
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=19770&vpn=Storm Waterblock&manufacture=Swiftech

Oh and as far as the GPU cooler goes, I was told that this is the only one that will support the 8800gtx so far. But again, I might go for something a little smaller and just get a cpu block for my first water cooling experimentation.

I have the TDX ( even got it @ mem express ) and love it

Why limit yourself to so few options? NCIX.com carries ThermoChill radiators I believe--although they are out of stock.

You can also try Kit-Tronics.com. Another is Bigfoot Computers. They seem to have a good selection and are located in Canada. I hope I am not simply sticking my foot in my mouth.

Cheers.

It looks like you're planning on spending a lot of money on watercooling there! Now I might be a bit more frugal than you but if I were in your position I'd just go with a little cheaper stuff that will allow you to o/c 98% as much as the really expensive gear for 1/3 the cost.

For one, you don't need to put down tons of money on a radiator. Just go and get a bonneville heatercore (I think it's year 77 with a/c). Perfect size for 2 120mm fans and quite honestly the difference between that $20 heatercore and a uber expensive one is going to be no more than 1-2C, though probably more like 1/2-1C. You don't need a shroud but they're easy to make out of sheet metal or tupperware containers. PS - the size requirements people have been mentioning for radiators seems a little inflated. A 2x120 heatercore easily handled my 3ghz Opteron, and sli 6800GTs a while back. The processor was @ 35C load, the video cards were @ 35-40C load.

You don't need a chipset block. If it worries you just mod a cheap heatsink for your chipset or buy an inexpensive 3rd party one. It's not really necessary.

As for the gpu cooler, if you want to spend that much then feel free but you can get a cooler for much less that only takes care of just the core, then slap on $5 worth of decent ramsinks on the ram and you've got cooling for your graphics card for 40 bucks instead of 100+.

For your tubing you should be able to find stuff in the $.50-$1 range that is => the almost $4/ft dangerden tubing. What comes to mind is the mcmaster tubing everyone raves about, but I'm not sure if they ship to Canada.

The reservoir isn't required but that's more of a personal preference. Some say they are easier than T-Lines, some say they are more difficult/loud.

The pump you have picked out is excellent. I highly recommend it.

There are some excellent Sanyo Denki fans out there for the radiator. 120x38mm and they undervolt very well, have tons of static pressure, and are relatively quiet. If you have access to the classifieds in the near future there's usually a thread in there with Sanyos for sale.

Best of luck!
Derek.

A car rad? o_0

Yeah you are right I will cut down and only water cool the cpu for my first setup. Still getting that pump so I can upgrade in the future.

For the rad the first one I chose was 60$ (canadian) but people told me it ain't enough

Abdoul said:

A car rad? o_0

Yeah you are right I will cut down and only water cool the cpu for my first setup. Still getting that pump so I can upgrade in the future.

For the rad the first one I chose was 60$ (canadian) but people told me it ain't enough

Click to expand...

Car rad's are a bit big.
A car's heater core is a lot more friendly to the size of components encountered in PC cooling.

Those are nice and cheap. $23 US for a '77 bonnivile heater core with AC.
Not to bad a price for a 120.2 rad in my oppinion.

What are you going for? MAximum cooling properties or quiet-tude?

I'm a WC n00b but learned enough from these fin forums that there are rads that go well with differnet setups. The tighterthe fins the more powerful the fan needed and thus louder...

if you really want quiet go with a 3 fan and run some yate loons on a fan controller, or if you dont mind spending some more and ALWAYS want quiet.. some Scythe Flex fans are uber quiet. (I cant hear mine running at all, have to put my hand on it to see if its running LOL) But thats the extreme end (and the fans are 15 bucks each)

Best best is a higher flow fan on a fan controller

don't care about noise (as long as it's reasonable) Running 4x 120mm fans + 3x 90mm fans right now (including cpu, power supply).

I was OC'ed to 3.15ghz but have been getting random reboots in F.E.A.R... So I went down to 3ghz.

Main reason to go for water is to OC higher.

I have no problems with an old Koolance case , Danger Den Maze 4 on the GPU , Danger Den TDX on the cpu and a Danger Den chipset cooler on the north bridge .

TDX was an important choice for me considering it's good low flow performance .