The dragon gets wet

[thideras]

I was referred here to start a new thread for my case :p

I'm looking at cooling the hardware in my sig, including CPU and GPU. I don't care about RAM/motherboard.

Please remember that I haven't done watercooling since the original Apogee days, so my knowledge is outdated.



From reading around, it seems the Apogee GTX is one of the better blocks while being able to upgrade to i7 in the future if I want. The MCW60 still seems like one of the best blocks while the Fuzion seems like a nice alternative. Radiators is where I know almost nothing about; I'm looking to keep it quiet and decently cheap. The case I have ordered is not spaced for the Thermochill radiators, so those are out of the question.

Here is the case that should arrive shortly. (http://www.mountainmods.com/ascension-black-wrinkle-powder-coat-original-top-p-462.html)

I am willing to do mulitple radiators but NOT multiple loops. This loops will be made for large capacity, but I want to do it quietly. Cost isn't really a concern, but remember I did just drop $600 on a case :p

Any input is apprecaited, specifically with the pump and radiators.

[Spawn-Inc]

ok so for cooling that nicely and quietly your going to want either Feser or Thermochill rads. they work best with low speed fans (yates are great)

i reread that you can't use thermochill so the feser ones are just as good with silent fans. go with feser.





because you have the space i would get 2x 120mm rads or if there is room a quad 120mm. you could problably be safe with a triple 120mm but if you have the space, which you do, then you have the head room for overclocking.

as far as pumps your best bet is a Swiftech MCP355 with XSPC Res top. it performed the best according to martin's liquid lab.

the block you want is actually a Swiftech Apogee GTZ not X. X is the older one and not as good.

The swiftech MCW60 is still a good core only block and should work great for you.

[thideras]

so the feser ones are just as good with silent fans. go with feser. Feser, got it. Any places that you know carry it? My main places don't seem to have it...


because you have the space i would get 2x 120mm rads or if there is room a quad 120mm. you could problably be safe with a triple 120mm but if you have the space, which you do, then you have the head room for overclocking.I can do up to 3 triple 120mm radiators :)

as far as pumps your best bet is a Swiftech MCP355 with XSPC Res top. it performed the best according to martin's liquid lab.I was told to check out an Iwaki since I'm going to be pushing through at least 2 radiators.

the block you want is actually a Swiftech Apogee GTZ not X. X is the older one and not as good. Awesome, this is why I ask :p

The swiftech MCW60 is still a good core only block and should work great for you.Again, awesome, I'll probably grab a full cover "block" (ones that have the hole for a MCW60) for the card.



I also forgot to mention I'd like to try a res this time....suggestions?

[JamesXP]

Anything but the bay res' , they are said to be unreliable and enjoy leaking.

I like the dangerden tube res' (pretty its dangerden that makes them)

[jr1]

my money would go into a swiftec microres rev 1 or rev 2
they say rev 2 is easyer to bleed
for myselve i use 2 of the rev 1 ones and am 100% happy with them
rev 2 is found here http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcmirere.html
rev 1 is currently out of stock at petras

[thideras]

my money would go into a swiftec microres rev 1 or rev 2
they say rev 2 is easyer to bleed
for myselve i use 2 of the rev 1 ones and am 100% happy with them
rev 2 is found here http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcmirere.html
rev 1 is currently out of stock at petrasoooOOooo...that is sexy. I'll have to see where I can mount it and how much space I have.

[muddocktor]

Thiddy, I was busy earlier but now maybe I can respond to your post. Since you are going with an Ascension I would recommend getting 2 Swiftech MCR320 rads, cooling your vid card and cpu. And 2 Swifty rads will cost less than 1 Feser and the performance difference between them isn't much anyways. As for your cpu block, go with a Swiftech Apogee GTZ bolck, not the GTX. The GTZ is the latest and greatest Swiftech block and is a great cooling choice.

For a pump, I can recommend going a few ways. Since you have that humongous case you have plenty of room to mount an Iwaki MD20RZ and there is one for sale in the Classifieds for a decent price and I bet he will take a lower offer than he's got listed too. And you can control that with a relay card such as this Sunbeam 110V/220V AC Pump Relay Switch (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=439&products_id=2583), which is what I use on my Iwaki MD20. If you want to stick to 12v pumps, the MCP655 vario or the MCP355 with an XSPC top or XSPC Res top are the way to go. All 3 choices will be easily able to handle your loop. As for your gpu block, I love my MCW60, which keeps my 8800GTS at 40 C or under.

For your loop setup I would go this way:

Res>Pump>1 Rad>CPU>1 Rad>GPU>Res

That is basically the way I have my loop set up on my U2 case, except I'm using a PA120.3 and a Bonnie heater core.

[muddocktor]

Oh, and it's pricey, but MM also has a nice 3 bay res that is well built too. That's what I'm using in my case.

[thideras]

Thiddy, I was busy earlier but now maybe I can respond to your post. Since you are going with an Ascension I would recommend getting 2 Swiftech MCR320 rads, cooling your vid card and cpu. And 2 Swifty rads will cost less than 1 Feser and the performance difference between them isn't much anyways. As for your cpu block, go with a Swiftech Apogee GTZ bolck, not the GTX. The GTZ is the latest and greatest Swiftech block and is a great cooling choice.Holy crap Feser is expensive O.O

For the price of one Feser, I can get 3 of the triple swiftechs...and I might just do 3.

For a pump, I can recommend going a few ways. Since you have that humongous case you have plenty of room to mount an Iwaki MD20RZ and there is one for sale in the Classifieds for a decent price and I bet he will take a lower offer than he's got listed too. And you can control that with a relay card such as this Sunbeam 110V/220V AC Pump Relay Switch (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=439&products_id=2583), which is what I use on my Iwaki MD20. If you want to stick to 12v pumps, the MCP655 vario or the MCP355 with an XSPC top or XSPC Res top are the way to go. All 3 choices will be easily able to handle your loop. As for your gpu block, I love my MCW60, which keeps my 8800GTS at 40 C or under.I think I'm going to lean away from the Iwaki. I didn't realize it was AC powered, takes a lot more wiring to get it to work (I don't have a free pci slot either).

[atomic ferret]

2 Swiftech MCR320s will be plenty for your loop and will outperform a single Feser 120.3 rad for less money. The MCP355 with XSPC top will be plenty for your loop. You can get the res top too, which has the same good performance as the regular top, but reduces the tubing in your loop.

[exe163]

Why not go dual loops? but Ill leave that decision up to you.

Res, I have personal experience with swifty's microres v2 (1 more bottom port than v1) and DDC XSPC res top. Micro res comes with a quite impressive mounting kit, with a drill in hand you can bascially mount int anywayer in any direction. Since you are going with Iwaki I am not going to comment on the Res top.

IIRC, MM offers case panel that have TC PA mounting holes if you ahve the rad already.

g2g, to be continue....

[thideras]

Why not go dual loops? but Ill leave that decision up to you.Routing would get messy. I'd like to be able to keep it clean. I know I'm asking for a lot here, but I'm going to make it work :p

[Spawn-Inc]

i'm not sure what happened but i think my post was not posted...

2 Swiftech MCR320s will be plenty for your loop and will outperform a single Feser 120.3 rad for less money. The MCP355 with XSPC top will be plenty for your loop. You can get the res top too, which has the same good performance as the regular top, but reduces the tubing in your loop.
it has better performance as i recall it.

3 triples is overkill lol. then again i plan to get a second MCR320 for my video card so i don't mess with my cpu temps. its also on a MCR320. just a matter of space, which you have plenty.

but note that swiftech rads do better on medium speed fans vs low unlike the thermochill/feser rads. i have 6 high speed yates running at 5v's and they are barely audible

yes iwaki's will beat the swiftech pumps but you need ac and they are about twice as much, almost 3 times.


the XSPC res top (http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Acrylic-Reservoir-for-Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html) has the res built into it and works best.

as far as shops go the top 3 are Jab-tech (http://www.jab-tech.com/), Petra's (http://www.petrastechshop.com/), and sidewindercomputers (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/). i have dealt with the first 2 and both were great with prices and customer service.

[SheaGA]

don't forget Performance-pc's.com gr8 prices.

[muddocktor]

3 MCR320 rads is way overkilll for a cpu/1 gpu system, but if you want to go crossfire or SLI later on all you would have to do is add the second gpu to the loop. And with 2 MCR320 rad, the low or medium Yates will be plenty of fan. My hottest core on my
QX gets to the mid 40's at the highest @ 4.0 while crunching Seti and doesn't hardly break 50 C running OCCT and I am only running a triple TC and double fan heater core. I'm using low speed Yates on the TC and medium Yates on the heatercore (which isn't super efficient on a heatercore) and getting these temps. And the MCP355 with the XSPC res top will give plenty of pumping power for your loop and the res top also takes care of your reservoir needs too. And according to Martin's testing the res top is just so slightly more efficient than the regular XSPC top. I doubt that you would notice the difference at all in real life use though.

[thideras]

don't forget Performance-pc's.com gr8 prices.I'll compare with other companies. I like FrozenCPU, "2-3 days priority" is overnight because they are so close. :D

[exe163]

I'll compare with other companies. I like FrozenCPU, "2-3 days priority" is overnight because they are so close. :D

Frozen CPU = Tax + overpriced. But if you have the money, why do I bother.

Get one of these this (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6192/ex-res-127/EK-MultiOption_4_Port_RES_400_Rev_2_Liquid_Cooling_Re servoir.html).

Full size GPU block for easy SLI and tube routing. "full cover "block"" is unisink, basically air cool, so full cover is better

2 Fesser 360 will be suffice even if you go SLI or CF later. Also consider BIX if you use high speed fan. Buy some Fesser shrouds to further increase performance.

[thideras]

Frozen CPU = Tax + overpriced. But if you have the money, why do I bother.I wouldn't go as far as saying they are overpriced. Most of the time they have products that no other place has or has in stock. Also, when I'm looking for parts, they are competitive.

Full size GPU block for easy SLI and tube routing. "full cover "block"" is unisink, basically air cool, so full cover is betterWhen they get the "kinks" worked out with SLi/Crossfire, I'll consider it. Now before you comment, I have done both (dual 8800GTS G92's and 2/3 4850's) and had problems, workarounds for games, and it ran like crap where it mattered. Plus, WoW does not play well with SLi/Crossfire.

2 Fesser 360 will be suffice even if you go SLI or CF later. Also consider BIX if you use high speed fan. Buy some Fesser shrouds to further increase performance.2 fesser radiators are also over $300 ;)

[axis01]

With a Ascention case, it's VERY EASY to make dual loops look VERY CLEAN. I've seen some beautiful 2, 3, and even 4 loop setups look like a work of art inside them. You can google for pics. A pair of MCR320's would be the best bang/buck setup. The XSPC RX320 is a good low airflow rad that is gonna be close to the Fesser and TC rads. You could have ordered the Ascention with TC fan spacing if you would have thought about it ahead of time. Pumps are your choice as the 355 or 655 would work fine. A pair of 355's with XSPC reservior tops would be the bomb and was what was used in some of the multiloop setups I talked about.

Axis