H2O cooling kit recommendations.

[Da Whip]

All right, I am ready to open the purse strings and invest in watercooling.

I have a full tower case that will suffice. I want a system that will do the following;

1. Be reliable
2. Be fairly quite
3. Fairly easy to set up
4. Need CPU and Video card capabilities
5. Cool system below 25C at load

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

[VashTheStampede]

Build one at DangerDen.com. Can't go wrong with the stuff they have their.

~Vash~

[Wicked Klown]

Take a look at www.2coolcomputer.com or www.dtekcustoms.safeshopper.com/index.htm?.676

[Da Whip]

Alrighty then, I checked out both systems, (2cool and Dtek) are they compatable w/ peltiers? If so to what wattage?

[Wicked Klown]

I had the 2Cool running with an 80watt Pelt and had three Cheap 80mm fans on top the radaitor and with a 800MHz Celeron O.C.ed to 920MHz I was getting a temp of 9C.

[FrozenInHI]

www.overclockershideout.com has great kits that do all you listed right there and more, they'll support a pelt if you want one , or not, works well both ways.

[Da Whip]

What PSU's will be good enough for 2 - 156watt Pelts?
I have 430watt Enermax PSU for the main system.

[res0r9lm]

Originally posted by Da Whip
What PSU's will be good enough for 2 - 156watt Pelts?
I have 430watt Enermax PSU for the main system.
those pelts draw 16a each 2 300 w psu should work

[ButcherUK]

Originally posted by res0r9lm

those pelts draw 16a each 2 300 w psu should work

If you mean 300W ATX psu they probably won't work well. You want a dedicated supply for that sort of thing - look for radio power supplies, they're usually rated at 13.8V and can be found up to 50 or 60A. You need about 35A.
Just out of interest, what waterblock are you planning to run the 2 156Ws on?

[res0r9lm]

Originally posted by ButcherUK


If you mean 300W ATX psu they probably won't work well. You want a dedicated supply for that sort of thing - look for radio power supplies, they're usually rated at 13.8V and can be found up to 50 or 60A. You need about 35A.
Just out of interest, what waterblock are you planning to run the 2 156Ws on?
if you were going to go that route might as well get 24v at least 25a supply and use 2 172watt pelt atleast they will fit on a wb with custom making it only 40mm compared to 50mm

[Wicked Klown]

You try and put them pelts on your PSU and your going to put to much stress on it. You want something where you can give it the voltage it needs and 12volts just won't cut it.

[res0r9lm]

ham radio power supply should work need around 18 volts

[FrozenInHI]

radio shack has a nice power supply for 118bucks, gotta order it online though.

[res0r9lm]

which one is it.I have 25a one but got right from store

[Da Whip]

Here is the watercooling systems I am considering;
http://www.2coolcomputer.com/images/kit1.jpg[/URL]

http://www.dangerden.com/test/images/Kits/kp3l.gif[/URL]

I am looking at the 172watt peltiers from danger den. Any comments?

[Da Whip]

Originally posted by Da Whip
Here is the watercooling systems I am considering;
http://www.2coolcomputer.com/images/kit1.jpg[/URL]

http://www.dangerden.com/test/images/Kits/kp3l.gif[/URL]

I am looking at the 172watt peltiers from danger den. Any comments?

Bump.

[FrozenInHI]

172watt will definitely cool a 1.2 processor very well, even over 2.1v it will still remain cool enough. You could go with a 156 and still be super cool.

[Wicked Klown]

Myself I like the one from 2Cool. Thats that one I bought awhile back. Will be using it again by the end of next week.

[res0r9lm]

dagerden all the way minus the dd cube better off with either heater core or blackice

[deathstar13]

good thing i actually read posts too!
i was gonna post this almost same question.
but i have a few differnt ideas.
http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/ is the koolance case im kinda considering with a 156 peltier+block about 236+shipping


or http://dtekcustoms.safeshopper.com/2/33.htm?676
this one! its even on sale! its about $200 /pelrtier +block+ shipping

my case will hold this system with a few mods :D
and actually my case stays nice and cool.
2x120 mm sunans
1 case fan
all chip sets , even video has heatsinks and fans also
so the kit would just set it off. plus i have alot invested in my case actually-fans+digi doc+decent paint job. was new 45 days ago anyhow
ive just reached as far as i can go with air cooling and it sounds like a vaccum cleanen as it is.

so my question to you is? the koolance case, or the kit?
i liek both. plus would have a warrenty with koolance. i see this as less headaches going this way.plus this way ill have a second case to put my current system back into when i upgrade. possably when 2000+xp get around $200-holding out and sweaten it!

but the kit ill get wackO cooling!
plus is a little cheaper.
better cooling since is 1/2" tubes and the pump is killer.

i can go to max $250
so if u see anything better than these 2 please link me.

[FrozenInHI]

personally, i think the koolance kit leaves a lot to be desired. if I were you, deathstar13, i'd definitely get a different setup. I'd more likely get individual components and build it myself. I dunno about the pelt setup, but for straight watercooling, i'd go with a Z4 waterblock from OCH, a blackice radiator, an eheim pump, any sort of reservoir you want, och has a pump/reservoir that works pretty well, the reservoir's definitely worth it, you could run the pump from it as well as a nice eheim/danner pump for backup protection, an aquasink for the video card from OCH as well. for a pelted setup, you have to remember you'll also be buying the insulation materials and the power supply to run the thing, the psu will more than likely be 100 bucks alone, so add that to any watercooling setup you buy. Koolance setups seem to be ok for just straight watercooling and not much voltage on the cpu, but for peltiers, i believe you'll need more power than that.

for the kit, it looks to be OK, but the block needs work, it's not looking to be a great block, i've already seen 2 posts this month on that block exactly, and it seems to not dissipate the heat into the water well enough. for about 30 bucks more, you can get the complete blizzard kit from OCH and it definitely has a great block, then you can spend more on a radiator, as it seems to be the weakest link in the blizzard kit, although it works well for me, to get to temps of 39c without my bong, with the bong though, i'm well below that.

[deathstar13]

https://www.overclockershideout.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=o&Product_Code=CK&Category_Code=WC is what i like there.
mainly couse the pump kick butt!
so does the water block also.
but really what do you think the actuall gph is ?
im doubting will do that, about half the stated gph is what ive read to expect. but even 250 gph is great.
i do like this sujjestion better than the kit i was looking at.
i also like a pre built resivour.

and is the risk of condensation high with a peltier system?
ive built this so far by hand i guess i shouldnt stop now and buy prebuilt. but a warranty sure will be handy when i get a leaky hose!
had to come back and edit this.lol
i have a second spare psu its a 300 wt generic that came with case. i use a A-1 400 wt currently so power isnt a prob!

[ButcherUK]

12v pumps in general suck, I'd feel much more comfortable with a decent eheim or danner.
The waterblock is ok but I've seen no real evidence as to it's performance either way, I was put off by their sales pitch ("copper alloy", wtf are they smoking, pure copper is better).
Go with the heavy duty with shroud rad in that kit if you get it - the others are hopelessly weak, the heavy duty is a heatercore so will cope with cpu plus pretty much any TEC.

Condensation with peltiers is a very serious risk, you need to insulate everything. It doesn't take much condensation to nuke your entire system.

[deathstar13]

you have a piont on the 12v pump.
http://dtekcustoms.safeshopper.com/2/33.htm?676
is the original set up ive been looking at.
uses a 110v i would say -danner 250 gph
and i believe it probly does 250 gph the way it looks.

and yes, i am reconsidering the peltier thing. too much a worry and hassle.to me i guess.

how about bleeding the system and using a resivour with this danner pump?
ive seen em hooked up with no resivour just the hoses and whats in the pump and radiator. sounds shaky to me id rather see a quart of water extra somewhere but im not good nor do i have the tools to make such a thing , ordering is possable tho.

[FrozenInHI]

well, i'll testify to the och pump's output, using 3/8 tubing i can squirt water across the room! lol! as far as the block, I can tell you in a comparison in my system the difference was 3c and that's it, so it's pretty much up to the buyer where they wanna buy the rest of the stuff, since shipping one time is much less than twice. pump's solid though, i assure you that, so long as you're not putting it on the floor and the computer on a table.

[deathstar13]

decisions decisions desisions !!!
as im sure you guys can tell i have never built or used a watercooling system. but my reading all watercooling articels i can find about it makes a big task seem small.
im actually very excited and cant wait to start testing the system for a 24-48 hour leak test uninstalled.
i have found in almost all cases of computers that if i build it myself it will be more expensive. but its always better parts and better perfomance.
plus the fact if i have a trouble spot its easier to track down since i know where and how every part works and what it should be doing.

[FrozenInHI]

I will definitely tell you it's not for the faint of heart to do, not that it's hard to put together, but if you worry a lot, then you'll be worried about it leaking all the time. It's not hard to get going, just have to have a bit of creativity and a sound mechanical aptitude. put it together and let it run for a day or so, and play with all the connections, moving the tubes around to try inducing a leak in them, (do all this with no computer hardware installed), then you should feel really confident about the system. prebuilt kits are very nice and do save a lot of time. most kits still require a lot of assembly so you won't be missing out on the installation of the major stuff, just won't have to mod the case for their installation. getting a kit with just the components is a great thing to do because you'll find better deals and discounts for groups of good components. And anything that seems to be a shortfall in the kit can usually be substituted out of the kit, that's what i'd do with an OCH kit, i'd substitute the radiator that comes with it for a larger radiator, that's the only weak link in the system.

[FerrariF50]

Originally posted by res0r9lm
dagerden all the way minus the dd cube better off with either heater core or blackice


the heater core is better then the cube? The cube has a lot of turns and bens in it..but it looks ok..

[MAXIMINA]

I've seen companies that sell these kits make you pay through the nose for a 250 gph pump... but on ebay, and a couple other places you can get a brand new 678gph pump for $35...

but if you really want a high power pump... try a boat pump... used for when it's raining and the boat starts to fill with water... for $55 you can get one that pumps 1000 gph... hehe... just something to think about...

I don't know anybody who has tried that for cpu cooling... but if you are into the large tubing/waterblocks and a large water container... try it! I'd love to find out how that improves performance...

Of course, for all I know, it's already been tried... the only problem I can see is that you might have to dedicate an old power supply to the pump, or use some kind of radioshack converter...

[res0r9lm]

Originally posted by MAXIMINA
I've seen companies that sell these kits make you pay through the nose for a 250 gph pump... but on ebay, and a couple other places you can get a brand new 678gph pump for $35...

but if you really want a high power pump... try a boat pump... used for when it's raining and the boat starts to fill with water... for $55 you can get one that pumps 1000 gph... hehe... just something to think about...

I don't know anybody who has tried that for cpu cooling... but if you are into the large tubing/waterblocks and a large water container... try it! I'd love to find out how that improves performance...

Of course, for all I know, it's already been tried... the only problem I can see is that you might have to dedicate an old power supply to the pump, or use some kind of radioshack converter...
those bilge pump are louder than aquarium pumps and are disgned for intermedate use need a pump that is rated for 100%
duty cycle if you are going to leave on 24/7

[Da Whip]

WOW, I did not anticipate this kind of response or exchange of information from my original post.
This is great. I am learning alot of things that, as a senior member, thought I had at least a working knowledge of.
Keep it coming!!

[Spleener]

IM an impulse buyer.. I bought the Z4 blizzard kit because I liked the look of the pump. I figured if it sucked , Id sell it on ebay and call it a lesson learned. I have the 1/2'' connectors on the new Z4 waterblock they have for sale.. Only think I would say bad about OCH is the delivery time was 4 weeks. It appears they are behind on orders.. No big deal in my mind. The pump kicks ass. It filled a gallon milk jug up very quickly.. (sorry I didnt time it) but I would say it was faster than 300 .. Its quiet too. it also looks nice. I did notice that it gets fairly warm after its on for more than 6 hours but I think thats a cost you pay for a resevoior pump.

Alot of people slam OCH because they do have a few shady buisness tactics they use and they really should drop that style of buisness. Its only going to hurt them. I would say however that the waterblock is made well. No leaks, spiral design.. No its not pure copper but my roommate who has a phd in heat transfer from UT-Austin says the difference between copper alloy and pure copper would be "pretty low" .. (he he refused to calculate it for me ;))

I was disappointed to see that Hoot did not get a Z4 waterblock from OCH to test against the Dangerden but to be honest, IF I worked at OCH, Id be a little skeptical too, seeing some of the hate threads here against them, Id worry about negative bias.

Bottom line is this.. THERE IS NO DATA saying the Danger Den Maze 2 is better or worse. (Least not that I can find)

One thing about the Z4 pump though.. it WILL NOT WORK WITH prestone, water wetter etc.. So if your going to go sub 0, you need another pump ( I saw you mention pelts)