Want to start WC but need help please

[killer12]

hey guys, i decided that i want to get water cooling. I want to only cool the cpu for i7 and i'm pretty much stuck on what to get. I don't know much about computers but gonna have a friend come over and help me but he's busy right now and i want to get everything ready, so far i been reading a lot of messages post by others and it really helpped me. I been looking at many different parts and everything and so far i'm leaning towards maybe the GTZ , swift tech with 2 fan rads, 355 pump and the top for it. But the problem is that i don't really know what to get like i'm totally confused on the fitting and barbs and stuff. So i would like to ask someone if they can help me link to everything that i will need to get the water cooling system working because i don't want find out that i'm missing certains barbs and stuff when i'm installing it with my friend =(. Anyways i would like someone to PLEASe help me link to everything i will need, Rads , pump , fan , fittings, tubes, res, etc (everything please) and also can you please specify how many i will need for certain items such as the fittings and stuff. Sorry for typing so much and thanks a lot for the person that can help me. I just want everything to be compatiable and i'm probably gonna install this on the Cosmos S case. Thanks a lot!

I am probably willing to spend up to mayb 200 ~ 300$ for this set up but i hope someone can reccomend as parts that are as cheap as possible but yet efficent if not it's okay. Thanks again

[Spawn-Inc]

welcome, since you seem to have done most of your homework here is a parts list on what i recommend for a i7 cpu loop to be overclocked. it has options for the rads FYI, you don't need all of them. pick one.

also read through this execellent water cooling guide recently written by a fellow member, hokiealumnus, well worth the read.

water cooling guide. (http://gilgameshreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:hokiealumnus&catid=40:overclocking-and-cooling&Itemid=86)

Pumps
Swiftech MCP355 (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swiftechmcp355.html) with XSPC Acrylic Reservoir for Laing DDC (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/xsacreforlad.html)


Triple 120mm
ThermoChill PA 120.3 (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/thpa3xra.html)
XSPC RX360 (http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-RX360-Triple-120mm-high-performance-radiator-pr-4384.html)
HW Labs Black Ice GTX360 (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/hwlablicegtb4.html)
Swiftech MCR320-QP (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo3xbl.html)
Feser X-Changer Triple 360 mm (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/fex360mmxtpe.html)

Double 120mm
Thermochill PA 120.2 (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/thpa2xhipera.html)
XSPC RX240 (http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-RX240-Dual-120mm-high-performance-radiator-pr-4383.html)
HW Labs Black Ice GTX240 (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/hwlablicegtb1.html)
Swiftech MCR220-QP (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo2x.html)
Feser X-Changer Triple 240 mm (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/fex24xtpera.html)

CPU blocks
Swiftech Apogee GTZ (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swapgtzexpew.html) - i7 mount (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swapforincoi.html)




Tubing

Various versions of tygon. with tygon it seems you can't go wrong.

Tygon (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/tubing.html)
i have experance with Clearflex 60, which i would not get.
right now i am using Masterkleer and love it.

Masterkleer 7/16"ID 5/8"OD (http://www.petrastechshop.com/7id5odmagepu.html)

Masterkleer 1/2"ID 3/4"OD (http://www.petrastechshop.com/1id3odmagepu.html)

pic any, up to you. i would get 10 feet to be safe.

Fittings

there are 2 styles of fittings, barbs + clamps and compression fittings. i think compression fittings, while they look nice, cost way to much. i haven't used them and thus can't say much on them.

if you go with barbs and clamps then You can use bits power or the stock ones that ship with the parts. it depends on who you order from but some may not include barbs for the rads.

Clamps you can use worm/gear style (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/brmihocl7int.html)*
there is also herbie clamps (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/heclnyhocl0t.html)*
* = those may not be the size you need, i am just showing what they look like.


Coolant

With dye:
Distilled water + i like the Feser View UV dyes (http://search.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=yhst-65556269779593&.autodone=nsearch.html&x=0&y=0&query=feser%20View%20UV%20Dye) and would only use them + PT Nuke (http://www.petrastechshop.com/pepcobi1.html) for a biocide

Without Dye, best choice:
Distilled Water + PT nuke PHN (http://www.petrastechshop.com/peptpcobi1.html) biocide


Fans

for fans i only get yate loons as they are cheap and quiet. they don't have the best possible quality, but they have been good to me and others for a long time.

Yate loon Medium Speed (http://www.jab-tech.com/YATE-LOON-120mm-Case-Fan-D12SM-12-Medium-Speed-pr-3770.html)

there is also low and high speed, i personally use high speed fans running at 5v so they are quiet.



thats all you need outside of what you will need for mounting things which is up to you on how it will be done.


everything is there accept for quantity. i will work on it later or let someone else post that info.

[killer12]

hmmm thank you very much for replying.. anyways i will probably go with the pump, res, and cpu block and probably the 1/2" ID / 3/4" OD tubing and mostly everything else you stated. I have a couple questions,
1. for the rad should i go for a 3 fan rad or 2 fan rad? i'm just doing a cpu loop, if i decide with the 3 fan rad will it fit inside my Cosmos S?
2. For the Tubing do i really need 10 FEET?
3. Since i'll go for the 1/2" ID / 3/4" tubing can someone please help me choose the correct size Fittings (probably barbs and clamps) and also the correct quantity for them? Since i never built a WC system i don't know how many i need so yup... Thanks guys.

[hokiealumnus]

Wow...phenomenal post and linkage there. Listen to Spawn, he knows what he's talking about. Also my first intra-post link, thanks Spawn...I'm so excited, and flattered!

killer - are you going for quiet, performance or both? Do you plan on overclocking? How far?

[hokiealumnus]

Oops, you got in there before I was done. After looking at some pics, I think you'll be able to fit a 3x120 in the top. You might have trouble with some of the thick ones though. Just depends on how much room there is above the board, haven't seen enough builds to say definitively though.

It's better to buy more tubing than you need when ordering online. Definitely don't want to mess a cut up and then run out and be stuck.

You'll need 2x barbs for each component. So, 2xrad, 2xres/pump (if you go with the XSPC res top), 2xblock. If you with a separate res & non-res top, you'll have to add 2x more for the pump.

Don't make barbs more complicated than you need to. Have a look over this page. Choose pretty much whatever you want that's G1/4 threading and says it's for 1/2" tubing.

[Spawn-Inc]

you don't NEED a triple rad, but i would get it as it's only 10 more (swiftech MCR series) and gives you alot of room for overclocks and or quietness.

as for the 10 feet, it extra just incase. i would be super ****ed to be short. i only used about 6 feet for each of my loops but i got 10 feet each time as it never hurts to have extra.

here is what i would get if i went i7.


1x Swiftech Apogee GTZ (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swapgtzexpew.html)
1x i7 Mount (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swapforincoi.html)
1x Swiftech MCR320-QP (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo3xbl.html)
1x Swiftech MCP355 (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swiftechmcp355.html)
1x XSPC Acrylic Reservoir for Laing DDC (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/xsacreforlad.html)
10x (sold per foot) Masterkleer 1/2"ID 3/4"OD (http://www.petrastechshop.com/1id3odmagepu.html)
4x Bitspower G 1/4in. Silver Shining Fitting for 1/2in. Tubing (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/big1sishfifo.html)
6x Breeze Miniature Hose Clamp 7/16 in. to 25/32 in. (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/brmihocl7int1.html)


1x PT nuke PHN (http://www.petrastechshop.com/peptpcobi1.html)
you need to buy some distilled water from the supermarket to mix with the pt nuke (biocide) add 4 drops for your loop.
3x or 6x 120mm Yate Loon D12SM-12 Case Fan - medium speed (http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa1.html)


pretty sure i got everything in there.

[killer12]

Thank you so much both of you for quick responses and help, especially the list that you provided. I guess i'll probably go with this set up and i'll let you guys know what comes up =). Thank you again so much.

Edit: actually 1 question if i go with the 3 fan rad should i get like any screws or anything? i seen people mount the radiator at the top of the Cosmos S case internally. Do i need to get anything to set that up? Is it easy to mount it up there? same goes with the other WC parts.

[Spawn-Inc]

i'm not sure how people mount the rad to the case but the rad uses m3.5 OR 6-32 thread sized screws. but you have to get the right size or else you can puncture and ruin the rad. i own 2 of the rads i linked to in my list above and i have the same fans with a wire grill. i use 1 1/4" length screws. what i also do is get 2" screws then cut them down to the size i need. but as i said make sure not to screw down into the rads to far or you will damage it.

i know a triple fits in the top of the cosmos s case with 3 fans on the bottom, but i don't know about the top.

just google "cosmos s water cooled" to see what some have done.

as with all new builds, post pics!

[killer12]

alright, thank you so much. The Yate loon fans should i buy the screws for them? petras offer options for buying the screws or should i just use my own. Also petra's shipping is so expensive O_o oh wells, noticed it was like 10+ already for just the tubing and stuff =/.


Another important question when i install the things : I read some forums and threads about leak testing and everything about how you can use the power supply by connecting like the green and black wires on the PSU? Where can i find one of those "jumper wires"? i'm pretty worried about leaks so i want to do a leak test before i install all my components. THANK YOU.

[hokiealumnus]

Re: Fans - it's up to you. If you don't get them from Petras, you'll need to get them somewhere else. If they're not charging a ridiculous amount, I'd just add them. If they are, any Lowe's or Home Depot should have what you need.

Re: Wire - there is no special wire needed, just literally a piece of wire. It won't have much running through it. Here are some pictures on how to do it (http://www.theraptorpit.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1972).

[killer12]

Thank you very much for the help. I'll let you guys know if i need anymore help. Thanks

[Conumdrum]

alright, thank you so much. The Yate loon fans should i buy the screws for them? petras offer options for buying the screws or should i just use my own. Also petra's shipping is so expensive O_o oh wells, noticed it was like 10+ already for just the tubing and stuff =/.


Another important question when i install the things : I read some forums and threads about leak testing and everything about how you can use the power supply by connecting like the green and black wires on the PSU? Where can i find one of those "jumper wires"? i'm pretty worried about leaks so i want to do a leak test before i install all my components. THANK YOU.

Here's something for what to do once it's all in your hands.
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=312743

[Spawn-Inc]

Re: Fans - it's up to you. If you don't get them from Petras, you'll need to get them somewhere else. If they're not charging a ridiculous amount, I'd just add them. If they are, any Lowe's or Home Depot should have what you need.
i believe the screws he is talking about are the ones that hold the fan grills on.

Re: Wire - there is no special wire needed, just literally a piece of wire. It won't have much running through it. Here are some pictures on how to do it (http://www.theraptorpit.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1972).

will i fully agree with you, the premade jumper only costs $3. it leaves no room for error either.

alright, thank you so much. The Yate loon fans should i buy the screws for them? petras offer options for buying the screws or should i just use my own. Also petra's shipping is so expensive O_o oh wells, noticed it was like 10+ already for just the tubing and stuff =/.

you can get them but you can also use longer screws to go right through the fan grill and fans. speaking of which you may want to get fan grills, i didn't add them as i wasn't sure.

Another important question when i install the things : I read some forums and threads about leak testing and everything about how you can use the power supply by connecting like the green and black wires on the PSU? Where can i find one of those "jumper wires"? i'm pretty worried about leaks so i want to do a leak test before i install all my components. THANK YOU.

do as above or buy the jumper, http://www.petrastechshop.com/atxposubyad.html

[killer12]

Thank you so much for the link to the jumper =) what i need also for all those that are currently trying to help me =). Hmm... are fan grills necessary i'm planning to mount the rad on the inside of the case or should i still get em anyways?

[Spawn-Inc]

that's why i wasn't sure to list them. with my setup i need fan grills so i don't accidentally cut my finger or most likely break the fan blades.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4224/img0206g.jpg
^^my rig to show you the need for the grills.

but since you wanna go internal don't worry about it.

[hokiealumnus]

Woah...I didn't even know they made such a pre-made jumper thingy. Learn something new every day.

Agreed with no grills on internal mounting. I use Ultra High Speed Panaflo fans (read: overkill) and would surely chop a fingertip off if I went grill-less.

[killer12]

lol... guess i might just go with the grills "just in case" don't wanna cut myself and it's cheap so doesn't really matter. Guess that's all the help i need for now until i actually receive my things probably next week or the week after. Thanks for all the help for now and i'll probably be back when i'm ready for this. THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP GUYS =)

[Spawn-Inc]

no problem, read the guide(s) to avoid problems. if you have any questions just ask or send a pm. don't want an avoidable mistake to turn you off of water.

[killer12]

Nevermind. Thanks guys.