My first water cooling setup. On its way! :)

Ok so my parts are now on route to me (finally!). I was hoping to have my main rig W/C before the newyear but xmas set that back. Anyway it will be done before the summer and the heat hits so thats ok. This is my list:

Pump/Res: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/XSPC-Dual-750-Bay-Pump-Reservoir-Rev2-Multi-Fascia_939.html



Rad: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Black-Ice-GT-Stealth-360-Radiator_154.html



CPU block: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Supreme-LT-Intel-Plexi-77511561366_496.html



Rad fans: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Xigmatek-120mm-XLF-F1254-Blackline-1500RPM-White-LED_781.html



Hose fittings: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/14"-BSPP-12"-Hose-Tail-XSPC-Chrome_842.html



Hose clips: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/PrimoChill-UV-Red-PVC-Hose-Clip-34"-OD-10-Pack_391.html



Coolant x2: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Thermochill-EC6-Non-Conductive-Coolant-Clear_902.html



I also have around 6ft of 1/2" ID / 3/4" OD red semi-clear hose.

So what do you guys think of this setup?

I'm using a Arctic Cooling Freezer Extreme and right now with ambiant temps around 21c and prime running for 10mins all for cores are around 69c. This is on a Q9650 @ 4Ghz with 1.4Vcore. I'm hoping for a big improvement and maybe a 300-500mhz extra O/C

MMmmm. I've just noticed that the Rad doesn't mention anything about coming with fixings, just the fan screws. How will it mount to my HAF932? Normal fan screws or will I need to nip down my local hardware store for some nuts & bolts? Thanks

I'm not sure what screws come with that BI rad you have coming and how you plan to mount the radiator to the case. Do you plan to mount the rad to the fans and then the fans to the case or do you plan to mount the rad straight to the case then have the fans mounted to the rad on the interior side of the rad? You might or might not have to buy some screws for the mounting if you mount the second way I described. Whatever you do, make sure that your screws do not screw into the rad so far that they contact the tubes and puncture them.

I am planning on mounting the rad straight onto the inside off my HAF and having the fans mounted to the interior side of the RAD just like your second option. Yes I will be very carefull, thanks for the reminder.

Edit: Looks like my big "Bag -O- screws" could come in handy

No opinions on this setup?

I'm not experienced enough with watercooling to give an opinion on the full components. However I used a Black Ice Stealth 240 rad with my Q9650 at 4GHz @ 1.28v and didn't rate it that highly. With Noctua PF12 Fans the temperatures were roughly within a degree or two the same as with a lapped TRUE with the same fans in push/pull. I did manage to get it 6-7ºC lower with 2 Scythe Slipstream 1900 rpm fans but the noise was so bad at around 40dB I went back to air cooling. Maybe the 360 rad will give better results.

1.4v seems a lot for 4GHz?

Yeah 1.4vcore seems a lot to me too. I think my FSB termination voltage was to blame for my crashes at first. I will tweak some more when I get this W/C setup

i personally would have gone with this pump/res setup over that weaker pump built into the res.

XSPC Acrylic Dual 5.25” Reservoir + Swiftech MCP355

as well i would have opted for a thicker rad like a swiftech mcr320 or thicker.


and no need for coolants, distilled works the best and is much cheaper.


otherwise looks good.