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Required parts for custom water cooling

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Lone

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2015
Hi, let me first say that I am new to custom water cooling, so any little tips would be helpful. My CPU feels like it is getting a bit warm/hot at 70-80C at [email protected] (for example), and I am currently on an AIO water cooler using the Cooler Master 280L with push/pull config with 2 fans on each side of the radiator, but it seems it is still not enough to cool my CPU to my current level of acceptable temperatures. So now I just want to try a custom water cooling system of my own since I read that they are much better at cooling and also quietness. I have decided to go with EK products, I hear they're one of the best. My main problem is I would like to know if I have all the required parts, I have also added parts for a drain port/line for future uses. I am only planning to cool my CPU, I'm fine with my GPU temperatures atm.

Here's what I have in my cart:

CPU Block(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-supremacy-evo-elite-edition-intel-2011-3
Radiator(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-coolstream-xe-360-triple
Reservoir(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-res-x3-250
Pump(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-xtop-ddc-3-2-pwm-elite-plexi-incl-pump
Coolant(2): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-ekoolant-evo-uv-lime-green-premix-1l
Fans(5): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-vardar-f3-120-1850rpm -----I have 5 because I'm just buying 2 of them for my bottom fan mounts, the other 3 are the ones going on the radiator.
Tubing(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/tube-primochill-primoflextm-advanced-lrttm-12-7-9-5mm-crystal-clear-retail-3m
Compression fittings(10): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-acf-fitting-10-13mm-black-2 -----I think I only need 8 for everything, I got 10 just in case I need more.
ATX Bridging Plug(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-atx-bridging-plug-24-pin

Drain line:
Extenders(2): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-af-extender-6mm-m-m-black
T Splitter(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-af-t-splitter-3f-g1-4-black
Ball Valve(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-af-ball-valve-10mm-g1-4-black
Plug(1): https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-csq-plug-g1-4-for-ek-badge-black

That's all the parts that's in my cart, I would like to ask the water cooling experts here that have done this plenty of times and a confirmation if this is all I need. My plan is to go from the Pump to CPU, CPU to Radiator, Radiator to Reservoir, then back to the Pump. For my drain line/port, I was going to put that little M-M extender on the outlet of the pump(The line from pump to CPU), then put a T splitter on it, then one side would continue it's loop to the CPU. The 3rd side facing down would have another M-M extender on it, then put the ball valve on it so I can choose to close or open it, then finally put a plug into that hole just in case. When I'm going to drain, I'll just close the ball valve, then remove the plug and put one of those male plug things on it(Don't know the exact name of the fitting) to screw on then put a tubing on the other side of it, then when that's setup, I just open the valve to drain.

Everything here should be compatible, I have checked with EK and asked if my case will be compatible with all of this and they said it should and showed me some pictures with people with about the same setup. If you see anything that seems wrong or odd, please correct me. I wanted to do a fitting tight drain line because I didn't want a tube drain line to just move around anywhere it wants. I could use hard tubing for the drain or the whole system, but I didn't want to push my luck for my first time. I'm not looking to do anything extremely fancy because it is my first time and it is only for my CPU, so if it looks a bit odd, I'm fine with it for now until I get more experience in this. So let me know what you guys think and if this will work fine together and if I have everything I need. If there's anything you guys would like to know, I will try to answer as best and clearly as I can, thank you for your time.

My system spec:

i7 5930k
Asus Rampage V Extreme
NZXT Phantom 820 case
 
If you are planning to use all EK parts did you consider one of their pre assembled kits. You could probably get one of those and then add on a few extra pieces and end up spending less.

https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-kit-x360

Also, stay away from the coolant. Just use distilled water and either a kill coil and/or a biocide.
 
Right, that's one part I forgot to mention, sorry. I was originally going to go with the x360 kit, but I wanted to change a few things. The kit is basically individual parts put together in a box/kit anyways, so there's almost no difference in picking your own parts. So that's why I went to pick my own parts, I just picked them by following the items in the kit as best as I could but changed a few things. The kit also didn't include drain port parts/info, so I had to pick my own parts for that also, I just want to know if all of these parts is what I need. Like is it enough fittings, enough extenders, etc.
 
Looks like you have everything you need, plus a couple of extra fittings, which is always a good idea. Im personally fond of rotary 90 and 45 degree fitting adapters like https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-af-angled-45-g1-4-nickel-1 because sometimes the tubing just doesnt want to bend the way you want it to run.

Another personal preference, but at essentially the same price i would take the https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-xtop-revo-d5-pwm-incl-pump D5 pump over the ddc every single time. They are a bit bigger, and not as pretty, but they are quieter, less prone to overheating (d5 pumps are cooled by the water and require no airflow) and in a one block loop the D5's higher flow is going to beat out the ddc's higher head pressure.
 
Thanks for your reply! I did add a few extra fittings like 4 pieces of rotary 45 degree adapters and 2 pieces of 45x2 90 degree adapters just before you said that. So that the tubes will somewhat be facing the right direction and I won't have to do as many bends. I looked into the D5 pump real quick and it does seem to be better according to a lot of other people. It doesn't look as attractive as the square one, but it's not horribly bad looking, I'll change it in my cart, thank for the tip :)
 
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