Watercooling Rig Help

g14novak · May 29, 2007

First off, this will be my first water-cooled rig. I have read and understand the work and effort involved in setting one up. I need help pricing out parts and getting a decent rig set up. I dont care for a GPU waterblock, I just need the basics that will give me better temps than my Scythe Infinity. All help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

CGR · May 29, 2007

What is your budget for this project?

akkuma · May 29, 2007

Whats the price range you're looking at? I think the 2 main things to worry about is the cpu block and the radiator/fans and as long as your pump has a good flow/head. tubing shuold be a minimum of 3/8"... use the least amount of tubing with the least amount of bends and elevation changes as possible.

g14novak · May 29, 2007

I was thinking roughly 300-350 USD range. As far as I know, that can get me pretty decent gear. Im looking for more cooling than silent.

CGR · May 29, 2007

You can pretty much get top of the line for that.

Here are some suggestions..

CPU Block:

http://www.crazypc.com/products/apogee_gt-93031GT.html

or

http://www.crazypc.com/products/93052U.html

Radiator:

http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=192&cat=84&page=1

or

http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=193&cat=84&page=1

Depending on your space availability.

Tubing:

http://www.crazypc.com/products/93251.html

I only use Clearflex, while Tygon is clearer I feel the clearflex bends better.

As for pumps I have used both Enheim and Mag pumps and have had good results with my Mag 3. Make sure you get a quality pump as it is the heart of the system. It should also be the most expensive part. So dont be cheap here

This should give you a good idea and allow you to see other options..

samuknow · May 29, 2007

I can vouch for the TDX block.

With a BIPI I am getting 32 loaded on my X2 @ 2700

That is with my 7900 in the loop also.

g14novak · May 29, 2007

So it would only be around 150 tops for radiator, block and tubing? what about a pump?

If its going to be in that range, I want to knock my budget down to around 200 or 250 tops.

Also, if possible, I would like to be able to keep all the WC gear inside my case, I dont think it has room for a 3x120 radiator...

CGR · May 29, 2007

The rad and block would be a little under $100, the tubing maybe $15 depending on how many feet you get.. The pump will be somewhere near $75 - $100 depending on what you get.. Add some adapters and clamps for around $25

So all in all you should have no problem staying under $250. All depends on what you get.

Some pump options:

http://www.crazypc.com/products/9336.html

http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=175&cat=23&page=1

Crazy PC has a Hydor L35 for $47 but I dont know much about that pump.. It sure has a high gph though..

http://www.crazypc.com/products/hydor_l35-9339.html

You also need to decide whether to go t-line or res. I prefer the t-line setup myself.

g14novak · May 29, 2007

Would it be better to go 3/8 tubing or 1/2? I dont want to go overboard on size, but I want to be able to still do a good overclocking.

Also, I would like it to be a res setup.

CGR · May 29, 2007

1/2" ID

Also get a thick wall as it will cut down on kinks.. 3/4" OD or higher would be good.

Res setup will cost a tad more, but you should still be under budget.

g14novak · May 29, 2007

But wont thicker tubing cut down on the amount of water thats actually flowing through the tubes?

I read somewhere that theirs some sort of coil item that I can wrap around the tubing. Its meant to prevent kinking.

Automata · May 29, 2007

g14novak said:
But wont thicker tubing cut down on the amount of water thats actually flowing through the tubes?

No, because the pump should be 1/2 native. 3/8 inch adds more resistance in the loop. Now, if you had a 3/8 inch native pump and you converted it to 1/2 (with use of parts), then I think you would see no improvement.

g14novak · May 29, 2007

thideras said:
No, because the pump should be 1/2 native. 3/8 inch adds more resistance in the loop. Now, if you had a 3/8 inch native pump and you converted it to 1/2 (with use of parts), then I think you would see no improvement.

I see. So 1/2 for sure. But from what CGR was saying, I was thinking about having thinner tubing and the coils around it because thicker tubing means less flow.

I guess my way to state this is, is the 1/2 tubing measured by the diameter of the inside of the tube or the outside?

Automata · May 29, 2007

g14novak said:
I see. So 1/2 for sure. But from what CGR was saying, I was thinking about having thinner tubing and the coils around it because thicker tubing means less flow.

I guess my way to state this is, is the 1/2 tubing measured by the diameter of the inside of the tube or the outside?

Inner diameter.

Thick walled 1/2 ID (good stuff) is 3/4 OD.

akkuma · May 29, 2007

yea the bigger the better.. if you can do it go with 1/2", fwiw I built my water setup for about 150 bucks using a blackice radiator and I can't remember the waterblock off the top of my head (white water or something)... get a minimum of 10ft of tube (I wound up using 6ft, but had to use extra for trial and error). My pump is the via 1300 I think and I don't recomend it... it works well but it's loud and it had some leaks that I had to melt plastic to stop.
regardless at full load at 3.33ghz on an e4300 I'm at 50~51*

Automata · May 29, 2007

akkuma said:
yea the bigger the better.. if you can do it go with 1/2", fwiw I built my water setup for about 150 bucks using a blackice radiator and I can't remember the waterblock off the top of my head (white water or something)... get a minimum of 10ft of tube (I wound up using 6ft, but had to use extra for trial and error). My pump is the via 1300 I think and I don't recomend it... it works well but it's loud and it had some leaks that I had to melt plastic to stop.
regardless at full load at 3.33ghz on an e4300 I'm at 50~51*

Those CPU temps sound a little high. I'm at 39c at 3.2ghz....with 1 fan off on the rad and 2 on 50% volts.

g14novak · May 29, 2007

Ok, so. So far ive got:
Black Ice 1x120 http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=192&cat=84&page=1
TDX water-block http://www.crazypc.com/products/93052U.html
Hydor L35 Pump http://www.crazypc.com/products/hydor_l35-9339.html (going to test it out, if it doesnt work, i'll pick up another)
Swiftech MCRES-Micro Reservoir http://www.xoxide.com/swiftech-mcres-micro.html

Look decent?

It comes out to roughly 150 before shipping. Should I go higher on the radiator?

Automata · May 29, 2007

g14novak said:
Ok, so. So far ive got:
Black Ice 1x120 http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=192&cat=84&page=1
TDX water-block http://www.crazypc.com/products/93052U.html
Hydor L35 Pump http://www.crazypc.com/products/hydor_l35-9339.html (going to test it out, if it doesnt work, i'll pick up another)
Swiftech MCRES-Micro Reservoir http://www.xoxide.com/swiftech-mcres-micro.html

Look decent?

It comes out to roughly 150 before shipping. Should I go higher on the radiator?

Ok two things:

1) Get a bigger radiator man! lol
2) Get a different pump!

Try these:
MCP655 pump
120.2
120.3
Note: don't buy those there, too expensive, you can get it cheaper elsewhere

CGR · May 29, 2007

g14novak said:
I see. So 1/2 for sure. But from what CGR was saying, I was thinking about having thinner tubing and the coils around it because thicker tubing means less flow.

I guess my way to state this is, is the 1/2 tubing measured by the diameter of the inside of the tube or the outside?

No, thicker walls doesnt mean less flow.. The Inner diameter will still be 1/2" the outer diameter, the larger it is the thicker the wall of the tube.. The inner doesnt change..

Scroll down to tubing on this page..

http://www.crazypc.com/products/cooling/reservoirs.htm#tubing

You will see 1/2" ID x 3/4"OD and 1/2" ID x 5/8" OD. The only difference between those two tubes is the thickness of the wall.. The inside is the same..

As I said i dont know much about that Hydor pump, which is why i listed the D5 and Swiftec pumps first.

As for the 120.2 and 120.3 rads, they are definitely expensive, and a little uneccesary to me. I have a BIPro and it works very well.

akkuma · May 29, 2007

Get a radiator that utilizes 2 120 fans (just my suggestion) thats where 75% of your cooling comes from, your ability to cool the water rapidly.
Thideras... whats the e6400 clocked at stock? I know going from 1.8ghz to 3.33ghz on a e4300 tends to run hot and I'm close to being on par with others near my clock on an e4300...not sure if the e6400 runs cooler or starts at a higher ghz (thought it was like 2.2 or something stock).

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