help me pick watercooling setup

muddocktor said:

The Microcenter links don't bring up anything.

As for your loop, I would stay away from the Koolance stuff and roll my own like your first setup. The PA120.3 is a damn fine radiator, but you can save money by going with the Swiftech MCR320-QP instead. And I would buy either the MCP655 variable instead of the 655-B as it pumps a little faster on setting 5 (read that the 655-B is preset at the setting 4 speed). Or go with an MCP355 with an XSPC top on it, which actually puts out more flow rate and pressure than the 655 vario. The Swiftech GTZ block is a great choice; have one myself. And the Swiftech micro res is a good choice from all I've heard, but I don't actually own one so I can't directly comment on it.

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axis01 said:

Try Petras, or Jab-Tech for all your WCing needs. While the may not be the absolutely cheapest places to get things, they have great prices, are VERY knowledgeable, and have FANTASTIC customer support.

Axis

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muddocktor said:

If you are going with a cpu only loop, like it seems that you are, the MCR320-QP will be more than sufficient for your needs. The PA120.3 is a better radiator, but you really don't need it for a cpu only loop and you can save a lot of money by getting the Swiftech. And the MCP355 with the XSPC top is what I just went with for a pump on my latest water loop (cooling a Q6600 also) and while it's a few dollars more for the combo than the MCP655 vario it is more compact, has better pressure and better flow rate according to the Martin's Liquid labs flowrate estimator spreadsheet. And I am very satisfied with the pump/top combo and it was very easy to mount inside the case. Now if you go with the XSPC res top (which you linked to in your post) for the MCP355, Martin's testing showed that to have slightly better flow rates than the XSPC top I went with and would alleviate the need for a separate reservoir in your loop too. So that would be another great choice as it would take care of both pump and reservoir in one compact unit. But either of the XSPC tops for the MCP355 will do you well for your pumping needs. Just choose whether you want the reservoir to be integrated into your pump and go without a separate res in the loop with the XSPC Res top or go with the XSPC top I linked and use the Swiftech Micro Res in your loop.

For tubing choices, I would recommend the 1/2" Tygon Silver Antimicrobial tubing if you can afford it (it's expensive) because the silver in it will inhibit microbe and algae growth without the need for adding toxic stuff to the lopp such as antifreeze. I would still run a little algaecide in it (available at fish shops or wal mart for added security though. If you can't afford the silver Tygon and you aren't worried about putting UV reactive crap in your loop to look cool, I would recommend either the 7/16 or 1/2" Tygon R3400 or the PrimoFlex Pro LRT Black Tubing instead. Both are opaque black and limit light getting to the fluid in your loop. And algae doesn't grow if it can't get light. One thing to note here: if you go with the 7/16 Tygon R3400, it is thin wall tubing and will collapse on the suction side of a strong pump. Use 1/2 X 3/4" tubing on the tubing feeding to the suction of your pump if possible. I ran into this problem on my main rig with the 7/16 R3400 and replaced that bit of tubing with the 1/2" Primochill between the reservoir and the Iwaki pump I am using in that loop.

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