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Thoughts on Water cooling my pc.

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GIXXERGUY6

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Location
Northwest Ohio
Liquid Cooling thoughts

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8...-_no_nozzles_-_EX2-750BK-V2.html?tl=c83s138b4

or

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...Black_EX2-1050BK_No_Nozzles.html?tl=c83s138b4

- Cpu block http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9...erblock_-_Socket_LGA_1366.html?tl=c323s835b33


Gpu block http://www.xoxide.com/swiftech-mcw60-vga-water-block.html


Would you guys recommend chipset/mosfet w.c. as well? What about the ram and will the ram coolers work if I fill all slots with sticks?

How much will my temps drop now? Load I’m at 77-80c right now with room temp around 72-73f
 
This thread would be better suited in the watercooling forum...

I recently got my WC system up and running, and got a 20 degree drop in load temps over a Tuniq Tower cooler. This was on a Q6600... but only with a 120x2 radiator.

I don't think chipset/mosfet waterblocks are worth it, unless you plan extreme over clocks... they will add some restriction to your loop. Ditto with ram coolers.

Can't comment on the koolance stuff, will let the more experienced people answer.
 
I have yet to see any kit get a positive review on here.

From what i've read mosfet blocks are regarded as useless due to mosfets both being low heat output and capable of withstanding extremely high heat (100*c or so, i believe) without issue.
Most chipsets don't put out that much heat, with some nVidia chipsets and the X58 chipset as exceptions. Even then, a chipset block is generally very restrictive and not that great of an idea unless you're overclocking the hell out of it.

Ram coolers aren't generally useful either, as ram doesn't get that hot unless you're over volting it a good bit (or have no case airflow at all). and ram blocks are quite restrictive too.
 
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Please don't. In a year or so you'll get rid of it all due to issues. Build your own loop. I almost did the same thing your looking at. Thankfully I had 3 months to learn before ordering or deciding.

I post my massive word file for your benefit. Read, learn, then ask in the proper forum for watercooling. We''l help, but you need to do your homework. Once it's at your door with $100's of parts, your on your own.
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Us guys have done the WC thing, there are basics you gotta know. Take a look, don't take it as a diss on you or a rebuttal, look at as a friend saying "Dude, you gotta know what to say and how to communicate".
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CPU HS $65
GPU HS and air HS for vram and mosfets $95, full cover block, $100-$200
Radiator $60 min, up to $130
Pump $50 +
Resiviour $25
Hose, some barbs and clamps etc (min $25, more like $35)
Fans $15-30

I went top notch and spent close to $600 to cool my CPU and GPU.
First you gotta learn about WC. It's not like walking into Best Buy.
Spend a while (weeks is best for your sanity) at these links.
Look at the hundreds of loops close to your case and components in the stickies, read a couple 50 or so threads over the next week or so, you'll be on the ball to make the right choices and by then know how to put it together.
Not 'Roket Sience', but basic knowledge is required.
And you should spend a few hours on the listed sites reading threads. It's how we learn. Once the goodies show up on your doorstep your on your own.
For your benefit please spend a few days reading a LOT. At the busiest places for WC masters. Guys who have done it for YEARS at OC Forums and xtreme forums. It took me a while (I was OCing on air, aftermarket stuff, bios settings, best chipsets etc etc) to learn the language and the tricks to a easy install.

Don't expect miracles or SUPER DOOPER over clocks. What you will get is a quiet system that can handle OC to the max of your hardware IF you buy quality and buy smart. And minor maintenance too, a bonus for the water cooler.

Also while there please read on case mods etc. The radiators are not for small cases, pumps and hose routing, wire management and other things are important. Google your planned case and the word water-cooled in one line. You might get lucky. Look here too…. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=223835
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Edit: The next paragraph was from 2008. With the advent of the HOT i7 and bigger GPU's, it has changed. A 220 size MIN rad for an i7, you want big overclocks, better go 320 sized rad.
................................

IF you just cool your CPU and your NB if you want, you can get by with a 120.2 sized radiator (RAD). And MAYBE fit in inside depending on your mod skillz. You want to cool your GPU too, you'll need a 120.3 sized rad, and it probably won't fit inside. The rear external rad really works great. No matter what your adding 10lbs to your PC.

Once you got an idea of what is good/bad then start getting your system for WC put together and we'll be glad to help.
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Cleaning a loop, not a new loop: I do this once a year, I drain and refill at 6 months, the next time I do this……
Wash hands very well, getting rid of hand oils.
For pumps and blocks, fittings, clamps, acrylic res/block parts.... not hose, tear it to smallest pieces, put in a bowl, heat water up not to boiling add 10% vinegar, when hot, pour over parts. Rinse in 10 min or so. Put aside.
The bocks will probably have some black oxidation. Take the copper parts out of the pile of parts you took out of the water. Dry well and pour ketchup on them, and set aside. Only the copper parts need this.
Rad cleaning: fill with very almost boiling hot water. Let sit 10 minutes, drain half out and shake for 5 min. Repeat till liquid is clean.
All the pump, block, fittings, and clamps, inspect, get in the tiniest corners with a tooth brush. Kind of meditative, time consuming, you learn a lot about o-ring size, how it all feels. Run a rag using a coat hanger and dish soap through the tubing, rinse well.
Rinse all the parts and hose with distilled, dry then really dry with an air compressor (nice extra step to get rid of water spots). Don’t need to dry the inside of the hose.
Now on to the copper parts, they should have been soaking an hour or two. A toothbrush and ketchup should clean much of the oxidation. It probably won’t be like new, but pretty darn good. Rinse, dry, and blow the parts.
That’s it.
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Benching software and such is very varied. I use these for each purpose:
These are pretty standard and used by many.
Monitoring the PC temps overall: HWmonitor aka hardware monitor
CPUZ for CPU info
GPUZ for GPU info
CPU only: RealTemp
GPU only: ATI Tool, I have a Nivida GTX280, so it works on Nvidia

Loading/benching tools:
CPU loaders: Prime95 and OCCT
GPU Loaders: ATI Tool and the best one is Furmark, nothing pushes the GPU harder right now.
Benching for overall graphics/gaming performance is 3DMark06
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Guides
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=282232 Pretty up to date info and buying guide
http://gilgameshreviews.com/index.p...s&catid=40:overclocking-and-cooling&Itemid=86 Another good guide
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=312743 What to do once all the stuff is in the door
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=223835 Many build logs on MANY cases, great learning tool.

My latest rig:
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=604016

Forums
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/index.php? Not a noob site, but great stickies
http://www.ocforums.com/ My fav, good peeps, know their stuff, less hardcore
http://www.over-clock.com/ivb/inde [...] opic=20277 A GREAT Europe site
http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/ Decent site

Tests on equipment, not reviews, truly scientific tests
http://translate.google.com/transl [...] n&ie=UTF-8 Info on rad testing
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=220593 More rad testing
http://skinneelabs.com/ Host for Martins lab and some newer tests
http://www.skinneelabs.com/MartinsLiquidLab/ Test results, very technical


Stores
http://www.dangerden.com
http://www.petrastechshop.com/
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/
http://www.jab-tech.com/
http://www.performance-pcs.com
http://www.frozencpu.com/
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All you need is a new Air heatsink for $50 or so. A basic 'good' CPU only watercooling setup thats better than a great air cooled heatsink will set you back about $200, maybe a bit less. That's not the great stuff, but wayyy better than any TT stuff.

A proper WC loop of top parts starts here for a GREAT CPU loop.
A pump for watercooling that you can keep for a longgg time will set you back about $70+. A rad you can build on is about $60, up to $130. A good CPU block, $60. A res, $25+. Hose etc 30+.

You could benefit BIG time for watercooling the GPU's. Noise is gone and GPU's scream. If your gonna do the GPU's, might as well to the CPU too. But now we are talking over $500 very easily. Depending on the GPU's heatload, you might need TWO rads and possibly a fully second loop. Price really climbs then.

Please ohh please DON'T think of buying a Thermaltake kit. I can put you on many forums where every single one of the hundreds of watercoolers will tell you please don't. It's crap.

The TT kit you linked to will reduce your temps on the CPU. It's only a 120x2 size rad, a very inefficient one at that. It, just by physics can't handle the heat from the GPU's added to the loop. Impossible. The TT pump isn't known to be powerful, and the teeny hose won't help flow rates when you attempt to add any more blocks to it.

You DON'T need a watercooling loop. You need a better heatsink and probably better case airflow due to the GPU's. Modern hobby cases have more than two fans. If they are 80mm fans on your case you really really need a new case.

For support and help on getting a new air cooler, learning about watercooling, and maybe a new case, here is a buncha links. OC Forums is my home forum, and a bunch of great folks there.
 
This thread would be better suited in the watercooling forum...

I recently got my WC system up and running, and got a 20 degree drop in load temps over a Tuniq Tower cooler. This was on a Q6600... but only with a 120x2 radiator.

I don't think chipset/mosfet waterblocks are worth it, unless you plan extreme over clocks... they will add some restriction to your loop. Ditto with ram coolers.

Can't comment on the koolance stuff, will let the more experienced people answer.

dam it thought i put it in there..



my bad
 
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