First Build and lots of help needed

[bhk7594]

Ok so this is my first post here talking about my first watercooling build. I have read and read so its now time to make one giant post with redonkulous amounts of stuffs . So before I start listing parts and questions the general idea of the build is a two loops system. One loop will cool two 480 gtx and the second loop will cool cpu and mobo. That is where I started and now for where I ended up.

Parts for the system:
Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D
GPU: EVGA 480 GTX Superclocked Version (x2)
PSU: Antec TPQ-1200 1200W
CPU: Intel Core i7-930
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (OKGEAR 18" SATA 6 Gbps Cable, Straight to Right Angle W/Metal Latch, Silver, Backward Compatible with 3 Gbps and 1.5 Gbps)(Is that the right cable?)(x2)
Optical: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner

Ok so thats the hardware looking at that list does anyone see where I would need to buy any extra cables or adaptors? Also whats your opinion on the system itself?

Now for the water cooling parts list. As I said before I want to do two loops one for the CPU and MOBO and another for the 2 GPU's. So I am not sure how to set up a SLI watercooling setup so some help there would be nice but before I get to more questions let me list the parts.

Case: DD Double Wide Tower - 21 Black Series Edition
CPU Block: Sugggestions? I want to use 3/8 Compression fittings on this entire build.
GPU Block: Bitspower Black Freezer VG-NGTX480 GeForce 480 GTX VGA Liquid Cooling Block (x2)
NB/SB and Mosfets: Suggestions? I was only able to find stuff for the P6T and I am going to use the P6D (Make sure I can use 3/8 compression fittings please!)
Tubing: Tygon 2075 Ultra Chemical Resistant Tubing - 3/8" ID (5/8" OD) (How Many Feet You think?)
Pumps: I have zero idea when it comes to pumps I know I want a DC one so I can just hook it into my PSU but I am confused about fittings for them beacuse i want to use 3/8 ID compression fittings and I dont know how strong they need to be so help here would be nice!
Coolant: Suggestions? I want to use colors and I dont want to just used distilled water do you guys have a certian brand or amount for this build?
Rads: Black Ice GTX360 and Black Ice GTX480 (Figure if I am going to use such a big case might as well use large rads but to double check will these two fit into the double wide? also can I hook up 3/8 ID compression fittings on them because on danger den they only offer 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch)
Fittings: 3/8 ID 5/8 OD compression fittings, do you think thats the right choice for this build? also can someone help me figure out how many I am going to need?
Res: Bitspower 5.25 Bay Reservoir (x2 for the two loops)
Ok now onto questions
1) Is there something special I need to set up the SLI on my graphics cards?
2) The ones that I threw in when I was listing parts
3) FANS, any suggestions? they range from like 6 bucks to 30 bucks I got no idea which ones are good for water cooling and how many would I need for this system for Rads and fans in case. Also whats the deal with a push pull set up like what exactly is it?
4) Any other parts that I am missing or that you would suggest
5) Fan controller, If I have like 25 fans in the system how would I set up the controller that only has like 6 knobs
6) Power button for my case?
7) T-Line? should I put one in? If so, how because I read that it makes bleeding and filling super easy
Thanks a ton! so now help me!

 

[bhk7594]

http://www.mountainmods.com/ascension-mirror-black-powder-coat-original-top-p-488.html
This was the other case I was thinking about and then switching over to Thermochill PA 120.3 radiators to match with the case, opinions?

 

[m0r7if3r]

(OKGEAR 18" SATA 6 Gbps Cable, Straight to Right Angle W/Metal Latch, Silver, Backward Compatible with 3 Gbps and 1.5 Gbps)(Is that the right cable?)(x2)

looks right

Ok so thats the hardware looking at that list does anyone see where I would need to buy any extra cables or adaptors? Also whats your opinion on the system itself?

looks ok, but just sit down and write what you need for each one and make sure you have them. The psu will come with an ac cable and power cables for everything, you shouldn't need any splitters with that supply, but I'm not familiar with it specifically, so don't hold me to it.

Now for the water cooling parts list. As I said before I want to do two loops one for the CPU and MOBO and another for the 2 GPU's. So I am not sure how to set up a SLI watercooling setup so some help there would be nice but before I get to more questions let me list the parts.

consider a single loop unless you're gonna be doing heavy benching or something where you're running both the cpu and the gpu above about 80%, if its for gaming/general use, you're probably better off with one loop

CPU Block: Sugggestions? I want to use 3/8 Compression fittings on this entire build.

Single loop: aquacomputer kryos
Dual loop: ek supreme hf
check skinneelabs.com's reviews of the various blocks

GPU Block: Bitspower Black Freezer VG-NGTX480 GeForce 480 GTX VGA Liquid Cooling Block (x2)

You should wait on the skinneelabs review of gtx480 blocks, that one looked to me like it wasn't gonna perform well, but I have nothin to back that up

NB/SB and Mosfets: Suggestions? I was only able to find stuff for the P6T and I am going to use the P6D (Make sure I can use 3/8 compression fittings please!)

full cover or individual blocks?

Tubing: Tygon 2075 Ultra Chemical Resistant Tubing - 3/8" ID (5/8" OD) (How Many Feet You think?)

10-15ft should do it, better to have too much than too little. Any particular reason you want 3/8" over some bigger stuff which'll give you better flow?

Pumps: I have zero idea when it comes to pumps I know I want a DC one so I can just hook it into my PSU but I am confused about fittings for them beacuse i want to use 3/8 ID compression fittings and I dont know how strong they need to be so help here would be nice!

you looking for low noise, or is it not an issue?

Coolant: Suggestions? I want to use colors and I dont want to just used distilled water do you guys have a certian brand or amount for this build?

distilled water and PTNuke (the ph balanced one), anything else'll gunk up your loop

Rads: Black Ice GTX360 and Black Ice GTX480 (Figure if I am going to use such a big case might as well use large rads but to double check will these two fit into the double wide? also can I hook up 3/8 ID compression fittings on them because on danger den they only offer 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch)

this'll come in later, but be aware that these rads require high speed fans or they underperform other radiators with lower fpi's

Fittings: 3/8 ID 5/8 OD compression fittings, do you think thats the right choice for this build? also can someone help me figure out how many I am going to need?

2 per component you want to put them on, and some of them are gonna not fit, so be sure you get some of the 45deg ones for the tight spaces (like your cpu block). more on this once you're closer to finalized. Once again, why not thicker tubing?

Res: Bitspower 5.25 Bay Reservoir (x2 for the two loops)

consider one of the dual ones so that you save 2 bays...

1) Is there something special I need to set up the SLI on my graphics cards?

sli bridge that will connect to 2 things on the top and then one of the sli connectors to go between the water blocks...i can post a link if you need it.

2) The ones that I threw in when I was listing parts

think i got em all

3) FANS, any suggestions? they range from like 6 bucks to 30 bucks I got no idea which ones are good for water cooling and how many would I need for this system for Rads and fans in case. Also whats the deal with a push pull set up like what exactly is it?

well, for your rads, you'll need something higher speed. check out THIS guide from martin. pushpull is where you have one set of fans on each side of the radiator so that one set of fans is pulling air through the radiator and one set is pushing air in...not as much of a performance increase as using 2 radiators, but, depending on your setup, you will see some performance increase

4) Any other parts that I am missing or that you would suggest

nothing comes to mind...maybe a raid controller if there isn't on integrated into your board

5) Fan controller, If I have like 25 fans in the system how would I set up the controller that only has like 6 knobs

well, you can do dual fan controllers or get a nice high wattage one (but you fans would have to be lower wattage). look around on jab-tech, frozencpu, and performance-pcs. Also, checkout the lamptrons they're in my book.

6) Power button for my case?

Should have one unless there's something weird about your case, if so, radioshack? idk

7) T-Line? should I put one in? If so, how because I read that it makes bleeding and filling super easy

don't bother with it, you've got a res, reses are easier than tlines, tlines just allow slightly different performance appearently (i think its nominal personally...the ease is more than worth it)

Now, the real question, how much reading have you done? Do you understand dT? Do you know how to prep your loop before you assemble it? Have you read all the stickies here? How many worklogs have you read?

 

[bhk7594]

Thanks a ton for the redonkulously quick reply so
1) about splitters and stuffs what about the like 25 fans will my psu have enough cables to power them all or should i get some sort of cable to connect them also saw this: http://www.mountainmods.com/xstation-powerextension-male-version-red-p-588.html
that would also help with able management
2) I would want to stick with two loops to make sure the temps stay low, i mean how much temp diff would putting the gpu's in a diff loop create?
3) ek supreme hf thanks!
4) so are there any water blocks for the 480 gtx with reviews out right now because I plan on ordering parts within a few weeks so I want to make sure there is a good waterblock out there
5) I dont care if its individual or full cover, which one is better? any suggestions?
6) Noise is not really an issue but dont want a freakin turbine but not really going to a super quiet system
7) Fans for that rad with noise not really an issue?
8) Ok i want to do push pull so i would have the ones facing the inside of the case blowing on the rad and the ones facing the outside blowing towards the outside so sucking air away from the rad?
9) raid? i know its hard drive config stuffs but i dont really know much about it
10) can you link me to some fan controllers please and thank you
11) so without a t-line how do i fill
12) Two res is so i can have two color loops also if i had one res the temp would just become the same in both loops because the fluid would mix which could lower performance

also did you look at that second case?

THANKS

 

[m0r7if3r]

Thanks a ton for the redonkulously quick reply so
1) about splitters and stuffs what about the like 25 fans will my psu have enough cables to power them all or should i get some sort of cable to connect them also saw this: http://www.mountainmods.com/xstation-powerextension-male-version-red-p-588.html
that would also help with able management

probably won't have enough for 25 fans, but you may be able to daisychain the fans (i'm running 6 fans off a single molex from my psu right now, all daisy chained). You also should consider a fan controller for your rad fans if you go with the 360gtx and the 480gtx cause they need high speed fans

2) I would want to stick with two loops to make sure the temps stay low, i mean how much temp diff would putting the gpu's in a diff loop create?

it will keep your cpu temp lower in applications where both the cpu and gpu are being full utilized, otherwise you'll see higher temps by about 3c

3) ek supreme hf thanks!

waterblock pron

4) so are there any water blocks for the 480 gtx with reviews out right now because I plan on ordering parts within a few weeks so I want to make sure there is a good waterblock out there

the working thread for skinnee's review is here, he's got the data and he's doing the writeup now...it should be out in time. People are reporting good temps with the ek blocks though, and you really can't go wrong with EK, they might not win, but they definitely won't lose

5) I dont care if its individual or full cover, which one is better? any suggestions?

full cover is better, but if you can't find it you'll have to go individual, and those are pretty generic, you'll just have more tubing coming out of your board (personally, i think the individual ones look bad-a$$)

6) Noise is not really an issue but dont want a freakin turbine but not really going to a super quiet system

check out that fan review i posted, look at the panaflow and the san ace, and if you can stand the noise, the deltas

7) Fans for that rad with noise not really an issue?

personally, i like san ace's sound, but a lot of people use panaflows and ultra kazes...and the people who are deaf use deltas. There's a thread on this forum (here) where a guy built his own pwm controller for his fans, if that interests you, pwm lets your fans get nice and quiet but rev up real high when you need it (you have to do it manually, currently a friend and I are tossing back and forth ideas for a thermistor controller based on that design...)

8) Ok i want to do push pull so i would have the ones facing the inside of the case blowing on the rad and the ones facing the outside blowing towards the outside so sucking air away from the rad?

they should be blowing in the same direction, essentially one set of fans is helping the other move air all the way through the rad...not sure what sort of fans you'd need for this with your rad (I wonder if you could do it with gentle typhoons...but that's completely speculation), its a thick rad, but double fans...its an interesting concept

9) raid? i know its hard drive config stuffs but i dont really know much about it

bow down before the wikipedia!!!

10) can you link me to some fan controllers please and thank you

SURE! here here here and here. There are many more, but those are some...check out newegg too, I don't remember how to get to their fan controller page

11) so without a t-line how do i fill

This is evidence you needa do some reading. You fill the res, bump the pump, fill the res, bump the bump, fill the res, bump the pump, then, once you've got water in the loop you leave the pump running with the res full and let the bubbles work their way out. I do stress to you though, between now and the time when you order, read. A LOT. like, as much as you can. It will make it more fun for you when you finally get to do your build.

12) Two res is so i can have two color loops also if i had one res the temp would just become the same in both loops because the fluid would mix which could lower performance

no, i mean something like this. It takes up the same space (2 bays), but its split down the middle and so it save you the drive bays. Your call, either way will work. As for the coloring, use distilled water and led's, don't fall into the colored fluid trap, I've seen a bunch of people gunk up their blocks with that stuff.

also did you look at that second case?

yea...they both look out of my price range , but either one should do for some SERIOUS raddage.

THANKS

:flourishes grandly and disappears into the night:

 

[bhk7594]

Ok so
1) forgot to talk about tubbing and fittings i didnt really think about the size of tubing i just want to make sure the size i use will match the compression fittings because i want to use them for my whole system
2) so should i daisey chain them or use a power station?
3) if i only did one loop then there is no point in getting a redonkulous case to hold two giant rads? also two colored loops would look siicck
4) were you able to find anything for my board?
5) ok no t line but wont drainage be a hassale?
6) I think im going to just stick with two diff res to just keep my two loops seperate
7) AHHH which case!! i am leaning towards the second one since its from such a great brand and the danger den one is giant but the second one cant house a 4 120mm rad
8) waterblock pron?
9) i can not choose a fan at all there are too many choices

did i forget anything?
THANKS THANKS

 

[m0r7if3r]

Ok so
1) forgot to talk about tubbing and fittings i didnt really think about the size of tubing i just want to make sure the size i use will match the compression fittings because i want to use them for my whole system

yea, go with 1/2", its easier to find than 5/8" and also available in more colors at better prices

2) so should i daisey chain them or use a power station?

Your call, if they all have a male and female molex on them on them, no reason not to daisy chain, if they don't, you can either get adaptors or just use the power station, tbh, power station is probably cheaper.

3) if i only did one loop then there is no point in getting a redonkulous case to hold two giant rads? also two colored loops would look siicck

I've seen 3 different colored loops before...in THIS POST WHICH YOU SHOULD READ AND BOOKMARK...it does look pretty cool, just make sure you use colored tubing, not colored dye, it'll gunk you up

4) were you able to find anything for my board?

no, but tbh, i didn't look that hard, try a google search

5) ok no t line but wont drainage be a hassale?

nah, no more than normal, shut it down, pop the low point in your system (which, if you unmount it, could be your res, or you can open the top of the res if you get a res that does it) and wait with a bucket.

6) I think im going to just stick with two diff res to just keep my two loops seperate

Whatever works for you, with a 120.3 or 120.4 for each one, you should be fine on raddage, so I wouldn't be worried

7) AHHH which case!! i am leaning towards the second one since its from such a great brand and the danger den one is giant but the second one cant house a 4 120mm rad

Danger Den is a well respected brand...I hope you don't plan on moving this thing, cause once water's in it, it'll weigh a TON

8) waterblock pron?

I like the way the EK blocks look, and they perform well...its like porn for overclockers...

9) i can not choose a fan at all there are too many choices

go through, pick a couple off the graphs that you like, then listen all the way through the videos for those ones (i recommend higer resolution on youtube, it gives you higher sound quality), see if there are any you like/don't mind the sound of, if not, rinse and repeat till you've heard em all.

did i forget anything?

probably...i just don't know what

 

[bhk7594]

ok so
1) was unable to find colored tygon tubing and when you say 1/2 inch u mean ID or OD
2) Going to stick with danger den case because its awesome
3) how would i mount that power station?
4) will look for full cover if i can find otherwise will look for indivdual blocks but on frozen cpu they only had the T version and i have the D version do you think the T version blocks will fit?
5) ek hahaha
6) im working at a camp right now so getting this stuffs together is kinda hard due to lack of time so i will make another post as soon as i find the blocks for the board and then the fans
so would you be able to find colored tygon tubing? also do you think push pull on gtx rads will fit in the danger den case
PUMPS? thanks

 

[bhk7594]

Ok so I looked on newegg and frozen cpu and i was not able to find san ace, panaflow, or ultra kazes fans is there a special site that im missing?
EK ASUS X58:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10...ml?id=z2hrtXm5
EK ASUS MOSFETS:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/84...ml?id=z2hrtXm5
those are for p6t and im using the D version but i just have no idea if its different or not

 

[Conumdrum]

In the sttickies up top there is a list of many more US stores

 

[m0r7if3r]

ultra kaze

san ace

panaflow hs (there's a low speed one too)

I know what you're thinking, holy s***, those are expensive. to watercooling

 

[bhk7594]

alrighy thanks
m0r7if3r do they make led versions of ultra kuzes
also can you take a look at those questions that are posted two posts before you?
thanks

 

[evolvedpc]

(OKGEAR 18" SATA 6 Gbps Cable, Straight to Right Angle W/Metal Latch, Silver, Backward Compatible with 3 Gbps and 1.5 Gbps)(Is that the right cable?)(x2)

Personally, I find the right-angle SATA connectors to be a complete pain - they ALWAYS angle the wrong way. Either they angle from one drive, up toward the next drive and need to bend sharply over the next cable - or they angle from the mobo connector straight toward the backplate and either completely obscure the next connector down, or the cable has to bend sharply around the backplate. YMMV, but why, oh why don't they make 'em angle both directions???

Tubing: Tygon 2075 Ultra Chemical Resistant Tubing - 3/8" ID (5/8" OD) (How Many Feet You think?)

I use ID3/8" OD1/2" Tygon and I find that it is so flexible that the tube walls get sucked flat in the low-pressure parts of my loop. i.e. After all the blocks and just before the pump/res. This makes for some severe restriction and the more I pump, the flatter it is pulled.

Your tubing has thicker walls than mine, which should help with this, but you might find compatible compression fittings hard to come by. Most places where I live (England) sell either ID3/8" x OD1/2" or ID1/2" x OD3/4" - neither of which will fit your tubing.

So, make sure that you either find a ready supply of the right sized fittings, or go for barbs instead, which aren't so bothered about OD.

 

[Conumdrum]

ok so
1) was unable to find colored tygon tubing and when you say 1/2 inch u mean ID or OD
2) Going to stick with danger den case because its awesome
3) how would i mount that power station?
4) will look for full cover if i can find otherwise will look for indivdual blocks but on frozen cpu they only had the T version and i have the D version do you think the T version blocks will fit?
5) ek hahaha
6) im working at a camp right now so getting this stuffs together is kinda hard due to lack of time so i will make another post as soon as i find the blocks for the board and then the fans
so would you be able to find colored tygon tubing? also do you think push pull on gtx rads will fit in the danger den case
PUMPS? thanks

Tygon is silver or clear. Buy Primochill LRT if you want other colors.

We ALWAYS mean ID usually. But anytime it's a new person like you, we should always always mention ID and OD. 1/2 ID 3/4 OD is good stuff.

Power station? Power supply? fan controller?????

full cover... look at all the stores. I mentioned how to find all the stores in another post.

Will it fit in the case? Your best bet is to ask DD at their forums or open a ticket and you'll get an answer there.

Methinks your rushing it. There is a lot missing in what you should kinda know before buying and building.

 

[bhk7594]

Well the only part of my build that im missing now is my pump and then the SLI stuff for my card so if someone could help me with that, that would be great
decided to go with ultra kuze 3000 rpm fans even though im a bit upset about the no LED going to switch tubing to 1/2 ID 3/4 OD since it will give me better flow and the fittings will be easier to find
does anyone know if the p6T blocks will work on the D version of the mobo im using?
thank you

 

[bhk7594]

also for the board fittings if i were to buy a full board from EK would i also need to buy mosfets and NB/SB or would the full board do the trick?

 

[bhk7594]

https://www.sabrepc.com/p-289-evga-...hydro-copper-ftw-15gb-pci-express-20-x16.aspx
should i get one with a block already on it just to avoid the possibility of breaking it while installing the waterblock and having a broken card without a warrenty?

 

[bhk7594]

also for the rads i picked can i use fans that are 120x25 or do they need to be 120x38

 

[bhk7594]

i dont know where everyone went but i have been looking around all night and i am not sure if i should stick with the asus p6x58d premium or switch to the EVGA E760 CLASSIFIED
opinons?
(everyone COME BACK)

 

[Conumdrum]

Take your time. Most of these questions you should be able to figure out.