First Water Loop

[cartman82]

All,

I'm beginning my adventure into water cooling. My system is as follows:

Corsair 900d
ASUS Maximus V Extreme LGA 1155 Mobo
Intel i7 3770k CPU
16 gigs Corsair Vengeance RAM
2x EVGA GTX670 video cards
Corsair AX860i PSU
Crucial C300 120GB SSD
Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200 RPM Drive
DVD R/RW Optical Drive

The case came stock with the following fans that I will be utilizing for the time being:

3x Corsair AF120 fans for intake on the front
1x Corsair AF140 fan for exhaust on the back

I'm looking at purchasing the following for cooling:

Swiftech MCP655 Special Edition 12 VDC Pump With Speed Controller -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...e=product_info&cPath=59_201&products_id=33677

XSPC EX360 Copper Triple-Fan Radiator -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...t_info&cPath=59_457_667_671&products_id=32460

XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock for Intel Sockets (Intel) -
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/racpuwai.html

EK-RES X3 250 Reservoir -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_318_659&products_id=35998

Durelene PVC tubing 3/8in. ID 1/2in. OD by Saint-Gobain -
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/dupvctu3id1o.html

EK-PSC Fitting 12mm - G1/4 Black - Compression -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_346_365&products_id=27336

EK-PSC Adapter 45° G1/4 Black (To help make the bend from the radiator to the CPU and another for the bend at the bottom of the res to the CPU) -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_346_365&products_id=34423

Koolance QD3 Quick Disconnect No-Spill Coupling, Male Compression 10 x 16mm (3/8 x 5/8in) Black X2 -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...t_info&cPath=59_346_203_481&products_id=38129

Koolance QD3 Quick Disconnect No-Spill Coupling, Female Compression 10 x 16mm (3/8 x 5/8in) Black X2 -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...t_info&cPath=59_346_203_481&products_id=38127

Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition High Static Pressure 120mm Fan X3 -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata..._info&cPath=36_1130_49_1156&products_id=34316

OK, now that the parts list is laid out, my plan is as follows:

1. The loop will only cool my CPU for the time being. When I add in the video cards, an additional 480mm rad will be added as well.
2. I plan to install the 360mm rad at the top of the case with the inlet/outlet close to the 5.25" bay
3. I will connect a 45 to the out of the rad and run tubing to the CPU block.
4. I will then run tubing from the CPU block to the a 45 connected to the Res.
5. Tubing will run out of the bottom of the Res to the pump which will be installed in the bottom of the case
6. Tubing will run from the pump up the backside (hidden) of the case to the inlet of the rad
7. Close to the pump on the tubing that runs between the pump and the rad i will install the QDC's for draining.
8. The 3 Corsair SP120 fans will be installed on the rad at the top of the case, I'm not sure if these should be sandwiched between the rad and the case or if they should sandwich the rad between themselves and the case top. I'm also unsure about whether they should pull air into the case or exhaust air out.

This is my first foray into water cooling so any feed back, do's, don't's, pearls of wisdom, or advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

 

[GTXJackBauer]

Welcome to OCF!

Your lists looks good to an extent. You haven't told us what liquid and additives you will acquire. What delta temps are you aiming for? Are you going for the low FPI/low RPM setup? In other words silent operations? Or you don't care if it's noisy?

Great choice on case. It is very roomy.

 

[cartman82]

Well those would have all been great things to address in my initial post! Sorry about that!

In any event, with regards to fluid/additives, I'm considering 2 routes:

1. Mayhems Blood Red Concentrate with Distilled Water (Has Bio included)

or

2. Distilled Water with Mayhems Biocide Extreme

I've done a LOT of reading regarding the benefits of avoiding dyed fluid and going with just straight up distilled water with a kill coil or a biocide. I've also read a lot of information regarding Mayhems coming a long way with their dyed fluids and the fact that the Blood Red no longer contains the UV Pink dye which was notorious for staining/etc. I'm aware of the pros/cons and the added maintenance required with a dye fluid. I'm still on the fence and it's going to boil down to the look that I want to achieve and whether I'm willing to do the added work or not.

With regards to delta temps, I guess I don't really have a firm idea on this. I ultimately want to be able to overclock my 3770k to over 4.5 and keep the temps "very low." I guess that's what everyone wants right? Right now I have a Corsair H70 and my 4.3 OC hits upwards of 80 degrees.

Finally, I'm eventually going to aim for a quieter set up. That's the reasoning for the SP120 fans on the radiator. I read that I can go with a quiet operating, low RPM fan when you have a radiator that has a low FPI density. I think the XSPC rad that I chose has a fairly low FPI density. That being said, it isn't in the budget to replace the stock fans on the case just yet. That will come down the road.

 

[ATMINSIDE]

That's a 19fpi radiator which is mid to high. You'll want 10-12fpi for a truly quiet setup.

Something like an RX360 would be truly silent.

 

[cartman82]

I'm also kicking around the idea of going with a Primochill 240mm Colored Res and Colored tubing and using distilled water as opposed to using a dyed fluid. I'm not sure on the quality of the Primochill res/tubing. The primochill res also doesn't have the versatility of the port locations that the EK X3 res has.

 

[ATMINSIDE]

Go with Primochill LRT Advanced, its pretty much the best.

As for the res, there are a lot of good ones.

 

[cartman82]

If I skip the EK X3 Res and opt for a different one, I'd be looking for a colored Res. Granted I haven't done a lot of research on this option, are there other vendor's besides Primochill that make them?

 

[ATMINSIDE]

There are a few companies, check on frozencpu.com and performance-pcs.com to get some ideas on a res.

The other thing you could do is put a colored translucent film (like window tint) on the res to get the color you want.

 

[cartman82]

Excellent call on the tint. I never thought of that. I was really getting hung up on res options but if I can get the EK X3 res, take the tube and wrap it with red window tint, I think I'll be completely happy. That and I'll have the added benefit of running a clean fluid through the system and not having to worry about deposits, etc.

 

[ATMINSIDE]

Yep, clean is always better.

 

[cartman82]

OK, so I've also re-evaluated and decided to go with 1/2ID 3/4OD tubing as well.

Also, regarding the radiator, this is a cost point to me at this time. The RX360 rad is twice the price of the EX series rad. Is there a cheaper alternative with a lower density FPI? If not, will the EX360 still work well with the Corsair SP120 fans?

 

[GTXJackBauer]

Excellent call on the tint. I never thought of that. I was really getting hung up on res options but if I can get the EK X3 res, take the tube and wrap it with red window tint, I think I'll be completely happy. That and I'll have the added benefit of running a clean fluid through the system and not having to worry about deposits, etc.

I would go color tubing with Primochills Advanced LRT and a look at a colored reservoir or a LED lit reservoir.

Here's a few examples: Aqualis PRO, XSPC Photon 270

I believe those examples are fairly new in the market and haven't heard too much about them yet.

Also, regarding the radiator, this is a cost point to me at this time. The RX360 rad is twice the price of the EX series rad. Is there a cheaper alternative with a lower density FPI?

Take a look at the Swiftech MCR320 (11 FPI).

 

[cartman82]

After further research and reading up on the above suggestions, my cart has changed to the following. I'm getting ready to pull the trigger just looking for some last minute guidance/insight. Also, I'm getting some PT Nuke that doesn't show up in the cart and will use distilled water.

 

[Conumdrum]

PHN Nuke is the new one for distilled, Petra made it about 5 years ago. Mayhem makes a biocide, IanH makes one called "deadwater".

 

[cartman82]

Conumdrum, do you have a preference? I see the Mayhems biocide is readily available on Performance PCs where I'm ordering the rest.

 

[Conumdrum]

I am an old timer. Only Petras was avail back then. I'm sure Mayhems will be fine.

 

[Ironsmack]

Your tubing doesn't fit your QDC.

 

[cartman82]

Is there any particular reason it doesn't fit?

My tubing is 1/2 ID, 3/4 OD and my QDC's are Koolance QD4 with same ID/OD dimensions...

 

[Conumdrum]

I think IS is wrong, your barbs on the QD's are 1/2 OD right?

And why QD's? Because it's cool? Or for the drain? Drain is good, you ever see how big QD's are yet?

 

[Ajay57]

If by chance you are planning to use QDC's in your lines, then these would be a much better idea!! Why because these are designed for Extreme Flow water rates, where the ones you are looking at are at best OK, but each QDC has a certain water flow rating.

1, http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus...---34-OD-13-19mm--VL4N-M13-19S-pid-13138.html

I would go with the Male and Female of these, also they would be a perfect match for your Tubing as well.

2, http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...3-1900-RPM-Case-Fan--ITR-B12-3-pid-16667.html

As for fans these would work really well with any Radiator and super quite for case fans as well! But don't know if you can buy them there, and cheaper maybe than the Corsair ones!!

GL

Regards,

AJ.