Basic water cooling setup advice

[mlapaglia]

Hello! I want to move my build over to liquid cooling. I want to start basic with just the cpu. I have a CM 690 II case and a 1155 socket motherboard. I want to have a 2 x 120mm radiator at the top, possible a 1 x 120mm on the back if I need it. I want to be able to upgrade to cooling my GTX 760 and have a nice flow meter display/control in one of the 5.25" bays on the front.

Here is my current cart:
EK Supreme LTX Intel CPU Liquid Cooling Block - Acrylic CSQ (EK-Supreme LTX CSQ)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17480/ex-blc-1345/EK_...

Alphacool NexXxoS ST30 Full Copper Slim Profile Dual 120mm Radiator
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/15664/ex-rad-373/Alph...

XSPC Dual 5.25" Bay Reservoir / Pump Combo - D5 Vario Included
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16259/ex-pmp-197/XSPC...

PrimoChill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT Tubing 3/8"ID x 5/8" OD - Brilliant UV Blue (PFLEXA-58-B) - 10 feet
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17868/ex-tub-1600/Pri...

I've read that 3/8 x 5/8 is best for tight turns not kinking which is why I went with that. Can I get some feedback on these choices? It looks like everything will work together.

Here is my current build if anyone is interested:

https://imgur.com/a/KKQa4

I also see kits that containing similar pieces for almost half the price, what is the big difference here? The order above is $325 before shipping, but this one is only $170.. I see that it's using barb fittings where I've opted for compression fittings for everything listed above.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2...ter.html?tl=g30c83s137&id=R68Mbvg3&mv_pc=5848

 

[RGE]

D5 pump is more expensive, more powerful, (probably more reliable) than kit pump XSPC 750. Also the kit tubing will be brown with bad plasticizer leach. But there is $100 cost difference in the pump/res combo, that is main difference.

Kits often come a little cheaper, but in this one you are getting cheaper pump and tubing. Not that XSPC 750 is a bad pump.

 

[mlapaglia]

D5 pump is more expensive, more powerful, (probably more reliable) than kit pump XSPC 750. Also the kit tubing will be brown with bad plasticizer leach. But there is $100 cost difference in the pump/res combo, that is main difference.

Kits often come a little cheaper, but in this one you are getting cheaper pump and tubing. Not that XSPC 750 is a bad pump.

Yes reading through this forum's water cooling tutorial has brought that to my attention, all parts are not created equal. pulled the trigger on the parts, should be here this weekend, can't wait for my first time!

 

[caddi daddi]

why would you watercool a 760?
if you just want to that's fine, and a good reason, it's just that 760's will never NEED watercooling.

 

[caddi daddi]

never mind, looked at the rig, water on EVERYTHING, great build!!!!

 

[mlapaglia]

why would you watercool a 760?
if you just want to that's fine, and a good reason, it's just that 760's will never NEED watercooling.

Haha ya, water cooling is this build for the looks not so much the effect.

 

[caddi daddi]

one thing, primochill you have to order.
go to the big box store, buy 20 feet of the cheap clear stuff, plumb it up with the cheap stuff till you like what you see, then copy each piece of the cheap stuff in the primochill.

 

[mlapaglia]

Excellent idea! If laying out the tubing takes as much time and patience as the wiring did at least haha!

 

[GTXJackBauer]

One retail box of PrimoChill (10 ft.) should give you more than enough for any errors. Good choice on the pump. Should last you a while as long as you're not running it dry. Make sure to use some distilled water and some biocide. Nonetheless, keep us posted on your water cooling adventure and to OCFs.