I got $350 bucks to spend on watercooling, and I need help.

[michaelzhao]

-Thermochill PA 120.3 radiator

-DDC-12v Rev.2 pump with Radiical "Turbo-head" top.

-EK GPU waterblock

-Swiftech Apogee CPU block

 

Tubing (size and brand) to taste- personally, I'm fond of black Tygon R-3400 3/8" stretched over 1/2" barbs but it's expensive and cranky to install, so you're choice may vary.

Rez or t-line- again a personal preference.

I like reservoirs for the ease of filling/bleeding.

Fans...the quieter the better.

 

Not sure if this stuff fits the budget if purchased new but combing the classifieds can save you a lot of money if you're diligent and decisive.

 

The Radiical head is almost pointless in the US. It involves shipping from Australia. The quote I got from them when I was considering buying was 45 USD Shipped.

 

You can get a DDC Rev 2. from Performance PC's with a Alphacool head included or just an alphacool head for 30 bucks. The alphacool head performances the same from what I've heard.

 

I'm personally a Swiftech fan. However, the performance between the TDX and the Apogee yields almost identical results as with the Alphacool Nexxos XP. As a matter of fact. Between the Storm, Apogee, and TDX, the results are all the same. To be fair to the Storm though, it does perform better with a high flow rate.

 

I'm a bigger fan of the T-line because you can stick the fillport anymore. But reservoirs take less time to bleed. No difference in temps though.

[clocker2]

The Radiical head is almost pointless in the US....You can get a DDC Rev 2. from Performance PC's with a Alphacool head included or just an alphacool head for 30 bucks. The alphacool head performances the same from what I've heard.

You've heard wrong.

The outlet on the Alphacool is a 1/4" channel that is enlarged at the end for the barb threads.

The Radiical is a full 1/2" all the way to the impellor cavity.

Paired with a Storm waterblock there is a noticable increase in flow compared to the Alphacool top.

Using the less restrictive Apogee the difference was less noticable but still present.

 

Shipping of the Radiical from Down Under was a measly $10 and took ten days, BTW.

I've spent more and waited longer getting things from Canada so that didn't seem like a dealbreaker to me.