Getting Into WaterCooling - Reccomendations

[Ronsanut]

I have been researching water cooling setups and plan to buy parts (not kits). I would like to buy a setup to learn and initially cool just my CPU, but then later add my GTX-580's. Here is what I am thing of to start with and welcome your feedback and any recommendations on the parts. I guess my budget would be to stay under $500.

 

So far looking at the following:

 

Black Ice GTX-360 Radiator

Aska Apache Silent Fans or Silverstone AP-121 Fans or Noctua NF-P12 fans

Koolance 1/2" (13mm) ID G1/4 Threaded Nozzles

Koolance Quick Disconnects

Koolance 370 or Heat Killer CPU Block

Danger Den Monsoon "Premium" D5 or Koolance RP-402X2 Dual 5.25" Reservoir

Feser Tube Active UV Hose - Retail Packed - 3/8" ID (1/2"OD) Anti-Kink Tubing - UV Light Blue

Pumps ??? Recommendations

 

I was thinking that the 360 would be sufficient to cool all three (CPU and 2 GTX-580) but since the GTX's are MSI's Lightning they have pretty good air cooling now and are in a TJ11 case. But planning for future.

 

Feedback, suggestions ?

Edited November 2, 2011 by Ronsanut

[wevsspot]

Pump & reservoir choice may be dictated by how compact you want your loop to be. For the longest time I insisted that water cooling loops worked best when pumps were isolated from reservoirs, or even forgoing the reservoir for just t-line setups. But at the beginning of this year I picked up one of the XSPC dual bay reservoirs that can integrate a D5 / MCP655 pump in the enclosure. Specifically this one;

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11219/ex-res-232/XSPC_Dual_525_Bay_Reservoir_-_Laing_D5_MCP655_w_Blue_LED_Light_-_Clear_Silver_Black.html?tl=c97s168b49

 

And all I can say is that it is one of the best water cooling decisions I've made.

 

Regardless of what you end up doing on the reservoir, the D5 / MCP655 pumps are my pump of preference. They aren't insanely expensive, but they perform great and are very reliable. I highly recommend.

 

I don't know much about the Koolance 370, but the Heatkiller blocks rock. I also like the Swiftech Apogee XT block (that's the one I use in my own build). And don't forget the EK Supreme which is also an outstanding block you might consider.

[Boinker]

I would try it out with the 360 radiator and off you need more cooling use a 120 or 140 radiator in the back fan to gain more cooling and use a loop configuration as follows.

 

Res-Pump-processor-small radiator-gpu1-gpu2-large radiator.

 

That would be the best way to go IMHO

[El_Capitan]

120.3 radiator's probably the best, imo. I've used 120.2 and 120.4 and 120.2 x 2, and there's a good difference in temps with an extra 120mm radiator in the loop.

[Ronsanut]

120.3 radiator's probably the best, imo. I've used 120.2 and 120.4 and 120.2 x 2, and there's a good difference in temps with an extra 120mm radiator in the loop.

Hey El Capitan, its been a while since I have been back on the forum. Have gotten back up to speed with the system builds. Thanks for all your help earlier this year when I got back into builds. I have the bug major.

Anyway help this water-cooling noob understand t, I think you are suggesting that my suggestion of the GTX 360 is a 12.3 (?) or are you suggesting more than one rad in my setup ?

[Ronsanut]

I would try it out with the 360 radiator and off you need more cooling use a 120 or 140 radiator in the back fan to gain more cooling and use a loop configuration as follows.

 

Res-Pump-processor-small radiator-gpu1-gpu2-large radiator.

 

That would be the best way to go IMHO

 

So if I am going to start with only my CPU cooling first, I should only start with a 120 rad first, then add the 360 later when I go to cool the GTX's ?

[El_Capitan]

Hey El Capitan, its been a while since I have been back on the forum. Have gotten back up to speed with the system builds. Thanks for all your help earlier this year when I got back into builds. I have the bug major.

Anyway help this water-cooling noob understand t, I think you are suggesting that my suggestion of the GTX 360 is a 12.3 (?) or are you suggesting more than one rad in my setup ?

Yes, I prefer to call it 120.3 (meaning 120mm sized radiator's, or to better put it, 120mm sized fans will fit on them, and that 3 fans will fit on them). I don't like calling it a 360 radiator, or 240 radiator, as there is a 200mm radiator that only fits a 200mm fan. Gets confusing, eh?

 

Thus, I would call that a 200.1 radiator since only a single 200mm fan would fit it. There are also 280 radiators, which I would call 140.2, meaning two 140mm fans would fit on it.

 

[Ronsanut]

Yes, I prefer to call it 120.3 (meaning 120mm sized radiator's, or to better put it, 120mm sized fans will fit on them, and that 3 fans will fit on them). I don't like calling it a 360 radiator, or 240 radiator, as there is a 200mm radiator that only fits a 200mm fan. Gets confusing, eh?

 

Thus, I would call that a 200.1 radiator since only a single 200mm fan would fit it. There are also 280 radiators, which I would call 140.2, meaning two 140mm fans would fit on it.

 

Gotcha. So if I am just starting out and plan to begin with the CPU only, using a 120.3 still a good choice or drop to a 120.1 and add the 120.3 later when I go to cool the graphics cards ?

Edited November 2, 2011 by Ronsanut

[El_Capitan]

Gotcha. So if I am just starting out and plan to begin with the CPU only, using a 120.3 still a good choice or drop to a 120.1 and add the 120.3 later when I go to cool the graphics cards ?

You'll want to use the 120.3. IMO, the only time to use a 120.1 is if you're adding it to a loop that has a 120.2 or something for extra heat dissipation where you wouldn't be able to fit a 120.3 rad anywhere.

[Ronsanut]

You'll want to use the 120.3. IMO, the only time to use a 120.1 is if you're adding it to a loop that has a 120.2 or something for extra heat dissipation where you wouldn't be able to fit a 120.3 rad anywhere.

Excellent. Thanks.

[Boinker]

So if I am going to start with only my CPU cooling first, I should only start with a 120 rad first, then add the 360 later when I go to cool the GTX's ?

 

Sorry I was not clear. What I mentioned was if you are looking for any more performance or run into an overheating loop then you can put a 120x1 in the rear fan to help cool the system. I would not use a single 120x1 as it would not cool the heat as well on its own. The use I'm intending g it for is to slight cool the water temp after my processor and chipset so the gpus are not receiving hot water with the processor under load.

[Waco]

The use I'm intending g it for is to slight cool the water temp after my processor and chipset so the gpus are not receiving hot water with the processor under load.

 

I'm really gonna have to buy another temperature sensor aren't I?