Some odds and ends...please help!!
 

I'm going to order my WC parts this week, but so much has changed since I last looked at this stuff. I was wondering if some of y'all kind folks would mind lending me a hand?

Pump: I really don't know. I guess it depends on the rest of the system, but I would like to run my system 24/7 (not saying that it'll be on 25/7/365- I just leave it on overnight from time to time), and not spend a fortune. Quiet is a keyword for me, so I was thinking the Mag Drive by Danner, but I don't know about GPH.

CPU Block: Also don't know. I'm not looking for fancy, just problem-free & pretty cheap. A few *c doesn't really matter to me, just so long as it cools & dosn't break.

GF4 Block: Don't know too much these days, do I? I was thinking Danger Den's GF4 block, but some of those Innovative Tek look pretty cool. Same thing as the CPU WB, cheap & works would be great.

I've got the res & rad taken care of, I'm using a 4 gallon copper bucket (maybe copper alloy or something-doesn't really look like solid copper), but I don't know if I should go with 1/2" or 3/8. Guess it depends on the block & pump?

I'm also confused about tubing-this tygon stuff would be better? Any place I can get it cheap (don't suppose they sell it at the Home Depot?)?

Oh, and a pretty big question in my mind- what's up with airtraps? To prevent bubbles in the system (right?), but do I have to have one? What should I make it out of?

I know I asking about 57 too many questions, but could anyone please help me out? I'd really love to do this, I just don't know too much about it. Please? Anything at all would be fantastic!!

Thank y'all for even reading this far; really, thanks :)

-Lex

About the pump i use a maxijet 1200 which i find very quiet can't hear it over me 120mm fan which spins at 1500rpm, if you have a res there you shouldn't need an air trap

I don't have a res', I just have a fill tube inplace before the pump inlet that acts as an airtrap (1/2 PVC tube connected to loop with a 15mm copper T ), people say the best place for one is at the highest point, mines at the bottom and works fine :) . It does'nt have to be too long either (4~6inch is fine), just top it up with water during the first 5mins of running...

Pump: go with what your money can get.
For your setup (CPU & GPU only) a 600lph like the E1048 is quite enough. Do not forget that with pumps, quality = price...

Blocks: you're in the US so candidates are DangerDen, Swiftech, Dtek and so on. To save on shipping order everything from the same. For example get a Maze3 w/ metal top + GPU block + some tygon from DDen (oh and some hose clamps).
As for performance,there's no difference between different 'high quality' blocks. Get the one that seems more convenient for U.

Tygon: yes it's better if you've got tight turns (and since you've got 2 blocks you'll HAVE tight turns). Routing is made easy because it doesn't kink, pinch or flatten. No elbow needed. As a bonus it looks real good. Get 1/2".

Airtrap: make one. It will cost you less than $5. Get waterproof sealing epoxy, a PVC tube (40mmx50mm for example), end caps (with vise and o-rings), and two fittings.
Apart from trapping bubbles - which is neat already - it can serve as a fill point if placed at top. In this case place a "purge valve" at bottom and filling / bleeding your circuit will be a pleasure.