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Blackeagle · 07-09-2004, 09:06 PM

I'll throw in my .02 here.

Go down to the local NAPA store and order a heater core from a car or pick up that meets the size requirements of the enclosure you want, will cost anywhere from $18 - $60.00 depending on the core size you go with, few cores cost more than $60.

Second get a good high head water pump, Swiftech has a very good one in thier 600 series pump, which also runs off 12v from your PSU. Some other very good ones can be had from a host of aquarium pump suppliers. Just remember to get one with at least 160 gph and 8ft+ of head, and more is better.

As AngryAlpaca points out it isn't at all hard to build a exterior case for your water cooling gear. While he suggest acrylic, which is good and easy to work with, wood also is easy to work with and is also a natural noise reducing material, not to mention more people are used to working with it. But such a case really just boils down to a filtered air intake, enough space to mount the pump and then the rad along with a outlet for the air flow. Pretty simple......think in terms of a square tube with a filter and intake fans at one end, pump and rad inside, then a set of fans at the outlet (these are optional, not required). You also need to have a couple holes for water lines to go out, and return in.

Then spend the balance on the best water blocks you can get......CPU, GPU .....and that's all I'd suggest for a first effort. Everything else can be cooled at very low noise levels with air.

07-09-2004, 09:06 PM	#15
Blackeagle Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: U.S.A = Michigan Posts: 1,243	I'll throw in my .02 here. Go down to the local NAPA store and order a heater core from a car or pick up that meets the size requirements of the enclosure you want, will cost anywhere from $18 - $60.00 depending on the core size you go with, few cores cost more than $60. Second get a good high head water pump, Swiftech has a very good one in thier 600 series pump, which also runs off 12v from your PSU. Some other very good ones can be had from a host of aquarium pump suppliers. Just remember to get one with at least 160 gph and 8ft+ of head, and more is better. As AngryAlpaca points out it isn't at all hard to build a exterior case for your water cooling gear. While he suggest acrylic, which is good and easy to work with, wood also is easy to work with and is also a natural noise reducing material, not to mention more people are used to working with it. But such a case really just boils down to a filtered air intake, enough space to mount the pump and then the rad along with a outlet for the air flow. Pretty simple......think in terms of a square tube with a filter and intake fans at one end, pump and rad inside, then a set of fans at the outlet (these are optional, not required). You also need to have a couple holes for water lines to go out, and return in. Then spend the balance on the best water blocks you can get......CPU, GPU .....and that's all I'd suggest for a first effort. Everything else can be cooled at very low noise levels with air.