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Brians256 · 05-07-2007, 01:51 PM

Tips that will save your computer when first doing water cooling:

1) Always use hose clamps

2) Run your water loop from an external power supply (you can use an old AT (not ATX) PSU jumpered to be on) for 3-4 hours at least. Try for 24 hours of test.

3) Test for leakage by wiggling things with some force. If it doesn't stay dry after you've pushed on the tubes, you need better clamps.

4) Have a reservoir that is partially sealed or at least has a decent amount of air space. This will provide replacement fluid as time goes on and H20 evaporates through the tubing walls (yes it does happen). If it is not sealed or has a pint-sized or better volume of air, it will help when the system volume fluctuates with temperature and the prior mentioned evaporation. Heat makes the volume go up, and evap causes it to go down. High volume causes pressure and thus causes hoses to pop off. Low volume can actually cause tubes to flatten out like a straw on your too-thick milkshake. The first problem causes coolant leaks and the second causes the coolant to stop flowing.

05-07-2007, 01:51 PM	#5
Brians256 Pro/Staff Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Klamath Falls, OR Posts: 1,439	Re: Taking the plunge into watercooling... Tips that will save your computer when first doing water cooling: 1) Always use hose clamps 2) Run your water loop from an external power supply (you can use an old AT (not ATX) PSU jumpered to be on) for 3-4 hours at least. Try for 24 hours of test. 3) Test for leakage by wiggling things with some force. If it doesn't stay dry after you've pushed on the tubes, you need better clamps. 4) Have a reservoir that is partially sealed or at least has a decent amount of air space. This will provide replacement fluid as time goes on and H20 evaporates through the tubing walls (yes it does happen). If it is not sealed or has a pint-sized or better volume of air, it will help when the system volume fluctuates with temperature and the prior mentioned evaporation. Heat makes the volume go up, and evap causes it to go down. High volume causes pressure and thus causes hoses to pop off. Low volume can actually cause tubes to flatten out like a straw on your too-thick milkshake. The first problem causes coolant leaks and the second causes the coolant to stop flowing.