Watercooling. Need opinions.

[Lekta]

Hey everyone

I've just decided to upgrade to water cooling and having done a great deal of research I think i've come up with a suitable custom setup. What i'd really like is for experienced water-coolers to take a look at my proposed setup and point out any flaws, problems or maybe things that have simply been left out. Ok, I guess i'll start by providing my system specs:

Lian LI - PC-7
Case has 2x80mm fans on the front as intakes blowing over my HDD. 1x80mm on the back as exhaust aswell as the PSU fan. Having just read this thread, i'm thinking of applying the same/or similar idea.
MSI K7N2-Delta mobo
AMD athlonXP2400 (wish to o/c at sensible temps)
Crucial 512mb DDR 333MHz PC2700
Gainward GoldenSample 6800GT 256mb running enhanced settings 400/1100

The CPU has stock HSF atm and the GT has gainwards 2x60mm fan cooling solution. My plan is to replace these with CPU and GPU water blocks on the same circuit. This is what i've come up with:

Swiftech MCW6002-A AMD K7 Waterblock 1/2 inch fittings - £33
Swiftech MCW50-03 VGA Water Block with NV4045 nVidia 6800 adapter kit - £38
Danger Den Dual 3 1/2 Floppy Bay res. £20
C-Systems CSP750 -£35 or Hydor Seltz L30 - £28
HWLabs Black Ice Pro 2 rad - £37 or Theromchill 120.1 -£53
8ft tygon clear tubing 1/2" @ £2.69 per foot. - £21.50
2 x 120mm fans - any suggestions for quite yet powerful?
Water Wetter or purple ice - which is better? Any suggestions on ratios of this to deionized water? 90/10 is a popular figure. Opinions on this?

Ok, first thing. I'm 100% certain on the CPU block but choice of GPU block was based solely on the fact that swiftech make good CPU blocks and so should make good GPU blocks. Is this a correct assumption or is there a better option of GPU block?

Second, the pump. I'm a little worried about the pumping power of the CSP750. Will it cope with having both GPU and CPU on the same circuit? The L30 or even an eheim is a better option but i'd rather not have to build a relay.

Finally, the rad. I chose these two based on performance reviews, size and price. Given the case i've got and limited space would the thermochill 120.1 be the best option overall?

Opinions on fans and coolant would also be much appreciated.

thanks for your time

[nikhsub1]

Ditch C-Systems unless you want a potentially failed pump... many have died, the seal goes bad. In your system, I'd opt to go 3/8" ID tubing and the 6000 block with the new MCP350 pump which is powerful and tiny. Rad; 120.1 will be comparable to a BI pro, it is a smallish rad, but if that is all you have room for... I do not recommend Water Wetter, I would just use some good old antifreeze and I would shy away from ANY block which uses aluminum, this takes the MCW50 out, I like the Fusion HL myself. With an all copper/brass system, 10% is all that is needed for the antifreeze IMO. For the res, I'd go for this one as it won't crack: http://swiftnets.com/products/MCRES-525.asp These fans rule IMO when used with a fan controller: http://www.goldmine-elec-products.co...item=3&mitem=9 If you cant get those, get fans that are 38mm thick, Panaflo M1A's (if fan controller is used) or L1A's if you just want fairly quiet.

[Lekta]

thanks for the input nikhsub. Based on what you've said i've revised my setup and this is the final config; all on 3/8ID fittings:

MCW6000
Fusion HL V1.02
MCP350 <-- having to import this from the U.S. as not available over here. But well worth it, especially with the current exchange rate :P
MCRES-525
2x medium speed panflo 120mm's
6.5ft tygon 3/8" ID tubing
Anti-freeze

thankjs for your advice

edit/

and i decided on the 120.1 with 3/8" barbs.

edit2/

based on some sensible advice concerning fan choice and rad width, i've gone with the Black Ice Pro. Thnz nightic

[nikhsub1]

Originally Posted by Lekta

thanks for the input nikhsub. Based on what you've said i've revised my setup and this is the final config; all on 3/8ID fittings:

MCW6000
Fusion HL V1.02
MCP350 <-- having to import this from the U.S. as not available over here. But well worth it, especially with the current exchange rate :P
MCRES-525
2x medium speed panflo 120mm's
6.5ft tygon 3/8" ID tubing
Anti-freeze

thankjs for your advice

edit/

and i decided on the 120.1 with 3/8" barbs.

Will be a nice system.

[Lekta]

I hope so, now i've just got to plan where it's all going to sit in my case!

[JWFokker]

The MCP350 is pretty small. I don't imagine you'll have difficulty placing that one.

Also, make sure you get 1/8" sidewalled Tygon, as it does collapse somewhat easily. My 3/8" ID Tygon tubing has a 1/16" sidewall and it does collapse at the intake if I have too much head loss. May not be such an issue with a pump like an MCP350 though, since it does have plenty of head.

[Lekta]

Thanks for the input fokker. Following some advice i've decided to go for 1/8" sidewall Tygon R1000 which is slightly more flexible than R3603 and so apparently has less pull on the water-blocks. I'm not 100% sure how much difference it really makes but it cant really have a negative effect on the overall setup.

[nikhsub1]

Originally Posted by Lekta

Thanks for the input fokker. Following some advice i've decided to go for 1/8" sidewall Tygon R1000 which is slightly more flexible than R3603 and so apparently has less pull on the water-blocks. I'm not 100% sure how much difference it really makes but it cant really have a negative effect on the overall setup.

Be wary of the R-1000... I had to remove it from my loop, it was too soft. It is great and makes great bends, but it will collapse on itself at the lnlet of the pump. Now it may not with the MCP350, but with my 3 D4's in series it did, and was a problem.

[Lekta]

maybe i need to reconsider. If it collapsed with 3 D4's, surely the same is likely with a single mcp350? I must admit the reason i'm tempted by the r1000 is simply for its flexibility, however, should this small advantage prove to have other negative side-effects i'll go with r3603 and makesure all my other components are securely fixed.

[nightic]

Originally Posted by nikhsub1

Be wary of the R-1000... I had to remove it from my loop, it was too soft. It is great and makes great bends, but it will collapse on itself at the lnlet of the pump. Now it may not with the MCP350, but with my 3 D4's in series it did, and was a problem.

Was that collapsing with the 3/4" inlet D4?

Can't say I've had a problem with R1000 (1/2" ID - 1/8" wall) on an Aquaxtreme pump (5/8" OD barb).
However the barbs used are somewhat tapered and so it would be difficult to see how the tubing could collapse (being that the point where the tubing is most stretched is further back on the barb).
On the other hand the D4's native barb has no flare save for a retaining lip around the edge which I can imagine might cause the problem you've described (the tubing is most stretched right at the edge of the barb - I can see that the tubing might compensate for this by curving inwards just prior to the lip and/or because the now thinner tubing in the distended area has no support within it's inner diameter).

The MCP350 should be ok though, it's native barb is more reminiscent of a tapered lip screw-on one.

[Lekta]

I'm going to buy 3ft r1000, 3ft r3603 and use the r3603 for the connections into and out of the pump and the softer grade for interconnections. Is this a sensible alternative?

[nightic]

Originally Posted by Lekta

I'm going to buy 3ft r1000, 3ft r3603 and use the r3603 for the connections into and out of the pump and the softer grade for interconnections. Is this a sensible alternative?

Yep, that's likely the best solution.

[pdf27]

If you're still interested in getting a 120.1 rad I've got one I don't want any more. I bought it off some other forums for a PC I haven't built yet and have since decided I want a Black Ice Pro 2 (2x120mm). It's a bit battered and scratched but looks like it should work fine - if you're interested feel free to make me an offer.
That's only if you change your mind back again though

[Lekta]

ah man, thanks for the offer but sidewinder.com shipped my order from the US yesterday. If you still have it in 6 months or so i'll take it off your hands! Being in Burgess Hill, I could've picked it up and stopped by to visit my nephew at the same time! I just noticed you were in the same year as me at school, how bizarre, did you go to Oakmeads or Downlands perchance?

[pdf27]

Ah well, fair enough. If I remember over the summer and still have it I'll give you a prod (I may well be living in Brighton by then anyway - doesn't seem to be a lot to do in BH).
As for Burgess Hill, I've only been here since the end of October - moved down to work at BOC Edwards. I went to schools in Slough, Camberley and Warwick so I rather doubt I'll have come across you - although I do have a gliding mate at Edinburgh Uni who I figured out had to be in the same class as me at some point, but we don't remember each other.

[Lekta]

Originally Posted by pdf27

Ah well, fair enough. If I remember over the summer and still have it I'll give you a prod (I may well be living in Brighton by then anyway - doesn't seem to be a lot to do in BH).
As for Burgess Hill, I've only been here since the end of October - moved down to work at BOC Edwards. I went to schools in Slough, Camberley and Warwick so I rather doubt I'll have come across you - although I do have a gliding mate at Edinburgh Uni who I figured out had to be in the same class as me at some point, but we don't remember each other.

not worry, just thought you may have been an old school friend or something!

You're quite right, BH is certainly on the quiet side. Word of advice, should you move to Brighton, stay well clear of moulscoombe & whitehawk they are notoriously bad areas! However cheap the rent, don't be tempted!

[marscay]

Hi all


As you can see - initial post for me and instead of starting a new thread i though i would bring this one back to life as it seems pretty relevant to my WC needs, or so i think!!!!

I will be looking to cool either a 90nm A64 3500+/FX-55 and 2x6800 GT in SLI on the unreleased DFI NF4 SLI board but i don't care much for chipset/hdd/psu cooling. Overclocking is high on my agenda, i sold my prommy mach-ii a couple of months ago because i got sick of insulating the board whenever i changed stuff and for 24/7 use i find the phase changers a bit overated, great for benching!! And i can never go back to air so here i am.

So browsing through various threads i like Lekta's setup and just wanted to run this by you guys to see what you think - would greatly appreciate your feedback. This would be going into a lian-li v2000 (high tower) or possibly the v1000 (mid) if it would fit ok, i think i'd like the v2000 anyway.


MCW6000
Fusion HL V1.02
MCP350
MCRES-525
DD Black Ice Extreme 2 OR Black Ice Pro II rad ????
2x medium speed panflo 120mm's
10ft tygon 3/8" ID tubing
Anti-freeze


Would this be suitable for decent performance on my rig, considering i will be cooling 2xVGA??? and looking to o/c as high as possible on processor and card.

I wouldn't be shy of beefing up both the pump and radiator if needed although i really do want everything internal, which shouldn't be a problem in the V2000 case??? Also which would be the better rad for my needs???

Thnx in advance




marscay