New to watercooling, could use some advice

Bugsmasher · 09-23-2004, 02:57 PM

Alright all, need some help with this one.

I have just purchased and assembled my first water cooling system. The components are as follows:

Pump - Hydor L35
CPU Block - RBX for AMD (XP)
Radiator - Voyeurmods 120mm Heater Core w/shroud + 120mm 80cfm fan - single 120mm
Reservoir - Typhoon 5-1/4" single bay
Tubing - Clearflex 60 1/2" ID
All fittings are 1/2" OD and straight, no elbows
Additive: HydrX in a 5% HydrX/95% distilled water solution
Case - Chenming Case

Pretty much a standard setup of components- Pump-->CPU Water Block-->Radiator-->Reservoir-->Pump...

The Radiator assembly is outside the case currently to take advantage of the cooler air. The toal head is right about 18 inches from the low where the pump is to the top of the case where the radiator is.

Questions-
1. Will it be of any benefit to get the pump out of the case and up to the level of the Radiator?

2. How much better is Tygon tubing versus the Clearflex in terms of bend radius (to avoid crimping)

3. What other suggestions would you have in terms of improving the cooling? How much benefit would a dual-120mm heater core have over my current single-120mm heater core.

4. Finally, has anyone here used the various nozzle accelerators for the RBX water block? I have all 5 coming shortly and have heard #5 and #1 are generally the best.

**EDIT**

Forgot to mention my temps....

Ambient around 23C
Vantec Aeroflow cooled - 39C idle, 49C load
Water cooled - 34C idle, 38C load

Moony · 09-23-2004, 03:23 PM

1. Moving the pump isn't really necessary.
2. Tygon is better, but not that much better in terms of bend radius. Tygon IS much clearer though, if you're into looks.
3. Post pics so we can help improve the setup. A dual radiator would probably drop temps a couple degrees at least. Maybe more.
4. Use nozzle 4.

Bugsmasher · 09-23-2004, 03:27 PM

Many thanks. I am still in my first few days of water cooling and dont like how cramped the case is with the pump inside it currently so I have additional tubing on order now to move it outside the case (still need to come up with a good way to fabricate a shelf I will attach to the back of my system for the pump).

Once I get that knocked out I will get some pics...currently its still just a work in progress.

Bugsmasher · 09-27-2004, 03:41 PM

Small update-

-Changing the single radiator core to a '77 Bonneville core- $17.99 at Autozone. Now the tricky part is getting a shroud that will actually fit....might just make my own to simplify things a bit.

-Moved the pump outside the case to basically ease up on the clutter in the case....dont really like the chance of buggering my impeller the next time I drain the system so back it goes.

-Getting a DangerDen fillport to fit between the reservoir and the pump hoping that this will stop the pump from running dry and simplify topping off my system when and if needed.

Still working on those pictures but wanted to wait until the system is 'finalized' before soliciting too many suggestions. If ya guys dont know and can see what I have its rather hard to make suggestions.

09-23-2004, 02:57 PM	#1
Bugsmasher Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 43	New to watercooling, could use some advice Alright all, need some help with this one. I have just purchased and assembled my first water cooling system. The components are as follows: Pump - Hydor L35 CPU Block - RBX for AMD (XP) Radiator - Voyeurmods 120mm Heater Core w/shroud + 120mm 80cfm fan - single 120mm Reservoir - Typhoon 5-1/4" single bay Tubing - Clearflex 60 1/2" ID All fittings are 1/2" OD and straight, no elbows Additive: HydrX in a 5% HydrX/95% distilled water solution Case - Chenming Case Pretty much a standard setup of components- Pump-->CPU Water Block-->Radiator-->Reservoir-->Pump... The Radiator assembly is outside the case currently to take advantage of the cooler air. The toal head is right about 18 inches from the low where the pump is to the top of the case where the radiator is. Questions- 1. Will it be of any benefit to get the pump out of the case and up to the level of the Radiator? 2. How much better is Tygon tubing versus the Clearflex in terms of bend radius (to avoid crimping) 3. What other suggestions would you have in terms of improving the cooling? How much benefit would a dual-120mm heater core have over my current single-120mm heater core. 4. Finally, has anyone here used the various nozzle accelerators for the RBX water block? I have all 5 coming shortly and have heard #5 and #1 are generally the best. EDIT Forgot to mention my temps.... Ambient around 23C Vantec Aeroflow cooled - 39C idle, 49C load Water cooled - 34C idle, 38C load

09-23-2004, 03:23 PM	#2
Moony Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New York Posts: 48	1. Moving the pump isn't really necessary. 2. Tygon is better, but not that much better in terms of bend radius. Tygon IS much clearer though, if you're into looks. 3. Post pics so we can help improve the setup. A dual radiator would probably drop temps a couple degrees at least. Maybe more. 4. Use nozzle 4.

09-23-2004, 03:27 PM	#3
Bugsmasher Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 43	Many thanks. I am still in my first few days of water cooling and dont like how cramped the case is with the pump inside it currently so I have additional tubing on order now to move it outside the case (still need to come up with a good way to fabricate a shelf I will attach to the back of my system for the pump). Once I get that knocked out I will get some pics...currently its still just a work in progress.

09-27-2004, 03:41 PM	#4
Bugsmasher Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 43	Small update- -Changing the single radiator core to a '77 Bonneville core- $17.99 at Autozone. Now the tricky part is getting a shroud that will actually fit....might just make my own to simplify things a bit. -Moved the pump outside the case to basically ease up on the clutter in the case....dont really like the chance of buggering my impeller the next time I drain the system so back it goes. -Getting a DangerDen fillport to fit between the reservoir and the pump hoping that this will stop the pump from running dry and simplify topping off my system when and if needed. Still working on those pictures but wanted to wait until the system is 'finalized' before soliciting too many suggestions. If ya guys dont know and can see what I have its rather hard to make suggestions.

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