Need recommendations for internal setup or external setup

[Shootingblanks]

I am going watercooling once again. I have decided to go with the following watercooling components:

Swiftech Storm (Have)
Low Profile Acetal MAZE4 GPU (Have)
Danger Den DD12V-D5 Pump (Have)
Radiator/Heatercore (Undecided)
Tygon Tubing (Have)

Well I almost have all of my components to complete this build. I only need to finalize my decision on the Thermochill PA120.2 or the Thermochill PA120.3.

Internal Setup

I have my computer parts currently installed in the CM Stacker STC-TO1 case. If I decide to go with the Thermochill PA120.2 I will have to install it on the bottom because all of my front bays are equipped with devices and 3-4 devices. The bottom of this case has a wire mesh that will allow for sufficient air to cool the radiator. What fan setup would you recommend for this radiator equipped with a shroud be configures on the bottom of this case.

Advantage
Concealed all in one case.
Less space.

Disadvantage
If a leak occurs in future, possibility of damage to other parts would not be minimized.
Overall temps inside of case might be slightly higher

External Setup

Another option that I have at my disposal is equipping all of my watercooling parts inside of my old Kingwin K-424 case. I also have another side panel window with 2 80mm holes for fans.

It is currently modded with an 80mm blowhole with a window. I can probably mod the top of this case to equip it with the Thermochill PA120.3. I then was thinking of going with a decent dual 5 1/4 bay resorvoir instead of a t-line. If any one has recommendations for a decent dual 5 1/4 bay reservoir, please suggest them. I then could install the pump in the case also, and route the tygon tubing from the Kingwin case through the lower section of the stacker STC-TO1 where the bottom powersupply goes. Then the Stacker case would only have the cpu block and gpu block in it.

Advantage
If in the event of ever having a leak besides the cpu or gpu block, it would be contained in the Kingwin case, minimizing damage to other components.
Future upgrade ability might be easier to achieve without a case overwhelmed with pc parts and watercooling parts contained inside of one case.

Possibly better temps without temps from radiator and waterpump being displaced in same case with computer parts.

Disadvantage
Takes up more space. I have plenty of space in my home office for this setup.
Utilizing two cases instead of one to accomplish the same overall objective

In the near future I plan on getting another 7800 GTX to run in SLI. I am aware that more heat will be dumped into the loop, therefore I want to account for this forseable event. Also for the Swiftech Storm, I
installed the plastic barbs without teflon tape. On my DD TDX block I equipped it with nozzle #4 and used teflon tape and it never leaked. Should I use teflon tape, or is it not neccessary for this block. I am also aware that leaks can be prevented with proper installation of components and leak testing.

Which setup would you recommend for the best results and why? Once again, thanks for you help. It is greatly appreciated.

[gmat]

Well first don't really worry too much about leaks. If you test thoroughly your system, it will never leak. Always use clamps or zip ties, and if you use plastic barbs, sand them down with fine grit sandpaper first. Teflon tape is not needed for straight barbs, it's needed only in metal on metal screw-type fittings. Tygon sticks really well to plastic barbs, requiring just one clamp to be totally leak proof.
Once you've removed the leak risk from your list, reconsider your choices

Ah the bayres. The ugly white plastic one (which has 3 parts) sold on different sites is excellent and dependable. You can hide it behind your case front plates so when the case is closed it's stealthy. If you put it in the top bay you wont see it through the side window.

[Etacovda]

Originally Posted by gmat

Ah the bayres. The ugly white plastic one (which has 3 parts) sold on different sites is excellent and dependable.

I would not recommend the HDPE bayres - theres a reason swiftech doesnt sell it any more, its got a tendancy to leak around the split line where the barbs are screwed in. Also, its function is lacking, especially with higher powered pumps (extremely difficult to bleed to the point of not hearing sloshing).

[ricecrispi]

I suggest not placing the rad on the bottom of the Cm stacker. It gets complicated with a res above the pump and the rad next to the pump. Spacing makes for very tight bends and a funny looking loop. T-Line is better idea for the stacker case.

You should mod the CM stacker case for PA 120.3 uptop. Not very straight forward mod but should be worth it. Saves space and you should get great temps

[Shootingblanks]

Im not really worried about leaks since I never experienced one yet. I probably could mod the top of my stacker case. however, I want to keep it original with out hacking it all up. Thinking of maybe going external with all the components in the kingwin case.

[stev]

From my personal experience and see others at LAN parties, leaks CAN and WILL happen given the chance.

I'm totally sold on external WC'ing setups. An external setup greatly reduces the any damage from leaks.

If your've focused on an external setup, then use colder-quick-disconnets for the tubing between the external unit and computer case. Life is so easy with them.

Stev

[ricecrispi]

Most people with Wcing and LAN do silly stuff

If you going to WC just be reasonable.

*Using zip ties or worm clamps instead of snap-on clamps. Zip ties look cleaner and are cheap. You can use 2 or 3 of them on a barb even if 1 is good enough.

*Having a loop with the right length tubing and decent bends. It is easier to replace $2 per foor tubing than $100-200-300-400 vid card. Don't be cheap with the loop. I tried some crazy bends like ~360 corkscrew bends and of course it leaked. It was a test though

*Drain the loop before moving the comp.


BTW the stacker case is not a piece of art or great looking case. It is design to be simple and convenient. The 120.3 mod is convenient and the mod wont hurt the cases looks.

[Shootingblanks]

Very true. Well I dont participate in any LAN parties. Not with a wife and a kid. I just mainly play BF2 and am an admin for our servers. So external case setup is looking more attractive. With a 2nd 7800 gtx on its way, and with all the loops and all, it might just be easier to put everything in my kingwin case and just have the cpu and gpu blocks in the coolermaster stacker instead of craming it all in one case. I could put those colder connectors where the 2nd power supply goes to the stacker in the rear. I can still go with the 120.3 external in the kingwin. As of right now I only have the 3 bottom bays open in the stacker. Dont colder connects restrict your flow a bit, or is it unnoticeable in temps?

[Shootingblanks]

These are the quick disconnects I plan on using with my external setup:

These are the fitting I used on my system.

Colder Quick Disconnects

This is the model numbers I ordered.

60814 1/2" Polypropylene Hose Barb Shutoff - 1.86 Lgt - Coupling Insert

60695 1/2" Polypropylene Bulkhead Panel Mount Hose Barb Shutoff- 2.82 Lgt - Coupling Body

How much do these restrict your flow and does it really affect your performance? If any one has used them, how do you like them?

[ElMoIsEviL]

From my personal experience and see others at LAN parties, leaks CAN and WILL happen given the chance.

Funny, I've been watercooling since 1998 and have only had a single leak. And that leak was associated with a Swiftech block. Those blocks were made of cheap materials and it crumbled apart even with the use of additives to the water. Seems it suffered from it's own design. Upon inspection the blocks copper was in contact with the aluminum and well you can figure out the rest. That was around the year 2001-2002 with my Asus A7N8x and AMD AthlonXP2400+ T-Bred B. The Swiftech block in question was the MCW462-UH worst piece of garbage I have ever owned. The radiator used was a Black Ice Pro.

So although leaks can occur, the system itself shut itself down and no damage was done (thank god for Distilled Water), it hasn't happened but once for me and my watercooling setups run 24/7 (my server does at least).

[metarinka]

yah leaks can be small or big. I've had countless leaks (thats the pain with a custom built case and a strange W/C setup. My most recent was when my brazed brass barb FLEW off my res. which of course was sitting on top of my CASELESS PSU. luckily the system wasn't turned on and so far I have yet to kill parts. Most all of my leaks were preventable and all were just due to my haste and unstable setup. At any rate my vote is for inside the case, I managed to fit my W/c setup in box that was 3mm taller than my graphics card and 10mm wider than my mobo

[ElMoIsEviL]

Originally Posted by metarinka

yah leaks can be small or big. I've had countless leaks (thats the pain with a custom built case and a strange W/C setup. My most recent was when my brazed brass barb FLEW off my res. which of course was sitting on top of my CASELESS PSU. luckily the system wasn't turned on and so far I have yet to kill parts. Most all of my leaks were preventable and all were just due to my haste and unstable setup. At any rate my vote is for inside the case, I managed to fit my W/c setup in box that was 3mm taller than my graphics card and 10mm wider than my mobo

I suppose it also depends on how we build our custom reservoirs. Many peeps go cheap on the parts to save money only to be rewarded with a messed up system. I've always believed in taking your time and building something of higher quality... especially when your hardware is worth the price of a small car.

[metarinka]

Ironically so, My res has never leaked. twice I had leaks from the push fit connectors on my asetek GPU block, had a few leaks from barbs on my swiftech GPU block and one or two from my radiator. I've gotten things wet but nothing has ever died.

I suppose I should take more care, but then again my cases in material and labour alone are worth double the cost of the systems they hold. The current case I'm building is around the $500 mark just for the metal stock, I havent even started purchasing the pre-fabricated hardware.

[Cyprio]

Never had a leak in water cooling setup.

Use metal screw hose clamps and hide them with a bit of heat shrink tubing over the top. Also have lugged it to a LAN without draining the water out and everything was fine.

I think as long as you choose quality components (Storm/Thermochill/DD) and test the loop for a few days after completion (with no components in the case) you shouldnt have to worry about leaks.