First timer for Alphacool top and water tank

[ranker]

Anyone have any advice for someone who's going to be purchasing an Alphacool top (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=125&products_id=4506) w/ tank reservoir (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=125&products_id=4507) for the first time ?

Due to spacial constraint's, I'm having to remove 2 DDC-2's from the base of my U2-UFO in order to make room for the Iwaki RD-30. Unfortunately that means I'll have to remove my double bay UV acrylic res. I can't really move much in terms of bay arrangement so I'm forced to mount one of the DDC-2's at the top of the 5 1/4" bays. Since it's at the highest bay slot, I can't really use a standard reservoir.

I ended up purchasing an Alphacool top & the Alphacool water tank to replace the Petra's top that was on it. I'd appreciate any caveats for using this top. I remember reading a few threads about the optimal way to configure but I can't seem to dig it up.

Anything I should watch out for?


Once everything gets sorted I'll have an Iwaki RD-30 to pump the CPU loop, a DDC-2 w/ Petra's for the GPU loop, and an DDC-2 w/ Alphacool top/tank for the chipset loop.

[septim]

vortex and cavitation from tank top to alpha inlet.
don't know if you could modify it.
and too small reservoir tank top...

[IanY]

Dude, its hard to bleed. You need patience with that. Its also hard to loosen the top to let air out because of pump pressure. Make sure you bleed with cloth around the pump to prevent potential spray. If you need double pumps, I recommend the Alphacool dual attachment. It saves space. I would highly recommend MCRESes if you have no space.

[NEvolution]

The vortex is only a problem if you mount it like this:

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5720/cimg0430nw7.jpg

I have since mounted it like this and bleeding has been a breeze:

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/184/cimg0445wy4.jpg

But as of last night I took off the top and am now trying out a t-line, with the line coming from the top of the pump/top.
Current loop config (http://rigshowcase.com/img/4004ZNPH/10748.jpg)

I'm still quite new to water cooling, so I don't know for sure if changing the positions of the barbs as I have will improve performance or not.

[ranker]

Dude, its hard to bleed. You need patience with that. Its also hard to loosen the top to let air out because of pump pressure. Make sure you bleed with cloth around the pump to prevent potential spray. If you need double pumps, I recommend the Alphacool dual attachment. It saves space. I would highly recommend MCRESes if you have no space.

Gotcha. I do have 2 extra mcres-micro's lying around. Unfortunately there's no way to mount those in my U2-UFO in a way that they'd be located above the pump they're meant for. This is why I turned towards the Alphacool solution. (Trust me, I tried every single way possible but nothing short of 90 degree elbows would work and I'd rather keep the all black theme that the Petra's top kept in line with).

I would have purchased the dual pump top but I think 2 pumps for the chipset would have been overkill. I'm still hoping I can find a way to get two of the RD-30's into my case. But as it stands, I even stripped away my pull side & shroud on my PA120.3 and my push side on my PA120.2 and i still can't find a way to make two RD-30's fit. Just getting 1 RD-30 in is throwing away all of the cable management I had originally done.

[Jedda]

Just getting 1 RD-30 in is throwing away all of the cable management I had originally done.

That sux!
Not sure I'd be up for that myself. Is the pump worth it? I haven't really followed the relevant discussions as it looked a tad large for me.

[pie_uk]

fill the cap up with your choice of coolant and put it in the freezer for about 5 mins then once in a solid state screw it back onto your res tank and wait for it to turn back to liquid

[septim]

ranker lolz, get new case or make one yourself 30x30x30 hehehe....

[IanY]

Gotcha. I do have 2 extra mcres-micro's lying around. Unfortunately there's no way to mount those in my U2-UFO in a way that they'd be located above the pump they're meant for. This is why I turned towards the Alphacool solution. (Trust me, I tried every single way possible but nothing short of 90 degree elbows would work and I'd rather keep the all black theme that the Petra's top kept in line with).

I would have purchased the dual pump top but I think 2 pumps for the chipset would have been overkill. I'm still hoping I can find a way to get two of the RD-30's into my case. But as it stands, I even stripped away my pull side & shroud on my PA120.3 and my push side on my PA120.2 and i still can't find a way to make two RD-30's fit. Just getting 1 RD-30 in is throwing away all of the cable management I had originally done.

Ranker,

It'll work, big guy. Just that it takes a little patience. Here is the paradox. You have to fill it as much as you can..naturally. When its filled to thetop, its hard to loosen the top nut... naturally. In that case, its a hoot to remove the small bubbles. Just have to be patient.

Ever considered a T-line with the Danger Den delrin T and a delrin fillport (make sure its delrin!!)? Those look good. Maybe you may like to try those. I thought of doing a few T lines myself.

Another idea is a side by side case. I don't remember whether you have a UFO or a Horizon.. but a side by side project would also look presentable. If you were to combine two Horizons, you get the capacity of four PAs. My stacker is coming soon.. after all this time.. it bloody well better be coming...

Hard H20's custom box is also on its way... and it'll be a whooper.. an all time new record for a case.. a 36 inch cube. I thought I'm an extremist, but that takes the cake. Imagine four MM cases. There you go. 36 inch cube.

[IanY]

fill the cap up with your choice of coolant and put it in the freezer for about 5 mins then once in a solid state screw it back onto your res tank and wait for it to turn back to liquid

ranker,

I forgot to mention what pie_uk is suggesting. That is the usual way to bleed a Alphacool top system... freeze the antifreeze lol

[IanY]

ranker lolz, get new case or make one yourself 30x30x30 hehehe....

septim,

You would be surprised how expensive it is to deviate from the 18 inch structure. Actually its cheaper.. much cheaper ... to go to 36 inches than to go to 30 inches or 22 inches. I bet a 72 inch cube is cheaper than a 30 inch cube :) The reason is that the frame structures are already pre-manufactured and funky sizes require true customization vs. a pre-fabricated 18 inch frame.

[ranker]

fill the cap up with your choice of coolant and put it in the freezer for about 5 mins then once in a solid state screw it back onto your res tank and wait for it to turn back to liquid

Why freeze the stuff? Does it not bleed correctly or does it leak if I fill it? I'm not sure what the problem would be.

Should I just wait til it comes and then I'll understand what you're talking about by just visually inspecting it?

I didn't know this thing was going to be complicated to work o.0

[pie_uk]

you freeze it because its impossible to fill right to the top without the big air bubble inside the cap. hence if you fill the cap up (frozen) its a hell lot easier to then put on and wait for it to melt

[ranker]

you freeze it because its impossible to fill right to the top without the big air bubble inside the cap. hence if you fill the cap up (frozen) its a hell lot easier to then put on and wait for it to melt

ahhhhh! Thanks for the clarification.

But how would I fill the rest of the loop? Would I fill the loop as normal, fill the top, remove the top, freeze it, and then remount the top?

[ranker]

Has anyone used this dual pump top before and can comment on it? I'd like to know how it affects performance and what happens if one pump dies? I'm also interested in knowing if a special mounting kit comes with it to mount it to a 5 1/4" bay.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=125&main_page=index

[serialk11r]

Has anyone used this dual pump top before and can comment on it? I'd like to know how it affects performance and what happens if one pump dies? I'm also interested in knowing if a special mounting kit comes with it to mount it to a 5 1/4" bay.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=125&main_page=index

Yikes performance should take a big hit, but it does save up space :) If one pump dies it should act as if it were the normal alphacool top except a bit worse because of the Ts.

[ranker]

Yikes performance should take a big hit, but it does save up space :) If one pump dies it should act as if it were the normal alphacool top except a bit worse because of the Ts.

How would performance take a hit?

[serialk11r]

Hmmmm okay I had to take a close look at it because it was different from what I thought :stick: it looks like the first pump pumps into the inlet of the second but there's some kind of...super tight 90 connecting them. :eek: oh well its not that bad. So I guess it is okay, just a little inconvenient in some cases because the pumps are in awkward positions.

[IanY]

Has anyone used this dual pump top before and can comment on it? I'd like to know how it affects performance and what happens if one pump dies? I'm also interested in knowing if a special mounting kit comes with it to mount it to a 5 1/4" bay.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=125&main_page=index


I happen to use this adapter actively. My cpu loop has these.. yes these.. You know I like redundancy.. so... lol :).. yes they are in series :) Naturally, the performance is unworldly.

[ranker]

I happen to use this adapter actively. My cpu loop has these.. yes these.. You know I like redundancy.. so... lol :).. yes they are in series :) Naturally, the performance is unworldly.

How did you mount it and where did you mount it to? I'm looking to possibly mount this in a 5 1/4" bay and I'd like to know how it was done, what it was done with, and if it consumes more than one bay?

[IanY]

I don't have it in a 5-1/4 bay. I can't imagine it taking more than two bays and may fit into one bay. However,keep in mind that airflow is important for these pumps and you don't want them sandwiched between two optical drives. I have them just stuck onto the back of the mobo tray with velcro on the back of one of the DDCs.

[Jedda]

Ranker
Here's (http://www.evga.com/community/messageboard/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33377&SearchTerms=fatal1ty) that link we discussed.
I've posted here 'cause it's your thread, rather than go further OT on the other guy's thread.
Cheers

[ranker]

Ranker
Here's (http://www.evga.com/community/messageboard/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33377&SearchTerms=fatal1ty) that link we discussed.
I've posted here 'cause it's your thread, rather than go further OT on the other guy's thread.
Cheers

I appreciate it the heads up. I decided to use electrical tape on the heatsink and the capacitor. Hopefully this will prevent any kind of short. I'm too chicken to resolder a capacitor on a 250$ sound card.

[ranker]

I don't have it in a 5-1/4 bay. I can't imagine it taking more than two bays and may fit into one bay. However,keep in mind that airflow is important for these pumps and you don't want them sandwiched between two optical drives. I have them just stuck onto the back of the mobo tray with velcro on the back of one of the DDCs.

Hmmm... I'm looking for a 5 1/4" bay mounting kit for the dual pump top if I'm going to purchase it.

If one doesn't exist, I might just move my raptors into a sound dampening box in the two extra 5 1/4" bays I have since I removed my DD res. I'd then mount my new alphacool top and res in the HD brackets that were freed from moving the raptors. God, but if I do that I'd have to redo all of my custom PSU wiring.

You know, this thing is NEVER going to get finished. :confused: :confused:

[ranker]

Does anyone know what to purchase to mount the Alphacool top to a 3 1/2" bay?

I see PPCS mentioning about mounting kit at the bottom of the item description: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4506

[IanY]

ranker,

Performance Pcs sells simple mounting hardware to secure an alphacool top to a 3-1/2" bay. It includes rubber grommets to silence the pump.

There's also a mounting device to secure it to a 5-1/4" bay.

[ranker]

ranker,

Performance Pcs sells simple mounting hardware to secure an alphacool top to a 3-1/2" bay. It includes rubber grommets to silence the pump.

There's also a mounting device to secure it to a 5-1/4" bay.

Can you link me the one for the 3-1/2" bay? I can't seem to find it. I found the 5-1/4" bay kit.

[SiGfever]

Does anyone know what to purchase to mount the Alphacool top to a 3 1/2" bay?

I see PPCS mentioning about mounting kit at the bottom of the item description: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4506

The top used to come with the Isolation bushings but I guess the company got cheap and now they charge for them. Contact Hank at Performance-PC and he can let you know the cost. Here is a picture of mine mounted in a 3.5 drive cage from Mountain Mods.

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7569/img1143largewd1.jpg

[ranker]

The top used to come with the Isolation bushings but I guess the company got cheap and now they charge for them. Contact Hank at Performance-PC and he can let you know the cost. Here is a picture of mine mounted in a 3.5 drive cage from Mountain Mods.

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7569/img1143largewd1.jpg

As if I don't get nickeled and dimed enough as it is at performance-pcs.com. Thanks for the tip though, that's what I'm looking for.

[[XC] DragonOrta]

Ranker, the Alphacool dual top does not perform as well as two separate alphacool top pumps do.

I can't remember the thread, but back when the DDC-2 and the Alphacool tops first came out, there was a somewhat unscientific test (how far the pumps would shoot water out of tubing, and how quickly they would fill up a bucket) and two pumps with the Alphacool dual top did not perform as well as two separate pumps in either of the tests.

[ranker]

DragonOrta;2202542']Ranker, the Alphacool dual top does not perform as well as two separate alphacool top pumps do.

I can't remember the thread, but back when the DDC-2 and the Alphacool tops first came out, there was a somewhat unscientific test (how far the pumps would shoot water out of tubing, and how quickly they would fill up a bucket) and two pumps with the Alphacool dual top did not perform as well as two separate pumps in either of the tests.

I figured as much. It was under my impression that this was a compact way to put two pumps in parallel. I'll stick with purchasing 1 alphacool top. I'd rather use the Petra's top since I'm going with an all black theme. However, I need a pump that can sport a res right on top of it as well as being capable of being mounted in a 3.5" bay or 5-1/4" bay.

[[XC] DragonOrta]

I do believe that the dual top connects them in series, not parallel, and that's it's simply the poor implementation of it that causes a performance decrease.

[ranker]

I got the alphacool top/water tank combined with the DDC-2 pump. I'm configuring it in the manner where both barbs are on the bottom. Which one is the inlet and which one is the outlet?

[NEvolution]

The middle one is the inlet, the side one is the outlet.

See post#4. I have it config'ed just like that.