View Full Version : What should I buy?
I have about 600 dollars to spend.
What should I buy for a watercooling setup?
Current rig:
Lian-Li PC75
X2 4400
DFI LP UT Expert
7900 GTX x 2
Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Lite-On DVDrw
80 gig Maxtor sata hdd x 2
PC P&C 850watt
There are also three 5 1/4" bays occupied but the drives aren't being used along with a zip drive and floppy drive in the 3 1/2" bay, so they can come out if they have to.
So help me out please. I'd like to keep everything in the case and want as much hidden as possible. I don't want the radiator out of the case, so will the power supply get in the way if I put the radiator at the top of the case?
I'm only looking for water cooling the cpu for now. One x2-4400 and two 7900gtx's will be too much for one loop. Two loops will take up too much room.
I'd also like a pump that runs off the power supply. Less cables outside the case and easier to hide it inside the case.
Also, I'd prefer buying from one store. Two at most.
If you can help, I'd appreciate it.
Ed.
600 for watercooling?
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=103354
well I have 600. The only extra hardware I would buy is a sata dvdrw.
flutie98
06-20-2006, 06:12 AM
stickys
Drunner611
06-20-2006, 12:55 PM
I'm only looking for water cooling the cpu for now. One x2-4400 and two 7900gtx's will be too much for one loop. Two loops will take up too much room.
Huh? With $600 you could easily get some nice blocks and an iwaki with a pa120.3 w/ yates and cool that with 1 loop. Both cpu and gpu's
So then give me some recommendations for good cpu and gpu blocks.
And where to buy them. Preferably only one store.
ReD.SkY
06-20-2006, 01:29 PM
everything from www.performance-pcs.com
CPU: Swiftech Storm
GPU: MCW60 w/ ramsinks
PUMP: 2xDDC-Ultra w/ plexi tops
RAD: PA120.3
TUBE: tygon 7/16ID
FANS: Yate Loons 3 or 6
10 feet of tubing is more than enough? Or should I go with 15 just in case?
And 1/2" fittings for the pump with 7/16" tubing?
And they don't have 7/16" tygon tubing at performance-pcs.com.
No reservoir needed?
The PA120.3 is too big. The power supply gets in the way. The radiator would be at the top of the case. With that radiator, the tubing would have a weird curve in it. Should I just get the PA120.2 instead?
Torin
06-20-2006, 04:43 PM
10 feet of tubing is more than enough? Or should I go with 15 just in case?
10 should be plenty, but 15 is not a bad idea if you want spare in case you have to re-do a section of the loop.
And 1/2" fittings for the pump with 7/16" tubing?
Correct, they'll fit tighter.
And they don't have 7/16" tygon tubing at performance-pcs.com.
Right about that. Probably won't be able to get everything for a "perfect" setup at 1 shop. Then again, it's not the end of the world to just use 1/2" ID tubing either, so long as you have some good worm clamps or a wire-tie gun.
No reservoir needed?
Get a T-line.
The PA120.3 is too big. The power supply gets in the way. The radiator would be at the top of the case. With that radiator, the tubing would have a weird curve in it. Should I just get the PA120.2 instead?
What do you mean a weird curve in it? If you can't fit the 120.3, the 120.2 won't be a huge sacrifice in terms of temps. Either that, or get a bigger case. :)
I got a Lian-Li pc75. Do cases get any bigger?
As for the weird curve in the tube...The case is 23 inches deep. The power supply is 9 inches deep. The PE120.3 is 16.9 inches deep. That means that the radiator would overlap the power supply by 2.9 inches. That's more than the diameter of the tubing, so where the connection is at the radiator, the tube will have a bend in it that would slow the water down. And because of the drives in the 5.25 inch bays, there would be a similar problem.
Torin
06-20-2006, 06:26 PM
Yes, they get bigger. It's a big case yes, but not wide open area like a CM Stacker. Then there are the Mountain Mods cases, which are basically like 4 of your case stacked next to each other, all in one big case.
Yes, if you stick with your case, go with the 120.2.
Or get something like a stacker where you can fit a 120.3 in the top, bottom or front of the case.
Bloody_Sorcerer
06-20-2006, 08:38 PM
or get a radbox and then you can put a 120x3 on any case ;)
ReD.SkY
06-20-2006, 10:45 PM
or get a radbox and then you can put a 120x3 on any case ;)
you mean any case with a 120mm exause on the rear ;)
no radbox.
I want everything in one case.
What's the best thing for cutting perfectly round holes in the top of the case?
Drunner611
06-22-2006, 12:20 PM
no radbox.
I want everything in one case.
What's the best thing for cutting perfectly round holes in the top of the case?
Dremel?
ReD.SkY
06-22-2006, 12:36 PM
hole saw
Dremel?If it cuts it perfectly round, sure. I try to be too perfect when working inside my computer case. Unless the cable is plugged into the motherboard, you can't see it.
Also, about the pump. What is the difference between the Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Ultra Water Tank and the Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Ultra? Is the water tank there for filling it the loop? If that's what it is, that's what I am getting.
SturmoV
06-22-2006, 10:00 PM
If it cuts it perfectly round, sure. I try to be too perfect when working inside my computer case. Unless the cable is plugged into the motherboard, you can't see it.
Also, about the pump. What is the difference between the Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Ultra Water Tank and the Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Ultra? Is the water tank there for filling it the loop? If that's what it is, that's what I am getting.
Forget about the DDC with water tank, just get a straight Ultra + a T-line for filling the loop.
ReD.SkY
06-22-2006, 10:25 PM
not a straight ultra, just get a DDC+ with the alphacool top,
needmorstuff
06-23-2006, 12:58 AM
the water tanks are cr4p. trying to bleed all the air out is damn near impossible. If you have 1 tiny bit or free space in that res the pump sucks it in your loop.
needmorstuff
06-23-2006, 12:59 AM
air that is.. not space as that would surely upset the space time continuum
I can't spend as much as I wanted because I am buying some other things. So what about a PA120.1 and just a cpu block? Is there a big difference between the 120.1 and the 120.2 or 3?
[XC] Angstrom
06-25-2006, 06:39 AM
everything from www.performance-pcs.com
CPU: Swiftech Storm
GPU: MCW60 w/ ramsinks
PUMP: 2xDDC-Ultra w/ plexi tops
RAD: PA120.3
TUBE: tygon 7/16ID
FANS: Yate Loons 3 or 6
Exactly what I have, except i'm using one 50z pump, I have the same case.
I imagine if you only have a couple of hard drives, you can just mount the pumps in the HD bay.
The PA120.3 is mounted on my top panel, a spectacular job by Maxxxracer. It takes up 2 5 1/2" bays but that didn't matter at all for me. Doesn't get anywhere close to the PSU.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=47401&d=1148261031
I replaced the DD fillport with Petra's Delrin one, much better.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100106 for the rest of the pictures.
Nice work there.
I don't like the tube for the fillport though.
But thanks for that. Maybe I will spend the extra money and get the 120.3 and the cpu and video card blocks. Then mount the pump in the 5 1/2" bays.
SiGfever
06-25-2006, 06:22 PM
Exactly what I have, except i'm using one 50z pump, I have the same case.
I imagine if you only have a couple of hard drives, you can just mount the pumps in the HD bay.
The PA120.3 is mounted on my top panel, a spectacular job by Maxxxracer. It takes up 2 5 1/2" bays but that didn't matter at all for me. Doesn't get anywhere close to the PSU.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=47401&d=1148261031
I replaced the DD fillport with Petra's Delrin one, much better.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100106 for the rest of the pictures.
What is that under the fan grills? It looks like a large rubber grommet?
[XC] Angstrom
06-25-2006, 06:34 PM
It's some kind of black rubber strip that Maxxx put to cover the hole cuts. The fans have neoprene around the edges too. It's dead quiet.
What is that under the fan grills? It looks like a large rubber grommet?
It's trim molding they sell it at crazypc & I think performance-pcs carries it too. I takes a little less than a 1' to trim out each hole for a 120mm fan.
MaxxxRacer
06-26-2006, 12:14 AM
I got it at mcmaster. here is the info. works great and looks good too.
8507K361 Neoprene Rubber Edge Trim, 1/16" Opening, 11/64" Inside Depth, 10' Length
BTW guys. sorry I havnt been around much. Got a full time job as a laptop repair tech (NEVER buy a Sony or Toshiba laptop), and go to school at night. so by the time I get home the only thing I want to do is sleep..
Scarlet Infidel
06-26-2006, 12:21 AM
Sounds like a busy day, id never buy a laptop full stop (not real computers imo but lets not get into that).
Oh and:
Enter the patent pending MCB-120™ "Radbox": ...... using the existing 60mm, 80mm, 92mm, or 120mm fan mounting holes!
MaxxxRacer
06-26-2006, 02:09 AM
Sounds like a busy day, id never buy a laptop full stop (not real computers imo but lets not get into that).
laptops blow... period.. alot of really bad engineering goes into them.. they design the cases and then they design the mobo around their dumbass ideas of what a cool laptop is..
and tablet PC's.. well lets just say god is a really sick bastard for ever putting the idea of tablets into the minds of their creators.. Whenever someone gets a tablet to work on we all point and laugh at them for their misfortune.. but we also do the same at the guys who work on Sony laptops.
[XC] Angstrom
06-26-2006, 06:10 AM
My laptop batteries are going to lead me to commit mass murder, I swear.
JoeBar
06-27-2006, 02:00 PM
BTW guys. sorry I havnt been around much. Got a full time job as a laptop repair tech (NEVER buy a Sony or Toshiba laptop), and go to school at night. so by the time I get home the only thing I want to do is sleep..
Hang in there maxxx! :)
BTW why i had the impression that Toshiba laptops where quality ones? :confused:
Scarlet Infidel
06-28-2006, 02:08 AM
Yeah i always thought that apart form the cheaper models Toshibas were good.
I have the task of finding a decent yet cheap laptop for my gf for university (while im building a monster desktop which weighs about 50kg). Its going to be a hard task
Marci
06-28-2006, 03:20 AM
And they don't have 7/16" tygon tubing at performance-pcs.com
DangerDen now carry it...
SiGfever
06-28-2006, 05:25 PM
DangerDen now carry it...
I can't find it on their web site. :confused:
Petra carries it.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/7id5odtyrlat.html
@Marci,
I got my PA120.3 from M. Mods today......SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! :toast: :woot:
Oh, and a little U2-UFO in black! ;)