Interesting questions

[Silaz]

Ahoy! I have quite a few questions on water cooling and I have read the stickies. Moving on. Firstly, I know the reasons I would like to use water cooling, it is quiet, provides over clocking potential, and would take the customization of my computer up another notch. But there is one problem. It sounds lame, but I must convince my dad the practicality of water cooling even though I will be using my own money (I’m 17) to purchase all that I need. The reason I am not able to do this is I tend to go into too much depth and leave out important information such as how the parts don’t erode from the water cooling. :p: So if anyone could help explain water cooling and its entirety in a simple form I would be grateful.

Secondly I need help choosing parts that would be right for my system. Here is what I wish to accomplish and a list of my parts:

Goals:
Over Clocking. :p:
Make my system much more silent.
Add the appearance of clean cut system.

Parts in the loop
CPU
GPU
(and anything else that seems logical)

System Parts:
Evga 680i
QX6700
Corsair XSM2 2 x 1 GB
ATI X1900XTX 512MB(intend to upgrade once DX10 games arrive)
WD Caviar 500 GB
WD Raptor 150 GB
X-fi XtremeGamer
Apevia Iceberg 680 watts

And now my case…Back in 2004 I purchased an alienware computer. I was young, and couldn’t build my own. Anyways, I recently upgraded all of the interior parts to what is listed above and still used the case. If at all possible I would love to continue using this case. Here are two pictures of everything I have:




http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4439/sideviewoc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8192/backviewzc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now that should be all of the information. I just need to know what would be the best parts to buy for a cooling system with such a different case! Also any tips on putting it together beyond that of which is in the stickies would be very helpful as well.

Note: Preferably I would like to keep the budget around $450-$500.

Second Note: If the case is too bad to work with, I guess I could buy a new one. That I wouldn't mind too much if I stayed under $450-$500 for everything and I found a decent looking case.

[goatboy]

I would read the stickies in this section of the forum.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75873

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41495

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=119699

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67179


Once you get an idea of what you need, want, and can afford, then you can ask what is thought of the components you're looking at.

[MikeMK]

If you read his post properly, he says he has read all the stickies already!

As for the practicality of watercooling... obviously there is always some risk involved around water & electricity, but as long as u go slow and carefull and leak test everything then there is no cause to worry.

TBH, ive been running watercooling for at least 2 years now and ive been impressed by the general durability (in terms of moving my case about etc) once its setup. The only other thing i would say is there is more maintenance involved - often u may need to clean it out every so often - i usually do mine twice a year. Also switching out components can be a bit more difficult obviously because everything is connected via a loop.

For your loop, i would recommend something like the following:

CPU Block -D-tek Fusion (prob the best for quad core) although there is the option of a Apogee GTX with bowed base but for someone new to watercooling i wouldnt necessarily advise that

GPU Block - I had Danger Den Maze IV blocks on my X1900's and they worked great, but i think many get better results with the Swiftech MCW60. Either are worth considering, although i'd prob go with the swiftech these days.

Pump - DDC Ultra is nice small and powerful as well as queit.

Rad - well, i have a feeling this is gonna depend on what u can fit in your case. you could fit something on the outside/back of your case using a swiftech rad box or similar, otherwise i think modding may be required. Thermochill rads are the best around atm... check out the PA120.2... if u had the extra space a 120.3 would be better though.

[Silaz]

Okay, so these are the parts I’ve researched so far thanks to MikeMK:

CPU block:
Fuzion
http://www.dtekcustoms.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=182

GPU block:
MCW60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835108077

Pumps
This is where I came up with several options and wonder what would be best for my case:

MCP350
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2132/ex-pmp-31/Swiftech_MCP350_12v_Water_Pump_Native_38_924_GPH.h tml?tl=g30c107s154#blank
DDC Ultra
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4509
Radiator…I had no idea what one would be able to be applied to the back of my case via modifications.
Lastly I need to choose a reservoir, tubing, and anything else I may need. Any input would be wonderful! Thanks

[HiJon89]

CPU and GPU blocks look good, but I would definitely go with this pump:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/laddcwpeddto.html
It's essentially the same as DDC Ultra but it has Petra's modified top attached to it which increases the flow rate quite a bit.

You're also going to need BGA RAMsinks to cool the RAM chips on your video card. I'd suggest these:
http://www.lownoisepc.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=96&osCsid=85d88a552faf9cd8cf5a7a6a04b48002
They're solid copper, low profile, and most importantly they stay where you put them. I tried the very expensive Swiftech RAMsinks and not only did they get in the way of the waterblock because of how tall they were, I couldn't even get them to stick long enough to get the videocard in the case :rolleyes:
Also, I would suggest the very quiet and very affordable Yate Loon fans:
http://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3009
They are very quiet, but if absolute silence is your goal you can run them at 7V.

Unfortunately, looking at the pictures you posted of your case the only way you could fit everything is if you mount the radiator on the bottom of your case and drilled 120mm holes so the fans can suck air in through the floor.

[IanY]

The first step... since you are not on a budget... (given the QX).. get rid of the case! Its too small!!

[Kilyin]

Is the DDC (1 or 2) with a custom top really that much better than a 50z or MCP655 which come with 1/2" barbs? 100 bucks for a pump just seems a tad pricey to me.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

100$ just for the thing that makes all that water move (and the system wouldnt work without).... psh not worth it lol

[HiJon89]

Is the DDC (1 or 2) with a custom top really that much better than a 50z or MCP655 which come with 1/2" barbs? 100 bucks for a pump just seems a tad pricey to me.
DDC2 w/ Petra's top gives about equal performance to an MCP655, but most people buy it because it is half the size of the MCP655 (2.6 inches long and 2.4inches wide) and it is pretty much silent when padded properly with something like this:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/pegviabbl.html

And $100 isn't too bad, RD30's go for $250+ :D

[Kilyin]

DDC2 w/ Petra's top gives about equal performance to an MCP655, but most people buy it because it is half the size of the MCP655 (2.6 inches long and 2.4inches wide) and it is pretty much silent when padded properly with something like this:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/pegviabbl.html

And $100 isn't too bad, RD30's go for $250+ :D

thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to know. if I'm not mistaken, an mcp600 is about the same performance as an mcp655, but quieter. Too bad you can't find them anymore (new)

[Silaz]

Hmm, so it looks like I found the right pump, cpu block, gpu block, and apparently resovoirs are easily picked and don't mean much. Therefore all that is left is perhaps a new case or some creative idea to mod my case to fit a radiator. Any case suggestions? Also is there any place that sells blue tubing?

[Silaz]

Looking at some of the case options, none are to much to my liking. Is there no way to use a radiator with my current case without attaching one to the bottom? lol Or perhaps more stylish cases that I could buy that haven't been mentioned?

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

check out the Lian-Li PC-G70 or PC-v2000, other than that you should measure the bottom of your case to see if you could make a "platform" for it out of some filters and a PA120.3. It is something I've always wanted to see out of a small case and yours is a good candidate i would say

[serialk11r]

Uh, DDC+ without the top will outperform the d5 by a good margin, but its up to you if you think the so called more "reliable" pump is better. Actually, you can get Iwaki MD20RZ pumps off ebay 22 dollars shipped, and these are monsters. Iwaki pumps should be some of the most reliable pumps in the industry.
Yes, V2000B is a very stylish case :D G70 is too. I would definitely get one of those.

[SDatl404]

This is what you need.

http://www.under-the-ice.com/index.php?cPath=41

Anything else for that chip is a waste.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

This is what you need.

http://www.under-the-ice.com/index.php?cPath=41

Anything else for that chip is a waste.

wow your a tool, phase is really flawed on the QX 6700 last time i checked.

i know that beavis opted away from the quad in his phase behemouth for the very reason that it doesnt work as well as water

[phelan1777]

The first step... since you are not on a budget... (given the QX).. get rid of the case! Its too small!!

I second that notion, speaking from experience with water cooled QX6700.


Looking at some of the case options, none are to much to my liking. Is there no way to use a radiator with my current case without attaching one to the bottom? lol Or perhaps more stylish cases that I could buy that haven't been mentioned?

If you have not already, look at the Cooler Master Stacker T01 or 810, that is my biased opinion :;):


Also, where about in PA?

Phila, here<



wow your a tool, phase is really flawed on the QX 6700 last time i checked.

i know that beavis opted away from the quad in his phase behemouth for the very reason that it doesnt work as well as water

There is no need to call him a tool.


This is what you need.

http://www.under-the-ice.com/index.php?cPath=41

Anything else for that chip is a waste.

Water if done right works quite well.
I would dare say you are being a bit narrow minded with your biased opinion,

[serialk11r]

This is what you need.

http://www.under-the-ice.com/index.php?cPath=41

Anything else for that chip is a waste.

Excuse me???

[phelan1777]

Excuse me???

hahahahaha

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

sorry for callin him a tool, but this is the same guy who preferes a 500$ koolance system to a custom, d'oh.

[phelan1777]

sorry for callin him a tool, but this is the same guy who preferes a 500$ koolance system to a custom, d'oh.

Yeah I saw that thread as well. <<<<<Shakes head slowly.