Help with water cooling build suggestions

[moiraesfate]

I want to water cool my rig but this isn't nearly as simple as I thought it would be.

Now, money matters, but I don't want it to be so low end that it won't make a difference between water and air cooling (otherwise why am I bothering). I don't mind a very soft whisper when it runs though quiet is good.

I want to overclock but not in the extreme. I don't like the idea of pushing my machine to the absolute limits so that I wonder if its going to implode even if some others like the idea.

I've done a tiny bit of overclocking with my graphics card and boy does a few mhz make a difference. But its also getting warm and turning up the fan means more noise (though not bad so far).

I can't afford the water cooling setup that I originally wanted because it would end up being over $400 and thats too much.

I can probably manage to do around $300 if I buy the pieces one at a time over the course of like 4-6 months.

This is what I was looking at though I don't know if there is something better out there.


PTS Ultimate Radiator Combo: MCR320-QP Edition with three D12SM-12 Yate Loon fans $67.99 (petras)
Laing DDC-3.2/Swiftech MCP355 $74.99 (petra's)
Danger Den High-Flow Fitting (G 1/4" Thread, 1/2" OD) (10) $22.00 (petra's)
Logisys 4" Dual Cold Cathode Kit - Blue $5.50 (petra's)
Feser View Active UV Dye (Blue) 50mL $9.99 (petra's)
Swiftech SmartCoils 625 (for 5/8" OD Tubing) - UV Ocean Blue $29.50 (petra's)



D-Tek UNI-Sink- nVidia 260 & 280 $34.99 (performance pc's)


Bought

Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Rev2 Reservoir $25.95 (petra's)
D-Tek GFX 2 nVidia® 200 Series Bracket Kit $3.99 (petras)
D-Tek FuZion GFX 2 GPU waterblock $50 (including delivery)
Swiftech Apogee GTZ $63.95 plus mounting $9.95 (petra's)
Stainless Steel Worm-Drive Hose Clamp $10 (petra's)
1 Silver Killcoil $8.75 (petra's)
7/16" ID (5/8" OD) Masterkleer tubing (10 feet) $5.90 (petra's)


What do you think? Any suggestions as to changes I could make would be much appreciated. Cooling and cool looking are my priority. Noise isn't the biggest deal though I'd rather it not go above a whisper. My current computer makes a bit of noise anyway and I'm used to it.

I can add coloring or change to UV tubing later so it isn't the biggest deal right now.

Am I forgetting anything?

[shazza]

Just a quick comment ... You will definitely need more than a 120 radiator. I'd suggest going with the Swiftech MCR320 if you are going to put both your CPU and GPU on one loop. It's about the same price as the one you've listed.

I don't have any experience with the Swiftech GPU blocks, so will let others handle that.

You might want to consider going with 7/16"ID x 5/8"OD tubing. It will give be a little easier to work with, and will also give you a good seal on the 1/2" barbs.

[daftDavid]

Definitely the MCR320, it's $50 on its own and I think Petra's is running a deal to have it decked out with three Yate Loons for a bit under $70.

[faster3200]

Your list is missing a res so I assume you will be using a T-Line.

EK Supreme LT $45 (PPCS) + Backplate $7
MCR320 $50
DDC 3.1 (MCP350) $40 (can be modded to DDC 3.2)
EK Top V.2 $20
MCW60-R2 $40
GTX200 Full-Cover $28.95
1/2" ID (3/4" OD) Masterkleer tubing (10 feet) $10.85
Danger Den High-Flow Fitting (G 1/4" Thread, 1/2" OD) (10) $22.00
Petra’s PT Nuke Biocide $2.50

I agree with Shazza on those comments.

[shazza]

I'm not sure on the EK Supreme LT block, faster3200. I believe moiresfate is planning to water cool the AMD 940, and I'm not sure the LT comes with AMD mounting hardware (maybe it does, I haven't checked).

The Swiftech Apogee GTZ would be a good choice, but the GT block the OP has chosen may be a decent fit for a multi block loop. The price is certainly much lower than most other new blocks out there. I posted a question a few days ago about what the best block would be to run in an AMD multi-block loop, but didn't get much response. (So, I've got a used GT on order that I'm going to play with).

[moiraesfate]

I like that radiator. I didn't see any special for yate loons though. But I already figured on buying them regardless.

Good point about the tubing. It also means I can add the smartcoils later if I want.

I figured that I would change my mind and get the reservoir. I actually think it might be a bit easier for me to use.

I changed the list.

[faster3200]

I would certainly change the rad. That rad is designed for high speed fans. It will also come no where near the MCR320 in terms of thermal dissipation, especially with yates. I would also change the pump to the one I suggested. It is basically the best you can get without going to $200 for the pump.

[moiraesfate]

Is there another place to look for that pump? Its $75 at Petra's, not $40. The same price as the 3.2.

[faster3200]

Is there another place to look for that pump? Its $75 at Petra's, not $40. The same price as the 3.2.

Performance-PCs and Newegg.

[moiraesfate]

Performance-PCs and Newegg.

Thank you. I think I've finished choosing my parts. Anyone care to check my list? I've updated it to hopefully the final version.

[shazza]

Have you confirmed that the FuZion GPU block will work on the 55nm version of the 260? It may just have been the backplate that was a problem, I'm not sure - but best to verify if you haven't already.

[Hondacity]

EK Supreme LT $45 (PPCS) + Backplate $7


+1

if ever you go i7 the ek Supreme LT will pawn anything :)

**its currently my benching waterblock :)

[moiraesfate]

Have you confirmed that the FuZion GPU block will work on the 55nm version of the 260? It may just have been the backplate that was a problem, I'm not sure - but best to verify if you haven't already.

It will work with the backplate but not otherwise. It doesn't look like much has been released for the 55nm and I'm almost regretting buying it.


+1

if ever you go i7 the ek Supreme LT will pawn anything :)

**its currently my benching waterblock :)

I thought about buying the i7 but at the time the 940 was significantly less expensive than an i7 rig (due to the skyhigh prices for the motherboard and ram when it first came out) and I didn't want to wait for the prices to go down.