1st WC set up, help me pick...

[Prozium]

well I was going to get (and MIGHT still get) a "Asetek KT12A-12VX WaterChill Triple 120mm Power CPU/VGA/Chipset Water Cooling Kit" because it looked like a decent kit..

some quick specs on the kit...
-Hardware Labs Black Ice Pro III TRIPLE 120mm Radiator
-(3) Adda AS1212MS-A73GL 80.5 CFM fans
-WaterChill 12V Integrated Pump/Reservoir
10mm (3/8" connector) (03-L-1223) 900 l/hm
-WaterChill Pump System Control Software
-WaterChill Antarctica CPU Cooler (CPU01/A) (03-L-2030)
-about $110

how ever I found that people say the pump has a high fail rate...so I'm thinking again, lol

so I made a custom set up but it's a bit more money than I think I can spend ATM so can you guys look it over and let me know if I can save money/get better stuff for the same price or cheaper?

- Swiftech MCRES Micro Revision 2 reservoir (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcmire2re.html)
- Swiftech MCP655™ Series 12 VDC Water Pumps (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_201&products_id=3112)
- Koolance Radiator, 2x120mm, Copper Vert. (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25440:a0e835855540786fc70a8cedb2d5dc87 )
- Watercool HEATKILLER® CPU Rev3.0 754/939/AM2 LC CPU Water Block (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25700:2a7943bfbea7315b9a7102e8d72bfe7e )
- 8ft of Koolance Tubing, Black PVC, [ID: 13mm (1/2")
- about $240 shiped
all 1/2" fittings and tubing

do you guys think I should get a Swiftech MCR320-QP Quiet Power 3X120mm (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo3xbl.html) or MCR420-QP Quiet Power 4X120mm (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo4xbl.html) insted of the koolance one? if I did I would put my 4 110cfm Scythe Slipstream fans on it.... or would I be good with the koolance one?

I only plan to cool my CPU at the moment. hope you guys could help.

[washu9]

Need more info on what kind of heat load you're putting.

What kind of a CPU is it?
And do you plan to overclock it?

[elk0019]

don't get kits, usually they are not good aside a few

the custom build is good although i would use a t line instead of the reservoir and add the cash to get a better rad, like the xspc rx240, it performs close to the pa 120.2 and it costs a 10 $ less but that's just me

edit: i am a bit skeptic for recommening you a t line instead of resevoir for your first build though...

[Prozium]

Need more info on what kind of heat load you're putting.

What kind of a CPU is it?
And do you plan to overclock it?

CPU is in my sig (955BE C3 stepping)


don't get kits, usually they are not good aside a few

the custom build is good although i would use a t line instead of the reservoir and add the cash to get a better rad, like the xspc rx240, it performs close to the pa 120.2 and it costs a 10 $ less but that's just me

edit: i am a bit skeptic for recommening you a t line instead of resevoir for your first build though...

I think I could handle a t line set up.... I will look in to that rad..

thanks for the help so far.

[sirheck]

Maybe something like this?

Res.
http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Acrylic-Reservoir-for-Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html
Pump.
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCP-355-12v-DC-Pump-pr-3510.html
Radiator.
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCR-220-Radiator-Black-pr-3199.html

Your CPU block is fine=HK
If ya want more rad the ST 320 would be good as well.
The AMD 955 is not that hot of a CPU.

[Prozium]

what do you guys think about this rad Black Ice Xtreme 2 High Performance Radiator (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1646:17f25d2748a7dce6027909285ca6d19d) ??

[Waterlogged]

Maybe something like this?

Res.
http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Acrylic-Reservoir-for-Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html
Pump.
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCP-355-12v-DC-Pump-pr-3510.html
Radiator.
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCR-220-Radiator-Black-pr-3199.html

Your CPU block is fine=HK
If ya want more rad the ST 320 would be good as well.
The AMD 955 is not that hot of a CPU.

+1

Toss in some 3/8" x 5/8" Primochill tubing and some Scythe GT's or S-Flex fans and you got a pretty decent setup. Slipstreams are decent open air fans but, they totally choke on rads.


what do you guys think about this rad Black Ice Xtreme 2 High Performance Radiator (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1646:17f25d2748a7dce6027909285ca6d19d) ??

It's not bad but, the MCR's are just a bit better while being thinner.

[Prozium]

any reason why you guys suggest the MCP355 and 3/8" tubing over the MCP655 and 1/2" tubing?

[Waterlogged]

any reason why you guys suggest the MCP355 and 3/8" tubing over the MCP655 and 1/2" tubing?

Stronger pump and the tubing is easier to work with and won't impact temps enough that you'd notice it (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=147767).

[elk0019]

what do you guys think about this rad Black Ice Xtreme 2 High Performance Radiator (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1646:17f25d2748a7dce6027909285ca6d19d) ??

black ice rads are very restrictive if you plan on getting one everyone is going to suggest 355 because that pump is better for restrictive components while 655 is better at flow, it is just a matter of functionality

[Waterlogged]

black ice rads are very restrictive if you plan on getting one everyone is going to suggest 355 because that pump is better for restrictive components while 655 is better at flow, it is just a matter of functionality

Black Ice Pro and Extreme rads are NOT to be confused with the GTS or GTX. The former do not hurt the flow anything like the GTS does, that is the only really truly restrictive rad.

[elk0019]

nice to know that :)

[Prozium]

I will probably get the MCP 355, MCR-220 or MCR-320 and the
Watercool HEATKILLER® CPU Rev3.0 LT (the little bit better version)....IDK

I have an NZXT zero 2 case and I certainly don't mind modding it with a cupple of bulkheads and mounting the rad outside the case.... I have to wait for taxes to come back anyway (should be with-in the next week or so)


one more question, if you don't need a res why would someone buy a big one, like a 400ml or bigger???

[sirheck]

The BIG res,es are mainly for looks (if one has a case that can hold one).

You gonna use a T-line?

[Prozium]

^^ either that or the swiftech res. I saw danger den has a small fillport res (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_368&products_id=3657)that looks cool. maybe that's an option... IDK I kind-of want to order from one place to save on S&H...

Edit: hmm... should I just get the Swiftech H20-220-APEX ULTIMA CPU Liquid Cooling Kit w/ Apogee XT (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swh2edukit.html)??? it's pretty much what I was going to get but with the new Apogee XT block and the 655 pump....

[Prozium]

OK, I need help figuring out how/where to mount a 3x 120 rad...

my case NZXT Zero 2 (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=103_297&products_id=25115)

originally I planed...and still do to a certain extent.. to mount it on the back with the fittings a bit higher than the case and have the 2 tubes go through the top of the case on either side of the top 80mm with bulkheads going back to the rad giving it a sifi look. but....... I realize it's going to be right in front of my PSU exhaust. I put my hand by the exhaust tonight to see how hot it was, and it was nice and cool...how ever it is a cool night and I have 4 110 cfm fans running full blast as intake.. will I be OK mounting the rad there anyway????

[Delirious]

I would say the swiftech kits are the only kits that include solid performing components and would be what I recommend to someone for their first water cooling setup.

If your looking to save money going with a t-line instead of a reservoir will save your 20.00+ depending on which res you were planning on purchasing.