Need Advice

[illogical]

I'm about to take the plunge(pun intended), into water cooling.
Currently I'm using a Zalman CPNS 9700 NT Tritrum sitting upon a Phenom 9850BE clocked to 2.8Ghz.
The ambient room temp right now is 26C, the CPU idle temp is currently 39C according to ITE Smart Guardian, fan speed about 60%, under load it's up to 48C with the fan flat out.
Pretty good for air cooling from all reports, but I want it cooler and quieter so I'm considering this;
Alphacool 11005
Anyone used on of these or know of any similar or better? my price ceiling is £150-160
Thanks people.

[leo_bsb]

I would buy better parts, you really don't need to buy a kit.
There are better pumps, blocks and rads. I purchased parts from stores in UK and I wish I lived there regarding watercooling stores, you have plenty stores with all types of parts needed.
Check some threads about starters builds, you will find all info needed on better performance parts

[71 (Bryan)]

never buy a kit, you would be better of with a custom setup (and its cheaper most of the time)

[orclev]

The kit might do what you need, but you'll be hard pressed to find anyone on here that would recommend one. The general rule of thumb is that if it's a kit, the parts are worth a lot less than you're paying for them, and that's going to be reflected in the performance you see. I'm not familiar with the Phenom processors (don't own any of them myself), but if you want a quick list of parts that have a proven track history I'd recommend the following:
CPU WB: D-Tek FuZion v2 - $69.95
Pump: Laing DDC3.2 (aka MCP355) - $79.95
Pump Top: XSPC Res Top - $44.95
Radiator: PA120.3 or MCR320 or Feser XChanger 320 - $56.95 to $159.99
Tubing: Read the the post on here about tubing comparisons and the stickies and pick whatever meets your budget and needs. ~$2 per ft. average loop size 7 ft. = ~$14
Reservoir (to help with bleeding): Swiftech MCRES-MICRO - $19.99
Fittings: BP Fatboys or compression fittings are best, but just about anything that's not plastic is acceptable. - ~$2 to $6 a pair

Total: ~$329 or at the ~2 to 1 trading rate of dollars to pounds, roughly 165 pounds.

All prices are what I found looking around my favorite store, they will of course vary.

As an alternative for the pump/pump-top you could get a MCP655 Vario pump which has performance similar to the MCP355, but is slightly larger and has a speed controller so it can run quieter. The price should be ~$90 US or ~45£.

[skinnee]

The kit might do what you need, but you'll be hard pressed to find anyone on here that would recommend one. The general rule of thumb is that if it's a kit, the parts are worth a lot less than you're paying for them, and that's going to be reflected in the performance you see. I'm not familiar with the Phenom processors (don't own any of them myself), but if you want a quick list of parts that have a proven track history I'd recommend the following:
CPU WB: D-Tek FuZion v2
Pump: Laing DDC3.2 (aka MCP355)
Pump Top: XSPC Res Top
Radiator: PA120.3 or MCW320 or Feser XChanger 320
Tubing: Read the the post on here about tubing comparisons and the stickies and pick whatever meets your budget and needs.
Reservoir (to help with bleeding): Swiftech MCRES-MICRO
Fittings: BP Fatboys or compression fittings are best, but just about anything that's not plastic is acceptable.

I agree with the CPU block, but save a little coin and make the project a little easier for the first build. He was looking at a kit to begin with. Use the KISS method for the first one.

Pump: D5 / MCP655
Rad: MCR320
Res: Swiftech Micro Res or EK150
Fittings: BP G1/4 1/2" OD High Flow (Fat Boys) x 6
Tubing: MasterKleer 7/16 ID
Zipties for keeping the tubing on the fittings

[orclev]

I agree with the CPU block, but save a little coin and make the project a little easier for the first build. He was looking at a kit to begin with. Use the KISS method for the first one.

Pump: D5 / MCP655
Rad: MCR320
Res: Swiftech Micro Res or EK150
Fittings: BP G1/4 1/2" OD High Flow (Fat Boys) x 6
Tubing: MasterKleer 7/16 ID
Zipties for keeping the tubing on the fittings

LOL, didn't see your post until after I updated mine to suggest the MCP655 as an alternative. Other than you're adding a specific tubing, and narrowing the radiator selection down to the MCR320 though, it looks like your recommendations are pretty much identical to what I said.

Might recommend worm clamps for holding the tubes on, but zipties work as well of course, just will need to cut them off if any work needs to be done.

Edit: He'll also need fans to go with the radiators. I'd just read the Fan sticky as there's some really great information on there. Also make sure to check out martins review of push/pull/shroud testing particularly as it relates to low RPM versus high RPM fans. Lastly, most people on here recommend Yate-Loons, but it's largely personal preference. For myself, I'm partial to the S-Flex fans.

[skinnee]

Yeah, we did suggest nearly the same stuff. I narrowed some down just because its the first build for the OP.

[orclev]

As an aside, ShadeOfGrey recently posted (and is still posting ) an updated list of water cooling components seeing as the one in the stickies is beginning to show its age a bit. So far it looks to be shaping up very nicely, and I'd recommend you give it a read, particularly if you decide to expand your loop in the future to include other components.