Seriously contemplating an upgrade... Need some sage advice

[Sly Fox]

To make things as short as I can, I recently managed to screw up a my D5 pump and ended up just taking the whole loop apart, cleaning the blocks of what oxidization I can, and waiting on it.

At this point, I'm thinking about just a new res (EK 250), Bitspower 45 rotaries to help my loop "flow" better," and a new pump.

In this regard, I'll list a couple queries that came to my mind.

1: Is the EK res easy to mount? I've seen a ton of people with it mounted in all sorts of weird places, so I figure it must come with some decent mounting hardware. If not, any suggestions for mounting hardware I can buy? I'm not handy with a drill or anything, if something needs tearing apart to work, I probably won't even do it.

2. I hardly need to ask this, but are BP 45 rotaries trustworthy? I'm not in the mood for more leaking.

3. For a pump, should I get a D5 or DDC3.2? It seems to me the D5 would be smarter as with the 3.2 I'd then get the XSPC mod top, sending it nearly into the $100 range. And then I'd probably still need to buy a stand as the DDC3.2 doesn't come with one. Or do I not need a stand, I've just heard a lot of heat issues with the 3.2. Again, ease of mounting is kinda important to me, I'm a lazy man.


With that out of the way I had one other thing bugging me.

4. I considered getting the Swiftech MCW60 for my GTX 260(216) along with the unisink. Could a MCR320 radiator with Zalman F3 fans (I think that's what they're called ) be enough for an overclocked Q6600, X48/38 chipset, and a G200 card?

At this point I'm thinking no, especially as I live in Phoenix where the ambient temp is usually about 27 - 29. But, I'm open to advice as I don't claim to be anything short of a watercooling novice.

Thanks!!!

[Sly Fox]

I realize now that I made this post WAY too big and that nobody wants to read that.

So if you guys wanna just focus on question #3 and #4 that would be good. The rest is just kinda "info" to help you understand where I'm coming from.

I really need to get better at condensing my language...

[Sparky]

1. Yes it is. At least the one I got came with a delrin holder with a hole in it and a screw and nut. Just position where you want it, pop one hole, and bolt it down.

2. Dunno but I don't see why not.

3. Depends on your loop setup. I have a DDC because my res feeds straight down into the top of the pump. I got the pump from newegg for like $50 way back when then got a top for it. Mounting it isn't too bad, just stick foam feet on the corners and that keeps noise down and airspace underneath. I have a couple holes in the bottom of my case with rubber grommets, with screws to the rubber grommets that came with the pump for the mounting ears to keep it in place but that might be excessive if you don't move your pc around much. Mine runs maybe lukewarm at most.

4. My MCR320 takes care of my q6600 @ 3.2GHz 1.45v and my 4870 on an MCW60 with no issue. 4870 loads in the 40s, CPU in the mid 50s in a hot room with sflex fans pulling air through from the inside of the case out at about 1200rpm.

[Waterlogged]

Sorry Sly, I'd actually read the whole thing and intended to post but got distracted and it slipped my mind.

1. You can always use velcro to hold the mounts to the case. I'm doing the same thing with a Magicool res which uses similar style mounts to the EK's.

2. From my understanding, BP has completely fixed to problem. It's really up to you if you'd feel confident with them though.

[Hondacity]

i got the mcr...works great...

id go ddc3.2....higher flow....

here's andreaz estimator

http://www.xtremesystems.org/Forums/...ight=estimator

compare the 655 and the 355...

i have 4 bp45s rots.....no leaks so far... bought from ppc...

[John Planet]

I'm "trusting" 2xBP 45 rotaries right now, Fox. The seem fine, and I yanked on the pretty good before I put them in. I've also twisted them a bit since they've been under pressure and they still seem okay.

[Sly Fox]

Thanks so much for the responses guys.

I definitely feel safer in the BP 45's and will definitely get some, so I appreciate everyone's general fondness of them. Also my desire for the EK res is further solidified, thanks for the info in that regard Sparky and Waterlogged.

It sounds like I'm good to go then. However, if anyone else would like to comment please feel free. I'm still admittedly a little bit nervous about the MCR320 handling so much. I know it's not a bad radiator, but I guess I would still feel more confident if I had a PA or something.

And good call on the spreadsheet Hondacity. I was looking for that recently after losing it in a reformatting.

[Utnorris]

Instead of the MCR320, why not pick up the new XSPC RX triple rad from Jab-tech? He currently has it at $71 due to some paint issues, not a big deal and it will easily handle your loop and give you room to grow, and at that price you are not talking about a big jump, maybe $20. Just a thought.

Here is the link:

http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-RX360-T...r-pr-4384.html

[Sly Fox]

Here is the link:

http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-RX360-T...r-pr-4384.html

Interesting, certainly a good price. I just have to wonder if it would realistically handle my loop any better. Whether the CPU is 38 or 40 doesn't matter much to me, but if I can't handle the heat load at all that will be a serious problem.

I was probably going to go for 3.6 ghz Q6600 @ 1.48 volts (my chip kinda stinks) and not push the GPU too much voltage wise, I'd be fairly conservative.

So I'm not quite sure what to think at this point, whether I need a new rad or not, it's pretty confusing.


On another note, I think I have everything I need setup.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9065/cartnt2.jpg

Any thoughts? (I didn't inline the pic as it's a bit big)

[Hondacity]

id rather go with ek xtop v2

http://209.85.171.101/translate_c?hl...HfGoueJMKnzpiA

i tested the v2...too bad i wasn't able to post numbers..it was definitely better than the xspc top

btw..i got 2 ek xtop v2 coming this week...xspc restop will be decommissioned til then....

here's the transition



to this

[Sparky]

Instead of the MCR320, why not pick up the new XSPC RX triple rad from Jab-tech? He currently has it at $71 due to some paint issues, not a big deal and it will easily handle your loop and give you room to grow, and at that price you are not talking about a big jump, maybe $20. Just a thought.

Here is the link:

http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-RX360-T...r-pr-4384.html

I don't know much about the XSPC rads. How do they compare to the MCR320 and the PA120.3? Somewhere in between?

[Utnorris]

From what I have read they are supposed to compare to the Feser and TC's, this is why I suggested it over the Swiftech. The XSPC is a much thicker rad and can handle a lot higher heat load than the Swiftech. Now, you may not hit that load on your loop, however if you do hit it as you already suspect that you will, then you will either have to do 2 separate loops or buy a new rad. But here, I will put it to you this way, I had my QX9650 (OC'd to 4.2 at 1.41v), my HD4870x2, NB, SB and Mosfets all in the same loop cooled by my Thermochill PA120.3 rad, ambients were around 23-25c, cpu idle - 30c, load - 50c roughly, HD4870x2 idle - 33c, load - 38c, again roughly. If I had tried that with a MCR320 it would have blown up. The XSPC is a nice in between rad, especially for the money.

[Utnorris]

Also, I don't see any barbs on your list.

[theseeker]

I have quite a few BP rotary fittings undergoing a leak test right now and they do not leak.

[Utnorris]

Great, when you are done leak testing them why don't you send them over to me and I will leak test them too.

[Sly Fox]

Also, I don't see any barbs on your list.

I already have D-Tek barbs and the EK comes with its own.

If you guys think I should use other barbs, again, I'm open to suggestion. But AFAIK the D-Tek's are pretty good.

@ Hondacity, I'll definitely consider the EK top. I just assumed XSPC was the best as EVERYONE seems to have it.

And @ Utnorris in regards to the rad, yea, I see what you''re saying. I'm just kinda confused as some people have told me (not in this thread mind you) that I should have no problem and that the MCR320 is just slightly less capable than even the PA series.

Others, such as yourself, seem pretty confident I need a better rad. So at this point I guess I'll have to do some research / obtain more opinions.

It would be nice if I could find someone with the same hardware and the same rad, should be a pretty definitive answer.