New to liquid cooling :$

[Dahmer]

After many years of being too worried/afraid to make the leap to liquid cooling...today is the day that I'm going to do it and ask for help in the process because I really don't know much. I did start reading guides but there's so many options that I really don't know what to choose.

System specs are in my signature but I'll put them here anyway
CPU: i7 920 @ 4.0 GHz doesn't really have to go higher
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5
Video Card : HD5850 @ 950 / 1250 I'm ok with this setting too
Case : Antec Nine Hundred Two

One reason why I want to make the leap to liquid cooling is because I always have to drop the overclocking the second it gets warmer around here. Right now it's really cold and it has no problem running at 4.0 but soon I'll be sitting in a warm room with a cpu getting too warm even at 3.8 GHz
For the motherboard I have no idea if I should cool it like this too or just put some fan(s) on it. (guide I read suggest stock/fan?)
Graphics card I'ld like liquid cooled too and this is my main point putting me towards changing the cooling in my pc, randomly the fan makes a LOT of noise, not sure if it's cold/heat related but I need it replaced and I'm really looking for a setup I can move to a new card if I change it or is this not such a good idea?

Only thing holding me back and thinking about not getting a full cover block for the card is money...I need a setup that'll do this and not cost an arm and a leg so are there somewhat "cheap" setups that would cool my cpu better than a scythe mugen? (I sure hope so)

I should be fine preparing, installing and testing but choosing parts is confusing the hell out of me so thanks in advance for any help I get!

[Wega52]

Whats your budget? What about noise? Do you want it to be silent, or do you want great performance?

[Conumdrum]

Okay. Costs.
CPU block, $60+
GPU Block $80+
Pump $70+
Rad (120x4 for your setup) $100+
Res $30+
Hose, clamps, fittings, fans etc $100ish, unless you want good real quality fans.

Thats your basic cost USA. Denmark? Add 20% min for VAT etc. WC parts seem to cost a lot more across the pond.

Still interested?

[Wega52]

Okay. Costs.
CPU block, $60+
GPU Block $80+
Pump $70+
Rad (120x4 for your setup) $100+
Res $30+
Hose, clamps, fittings, fans etc $100ish, unless you want good real quality fans.

Thats your basic cost USA. Denmark? Add 20% min for VAT etc. WC parts seem to cost a lot more across the pond.

Still interested?

He's from Belgium, I'm from Denmark I'm not sure they have as high VAT in Belgium as we do in Denmark. But yes, things tend to cost a bit more over here
Aquatuning.de would be a good place to look for cheaper parts here in EU.

[Dahmer]

Whats your budget? What about noise? Do you want it to be silent, or do you want great performance?

It's already quite noisy so that doesn't bother me and performance doesn't have to be top of the line either. I'm sure I can't afford that.

Kinda hard to set a budget though.

@Conumdrum :
So that's about $500 to have everything?
I think I'll be ok with that...

*goes to Aquatuning.de*
cpu block : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...939-XEON-.html
gpu block : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...---Acetal.html good enough for core but what about the rest? heatsinks?
pump : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...-0--Pump-.html will this do?
radiator : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...orizontal.html
reservoir & rest not sure yet

I actually have another question about something I read here some time ago, is it better to have every part/block in the same material? Like not mixing copper and alu? Or is it a must?

[Linchpin]

Whatever you do DO NOT mix copper and alu, it'll mess up your entire loop and all your blocks.

[Dahmer]

Ok, I had a feeling it was like that but it doesn't hurt to ask Thanks
Is everything else fine in terms of mixing? I also can't really see any alu parts on aquatuning.de...which is great?

[Wega52]

It's already quite noisy so that doesn't bother me and performance doesn't have to be top of the line either. I'm sure I can't afford that.

Kinda hard to set a budget though.

@Conumdrum :
So that's about $500 to have everything?
I think I'll be ok with that...

*goes to Aquatuning.de*
cpu block : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...939-XEON-.html
gpu block : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...---Acetal.html good enough for core but what about the rest? heatsinks?
pump : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...-0--Pump-.html will this do?
radiator : http://www.aquatuning.de/product_inf...orizontal.html
reservoir & rest not sure yet

I actually have another question about something I read here some time ago, is it better to have every part/block in the same material? Like not mixing copper and alu? Or is it a must?

Looks like some decent parts you have found. I dont know much about that rad though and i would take the Swiftech MCR420 instead. A well tested and known rad with a great performance/price ratio, and it performs very well with any kind of fan. The Koolance looks to do well do at Skinnee, except with slow fans but I would still go with the ST.

And yes you need HS's for the rest of the gfx card if you choose to go with that GPU block.

[Conumdrum]

The rad he chose isn't a bad rad. There are a few rads made in EU that aren't bad at all. Magicool comes to mind.

Search Bundymania reviews here. There is an different/newer one too. Only one I had bookmarked.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=250927

[Dahmer]

Thanks for the help guys

Updated parts to get :
cpu block : http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_inf...939-XEON-.html
gpu block : http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_inf...---Nickel.html
pump : http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_inf...-0--Pump-.html
rad : http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_inf...-Radiator.html
res : http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_inf...reservoir.html

total cost so far = €258, pretty good I think

Few things I'm not sure about though still (probably need to read more):
fittings : lot of choices and don't really know the differences
hose/tubing : which hose/tubing & fittings would be best combination for...someone new? (Think I remember someone posting about this, I'll find it later)
fans : havent looked for this yet but I'm guessing these have the same requirements as a cpu fan?
coolant : after looking around I noticed there's liquid available that's non conductive? performance looks ok to me but what's the risk of this messing parts I picked so far?

Any idea on lifetime of these parts? Main idea to switch to watercooling and having a gpu block + heatsinks is to use these in my next pc too

[vhaarr]

coolant : after looking around I noticed there's liquid available that's non conductive? performance looks ok to me but what's the risk of this messing parts I picked so far?

Just use distilled water + a silver kill coil or PT_Nuke?

[Conumdrum]

Distilled/Deoinized yep, so much cheaper. Since you have to replace (or should) the liquid every 6 months.

I could post/link hundreds of discussions on non-conductive water.
Link to Youtube vids. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-yT7cvfo3o
And this one, LOL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43Yg9...eature=related

Which one ISN'T an advertisement?

Believe me, you gain nothing with the non-cunductive stuff sold in many flavors.

vharr, PHN-Nuke is made for water only loops. Many people continually say the wrong thing. There is PT and PHN Nuke.

[vhaarr]

vharr, PHN-Nuke is made for water only loops. Many people continually say the wrong thing. There is PT and PHN Nuke.

Oh, thank you I use a kill coil :P

[Dahmer]

Hm, more reading done and basically most people here (with experience & knowledge) are suggesting to stay away from non conductive since it becomes conductive after a week making it pointless to buy non conductive in the first place? Great, just when I thought I set my fiancée at ease that if it does leak it wont ruin my pc. (she worries too much)
Distilled water + silver also looks like the best bet, dropping some silver in the reservoir should work right?

After checking review made by Martinm210 with info about tons of fans I think I'll be putting 4 of these on the radiator or am I going to need the 1850 rpm ones?

Still not sure on fittings/tubing but this is what I'm thinking about :
http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_inf...-Package-.html (not sure how much I'll need, will have to do some measuring)
http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_info.php/info/p2031 x 10
Can't find any reasonably looking clamps at aquatuning though... but I'm guessing http://www.aquatuning.nl/product_inf...-verzinkt.html should work?

Total price right now with two of those tubing boxes is €341,09 which is pretty good to me, feels like I'm missing something though.

[Utnorris]

If your budget allows you to go full cover on the GPU I think you will be happier. You will not have to worry about heat sinks and such, plus it will be easier to route the tubing. Granted, you would not be able to use it if you changed GPU's, but unless you are upgrading constantly that's the route I would go.

[Dahmer]

You're probably right, reading your post made me realise I forgot about the heatsinks and chances are I'll be using this card for a while. It does everything I throw at it without problems and I doubt that'll change any time soon.

Means I got more reading to do unless someone can tell me which full cover block for an HD5850 will fit in nicely in the setup I got now...
(will edit post later when I'm done reading)

*edit*
Another question popped up, is it worth it spending a little bit more (€ 5 - 10) to get both blocks nickel coated? I understand it increases lifetime on the blocks and maybe on everything?

[Conumdrum]

Let me see.

100% silver, yes. You can easily by silver strips or ingots on line, or maybe from a jeweler.

Masterclear isn't the best tubing, but it works. It kinks easier and leaches placticizers, making the tubing cloudy in time. Feser, Tygon, and Primochill LRT is better. Primochill LRT is the current best out there, and in nice colors, stays clear, mine was clear at 2 years. Most of us buy 10' or 3 meters. Being new, you'll probably make a tubing lenght mistake, and after looking at the rig for a few months you'll want to change something.

Barbs are okay, not the best barb out there. Danger Den Fatboys or Bitspower are better. Ones you chose are okay though.

Your clamps are what lots of us use, good on that.

Nickle blocks don't tarnish like copper on the outside. The interior of a nickle block or a copper block still tarnishes. Not corrosion, but harmless tarnish.
Read through this, my nickle blocks after 7 months.
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=669250

And this, my copper CPU block. Scroll down a way.
http://www.overclockers.com/annual-w...build-journal/

You don't need 1850 RPM ones. Most of us buy the 1850 ones and run them off a fan controller. Mine on each rad, one rad 920 RPM, other 1100. When I need more cooling, I turn them up.

Lastly, a bunch of fun learning links. Might help.

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...96&postcount=3

[Utnorris]

Aquatuning has a few blocks for the 5850, heatkiller and EK I believe. Go with the one that fits your budget, they all perform about the same.

[Dahmer]

Just posting to thank you guys for all the help but also to say I won't have the money to spend on liquid cooling right now Some unexpected house issues force me to choose between updating my monitors (17" & 19") and liquid cooling. Pretty sure everyone will agree that those monitors are somewhat tiny now so I'll be upgrading monitors first and check for parts again in a few months