Best reservoir?

[absoluteczech]

Im still using my good ol swiftech reservoir from my first water cooling project a year ago. I'm in the process of redoing my entire water cooling setup and a new case. Im wondering what you guys recommend... i've been looking at the ek reservoirs.

[orclev]

I was thinking about getting a pair of these http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...a4d01b27d8663f to feed my two loops, but as my choice was based more on the looks of them rather than any sort of physical performance (is that really even a factor with most reservoirs???), not sure how much that helps you. The way I figure it, it's kind of hard to screw up a reservoir, I mean, as long as it's got a decent setup that helps bleed the system, and doesn't cause vortexes to form, or introduce to much turbulence, how hard is it to make a box (or cylinder for those that prefer tubes)?

Back before I knew better I was actually looking at these http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=22011 my thought being that I'd mount them externally and use them as extra passive radiators. Of course, the fact that they're aluminum killed that idea off pretty quick.

Edit: BTW, if XSPC made that passive cooling reservoir out of copper or brass I'd be all over that.

[lowfat]

My vote goes for an EK res. I have an EK X-150 DDC top/res and love it.

[Nate P.]

Heard great things about the EK reservoirs. I was using a Danger Den dual 5.25" bay reservoir for a while, it worked great, no bleeding problems... forget about the single 5.25" bay reservoirs though, they are a PITA to bleed.

[Flip_Lx]

/shrug the xspc res on my res top has been just fine, might not be the prettiest one out there or one that can easily been seen (ie a drive bay type) but I would imagine it'd look nice if my case had a window.

~its also my first res, used to be a t-line man

[Scubar]

I dont think there really is any best reservoir. It depends entirely upto what suits your watercooling project and what you prefer the look of.

[absoluteczech]

Swiftech MCRES-MICRO...............FTW

lol im gonna miss it! its served me welll but time to retire it i think

[Eddie3dfx]

In terms of ease, the micro-res.
I have used the micro-res, ek, and the bitspower bay and alphacool bay.
bay resevoirs are a b*tch to bleed and at the end you have to tilt it to get the last bit of air out.

[HESmelaugh]

I can also recommend the EK reservoirs. Also, I think the idea of the XSPC reservoirs that have passive cooling properties is great but I dislike the fact that they are aluminium...

[MoosePower]

I can also recommend the EK reservoirs. Also, I think the idea of the XSPC reservoirs that have passive cooling properties is great but I dislike the fact that they are aluminium...

I think they're just aluminum finned..

[orclev]

Nope,

Solid anodized AL, and that's why I have one setting in a box. I loved the concept and looks of it, but as I learned more decided not to use it. Just not worth the risk IMO,

andyc

You think they have any idea how much of an opportunity they seem to have missed with those? So far, if I'm counting right, we have at least 4 people in this thread alone that have expressed interest in those reservoirs if only they weren't made out of aluminum (and one apparently who's interested even then). I imagine if they reworked them so that at the very least the core was copper or bronze, if not the whole thing they'd probably sell a lot more of them. Then again, doing solid copper on something that size would tend to get pricey. Not sure what it would cost to do it out of bronze though.

Edit: Is there anyone from XSPC that frequents these forums who we might suggest a bronze or copper passive radiator to? Might be worth a try.

[orclev]

I wondered how the inflow and out flow were separated, all the pictures I'd seen either didn't show any barbs connected, or else it was hard to tell exactly how it was hooked up. Not sure I like the straw style reservoirs so first thing I'd likely do would be to mod it by plugging up the intake, and drilling a new intake into the top acrylic. Of course, that plan might change if I ever actually got my hands on one and couple give it a proper once over.

I'm almost tempted to see how hard it would be to solder some fins onto a copper pipe, say 4" diameter or so, and just make my own reservoir/radiator, but just getting together all the parts and doing some simple cutting/etching on my current project is taking forever. I can't even begin to imagine how much longer it would take me to get up to speed properly on metal working such that I could tackle a project like that. Maybe for my next build...

[systemviper]

I LOVE THE xspc resi top for the MCW355 pumps, I think it looks like the bomb. The only issue is tha ti have read they need better quality control///

[K404]

Im gonna be very cynical and say "the cheapest one." its a plastic tub with barbs in it.... how some companies can charge £30 odd for that is beyond me....


(and yes- I do/did make my own. At the mo I have a nice pump/res combo...)

[ThrustSSC]

Swiftech Micro-Res is superb in my opinion, although I'm using EK-Res 150.
Does anyone know if the Micro-Res have thick walls to tap G1/4 thread in the bottom?
And does the threads fits G1/4 barbs/compression fitting?

[fart_plume]

Get a 3-bay waterfall res from CyberDruid

[Mindless-Moron]

Personnally, i'm quite partial to a fishtank, i've got an ek multioption 250, which is brilliant, but you just can't argue with a 10 litre fish tank.

[armeniandave]

Im still using my good ol swiftech reservoir from my first water cooling project a year ago. I'm in the process of redoing my entire water cooling setup and a new case. Im wondering what you guys recommend... i've been looking at the ek reservoirs.

XSPC top with DDC bottom!

Thats what I would go with Czechmaster!

[Fragger]

Build your own FTW!!!

[IMG][/IMG]

Built it from a bronze pipe (bronze is 85% copper so no prob having it in a loop) It does get warm after a few hours gaming. It holds 1.5 litres and has a 7 led uv module in base firing up through it. If I had of known how much it was going to cost.............. Ah well its only money

[NaeKuh]

just like there is no best radiator, or best pump, or best cpu block.

There is no best reservoir. Because each has an application fitting its need.

The overall recomended tho is the MCRes from swiftech due to its size and function. its a great res at a cheap price. Some will say EK, however they all have horrible vortex issues.

I like my koolance res, however cleaning is a PITA since you cant remove the top.


So to each his own is the proper answer. YMMV!

[CyberDruid]

I like the ones I build the best

But for an off the shelf unit I like the EK. It's very well thought out and easy to mount and looks good. PPC also makes a nice cylinder res...and of course the bay reservoir is a nice look.

[absoluteczech]

XSPC top with DDC bottom!

Thats what I would go with Czechmaster!

build me one mandydave

[armeniandave]

build me one mandydave

Don't forget to add the 1!!!

[0xdeadbeef]

My idea of the perfect reservoir is like this. You take the bottom part of an EK reservoir...



... and migrate with the Coolplex bottom part like this on the top...



Then you have a res that can handle anti-cyclon as well as easy bleeding. The Ek res and the Coolplex works with the same reservois tube.

[septim]

same threads too? that's a nice idea...