Water or air?

[GeorgeStorm]

Hi,
Im building a new computer to replace my current one, (1.8GHz celeron, 512mb of RAM......... or the family one, 2.5GHz P4, 2gb RA, 7600GT)
And, i was wondering whether to go for air or watercooling, so my on the hardware side, im looking at: (this is with a budget of 700 maybe...although i dont need OS, keyboard or speakers....)
Biostar i45 TPower,
Not sure on the cpu, maybe an e8500
4gb Crucial Ballistix PC6400
Not sure on graphics card either,
No case for the time being.......
Corsair HX620 or TX650.....
Some HDD (probs samsung F1) and optical drice
Probs a cheap 22inch monitor, while i dont want just anything, i wont be able to tell the difference between something acceptable, and something really really good, but ill probs spend around £100 on it, (get something while on sale, so actually buy something £120 or so....)

Now, the question is, do i just spend around £27 and get the Xigmatek Red Scorpian s1283
Or, do I spend around £100 more, for a cpu only loop, but one which can easily take a graphics card, or the upgrade to i7 next year/year after etc......
I will be overclocking, although to begin with it will just be for max freq, superpi etc....
I got an e8200 to 4.4GHz using an AF7 last week, (friends build) first time overclocking, but as held back by PC6400 OCZ ram, (hence why im going for a cpu with a higher multi)
The loop would contain, just from a quick look
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/XSPC-...CPU-waterblock
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/XSPC-...h-G1-4-Threads
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/XSPC-...Threaded-Ports)
And then a couple of Zalman ZM-F3's or Yates.....
And obviously some tubing/fittings/barbs.....

Suggest changes to setup/loop/anything,
Sorry for the long post, thanks for any help..............

[GeorgeStorm]

This is also bearing in mind that benching will be a priority, and I will not be going for 24/7 overclocks to begin with.....
Or ofcourse, I would get the TRUE, btw, when I eventually get the case, it will be a danger den torture rack,
I am now alsmost definately going for the e8500, unless anyone can think of a better quad maybe?
And the GPU is between the 9800GTX+ (if i see one onsale etc), the 4850, or the 4870, (if i see one on sale)

Thanks for any help................

[CedricFP]

If you aren't going for 24/7 clocks, I don't know how much of a difference you will see in terms of max OC for, say a 3DMark run, going from air to water.

Water typically doesn't increase max OC by anything more than 100 mhz, if even that. You can achieve the same max overclock at more stable temperatures, thus rendering the OC itself more stable, but as far as say, 1 SPI 1M run goes... I doubt water will benefit you hugely in that regard.

However, I would go water myself. It offers you better thermal control for when you decide to probe for your 24/7 clocks, it allows for upgradability (GPU / NB) and most of all, it is just more fun.

With your proposed loop, the link to what is presumably your radiator is broken. Try to mod the DDC10w to an 18w as well (simply soldering a bridge between 2 points) - this will net you better flow, and thus, may improve temps.

I haven't heard much about the Delta v3 block, tbh. I don't see it being used much around here. However, if you are probing for alternatives, the consensus around here is that the GTZ / Supreme / Fuzion v2 are the ones to go for.

Good luck with your build.

EDIT: Disclaimer: I am sure there are far more knowledgeable individuals on this forum who can input you with more detailed information.

[GeorgeStorm]

Hi,
One reason I thought of water was so I could easily go to LGA 1366, (the mounting thingy only costs a fiver for the delta V3) and also I can easily add in the NB/graphics card....
Thanks, heres the rad:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/XSPC-...Threaded-Ports)
Dunno why the other link didnt work, the reason I looked at the Delta V3, the delta V2 was very good, performing almost on par, for around £10 cheaper than the other leading blocks, and i thought that the V3 might be smiilar, and is around £10 cheaper....
And I could go for the 18W pump:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/XSPC-...h-G1-4-Threads
And you tihnk it would be worth it? Or i shoulod just mod the other one?
And so you think the build itself is quite good?
Any reccomendtaion on the graphics card? Or change to the cpu?

Thanks for all your help

[Pitbull]

Thats a pretty tight budget so i would advise against WC loop. Or if you really want grab the d4 kit from petra which is 130+ship. A great price and a nice start, that's what i did to get rid of the bulky heatsink in my build. Eventually i'll expand it with another 320 or 480 rad and a gpu block.

[GeorgeStorm]

Yeah, but, I dont need OS, case, keyboard, mouse, and yeah, I know its a tight budget......
But you tihnk that the setup itself is quite good? No suggestions for different/better GPU/CPU?

Thanks for all your help.............

[RCG_Bex]

Scan have a 22" on offer at <£100 and it's alright quality - Zalman F3s are nice and quiet but still got good kick.

HD4850 imo (but don't get a non reference design if you want to water cool it later on with a full cover block). 640GB Samsung is nearly same price as the 500GB @ ~£45.

Get some XSPC gear if your going watercooling, as it's good stuff and easy to expand on in the future. Jump over to www.watercoolinguk.co.uk for a good UK supplier - good prices, quick deliveries and a huge range of stuff there.

~Bex

[Pitbull]

as for the gfx card should look at 88x/98xx cards or 4850s. The cpu is a decent choice anything 8400-8600 gets thumbs up in my book. I'm a tad reluctant to purchase biostar motherboards as they like to go tits up. But i havent used on in years so dont take my word for it it might be a great board as i did no research on it whatsoever.

[Utnorris]

Instead of the HD4850, look at the HD4870 which just fell under $200 yesterday amking it a great buy. The MB is a very good board and will work great with the E8400, E8500 or the E8600, just make sure you get the EO stepping. That ram is know to overclock extremely well:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...mory,2079.html

The PSU is fine should be enough for what you are doing. As far as water cooling, either do it right or don't do it at all. You do not have to spend a lot to get a good system, there's the Petra's for $130 or the Swiftech H2O-220 compact for $102 at NCIXUS.com. Both are great kits and will allow you to add a GPU later. However the Swiftech will not fit the I7 MB's, so you would either convert it to a MCP355 pump or sell it at that point.

[GeorgeStorm]

Thanks for all the help, I am thinking of buying a lot of the stuff off of scan.co.uk
This is only due to, (much to my surprise_) a lot of the stuff being slightly cheaper there,
I dont want to go for a premade kit, as then it takes out part of the fun, and customisability....
And 4870's are around £180, we get ripped off in the UK,
What do you think of the XSPC dual bay resevoir and pump, at only £36 it would save me a lot of money, considering this is a cpu only loop, and its using a fairly non restrictive block, would it be ok?
Thanks for all of your help........

[Utnorris]

Probably.