What are the currently best performing WC parts?

[JVS]

1-2 years ago I spent a lot of time researching water cooling components. However, I am not updated on the new stuff and what currently is regarded as best performing.

Now I am ordering a WC setup and don’t have that amount of time for research. I have googled a bit, but still need some input.

I numbered my questions to make it easier. Please use the number when replying. Any input is much appreciated. Thanks

Radiators:
I want a Quad rad for slow fans, and preferably with low waterflow restriction.
XSPC RX480 vs. ThermoChill 120.4 vs. Feser X-Changer QUAD 480 vs. other quads.
1 - Which is better?
Based on this German test I found, XSPC RX480 seemed like the best alternative with best performance with slow fans and pretty unrestrictive, but I don’t know how trustworthy that test is.
2 - Are there any quad 140mm rads on the market?

Pumps and pump tops:
I know the MCP355 is regarded as the best performer with an aftermarket top. However, I want to build a silent system.
3 - Would I be better off with a D5 Vario or MCP350, or are the noise differences too small to worry about?
4 - Are there any good D5 aftermarket tops available now? If yes, how will it compare to the best MCP355?

In regards to the MCP355 tops, I have noticed that the EK X-Top Rev 2 has outperformed the XSPC top.
5 - But is it also better the the XSPC Res top?
6 - Would the pump with a Res Top mounted be more silent then with a normal top?

GPU block:
I don’t want a full cover block. I noticed there is a Rev.2 of the Swiftech MCW60.
7 - Has the performance improved, and is it still as unrestrictive as the first edition?
8 - Are there any other alternatives that outperform the MCW-60?

Chipset block:
I’m building a LGA1156 system. The memory controller and PCI-Express are now moved to the CPU, which should mean the chipset would run cooler than before.
9 - Is it even necessary with a chipset block?
10 - Is the Swiftech MCW30 still the best in terms of performance and unrestricted flow?

Other:
11 – What are the best performing barbs?
12 – Which tubing is recommended in terms of quality vs. price?
13 - Silver KillCoils vs. PT_Nuke vs. others. Which works best?

[warriorpoet]

1-2 years ago I spent a lot of time researching water cooling components. However, I am not updated on the new stuff and what currently is regarded as best performing.

Now I am ordering a WC setup and don’t have that amount of time for research. I have googled a bit, but still need some input.

I numbered my questions to make it easier. Please use the number when replying. Any input is much appreciated. Thanks

Radiators:
I want a Quad rad for slow fans, and preferably with low waterflow restriction.
XSPC RX480 vs. ThermoChill 120.4 vs. Feser X-Changer QUAD 480 vs. other quads.
1 - Which is better?
Based on this German test I found, XSPC RX480 seemed like the best alternative with best performance with slow fans and pretty unrestrictive, but I don’t know how trustworthy that test is. pick your fav, but don't forget the price/ performance leader Swiftech MCR series. XSPC, HWLabs SR-1 and Thermochill parts perform within margins of error of each other.
2 - Are there any quad 140mm rads on the market? yes, but not for slow fans

Pumps and pump tops:
I know the MCP355 is regarded as the best performer with an aftermarket top. However, I want to build a silent system.
3 - Would I be better off with a D5 Vario or MCP350, or are the noise differences too small to worry about? D5 is lower vibration, but once isolated the differences in noise are pretty negligible. MCP350 is also a strong contender, but none of the Laing pumps are contenders with Eheim, Danger Den Db-1 type pumps in terms of vibration. This is only an issue if you do not plan to perform serious decoupling measures with the Laings.
4 - Are there any good D5 aftermarket tops available now? If yes, how will it compare to the best MCP355?yes, same story as the original pumps- D5 is generally higher flow, lower head, DDC the opposite. Primochill Typhoon3 is worth a serious look once the leaking issues get sorted.

In regards to the MCP355 tops, I have noticed that the EK X-Top Rev 2 has outperformed the XSPC top.
5 - But is it also better the the XSPC Res top?don't know, but EK also has an integrated top/ res combo that's probably worth a look
6 - Would the pump with a Res Top mounted be more silent then with a normal top?depends how it's mounted

GPU block:
I don’t want a full cover block. I noticed there is a Rev.2 of the Swiftech MCW60.
7 - Has the performance improved, and is it still as unrestrictive as the first edition?yes and nearly
8 - Are there any other alternatives that outperform the MCW-60? all within a degree or two, and on a GPU it doesn't much matter. TBH, modern high-end graphics require a full-card solution, whether that be a dedicated fan, heatsinks and a Wb, or a fullcover block. Fullcovers require less airflow, and are, therefore, generally the safer option in a low-airflow environment.

Chipset block:
I’m building a LGA1156 system. The memory controller and PCI-Express are now moved to the CPU, which should mean the chipset would run cooler than before.
9 - Is it even necessary with a chipset block?no
10 - Is the Swiftech MCW30 still the best in terms of performance and unrestricted flow? I imagine some of the full-cover blocks are better performing, but neither are necessary

Other:
11 – What are the best performing barbs?they're too close to really matter, but the Bitspower Fatboy barbs have the largest inner diameter, AFAIK
12 – Which tubing is recommended in terms of quality vs. price?primochill LRT
13 - Silver KillCoils vs. PT_Nuke vs. others. Which works best?PT Nuke is cheaper and can be used for more than one system, coils are maintenance-free. There are also silver-plated barbs

Hope that helps.

[Fitseries3]

there is the hwlabs 560gtx sr1 but i have yet to see anyone in the USA have it for sale. its a 4x140mm rad.

you could try the thermochill pa140.3. its pretty good from what i've seen.

[bundymania]

right, the sr1 series f. 140mm fans are not easy to get in the US atm. @JVS: you can check my rad review f. 140mm fans here:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...t=size+matters

the roundup @awardfabrik is also from me

[zeropluszero]

warrior poet is pretty much on top of it, with your plans to use slow fans, i'd look at swiftech or the RX Xspc rads.
i'm guessing you already know that the swiftech XT is the best performing block on the market at this point in time?
my MCP350 is significantly quieter than my 355, i've never owned a D5 to tell you about those though.
i probably wouldnt bother with a chipset block for a P55 motherboard. shouldnt be necessary.

[millertime359]

I got a P55 board, EVGA FTW. Board cooling is not necessary with one.

What block do you plan to use for CPU?
Swiftech XT and HK3.0 are both great blocks.

What GPU are you using, and how many?
GPU only is great for budget single card builds, but if you want to SLI/crossfire, they become a hassle. Full covers are nicer to look at and SLI/Crossfire easier. You will need to either get a unisink, and some sort of ram sink for GPU only though.

I like the silver as it is maintenance free and pretty much dummy proof.
I have heard stories of people under/over doing it with PT Nuke.

[JVS]

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated

This is the equipment I’m using:
Core i5 750
Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 (just one)
Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2
G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB PC315000 1866MHz CL9

I hope to be able to get a stable 24/7 overclock of 4Ghz.

I planned on getting the Heatkiller LT as I thought it was the best performing block out there. Wasn’t aware of the Swiftech XT being better. How does these two compare in terms of water restriction?
Are there any tests out there comparing them?

How does the MCR 420 compare to the XSPC RX480 in terms of performance and restriction? I lean towards the XSPC, but I really like Swiftech’s price tag.

If I buy a MCP350 with a XSPC Res Top, will it be good enough for this loop?
1x quad rad (MCR 420 or XSPC RX480)
1x CPU block (Heatkiller or Swiftech XT)
1x MCW60 (I will buy heatsinks aswell)
1x MCW30 (maybe I’ll exclude this one, but it’s pretty cheap and low restriction)

What if I add another component later on, like for instance a second rad or GPU block, will a MCP350 still be good enough?

[bundymania]

I got one more link for you

Heatkiller <-> Apogee XT

http://www.awardfabrik.de/kuhlung-wa...tation-13.html

The XSPC 480 Rad performs better than the Swifty 420

MCP350 is powerfull enough for your planned loop

[millertime359]

Keep an eye out for the unisink for the 5850. Swiftech is suppose to have one out soon.

Review on CPU blocks: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=235967

The Swiftech rad performs really well. I'm using the 320-QP and 220-QP on my Core I5 GTX295 rig and temps are great. The XSPC should give 5-10 degrees more heat dissipation potential over the Swiftech rad with fans over about 1500 RPM, but I doubt you will see much of a difference in overall temps with what you are running. I would get the Swifty.

The MCP350 is a great pump and last i heard you can still mod them to 355s. Do a search for it, there are threads floating around explaining it.

If you can find the XSPC restop, it will be fine. It's a nice top. Last I heard, they are discontinuing them. EK has a similar setup, but a little bit pricier.

I would skip the MCW30. There isn't alot of clearance between the P55 chip and GPU. Mine peaks out at about 45 degrees, so not very hot at all.

[warriorpoet]

OP- this will be very helpful, methinks:

http://skinneelabs.com/
http://vapor.skinneelabs.com/i7/Round2/XT/R2i7XT.html
http://skinneelabs.com/Radiators/Tri...riples-V2.html

Have fun

[warriorpoet]

If I buy a MCP350 with a XSPC Res Top, will it be good enough for this loop?yes
1x quad rad (MCR 420 or XSPC RX480)they're really close at low airflow; your call on whether the extra $ are worth it to you. They were to me and I bought a PA 120.3 over a MCR-320. Next machine's getting a Swifty unless something groundbreaking comes out.
1x CPU block (Heatkiller or Swiftech XT) the XT is a better performer, cosmetics are up to you. The EK Supreme HF looks to be roughly equivalent to HK LT as well.
1x MCW60 (I will buy heatsinks aswell) heatsinks + fan + block might be getting close in $ to a better performing full cover: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...page=1&sort=5a
1x MCW30 (maybe I’ll exclude this one, but it’s pretty cheap and low restriction)Why deal with the hassle if you don't have to? I get fullcovers (they're sexy and helpful in super low or no airflow situations), but a single-block solution on a p55 board seems... a waste. JMHO

What if I add another component later on, like for instance a second rad or GPU block, will a MCP350 still be good enough?yes, or you can easily and cheaply mod it to mcp355 levels for an added noise penalty.

Hope this helps.

[JVS]

Thanks for all the input
I totally see the benefits of a full cover GPU block. However, I can’t justify the price difference as I would have to buy a new full cover block every time I change my graphic card.
So I think I’ve settled for the MCW60 and a pack of those small glue-on heatsinks. It’s not like the card is going to overheat as long as there is some airflow, right?

I don’t fully understand the relations between flow, pressure and temps.
In a loop with MCR-420 + Swiftech XT + MCW60-R, will there be any temperature differences between using a MCP350 vs. using a MCP355?
If not, how big/restrictive can the loop be before I will experience worse performance (temperatures) with the MCP350?
I understand that its’ possible to mod the 350 to a 355, but I want to build a silent system as possible.

[millertime359]

basicly, if you went with a Core I7 920 on a EVGA classified board with the full cover block on the board, SLI FC with a CPU like a EK Supreme, and then a couple rads. You will start to see the limits of the MCP350. A loop like that, you might need dual pumps for a loop like that.

For what you are doing, that pump will be plenty.

If water doesn't flow, temps will suffer.

How often do you change cards? I would honestly look at a FC solution for that card. They are only about $110 dollars, and once you look at the fittings and everything, I think you will come close to $80. Also, 5850/5870 blocks have waterflowing over VRMs now, which means more more potential on an OC.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=26844

[WaterFlex]

1. Best thermal compound : Arctic Cooling MX-3
2. Best radiators: Termochill PA`s or TFC Monsta
3. Best CPU waterblock: Swiftech XT
4. One of the best 120mm fans: Scythe S-Flex "G"
One of the best 140mm fans: Noiseblocker NB-BlackSilentPRO PK3

[warriorpoet]

basicly, if you went with a Core I7 920 on a EVGA classified board with the full cover block on the board, SLI FC with a CPU like a EK Supreme, and then a couple rads. You will start to see the limits of the MCP350. A loop like that, you might need dual pumps for a loop like that.

For what you are doing, that pump will be plenty.

If water doesn't flow, temps will suffer.

How often do you change cards? I would honestly look at a FC solution for that card. They are only about $110 dollars, and once you look at the fittings and everything, I think you will come close to $80. Also, 5850/5870 blocks have waterflowing over VRMs now, which means more more potential on an OC.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=26844

You might see a degree difference between MCP350 and 355 with a small loop like that. MCP350 is EASY to mod to 355, so you don't need to spend the $ on a 355 even if you want one.

The HD5xxx0 series cards suffer from a VRM temp bottleneck. The amount of airflow needed to keep the GDDR5 + VRM temps down pretty well exceeds my definition of "quiet" (though I am VERY picky about PC noise). Having GPU + sink cooled a 1900xt, GTX 280 and 8800GTS 512 and FC cooled a 1900xtx, 8800GTX and HD4890, I will tell you the extra $ is generally money very well spent just to keep the extra heat out of the case.

Check the price of an MCW-60 + sinks + fan, factor in the cost of the heat in your case and extra routing hassle, and I think you'll see why I consider FC blocks a good deal for this and the last couple generations of cards.

[H2O]

1. Best thermal compound : Arctic Cooling MX-3
2. Best radiators: Termochill PA`s or TFC Monsta

This stuff works much better than MX3 (albeit it is more expensive and harder to apply).
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=26226

As far as rads go:

http://www.skinneelabs.com/Radiators...riples-V2.html

[washu9]

This stuff works much better than MX3 (albeit it is more expensive and harder to apply).
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=26226

As far as rads go:

http://www.skinneelabs.com/Radiators...riples-V2.html

One note if you want to use Indigo Xtreme. Do not put your NB and/or Gfx card in the same loop when you're doing the reflow for the Indigo Xtreme. Since you need to let the proc heat up a lot by turning off water flow to the proc block during reflow procedure, you'll most likely wreck your Gfx card.

[H2O]

One note if you want to use Indigo Xtreme. Do not put your NB and/or Gfx card in the same loop when you're doing the reflow for the Indigo Xtreme. Since you need to let the proc heat up a lot by turning off water flow to the proc block during reflow procedure, you'll most likely wreck your Gfx card.

Yeah I can see some rich noobs coming here crying because they ruined their GTX295 SLI setup that way.

[JVS]

Indigo Xtreme seems like a very interesting product indeed. I would definitely go for that one, but it doesn’t seem to be available for LGA1156? Any news on a release for Indigo Xtreme for this socket?

I can’t make up my mind about full cover GPU block vs. Swiftech MCW60. What are the best performing FC blocks out there, in terms of temperature and water restriction?

These ones seem interesting based on their price:
- Danger Den DD-5870 (which seems to fit 5850 aswell)
- Watercool HEATKILLER® GPU-X³ 5870 (which seems to fit 5850 aswell)
- XSPC Razor 5870 (this one is the cheapest, but it doesn’t specify 5850 as compatible)

Also, is my Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 a reference board or is it possible that I might get compatibility problems with full cover blocks?

[warriorpoet]

Indigo Xtreme seems like a very interesting product indeed. I would definitely go for that one, but it doesn’t seem to be available for LGA1156? Any news on a release for Indigo Xtreme for this socket?

I can’t make up my mind about full cover GPU block vs. Swiftech MCW60. What are the best performing FC blocks out there, in terms of temperature and water restriction?

These ones seem interesting based on their price:
- Danger Den DD-5870 (which seems to fit 5850 aswell)
- Watercool HEATKILLER® GPU-X³ 5870 (which seems to fit 5850 aswell)
- XSPC Razor 5870 (this one is the cheapest, but it doesn’t specify 5850 as compatible)

Also, is my Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 a reference board or is it possible that I might get compatibility problems with full cover blocks?

AFAIK, the 58x0 series is all reference right now.

My general recommendation with FC blocks is EK. They tend to have the best or around the best performance in every comparison, and are built like brick houses, but personal preference varies wildly, so go with what appeals to you.

TBH, though, when it comes to FC blocks, and GPU blocks in general, differences tend to be a degree or two (or less), and restriction numbers are pretty close as well. The only FCs that give me questions are Swiftech (looks restrictive, but I haven't seen numbers), Bitspower (I've seen some very bad performance figures), and XSPC (because of top cracking issues that appear to have been sorted- I'm just paranoid).

Keep in mind a 5c increase in GPU temps, is TOTALLY worth a 20c+ vReg drop over air cooled (or 50c+ in the case of my GTX280 with Swifty unisink). These modern GPUs are designed to run extremely hot, and the minor differences we see in temps between blocks don't tend to translate well into MHz.