looking for some advice on a setup

[dullers]

hey all
i found these forums doing some SE searching about a month ago. I've been reading up for a few weeks because I'd like to do some WCing on my system.
I was hoping I could get some opinions on my proposed setup. Any/all advice is welcome, also.

water blocks:
GPU - swiftech MCW60-R VGA water block (http://www.swiftnets.com/products/mcw60-R.asp)
CPU - swiftech apogee gt water block (http://www.swiftnets.com/products/apogeegt.asp)
nforce4 - koolance CHC-A05 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811155998)

pump: Danger Den DD12V-D5 Water Cooling Pump (http://www.dangerden.com/store/dd12v...-by-laing.html)

Radiator: Swiftech MCR120 (http://www.swiftnets.com/products/mcr120.asp)

fans + shroud: unsure of which yet, but some 120mm fan, custom shroud probably

reservoir: Thermaltake Aquabay M3 1U liquid tank (http://www.thermaltake.com/product/L...1/cl-w0031.asp)

tubing: 1/2" PrimoFlex Pro LRT UV Green Tubing (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=23369)

coolant: distilled water, with silver killcoil(s) (http://www.petrastechshop.com/sikibyia.html)

clamps: necessary?

i'm doing this in an antec sonata
i chose a sonata for a few reasons. i rarely see extensive mods in a sonata, i love doing compact and clean builds, and i like a challenge.

here's my system currently:

full sized image: http://la.gg/upl/windowed.jpg

my intention is to put the reservoir in a 5.25" bay, the pump under the HDD's in the HDD rack, and the radiator in place of the rear 120mm exhaust fan. The rad will be internal, the fan will be internal as well.

One question I have about the radiator/fan setup is: Does the combo work better with the fan pushing through the radiator, or the fan pulling through the radiator?

if the fan/rad combo doesn't fit there, other options are cutting holes in the top/bottom of the case. or moving it to the front-intake position. i don't like the idea of blowing hot radiated air into my case, though.

sry for the long-winded post
tia

-chris

[millertime359]

What are system specs?

I would drop that CPU block and look at either the HK 3.0, GTZ, Enzotech Sapphire, or EK Supreme LT.

If your looking for a bay res and a D5, look into the Typhoon III.

I would get a MCR320-QP as your rad if you fit it somewhere. It doesn't have to go in case. A Swiftech MCR220-QP works great too. The 120 is a little small for a CPU and GPU loop.

Most boards don't need to be watercooled. An 80mm or 120mm fan pointed at the NB will keep temps under control without much extra noise.

edit: tubing and silver are right on the money. Clamps will be necessary if you are using barbs. If you want to do compression fittings for that bling, then you won't. Worm clamps work great and are cheap.

For fans, Gentle Typhoon 1850s when they make it back to stock, or 1450s will work just fine if you don't want to wait the month or so.

[dullers]

Sry forgot my specs:
Win7 64-bit
Asus A8N mb
Athlon 64 x2 4400+
4gb ram
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850
WD Raptor 74gb
WD 500gb storage
2 x Lite-On DVD-rw Dual-Layer (probably remove both of these for the reservoir. i never use them. USB DVD-Rom would be sufficient)
5.25" bay Zalman ZM-MFC2 fan speed controller

I was expecting the response of 120mm being too small, unfortunately. =/
i was hoping to get away with a single 120. I'd really like to get all of the components inside the case. If not, DEFINITELY case-mounted, which is do-able. idk if I can fit a dual-120mm rad inside. Maybe...
I am planning on using barbs, 1/2". So thank you for the clamps tip

Also tyvm for all the other part reco's

oh, btw, the Northbridge/mainbaord cooling... Because my GPU heatsink is so large.. I had to retrofit a very low-pro heatsink to my nforce4 chip. it ran very hot so I added a 40mm fan which is loud as all hell. If I could move to a passive, bigger nforce heatsink after WC'ing the GPU that'd be ideal.

My main reasons for this WC'ing adventure are less-noise and style points. I host a LAN party once a month and I have a reputation to uphold!


edit: great links. thanks so much!

[alacheesu]

I think a double rad should be perfect for your system, but a single is probably asking too much. Couldn't you mod the top and put a MCR220 up there? Looks like there's enough space.

[millertime359]

The double will work fine. I only recommend the triple as it offers even more cooling potential for like a $10 difference. Do some measuring, you might fit that 220 inside with a loss of a bay drive or too. You could always hang it from the back, or bolt it to the top.

I have an 80mm NB fan that I just stood on top of my video card. You click the link in my sig, you will see. It is very quiet and keeps some air moving over the NB and ram.

[dullers]

Originally Posted by alacheesu

I think a double rad should be perfect for your system, but a single is probably asking too much. Couldn't you mod the top and put a MCR220 up there? Looks like there's enough space.

this is the other option i had seen in some cases. that's a good point. i could def cut the top and mount one internally/semi-externally. i have 3 drive bays available, 1 is the res, 1 is the Zalman controller (which i might get rid of after this upgrade) so I may have 2 available anyway.

[millertime359]

I would stay away from the Thermaltake res. Too many guys here have had bad experiences with Thermaltake W/C gear.

Another option you could look into for pump and res. It is small and pretty easy to find a place for.

[alacheesu]

Originally Posted by dullers

this is the other option i had seen in some cases. that's a good point. i could def cut the top and mount one internally/semi-externally. i have 3 drive bays available, 1 is the res, 1 is the Zalman controller (which i might get rid of after this upgrade) so I may have 2 available anyway.

If you have 2x 5 1/4" bays that should be most likely be enough, but you should check out the specs for the MCR220 to see if it fits. Remember to add 25mm+ for fans as well. Fan controllers often fit in the top bays even with a rad up there.

[dullers]

right on. maybe i'll move to a different reservoir then and locate it down below with the pump, take out the two CD drives and put the Rad/2xFans up top, hopefully keeping the Fan Controller

[millertime359]

Originally Posted by alacheesu

If you have 2x 5 1/4" bays that should be most likely be enough, but you should check out the specs for the MCR220 to see if it fits. Remember to add 25mm+ for fans as well. Fan controllers often fit in the top bays even with a rad up there.

I lost 1 5 1/4 bay with my MCR320. I should have lost 2, but the T3 was shallow enough that I could get it in.

edit: this was cosmos 1000 case.

[millertime359]

Careful with posting items for sell in open forum. Its not really aloud. You can get in the for sale section here after 100 posts.

[dullers]

good to know.

I think I'm going to get a free-standing reservoir, not a bay reservoir, so I can fit the rad/fans in the case up top, and hopefully my fan controller and maybe a dvd drive. the dvd drive isn't really important, just convenient.
thanks though, the_real_7 :]

[the_real_7]

oops didnt know deleted post , sorry

[dullers]

thanks to everyone for the advice. I've done some measuring and more investigation, here's my revamped part list

water blocks:
GPU - swiftech MCW60-R VGA water block (http://www.swiftnets.com/products/mcw60-R.asp)
CPU - Swiftech APOGEE GTZ Ultra Extreme Performance Universal Water-block (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=24230)
- with optional adapter plate; Apogee-GTZ-1U-S-HD
nforce4 - koolance CHC-A05 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811155998) - Still on the fence about cooling the chipset

fans + shroud: Gentle Typhoon 1850 (1850rpm) 120mm fan, D1225C12B2AP-12 (http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/pro...ns/gt-120-1850)

pump: Danger Den DD12V-D5 Water Cooling Pump (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmc12vdcpu.html)

tubing: PrimoFlex Pro LRT UV Green Tubing -7/16in.ID X 5/8in.OD (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=24503)

barbs: Bitspower Chrome Barb fitting 1/2" ID (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/69...tl=g30c101s178)

clamps: Herbie Clip® Nylon Hose Clamp Size BB (http://www.petrastechshop.com/heclnyhoclsi.html)

reservoir: - EK-RES250 Rev.2 Multi-Option Reservoir (http://www.petrastechshop.com/ekmure2.html)
- 2 x EK Multi-Option Reservoir Holder (http://www.petrastechshop.com/ekmureho.html)

coolant: distilled water, with silver killcoil (http://www.petrastechshop.com/sikibyia.html)


For the radiator, I'm going to use a 2 x 120mm fan, but I need it to be under 280mm. That's exactly how much room I have for a rad. Thickness and width are almost of no concern. The swiftech mcr220 is now out of the questions
the Black Ice Xtreme II Radiator may fit, it's 277mm. That doesn't leave me much clearance on either end, though. I'll keep searching.

Thanks again to everyone for their advice and insight. Maybe I'll start a worklog thread... =D

[dullers]

wow that came out to a lot more than I had expected
heh

below image + silver killcoils from petras = $20
+ Gentle Typhoon 1850 (1850rpm) 120mm fans: $79.24

grand total of about $550 shipped

i went with performace PC's based on saving on s&h, their costs are lower for most things, and others didn't have stock.

[millertime359]

Those barbs are the wrong size for that tubing. You needed to get 1/2" barbs.

[dullers]

Oh wow. thank you. you've saved me some headaches. I actually spec'd out 1/2" barbs, i don't know why i put 3/8" barbs.