Help me complete my dream water cooling setup, no price limit :o
Hi guys! I am building a water cooling pc, below is all the specs and parts, any recommendations for better stuff would be great! As you will see I don't know what to get for some of this stuff. Price is no object, but my case (Silverstone TJ03) has limited room, thanks!
Also for pump recommendations, I want one that is quiet and very good,thanks!
User Name:
System:
CPU: i7 920
Motherboard: EVGA X58 CLASSIFIED 3 WAY SLI
CPU Overclock Speed: WANT TO RUN CPU AT 4 GHZ
Video Card & Quantity: 1 EVGA GTX 295
Videocard Overclock: WANT TO RUN GPU AT 720 MHZ
Watercooling:
CPU Block: EK SUPREME FULL COPPER EDITION
NorthBridge Block: EK-FB KIT-EVGA-CLASSIFIED-AC/NK
SouthBridgeBlock: EK-FB KIT-EVGA-CLASSIFIED-AC/NK
Mosfet Block: EK-FB KIT-EVGA-CLASSIFIED-AC/NK
Videocard WB/WBs: KOOLANCE VID-NX295
Radiator & Quantity: FESER XCHANGER 240MM AND ALSO ONE 120MM
Radiator Fans & Quantity:TWO 80MM NOISEBLOCKERS FOR THE REAR OR CASE, ONE FESER 120MMX55MM LOW SPEED FAN FOR TOP CASE WITH FESER 120MM RAD, FRONT TO HAVE 120MM NOISEBLOCKER PWM FAN, AND BOTTOM OF THE CASE TO HAVE FESER 240MM RAD WITH 2 FESER 120MMX55M FANS LOW SPEED(CASE TO HAVE HOLES ON BOTTOM CUTOUT FOR SUCKING AIR INTO RAD)
Radiator Location:SEE ABOVE
Radiator Fan Direction: TOP FAN SUCKS AIR INTO 120MM RAD, BOTTOM FANS SUCK AIR INTO RAD, FRONT FAN SUCKS AIR INTO CASE, 2 80MM FANS ON REAR SUCK HOT AIR OUT
Reservoir: NOT SURE, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS!?
Tubing & Size: I WANTED TO USE FESER 3/18 TUBING IF POSSIBLE, 3/18 IS CRUCIAL B/C I HAVE LIMITED ROOM IN CASE AND NEED FLEXIBILTY, NOT SURE IF THEY EXIST
Barb/Fitting Size: BITPOWER FITTINGS, NOT SURE WHAT I NEED THOUGH?
Pump & Quantity: NOT SURE, NEED RECOMMENDATIONS
Pumps-Series/Parallel: NOT SURE?
Last edited by blackvette94; 11-18-2009 at 03:20 PM.
First off, if price is no limit, get a bigger case. Silverstone TJ07, Corsair Obsidian, Coolmaster Cosmos S, and Mountian Mods are all good choices.
A single Feser 240mm will not be enough. You will want to get 1 120.3 rad for the CPU and one of the 120.2 rads for the GPU.
Dual loop is best option. I would recommend getting this res and 2 Swiftech MCP355s.
I would also recommend getting a Swiftech XT. It is a top performing water block and it has one of the best mounting systems on the market.
GPU block is fine, but might want to look into a EK GTX295 block so it matches your MB. GPU blocks perform all about the same though, so it is purely on looks and cost.
Primochill Pro LRT tubing is my choice. I also like the 7/16" ID 5/8" OD tube. Tube size doesn't effect performance greatly though.
Pick your tubing size, then match your fittings to your tubing size.
Distilled water and .999 % silver is your best option for coolant.
Also, check in on the stickies. It seems this is your first time, great info there.
First off, if price is no limit, get a bigger case. Silverstone TJ07, Corsair Obsidian, Coolmaster Cosmos S, and Mountian Mods are all good choices.
A single Feser 240mm will not be enough. You will want to get 1 120.3 rad for the CPU and one of the 120.2 rads for the GPU.
Dual loop is best option. I would recommend getting this res and 2 Swiftech MCP355s.
I would also recommend getting a Swiftech XT. It is a top performing water block and it has one of the best mounting systems on the market.
GPU block is fine, but might want to look into a EK GTX295 block so it matches your MB. GPU blocks perform all about the same though, so it is purely on looks and cost.
Primochill Pro LRT tubing is my choice. I also like the 7/16" ID 5/8" OD tube. Tube size doesn't effect performance greatly though.
Pick your tubing size, then match your fittings to your tubing size.
Distilled water and .999 % silver is your best option for coolant.
Also, check in on the stickies. It seems this is your first time, great info there.
Yes this is my first time.. second of all I had my Silverstone custom painted and it cost ALOT and I love the look so I wont change cases. I dont think I can fit a 120.3 in the case, I can do 120.2 on the bottom and a 120.1 on the top. You don't think that will be adequate? Even at stock speeds? I would think it would be fine :/
Location: Back and forth between Arizona and Florida
Posts: 2,989
If you've only got room for a 240 and a 120 rad, I'd say you may be limited to running your CPU at stock (although I'd guess you can get some decent OC if you can keep the voltages low enough). You may also want to consider going with thinner rads, like the Swiftech series if space is tight. Or, something like the Black Ice GTX with higher RPM fans if you can take a bit of noise and you have the room.
If you haven't already purchased the GTX295, it's worth considering the 5870, since it has lower power requirements than the 295.
While you can probably get by with a 3 x 120 radiator setup for the CPU and GPU, you're pushing it with the motherboard blocks. Not saying you can't do it, but it's going to be tight.
For fans, not sure I'd go with the Feser fans - they seem expensive for what you get (but I've never used them). The Scythe Gentle Typhoons or S-Flex fans are good. Lots of people also like Zalman fans.
Well, you did have overclock requirements there and you did say money was no object.
If you don't want to meet those overclock requirements and only run at stock settings, then you will be fine.
+1 on Shazza and the fans.
You can make the case work, but it will require some cutting and and having a rad hanging off the back. If you spent alot of money on the case, maybe set it aside for a smaller build and get a bigger case for this build so you don't have to cut up the case.
Well, you did have overclock requirements there and you did say money was no object.
If you don't want to meet those overclock requirements and only run at stock settings, then you will be fine.
+1 on Shazza and the fans.
You can make the case work, but it will require some cutting and and having a rad hanging off the back. If you spent alot of money on the case, maybe set it aside for a smaller build and get a bigger case for this build so you don't have to cut up the case.
Yea I def wanted to overclock the GPU and CPU, if I dont overclock them, you think I will be ok water cooling everything with the 120.1 and 120.2 ? I guess I see alot of guys coolin their system with one 120.3 so I figure this is close enough.
When you guys say its going to be tight with the rads Im looking at, are you saying if I want to overclock? My main goal is to build a water cooling unit with mild OC and quiet operation. Is what I have outlined able to achieve this goal? I def dont want a rad hanging out of the case, so everything has to be internal.
This is the case Falcon Northwest uses, I know they use Asetek LCLC for the cpu, I just figured what I was doing would be better. :/ Now Im sad I dont know what to do, I love this case and I want to make a watercooling system that is all internal...
Like Shazza said already, if you only plan on overclocking at stock voltage then you should be fine. However, if that is the case then why go with the Classified? Save the money and go to something like the Blood Rage or EVGA SLI x58. You can probably overclock your 920 to 3.6Ghz on stock voltages. If you can do a push/pull on the rads that would help also, not sure if it will fit. It looks like the top will accommodate a push/pull, but I doubt the bottom will. The other choice is to go external on the rad so you can do a triple. After looking at the case, I do not see how even a dual rad would go in the bottom. In truth, I would back off the Classified and get a different case or do an external mount.
Location: Back and forth between Arizona and Florida
Posts: 2,989
Give it a shot.
First, put your 120.2 rad in and hook up just your CPU. See how it does. Then, go ahead and add the other single rad and add your GPU - assuming you are happy with what you see with the first setup.
Skip the motherboard blocks initially - you can add them later if everything is okay, and it's better to get some experience with water cooling before doing the GPU or mobo.
You probably won't be able to get to your goals with that.
If your not going to OC, then drop the MB blocks like Shazza said. There is no use for them if your running stock voltage and it will allow a little more room to play.
Your best bet would be to do a different build with that case you have. Do a dual core AMD build with a 4850 video card. Those will run just fine on your setup, or run them on air. You can then use that rig for Crunching and Folding.
To do the build the way you want to do it, with the goals you have in mind, your best off getting a bigger case for this rig. As you said, you want a dream water cooling system where price is no limit.
First, put your 120.2 rad in and hook up just your CPU. See how it does. Then, go ahead and add the other single rad and add your GPU - assuming you are happy with what you see with the first setup.
Skip the motherboard blocks initially - you can add them later if everything is okay, and it's better to get some experience with water cooling before doing the GPU or mobo.
Ok, how about this, one 120.2 rad on bottom, one 120.1 rad on top and one 120.1 rad installed in the 5.25 bay, that would be a total of 4 rads 120. At that is this possible? haha Im reaching here I know...
The thing is, you may be able to fit all those rads, but then you've got to consider the pumps, reservoir, and tubing, a CD-ROM drive, HDDs -- and don't forget all the wiring. You will soon run out of space and feel quite cramped.
Moreover, using the thinner radiators requires the use of faster fans (louder fans) to get adequate cooling. I have a C2D e6700 and an nVidia 8800GTX running in 1 loop with a thin 120.3 radiator all at stock voltages with no overclock. The air coming out of the radiator is warm. Change my parts to yours, and you've got a hotter CPU and a hotter GPU. Over clock them and you're looking at an unstable system, especially when running an intense game. To compensate you'll have to turn your fans WAY WAY up which does not meet your goal of a silent build.
I have built 3 WC rigs since 2001, and the one thing I've learned is that if you want to go all internal and cover every part with water you really need a case that is big enough. Especially if you're going for a silent build because you can get great performance from the thick radiators with slow (quiet) fans.
I agree with everyone else, if money is no object and you want the best, you can't limit yourself to a small case. Why not turn it into a HTPC or something?
Edit: When I say small case, I meant to say "poorly arranged for watercooling" case. The TJ03 is a fine case if you are willing to hack it up and go for a more basic watercooling loop.
Location: Back and forth between Arizona and Florida
Posts: 2,989
Actually, millertime had a good idea. I'm guessing you are set on i7, but a better fit for your case would be i5 or better yet, go high end AMD. One 240 rad will cool a 955 (and probably 965) and a 5850 - probably even a 5870.
In the Uk we'd go for something like this Dream PC
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Shazza, he can totally do it, but I am concerned with tube routing for all of those rads (4) and blocks (CPU, GPU, Mobo) - there will likely be many bends cutting down on the flow, making OCing worse. Things will get quite messy and, IMO, take away from the "killer paint job."
It's all just a matter of being creative, though! That's half the fun of WCing
Shazza, he can totally do it, but I am concerned with tube routing for all of those rads (4) and blocks (CPU, GPU, Mobo) - there will likely be many bends cutting down on the flow, making OCing worse. Things will get quite messy and, IMO, take away from the "killer paint job."
It's all just a matter of being creative, though! That's half the fun of WCing
Not saying it can't be done, but no sense in hacking apart his case to do it, seeing it still won't be ideal for his goals.
Location: Back and forth between Arizona and Florida
Posts: 2,989
I agree it's worth a shot, just wouldn't want to see him be disappointed in his first water cooling effort. Also concerned about airflow within the case.
A rad in the bay drive won't help a lot unless it's got some air going through it.
As said before, if money really is no object then definitely get another case. Even if you would manage to fit all those rads you wanted, I don't think you'd be happy with the outcome specially as you're looking for a "dream water cooling setup".
Maybe build something else of the TJ03, a cool little htpc, server or whatever. Maybe your children/kid brother/wife/gf or whatever would like a little puter for normal use.
Are external rads totally out for the question?
Not overclocking much and buying a classified wont do much for you in the long run either.
Maybe save the money on it, sell the custom case and get one that fits the needs of your build better.
Lots of nice stuff in there to play with, but it would be a shame to try to shoe horn it all in and possibly end up disappointed.
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ASUS Rampage II Ex 1504
Intel i7 920 D0 3850A795
Sapphire HD5970 EK FC 1Ghz/1150Mhz 1.237v
OS Intel X25-M RAID0
Data 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200/32Mb
OCZ Reaper 6GB/1800/C8
BeQuiet Dark Power Pro 1200w
1X 18w DDC3.2 w/XSPC Res Top
1X 18w DDC3.25 w/XSPC Res Top
1X XSPC Submersible Pump/Res w/RS120mm
HW Labs GTX480 4x120mm
TFC Monsta 6x140mm
EK Supreme LT 3/8" Feser Tubing
EK IOH/SB and Mosfet Blocks
Lian Li V2110 w/EX-34
26" Iiyama Prolite
I agree it's worth a shot, just wouldn't want to see him be disappointed in his first water cooling effort. Also concerned about airflow within the case.
A rad in the bay drive won't help a lot unless it's got some air going through it.
Yea, you think I will be disappointed with any potential overclocking? If I ran at stock voltages for eveything, wont the 120.2 and 120.1 be enough to cool them? I would think that would be better then air cooling :/
Look here, this guy used the TJ03 for water cooling, he just did the opposite as to what I was going to do, he put a 120.2 rad on underside of top case and cut holes into it. What kind of temps do you think I would have with outlined setup above at stock and overclocked settings? Better then air??
Yea, you think I will be disappointed with any potential overclocking? If I ran at stock voltages for eveything, wont the 120.2 and 120.1 be enough to cool them? I would think that would be better then air cooling :/
Look here, this guy used the TJ03 for water cooling, he just did the opposite as to what I was going to do, he put a 120.2 rad on underside of top case and cut holes into it. What kind of temps do you think I would have with outlined setup above at stock and overclocked settings? Better then air??
Going back to your OP, you said you wanted to get it to 4 GHZ. That requires more than stock voltage to do that. Also, each chip is a little different, so you might require more than stock voltage to get to 3.6 and stay stable.
Temps are hard to predict as there are many variables to account for.
If you would be satisfied with not reaching your OC'ing goals as listed in the OP, then you should be fine. If you wish to reach those goals, then set that case aside for a different build, and look into a larger case where you have the room to do your "dream system".
edit: also as stated before, if your not going to do more than a mild overclock and you don't plan to run anything more than a single GTX295, I would look into a cheaper MB than the Classy. The Classy is a high-end board that was setup for high overclocks and multiple video cards. There are plenty of other boards that work just as well with minor overclocks, but are half the cost.
GPU blocks perform all about the same though, so it is purely on looks and cost. 
I dont know what to do, I love this case and I want to make a watercooling system that is all internal...
I used Bitspower fittings by teh way
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