How much did you/would you spend?

[WangChung]

I know some will be reluctant to really sit back and count receipts, or just afraid to count that high. Or they've been hiding the bills from their wives. But how much would you spend for a quality watercooling setup? Right now the one I have priced out is in the $900 range, just seeing if this is about average.

[Eeky NoX]

All the system or just the watercooling loop? If it's the entire system 900 is short

Mine is around 4000 for fullwater !!

With 900 go for all in one

[WangChung]

Just the cooling components!

[Eeky NoX]

Hehe alright it sounds better now.

Plz give some more details about what you're about to cool with that system...

[WangChung]

This:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...light=MegaMini

Two universal GPU blocks, CPU block, various fittings, reservoir, radiator, pump, series of t00bs, some other incidentals. GPU blocks will be run in parallel, so there's two 5 way splitters in there as well.

[stren]

For a decent loop it's tough to spend less than 900, it's fairly easy to spend 2K, and not uncommon to spend more

[zanzabar]

without the case (i got mine free) i spent about $210 for a chipset block, dtek fusion, some tube, mcp355 with top and a used pa120.2 and the bp fittings and other jazz to finish, then i bought a back ice 120mm rad that was $20, and an mcw60 that was $25, and a cpx pro this year (to replace my 355 that died affter 4.5 years) that was $55. so i did just over $300 in the last 5 years

[Sparky]

For a decent loop it's tough to spend less than 900, it's fairly easy to spend 2K, and not uncommon to spend more

Seriously?

I spent around a little over $400 to build my first loop. I didn't blow a hundred bucks on blingy fittings alone, and I went with a standard GPU block + heatsinks for the memory/vregs/etc. Just recently I upgraded my CPU block and I'm just now replacing that setup with a unisink setup from Swiftech, which cost around 40 bucks. I suppose it isn't quite as pretty, but it is certainly functional.

You can build a decent loop with everything brand new for under $500.

[westomatic]

For a decent loop it's tough to spend less than 900, it's fairly easy to spend 2K, and not uncommon to spend more

Seriously x2 !? if i spent $100 per rad/block/pump/hose/res/fittings im still way under $900. /trololol

[paulbagz]

I find the biggest single cost is fittings most times. Should never have to spend much more then $100 per component (pump, rad, blocks).

Can easily do a high heat load loop for under $500 but fittings are the biggest issue. You can either spend $50 or $200+ depending on your need for elbows, 45's, compressions etc.

-PB

[st0ned]

Well mine should be on the 600-700€ range. 2 GPU full covers + 2 mcp-35x + 3 360 rads and cpu block ( normal 19/13 compression fittings and 1/2" tube ).

[WangChung]

Yeah I'm finding the price of fittings to be the largest "Miscellaneous" cost on my wishlist. I could just go with the push-on barb fittings and worm clamps, but the compression fittings just seem to allow for a lot more flexibility and space savings.

I could go cheaper, but I fear that with how I'm going to need to fit all this together cheaping out is the last thing I want to do. Looks like I'll just save up my pennies

[stren]

Seriously?

I spent around a little over $400 to build my first loop. I didn't blow a hundred bucks on blingy fittings alone, and I went with a standard GPU block + heatsinks for the memory/vregs/etc. Just recently I upgraded my CPU block and I'm just now replacing that setup with a unisink setup from Swiftech, which cost around 40 bucks. I suppose it isn't quite as pretty, but it is certainly functional.

You can build a decent loop with everything brand new for under $500.

My definition of a quality loop (costs are estimates):

CPU block : 70
2 full cover gpu blocks: 250
mcp35x2: 200
mcp35x2 heatsink: 30
250mm cylinder res: 60
2x360 rads: 200
12 AP15s Fans: 180
Compression Fittings 2+2+sli bridge+1+rotary male to male+1+4 = 80+
10 feet tubing: 25

Total = 1095 + shipping (+ tax possibly)

Everyone's definition of "quality" is different. Yes you can spend a lot less (and my first loop was), but the OP asked for a quality loop and that's what I think a quality loop would consist of without being given any other information. I've bought budget loops for a lot less before. I've also spent a lot more, for example - my current setup for project thief (2 computers in one case):

Radiators:
Mora 3 140.9 = 200
EX560 = 100
GTX560 = 200
GTX360 =100
RX360 = 80

Pumps:
2x D5 Strong = 160
D5 Vario = 80
DDC = 70
mcp35x2 = 200
dual 24v controller for D5 strongs = 80

Blocks:
2 cpu: 140
6 full cover gpu: 750
2 motherboard full cover = 300
4 ram full cover = 200
D5 top= 50
Dual D5 top= 100
DDC top = 25

Fittings:
14 QDC pairs at 25 each: 350
SLI bridge =30
Snakes = 50
SLI fittings = 25
Compressions = 100
Rotaries = 150
Tube = 50

Reservoirs
RPC452x2 = 150
2xEK 400 = 100
2x ek 250 = 80

Total: $3920

I'm sure there's more than that too. Luckily I've bought most of it 2nd hand or on sale, and have been sponsored with some too.

[Sparky]

OK so you're assuming multi GPU, dual pumps of the most expensive type, dual radiators, and a boatload of compressions. OK I can see how you came up with that number... But for a quality loop for most people who have a single GPU, you don't need dual radiators, dual GPU blocks, or dual pumps, and there are less expensive radiators and pumps that still do a good job (MCR320 is still my favorite for the price/performance). Compressions are purely aesthetic (and I'll admit I'm tempted by the monsoon compressions).

I would say your idea of a quality loop is more like overkill quality for most people

I can't imagine spending $1k+ on a single PC water loop. Geez.

[MrBean]

For a decent loop it's tough to spend less than 900, it's fairly easy to spend 2K, and not uncommon to spend more

I would say it would be unwise to spent that sort of money, and unfortunately a trend the new generations watercooling 'gurus' are setting. This doesn't just pertain to the watercooling components, but stretches all the way to what make s a good computer - read here "what makes my e-peen that much longer than yours."

The loop you are referring to is very much high-end xtreme, not decent - a big, and expensive difference.

But, just my 2c anyway, enjoy whichever way you go, and whatever you spent - at the end of the day your budget and experience, or sometimes, lack of either, or both, guides you in the process - generically speaking, and not pointing to anyone, or the quoted poster.

[defect9]

I personally only spent about $200 total between my first and second WC builds (both 1 CPU and 1 GPU in single loop). But it should be noted that I cashed in on birthdays, christmases, and contests. And most of it carried over from the first build to the next (and hopefully the next one after that).

all told, I'm still under $700 over the course of it all for WC. It won't win any awards, though, but it gets the job done.

[paulbagz]

CC5 Bitspower fittings = wallet burnt.

-PB

[MrBean]

CC5 Bitspower fittings = wallet burnt.

-PB

True that

[WangChung]

I like the compression fittings, but I agree Bitspower is insane in price. It's nice stuff, but jebus the price.

[Waterlogged]

My definition of a quality loop (costs are estimates):

CPU block : 70
2 full cover gpu blocks: 250
mcp35x2: 200
mcp35x2 heatsink: 30
250mm cylinder res: 60
2x360 rads: 200
12 AP15s Fans: 180
Compression Fittings 2+2+sli bridge+1+rotary male to male+1+4 = 80+
10 feet tubing: 25

Total = 1095 + shipping (+ tax possibly)

Everyone's definition of "quality" is different. Yes you can spend a lot less (and my first loop was), but the OP asked for a quality loop and that's what I think a quality loop would consist of without being given any other information. I've bought budget loops for a lot less before. I've also spent a lot more, for example - my current setup for project thief (2 computers in one case):

Radiators:
Mora 3 140.9 = 200
EX560 = 100
GTX560 = 200
GTX360 =100
RX360 = 80

Pumps:
2x D5 Strong = 160
D5 Vario = 80
DDC = 70
mcp35x2 = 200
dual 24v controller for D5 strongs = 80

Blocks:
2 cpu: 140
6 full cover gpu: 750
2 motherboard full cover = 300
4 ram full cover = 200
D5 top= 50
Dual D5 top= 100
DDC top = 25

Fittings:
14 QDC pairs at 25 each: 350
SLI bridge =30
Snakes = 50
SLI fittings = 25
Compressions = 100
Rotaries = 150
Tube = 50

Reservoirs
RPC452x2 = 150
2xEK 400 = 100
2x ek 250 = 80

Total: $3920

I'm sure there's more than that too. Luckily I've bought most of it 2nd hand or on sale, and have been sponsored with some too.

Last time I saw a loop that expensive. . .it never got filled.

[Manicdan]

CPU: 70$
GPU: 125$
rad/res/pump combo (mcr320 drive rev-2): 200$
3x AP-15s: 60$
Tubing assuming 10ft: 25$
fittings/clamps of various types for 6 ports: probably around 40$
= 520$ and those price are all assuming a few $ for shipping. and thats what i have in my machine, except also a mb-mosfet block so add another 120$ for that and parts

[grasskicker509]

save tons of money buying used parts
spend the money saved on better hardware
$900 is way too much

[JudgmentJay]

I think mine was around 2k, maybe a bit more. Definitely surprised me since it was my first build. When I was brainstorming I was thinking it wouldn't cost more than $500-1000.

[schoolslave]

My very first loop back in the AMD 3700+ days was maybe, 300$ - 350$?

Every loop after that, the costs have been increasing exponentially, and usually the builds never get finished due to one reason or another
My latest build, I just purchase parts when I have some extra money and try not to add up all the receipts.......

[Kyuusei]

Define quality. Quality in terms of bling? Or quality in terms of cooling?

I'm not in it for the bling so I my loop is substantially cheaper than most.

1x MCR320 - $50
1x Laing DDC1 - $35 courtesy of BMaverick
1x CPU Block - $50 used if not cheaper
1x Universal GPU Block - $50 used if not cheaper
1x Reservoir - $50

Sub total of $235. So lets say $100 for various fans fittings and tubing, and another $50 on top of that for whatever shipping. $385 and thats buying everything, not recycling fans, etc that you already have.