Build almost ready.. here is what I learned

[ahmad]

Chinese proverb says:

you are stupid if you learn from your own mistakes

If you didn't get that, it means you are smart if you learn from others' mistakes . Well I wasn't that smart. I thought I did enough research but trying it out is never the same.

Putting together water parts for the first time was a unique experience.

Skills you need to have:
- How to attach tubing to barbs
- How to remove tubing from barbs.. it helps if you work out
- patience
- patience
- patience


Tools/equipment:
- Watercooling gear that you think you need
- air pump/compressor for leak testing - one member here recommended 7psi, I did 10psi and nothing blew but its better to be safe than sorry.
- An excess of distilled water. I am filling my loop with this stuff, about 10l should be more than enough. Better do this stuff first before you dump in your expensive nano-fluid.
- 6x1-1/2" sheet metal screws for the rad (these were slightly too big for case+rad+20mm fan, for fear of damaging the rad I chopped off the bottom 2-4mm to be safe)
- Filter for the loop *my biggest regret so far
- A funnel
- A ton of paper towels
- At least one 45° fitting.. even if you don't think you need it *another major regret
- Flashlight
- A bucket or two (small, 3-5l enough)
- At least one quick disconnect in the loop *another (minor) regret
- xacto-knife/scalpel/other sharp tool for making clean cuts
- An external IDE HDD powersupply is useful, usually comes with stuff like this or this from your favourite chinese wholesaler. Easier than powering your beautiful 1000w power supply.

Other things I wish I had known/thought about:
- Where to put your drain valve.. e.g. not at the block inlet

- keep kids away from rads. They like to poke the fins for "fun"

- If your going to install the rad above the res, mount it after bleeding if possible

- Primochill tubing is so damn thick, its a pain to remove

- wash your parts
- wash your parts
- wash your parts.. I ended up with what I thought were micro-bubbles when in fact it was shiny bits of crap (became obvious when I turned on the flashlight) and I am not sure of the source. Now my loop is full of this and I am going to drain it at least once more to see if I can get this junk out

- If you want to be able to move things around, make your tubing a bit longer. It also helps if you ever need to disconnect a tube, easier to cut then to remove.

- Acrylic wears down quickly at the threads from excessive screwing/unscrewing of the barbs. I did it only twice to my res input and I saw some acrylic come off in the thread. Very minor but for the future I am going to get a res that has stronger thread for fittings.

- If your res is below the rad (and you have 2in1 res/pumptop like i do) and you have already attached the rad, seal your res, tilt your case 90° and watch the bubbles come out like scared chicken. I could have saved one hour of waiting if I had done this from the beginning. Careful with the water level, keep the pump power cable nearby for quick shutoff.

The devil is in the details. I have much to learn, but maybe those with experience have tips on how I could have made my life easier, along with other rare hard-to-find tips.

If you are wondering, this is the list of parts.