WC Advice / Opinions

I'm getting ready to re-do my loop, but was wondering what you opinions would be on:

1) Inline temperature probes - Worth it or not? Is the additional restriction worth the hassle of knowing your water temperature? Is the restriction significant?

2) Changing my current Swiftech MCP-655 for a DDC Ultra with Alphacool top

3) Best material for a t-piece for my t-line

name='Yeungster' said:

I'm getting ready to re-do my loop, but was wondering what you opinions would be on:

1) Inline temperature probes - Worth it or not? Is the additional restriction worth the hassle of knowing your water temperature? Is the restriction significant?

2) Changing my current Swiftech MCP-655 for a DDC Ultra with Alphacool top

3) Best material for a t-piece for my t-line

Click to expand...

1) Nah. Why anyone (who's not conducting reviews etc) would want to know the water temperature is beyond me.

2) Only worth it if there's a problem with the 655 or you're planning on adding some more blocks to your loop. TBH i'd also reconsider the plexi top. There's a few better ones out there.

3) I used brass. You know where you stand with a good old lump of metal. No chance of cracking if you just jubilee clips.

1) Temp probe idea ditched

2) Reason I was considering changing it was to rearrange my loop. I wanted to see for myself how much difference a change in loop order would make to temperatures. My current setup is pump > cpu block > rad > pump as it was the tidiest order for the pump's inlet / outlet positions.

If i went for the DDC ultra, then the inlet and outlet would be reversed, meaning I could go to the rad before the cpu block, whilst keeping the tidyness with the possibility of being able to redice tubing lengths further.

What do you reckon?

3) Currently using a brass t-piece, so will continue with it

2) Someone did some tests not so long ago which showed only a negligible difference in temps between the location of components in a loop. It was something like 0.5c.

However, the DDC with a nice top is like water cooled pr0n. So if a new pump and a bit of extra space in ur case tickles ur fancy, why not

Do you know about the reliability of both pumps?

I've had a quick browse around, and from what I can gather, the 655 wins on the reliability front.

Anyone run an ultra for a sustained period of time?

name='Yeungster' said:

Do you know about the reliability of both pumps?

I've had a quick browse around, and from what I can gather, the 655 wins on the reliability front.

Anyone run an ultra for a sustained period of time?

Click to expand...

From what I've read, the reliability of the DDC is getting better (iirc it has a 3yr warranty). It had a fair few problems when it very first come out, but I think they've got it spot-on now.

However, if I was going to choose a pump to push blood around my body and keep me alive, I think I'd still pick the D5.

Ye the D5 is rock solid and feels it too. Pretty huge though

tbh RMA rates for both pumps are low but we have had more D5's back then DDCs

inline temp probes used in my loop.

BigNG controlling fans on rad and case via water temp rise or fall.

Yeungster said:

1) Inline temperature probes - Worth it or not? Is the additional restriction worth the hassle of knowing your water temperature? Is the restriction significant?

2) Changing my current Swiftech MCP-655 for a DDC Ultra with Alphacool top

3) Best material for a t-piece for my t-line

Click to expand...

1) Not unless you were reviewing hardware, or particularly anal about temps. I wouldn't imagine that the temp probes would restrict much at all, they are only a 'T' piece with a thermal probe inserted and sealed.

2)The DDC Ultra with OCLabs XP or XSPC tops beat the D5. But I can't really see much point in changing the pumps over unless you really need the additional flow/head. Save yourself some money and just stick with your existing D5

3)I have used both the UV resistant plastic garden variety 1/2" 'T' and the brass ones...both are perfectly fine for water-cooling purposes.

name='Yeungster' said:

I've had a quick browse around, and from what I can gather, the 655 wins on the reliability front.

Anyone run an ultra for a sustained period of time?

Click to expand...

I've been running my DDC Ultra flat out 24/7 for around 8 or 9 months now and haven't had a spot of bother. It has been used for all the water-cooling reviews that I've done and been run at voltages as high as 13.8v's (although not for sustained periods.