Advice Required For First Build (Please)

E

EmmEff

New member
I completed my first build a couple of months ago based on some excellent advice received on this here forum. Please see my signature for rig details.

I've overclocked my CPU and GPU to levels that I am happy with, and I now want to put together a custom water loop. I'm not undertaking this loop in order to overclock further (my temps are fine with the H100i and Windforce card), I'm really doing it for the hell of it, although I will no doubt tweak the overclocks when I get the loop up and running.

I've read all the beginners information, and I'm now ready for some human interaction if you guys would be so kind...

First off, I don't have a budget in mind. I am happy to buy parts as and when funds are available. What I would say is that I would prefer to spend 6 months putting together a decent system, as opposed to rushing in and putting together a low end system that I will regret.

So, I have a particular requirement that you guys might blow out the water straight off the bat (see what I did there :cool: ). I don't want to fill my current rig with the water cooling kit, all I want in there are the water blocks and the tubing. Therefore, I want the rest of the kit to sit in an external enclosure. It will sit side by side with my rig, and I want it to look good.

Am I kidding myself on? If not, could anyone reply with an example of what kind of external enclosure / set-up would meet my "spec"?

I'm not looking to be spoon fed the entire build here. If someone can point me in the right direction I'll hit the books so to speak and update you on plans as they progress.

Cheers, and thanks in advance for any advice to follow.
 
In all honesty, yes, it can be done, but typically it looks pretty bad, makes it a pain in the backside to move your rig (for instance going to lan parties), and increases noise unless you have the external setup properly (an example of this in the extreme is a friend of mine who uses a car radiator for his heat exchange. Completely silent as he has no fans at all).

Of course, it's your choice, but keep these things in mind...
 
Greenback said:
I assume your wanting something like these
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...Stand-for-2-x-240mm--Radiators-pid-11729.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...tor-Stand-Bench-Edition--Black-pid-16192.html
Click to expand...

Watercool also make these for the MoRa.

Alternatively, this might be a case for an Aquaduct (360 version, 720 version).
They're superb from what I've heard, though I've never owned one myself. It give
you a nice and compact-ish unit with everything you could possibly want from a W/C
unit.

The 360 version is rated for approximately 700 W heat dissipation with a coolant
temperature 15 C above ambient and fans @ full speed, which should offer you
enough headroom to run your setup on decent temps and noise levels. They
are however rather pricey.

XSPC also make radiator desk stands for their AX series.
However, in that case you'd still have to figure out pump/res mounting and so on,
but it might be something to consider.
 
alpenwasser said:
Watercool also make these for the MoRa.

Alternatively, this might be a case for an Aquaduct (360 version, 720 version).

XSPC also make radiator desk stands for their AX series.
However, in that case you'd still have to figure out pump/res mounting and so on,
but it might be something to consider.
Click to expand...

those Aquaducts look nice didn't know about them :)

I did think about just a rad stand but those 2 I linked you can attach the pump and res and with a couple of quick disconnects would be an option
 
Greenback said:
those Aquaducts look nice didn't know about them :)
Click to expand...

I think people who buy them don't post build logs that often (since, you know, there's
not that much to build). But they've had them in their lineup for years, so I think they
don't sell too badly.

Pure guesswork though. ;)

Greenback said:
I did think about just a rad stand but those 2 I linked you can attach the pump and res and with a couple of quick disconnects would be an option
Click to expand...

Ah, I think I very vaguely seeing that in a vid at some point (maybe Singularity Computers,
not sure). But yes, then those would certainly be a very viable option for those
who desire external W/C.
 
Before going into the water side of PC's you may want to get a new case. That CM 690ii is not exactly a joy to water cool with for the first time unless you wanna mod it and be very limited.
 
NeverBackDown said:
Before going into the water side of PC's you may want to get a new case. That CM 690ii is not exactly a joy to water cool with for the first time unless you wanna mod it and be very limited.
Click to expand...

I didn't think the case was cut out for it, which is why I was interested in external rad.
 
also remember if you go external you will need to find away to power everything, unless you go with the aqueduct which has an adapter though not sure if that powers the fans

just something to consider
 
NeverBackDown said:
Far easier to get a newer case and stick with internal water cooling. Also looks nicer too.
Click to expand...

Having read a few articles, I have to agree. Looks like I'll be embarking on a new build!

If I want to cool my haswell and gtx670 would one 240mm rad cooled by 2 x 120mm fans suffice?

There seems to be quite the choice in terms of cases. If anyone can suggest something in the £100-£150 mark, that would allow me to mount 240mm rad on the top. Would need to have a windowed side panel too.

Will have a hunt and post some "shortlist" examples soon.
 
EmmEff said:
Having read a few articles, I have to agree. Looks like I'll be embarking on a new build!

If I want to cool my haswell and gtx670 would one 240mm rad cooled by 2 x 120mm fans suffice?

There seems to be quite the choice in terms of cases. If anyone can suggest something in the £100-£150 mark, that would allow me to mount 240mm rad on the top. Would need to have a windowed side panel too.

Will have a hunt and post some "shortlist" examples soon.
Click to expand...

You will need a significant amount more rad space than that my friend. 240 might get you your cpu only.

Rough rule of hand is take the number of physical blocks in your proposed loop and assign a 120mm fan and rad space for it and then add another 120mm and fan to that.

So in your case you're minimum rad space is 360mm with 3 fans. And that leaves you no overhead for overclocking or adding other blocks (eg a second gpu).
 
Surfie said:
You will need a significant amount more rad space than that my friend. 240 might get you your cpu only.

Rough rule of hand is take the number of physical blocks in your proposed loop and assign a 120mm fan and rad space for it and then add another 120mm and fan to that.

So in your case you're minimum rad space is 360mm with 3 fans. And that leaves you no overhead for overclocking or adding other blocks (eg a second gpu).
Click to expand...

Cheers Surfie,

I've already shelled out for the Hydro H100i and at 4.2Ghz it's keeping the CPU under 60 during stress tests. I might be better just keeping the CPU cooling as it is, as I'm not really too bothered about the extra 100 or 200Hz.

The GTX670 makes a fair racket when gaming due to it's 3 fans, and it was listening to them that made me think about custom water cooling. The more I view that Corsair 540, the more I like it! I'm thinking I could have the H100i on the top of the case for the CPU, and fit a 360mm rad + 3 fans to the front for the GPU... or a 240mm rad on front with 2 fans (enough for the GPU), with a dedicated air intake fan below the front rad to suck air directly through the case.

The Corsair 540 seems to have the space to allow for various options?
 
Fractal Design Arc R2 / Arx Xl / Arc Mini R2 are all solid choices.
Nzxt Switch 810 is probably still the best case for watercooling on the market at a fair price(cheap because has a lot of plastic but still strong and sturdy).

Also a Corsair 750D can handle this build as well. On par with the Switch 810 with a different look.

If you plan on going with the 4670k and 670 then a 360x60mm rad should do the job. If you go with the Fractals then a rad sizes changes a bit. Though the Corsair/Nzxt can both handle a 360x60mm and an additional 240x60mm.
 
If you're talking cases the phantom 530 or 630 or Alternatively the source 530 might be worth looking at as well.

Also I would suggest getting a 360 to begin with and try it out. If you are not happy with temps or noise all of these cases are easy to expand your cooling with a 240mm rad later on.

From what I've seen price wise the order would be
:

Source 530, phantom 530, phantom 630, switch 810, obsidian 750D. The switch and obsidian price difference is about 10 bucks, the rest are about 20 bucks difference.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for replies, guys. I will definitley plan it for a 360 x 60 rad to begin with, and will probably stick with the H100i to cool the CPU and the custom loop to cool the GPU. I can always add another 240mm rad when funds replenish, and alter the loop to include the CPU. I'll make sure I get a pump and resrovoir capable of handling both rads.

As far as the case is concerned at the moment, it's a toss up between the Air 540 and the Switch 810. The 540 looks as if it will be a lot easier to work with, maybe even allowing for the pump and reservoir to be mounted in the seperate compartment with the PSU, which will mean only water blocks and tubing in the MOBO compartment which is kinda what I was aiming for with the external rad idea initially. However, it might just be too big.

Decisions, decisions...
 
Quite honestly, of the two, I personally would pick the switch. There are a couple of potential traps, but it was the case of the year last year for a reason...

As it is my own choice recently boiled down to corsair 750d, phantom 630 or switch. For me cost was ultimately the deciding factor. In your case, the cases are similar price points so the real factor for you is going to be feature based and size based (maybe)

Good luck with your choice!
 
EmmEff said:
Thanks for replies, guys. I will definitley plan it for a 360 x 60 rad to begin with, and will probably stick with the H100i to cool the CPU and the custom loop to cool the GPU. I can always add another 240mm rad when funds replenish, and alter the loop to include the CPU. I'll make sure I get a pump and resrovoir capable of handling both rads.

As far as the case is concerned at the moment, it's a toss up between the Air 540 and the Switch 810. The 540 looks as if it will be a lot easier to work with, maybe even allowing for the pump and reservoir to be mounted in the seperate compartment with the PSU, which will mean only water blocks and tubing in the MOBO compartment which is kinda what I was aiming for with the external rad idea initially. However, it might just be too big.

Decisions, decisions...
Click to expand...


Get the parts you want to watercool with. Then look for a case that will better suit it aesthetically. Make sure you have enough future expansion and then you are golden.
 
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