Beginner wanting to watercool pc, Need advice

[Kushiro]

Hi Everyone,

Basically I recently decided to take up watercooling for my PC, As I've seen so many great looking watercooling build on OC3D and wanted to try one for myself once I had some leftoever funds. I started off with a simple CPU only XSPC RX240 D5 watercooling kit, So I could get some experience and I am proud to say that everything went without a hitch, No leaks whatsoever Now I want to advance to the next stage and start customizing my setup.

These are the components that I have so far:

Waterblock (CPU): XSPC Raystorm intel waterblock Blue Led
Radiator#1: Hardwarelabs GTX 420 Black Ice
Radiator#2: XSPC RX 240
Reservoir: XSPC 5.25" dual bay with indicator (blue Led)

I am using XSPC 7/16 tubing and XSPC 7/14 Chrome compression fittings.

My components are:
Case: NZXT Switch 810 Gunmetal special edition
Processor: Intel i7 2600k (OC to 5.2GHZ with approximately 1.42V stable)
Motherboard: ASRock Extreme 3 Gen 3 Z68 motherboard
Memory: Kingston HyperX 8GB (2x4GB) 11-12-11-30 2133MHZ 1.6V (water coolable version)
SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 120GB Sata3 6gb/s
PSU: OCZ ZX series 850W Gold

My current radspace is a total of 660, with both rads setup is a push-pull configuration. I have routed my loop to have my top radiator dispate the heat from the water first before continuing on to my bottom radiator for the second phase cooling and then lastly the coolant returns to the radiator.

My budget is >$500

I would like some suggestions on what modifications I could make, I am considering changing the res/pump combo that came initially with the XSPC Rx240 kit, As I dont really like its appearance that much. I would also like to know if there is a way to make maintenance easier, As I would rather not disassemble my entire system every 6 months or so, As I am usually quite busy.

I am currently also looking for a good graphics card that has a full cover block that I can add to my W/C loop, Unfortunately there are just so many options, So I would like some advice on this matter too.

Anyways sorry for the extremely long post and any help at all would be highly appreciated.

Also I am aiming for a blue/white theme, As I dont really like other colors that much.

 

[SparkleDJackson]

i couldnt understand your post. you have 500 left to play with and you already have all that stated gear. so in my head that means you have 500 but need a gpu with waterblock a pump and a reservior?

 

[Kushiro]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

The $500 budget is just for the waterblock and any other watercooling gear that I may add.

I the graphics card will not come into the watercooling budget.

 

[SparkleDJackson]

Then you sir have a lot of money to have fun with. A d5 pump with a dual bay res could be a possibility for about 120 or the same pump in the bitspower mount,top and res. that would be prob atleast 200 but sweet looking. A gpu block of your choice is about 120. You will need more fittings. I would also buy extension fittings and rotary fittings to have spare. You never know if it would come in handy until you need one. So I'd estimate about 350 is all you would need. I spent a clean fortune on my build. Check out the project Flynn thread and check the back page. That's my current set up. But I had the same case before so it's in the same thread a little earlier. So see if you can get any inspiration there

 

[Kushiro]

Ok, Thanks. I already have 6 spare compression fittings for my type of tubing so I can save on that. Also I already have the XSPC dual bay Liang D5 res/pump combo, However for some reason it has a loud humming noise.

 

[Bartacus]

Is your D5 fixed speed or the variable version? You could turn down the pump speed to decrease the vibration somewhat. XSPC bay reservoirs seem to be hit and miss for vibration noise. I had 2 D5s on maximum speed in mine with little to no vibration, but I think I got lucky since the res was such a tight fit in my old 800D.

If you decide to ditch the bay res, you have so many options for D5 pump tops / reservoirs it's crazy. I'd 2nd Sparkle's recommendation and look at a Bitspower D5 pump top / reservoir. It might be tough to find space to mount it though. You can get a small tube res + D5 top that looks very nice, if you can find a clean place to mount it.

For GPUs, you first need to pick a team, green or red. Once you pick one, look for a reference design GPU. Choose a water block FIRST, then a GPU that will fit it. Use this site as a guide:

http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/

Personally I'd recommend a HeatKiller GPU block, as they are a HQ block with excellent performance, has good active VRM cooling, and is VERY sexy. You can get those for both AMD / Nvidia. The back plate will cost you a little extra, but GET ONE. You don't *need* a back plate, but the difference is HUGE in terms of aesthetics.

Sorry for the short novel.

 

[Kushiro]

Thanks, I think I will go for the Red team this time around, as they seem to benefit the most from watercooling.

 

[mehere]

Personally I'd recommend a HeatKiller GPU block, as they are a HQ block with excellent performance, has good active VRM cooling, and is VERY sexy. You can get those for both AMD / Nvidia. The back plate will cost you a little extra, but GET ONE. You don't *need* a back plate, but the difference is HUGE in terms of aesthetics.

+ 10 on that was running alphacool changed to Heatkillers

 

[Bartacus]

I'm running both a Heatkiller and an Alphacool block in my loop, and the Heatkiller is just superior in every aspect. Can't recommend that thing enough!

 

[mehere]

I found with the alpha block only passively cooling the vrm's the temps would get way too high
with the heatkillers they may just break 60C after some heavy gaming

 

[Kushiro]

I see, Thanks for the recommendations guys. Anyways got my hands on a R9-290x, Great card mind the reviews (just really HOT!). I'm just waiting on heatkiller to release a block for the card and then I'll clean out my loop and get the card added to the loop.

Cheers,

 

[NeverBackDown]

I see, Thanks for the recommendations guys. Anyways got my hands on a R9-290x, Great card mind the reviews (just really HOT!). I'm just waiting on heatkiller to release a block for the card and then I'll clean out my loop and get the card added to the loop.

Cheers,

Water will solve that problem rather quickly lol^_^

Better post benchmarks!

 

[Kushiro]

Will have to wait and see if I still remember to do it by he time I manage to get a waterblock for it haha.

Cheers for the help guys

 

[FTR.4500MHz]

Great, post some Benchies ASAP!

Do you have a Switch 810 ?

 

[NeverBackDown]

Welcome for the help!

FTR. Yes he does have a switch 810... gunmetal edition. It is in the OP.

Again benchmarks! You would be one of the very few on the internet to show benchmarks of a watercooled 290x. Makes you a little famous i suppose

 

[Kushiro]

Sorry for not checking in earlier guys, I have decided to just pull the plug on an EK block instead, as the temps are just scaring the hell out of me.

Anyways the block should be arriving Monday, still looking around on what other upgrades to get for my loop though lol.

Anyways tell me what benches you guys want and I will get them done after I install the block on the card.

Also anyone know if this is safe to use?
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18535&cPath=301

This is what I got for my card:
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25538&cPath=882

And

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25537&cPath=1501

To be honest I am a bit worried about the ek block though, as the general sense that I get is that ek blocks don't have the best track record.

 

[Kushiro]

This is just for anyone who might have wanted to know...

I ran a Unigine Heaven Benchmark 4.0 and the card scored 1866.
Details on the card:
Core: 1100Mhz
Mem: 1300Mhz
Voltage: Stock
Max temp: 42C
Idle temp: 33C

The ambedient temperature was approximately 27C when I ran this test. The test was conducted with the RX 240 in pull config and the GTX 420 in Pull config as well.

Anyways its a great card (especially when watercooled) I can actually touch the card during load now

.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Wow that is some insane temp differences. A delta of only 15C? That is crazy considering this card stays cozy at 95C.

What was the score with heaven 4?

 

[Edge]

Max 42C on a card that is stable at 95. That's insane. Can you push the clock any further?

 

[NeverBackDown]

Max 42C on a card that is stable at 95. That's insane. Can you push the clock any further?

I was thinking the same. Only a 100mhz overclock on the core and a 50mhz on the memory? Surely his card can hit at least a 150mhz on the core and 200mhz on the memory? Seems sort of low to me but then again I have no knowledge of how all 290x's usually perform with not many people owning them.