Cooling Recommendation for new PC

[Celty]

I've got a new Corsair 650D on the way, a new power supply (Seasonic X-650), and initially will reuse my existing graphics card (a GTX 260). The graphics card will be upgraded later, though not a priority ATM. I'll be sticking in a Blu-Ray drive I have, and 16 GB of G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL, a single 1 TB Hard Drive, and a 120 GB SSD I already have.

I'm either going to go Intel Sandybridge with an ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z or a Bulldozer on an ASUS Crosshair V Formula. The great unknowns on Bulldozer will hopefully be resolved from what I am seeing in a little over a week.

Beyond general PC usage, I want great performance in Second Life, as well as for Photoshop, and 3D development applications like Blender, Maya, and 3D-Coat.

I want to both have a quiet system and an overclocked beast with reasonable temps (yup I want my cake and eat it too). I'm leaning toward a water cooled solution. The new Rasa waterblock looks pretty tempting based on what is out there on it so far. If it's put into an RS 240 kit, that seems like a decent way to go with the case and CPU. I will not be going dual graphics cards at any point. If I ever go water cooling on a new graphics card, I would probably look at adding something like a Phobya 200mm radiator up front.

Does the water cooling route make sense for me? I was thinking for air cooling of going with a Noctua D-14, but an RS series kit from XSPC is really not much more expensive, and would fit the case without mods.

Opinions and advice appreciated.

 

[ruthless_villain]

I've got a new Corsair 650D on the way, a new power supply (Seasonic X-650), and initially will reuse my existing graphics card (a GTX 260). The graphics card will be upgraded later, though not a priority ATM. I'll be sticking in a Blu-Ray drive I have, and 16 GB of G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL, a single 1 TB Hard Drive, and a 120 GB SSD I already have.

I'm either going to go Intel Sandybridge with an ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z or a Bulldozer on an ASUS Crosshair V Formula. The great unknowns on Bulldozer will hopefully be resolved from what I am seeing in a little over a week.

Beyond general PC usage, I want great performance in Second Life, as well as for Photoshop, and 3D development applications like Blender, Maya, and 3D-Coat.

I want to both have a quiet system and an overclocked beast with reasonable temps (yup I want my cake and eat it too). I'm leaning toward a water cooled solution. The new Rasa waterblock looks pretty tempting based on what is out there on it so far. If it's put into an RS 240 kit, that seems like a decent way to go with the case and CPU. I will not be going dual graphics cards at any point. If I ever go water cooling on a new graphics card, I would probably look at adding something like a Phobya 200mm radiator up front.

Does the water cooling route make sense for me? I was thinking for air cooling of going with a Noctua D-14, but an RS series kit from XSPC is really not much more expensive, and would fit the case without mods.

Opinions and advice appreciated.

i dont think its worth water cooling with a 30mm rad and i think you can get a 54mm rad up there in the 650d

 

[Celty]

I am assuming you mean a EK-CoolStream RAD XT (240)which is 47mm (I thought that was the max for the case but maybe I'm wrong)? Is this really any better performing than the RS240 or a Swiftech MCR220-QP (both 30mm)?

Maybe I'm not aware of the best radiator option for the 650D.

 

[ruthless_villain]

I am assuming you mean a EK-CoolStream RAD XT (240)which is 47mm (I thought that was the max for the case but maybe I'm wrong)? Is this really any better performing than the RS240 or a Swiftech MCR220-QP (both 30mm)?

Maybe I'm not aware of the best radiator option for the 650D.

im sure ttl says a 60mm radiator fouls it by around 5mm so a 54mm will be pushing it but you might get away with it and god knows it will perform better than a 30mm radiator

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...eme-240mm-Dual-Radiator--GTX240-pid-4002.html

 

[Celty]

Ahh, I has shied away from the GTX240 rads because of the Skinnee Labs testing which basically had great things to say about it as a medium (1400 rpm fan speed) and high speed fan radiator, but not so great at slow speeds. I guess because of the 20 FPI design.

As I'd like to keep things quiet in general use, I was looking at the ones with lower FPI and better low speed performance. I know the Swiftech MCR220-QP is tested as a good low to medium speed option. I've actually not seen that much about the RS240 radiator on this score, they seem to review the RX240 a lot more, which I would go with if it were slim enough.

 

[Celty]

I noticed on the XSPC website a brief mention that they are coming out with new radiators. Wondering what that will be and if it is worth being patient to see.

 

[Celty]

Been thinking that it would make sense to keep my old PC functional, while i do the new rig, so ordered a new Samsung F3 1 TB hard drive. So now I have the new power supply, a case and hard drive on the way (both due on the 10th). I have 2 sticks 4 GB of memory on hand to replace in the old PC, as well as a dvd burner to stick back in it. That would still leave me without a graphics card if I take the GTX 260 out, but I may just get something cheap for the old one (or perhaps get a gtx 560 Ti for the new box.. hm..).

This would let me take more time on making the Sandy Bridge vs. Bulldozer issue, as well as cooling (maybe a mid-range air cooler to tide me over). It would let me make cooling part decisions with the case on hand for measurements and brainstorming. That's my update for now.

 

[mayhem]

I noticed on the XSPC website a brief mention that they are coming out with new radiators. Wondering what that will be and if it is worth being patient to see.

this is what there new rads are made off.

 

[Celty]

oooo, looks interesting.. I'm hoping they do a 650D compatible 240mm refresh that is great with low speed to medium speed fans. It looks like you could play that copper like an accordion.

 

[Celty]

I got in the 650D today looks sweet! On the new XSPC radiators, they have a new blurb on the website, the new rads are being called the EX Series:

"A new generation of performance PC radiators.

- Designed for low and medium fan speeds

- Split fin core provides for greater surface area

- Welded seam tubes

- RX Performance with the dimensions of the RS series!"

Wow, it's sounding like a great new possibility for the 650D. If the media has been right about Bulldozer coming out this Wednesday, the question of which CPU/Motherboard should be getting resolved soon, and on I'll go!

 

[daniSAUR]

Wow. I want one of these for my 650d! I have the rs240 currently and it wasn't doing much in my current setup in my cm692ii.

Hope what the blurb says is true.

 

[Celty]

Bulldozer is out now, and it looks like the new PC will be Intel based. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on an ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z. They have a gen3 version in the works, but not sure that is worth waiting for. I'll either go with the 2500K or 2600K, leaning toward the 2600k just for the multi-threading in 3d development apps. Any input appreciated.

Now that I know the Intel platform will be my choice, I'm thinking go with the internal graphics and stock cooler. Then hopefully when XSPC incorporates the Raystorm CPU block and the EX series 240 mm radiator into a kit (assuming they do), jump on it. Probably add a graphics card at that point.

 

[Celty]

I asked XSPC - Paul, on another forum:

"XSPC - Paul, could you give a rough time frame on the EX series being available? And might it be available in a kit with the new Raystorm?" He answered:

"Within the next two weeks. We might do a high end kit with the RayStorm + EX, but it wouldn't replace the Rasa kits." In response to another he said:

"They really are optimised for low to medium speed fans. Hopefully we will see some reviews within the next week."

That's leading me toward thinking of doing the EX radiator if it reviews well, the Raystorm block, a separate pump and reservoir (perhaps something like the EK-DCP 4.0 and a bitspower Water Tank Z-Multi 150).

 

[mayhem]

What you are seeing is a revolution in water cooling over the next few months and its all being done by BRITISH Companies.

Were bringing the market back home were it belongs.

 

[Celty]

Funny you should say that mayhem. Being an American, I had actually noticed that alot of the good water cooling was Brit, and mentioned it to a friend. I have a theory as to why that might be. British homes normally are not air conditioned. Summer ambient temps climb a bit. Where I live it is over the 100 degree mark for many days in the summer (Fahrenheit). But inside we stay cool (and the PC's ambient environment) with central air. I could see how more Brits might be interested in water cooling.

Of course that theory could be all wet

 

[mayhem]

Funny you should say that mayhem. Being an American, I had actually noticed that alot of the good water cooling was Brit, and mentioned it to a friend. I have a theory as to why that might be. British homes normally are not air conditioned. Summer ambient temps climb a bit. Where I live it is over the 100 degree mark for many days in the summer (Fahrenheit). But inside we stay cool (and the PC's ambient environment) with central air. I could see how more Brits might be interested in water cooling.

Of course that theory could be all wet

No tbh your probably right. We don't have air con (well us normal people dont) Tom may have though cos hes rich Pmsl ....

But in the summer times in the UK (when you can find one) our systems do get a little tosty but in the winter there is nothing like sticking your PC in the snow ....

 

[Celty]

I bit the bullet. Ordered an I7 2600K and eek I went nuts and changed from the Maximus IV Gene-Z. Instead I got the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z. Now deciding on a video card. Have to have something to do while killing time for the water cooling new toys to be available. This project is gonna go way over the budget that I had been thinking of!

 

[Celty]

All the basics are up and running. So atm this is:

Corsair 650D

Seasonic X650

i7 2600K

Stock Intel Cooler (Changing soon to water)

Asus ROG Maximus Extreme-Z

OCZ Vertex 2 120 GB SSD

Samsung F3 1TB HD

Sony BWU-500S Blu Ray burner

GTX 260 (torn to upgrade this now or wait for Kepler)

16GB G. skill DDR 3

Asus Essence STX

Asus 27" LED monitor

W7 64 bit

Running stock, no overclocking till that cooling gets upgraded. Fans are louder than I care for. I'm using the motherboard for fan control but still a bit to loud, so need to think on improving fans. I'm toying with the idea of running two radiators - the new XSPC EX 240 on top, and a Phobya 200 in the front. Overkill, probably, but the thinking is twofold.

1. Run with a fairly high overclock with as slow a fan speed as possible for low noise.

2. Have the capacity to add in a GPU block in the future.

 

[Celty]

Here is a stab at a water cooling parts list for the system:

Pump Swiftech MCP35X 12V DC Pump

Reservoir MCP35X-Res

Radiator XSPC EX240

Radiator Phobya XTREME 200 Radiator

CPU Block XSPC Raystorm

Fans Phobya Nano-G 12 PWM Red LED Fan

Fans SilverStone (SST-AP181) 180 mm Air Penetrator fan

Fittings XSPC G1/4 Barb to 1/2" Fitting

Tubing PrimoFlex Pro LRT UV Red Tubing - 7/16in. ID X 5/8in. OD

Clamps Danger Den UV Red Delrin 3/8" (5/8" OD) Tubing Clamps - 10 Pack

Silver Coil IANDH-KILLCOIL

Anti-bio IANDH-DEADWATER 

A question - Has anyone used velcro strips to attach components and fans (thinking on the front radiator).

 

[Celty]

Well, I finalized the list of parts, hopefully with no screw ups. Here it is:

Qty

Pump Swiftech MCP35X 12V DC Pump 1

CPU Block XSPC Raystorm 1

Radiator XSPC EX240 1

Radiator Phobya XTREME 200 Radiator 1

Reservoir MCP35X-Res 1

Fittings XSPC G1/4" to 7/16" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting 10

Enzotech FillPort - Matt Black - BNPH-ID1/2-G14 2

Enzotech Male to Female G 1/4 Threaded Adapter - Matte Black 2

Alphacool Y-45° Connector - G1/4 Revolvable - 2x Inner - 1x Outer Thread - Deep Black 1

Tubing PrimoFlex Pro LRT UV Red Tubing - 7/16in. ID X 5/8in. OD 12

Clamps PrimoChill Reusable Hose Clamp- UV Red - 5/8in. ID 4

Silver Coil Antimicrobial Silver Strip 1

Tool KwikCut SS100 Stainless Steel Tube Cutter - Orange 1

Biocide Petra'sTech PT_Nuke -PHN Concentrated Biocide (10mL) 1

Fans Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120 mm Silent Case Fan 2

SilverStone (SST-AP181) 180 mm Air Penetrator fan 1

Adapter Akasa USB3.0 Internal Adapter Cable 1

Lighting Koolance Dual Ultra Bright LED Cable - 3mm, 4-pin - Red 1

NZXT Sleeved LED Cable Kit - 2M - White 1

I dropped the hammer on the ordering today. The rough loop order I'm planning goes something like this:

Pump and reservoir are near the bottom of the case. The pump outlet goes into the Phobya radiator in the front, then out the radiator, and up to the EX 240 on top. Out of the EX 240, to the CPU Block, out of the block and into the top of the reservoir. The reservoir will be setup ala Martin's Liquid Lab suggestion in the photo. As closely as I can estimate it using Martins Pump and Rad Optimizer spreadsheet, I should be running around 1.6 gallons per minute flow rate and a Water/Air Delta T of somewhere in the vicinity of 7.2 degrees Celsius. That's theoretical, of course, so we'll see what the actual rig does.

Also, the top of the reservoir will have a "Y fitting" - which splits off for a fill tube terminated with a fillport fitting. The lower reservoir port will have a tube, also terminated with a fillport fitting, for use as a drain line. (Edit: Added a rough loop plan attachment)

The GT's are for the EX 240, and the AP181 for the Phobya. The hope is control all fans using a combination of bios and FanXpert, all from MB fan connections. Getting rid of the front corsair fan in particular should quiet the beast down.

The lighting is just for fun of course, the red LEDs to replace the blue stock ones on the CPU block, the NZXT white LEDs for general case lighting.

Wish me luck on assembling the cooling system, it's my first try.