Custom Loop Advice

[Warchild]

Thanks Warchild I will keep Barrow in mind when looking at fittings. So much choice, hard to choose .

It's looking more like I am going to go down the soft tubing route. I think I have decided on Barbs over compression fittings. I have watched Tom's Watercooling for beginners video and found it very informative. He recommends 7/16" ID Tubing with 1/2" Barbs as they will hold just as tight as what clips would do. I am assuming that this is still the case?

Yes barbs are very effective, but I have never been keen on them. They do require a cable zip tie to ensure indefinite tight fit making them quite ugly to look at. Compression fittings are the best option. Considering most of the world transition to hard tubing now, you may be able to get a good deal on them. I used barrow below as an example to show how much they look like an upbranded Bistpower fitting, but you choose which you find is best

Of course, if you dont care about aesthetics as much and want performance/efficiency, then there is nothing wrong with barbs.

As for tubing size, it really doesnt matter. Just remember, this for soft tubing. The narrower the guage, the more chance you have of the tube forming a kink. If you go for beefy thick tubing, if can limit flexibility if you have some tricky angles to train, but its rigid enough to prevent kinks.

My first tubing was 10/12mm ID/OD which was easy to setup but did have an annoying kink. I then moved towards a 19mm OD which was a good choice for me. The temp difference and flow between these are very little so no advantage is gained in going for thicker tubing really.

Watercooling is now all about personal preference.

 

[JLR]

Yes barbs are very effective, but I have never been keen on them. They do require a cable zip tie to ensure indefinite tight fit making them quite ugly to look at. Compression fittings are the best option. Considering most of the world transition to hard tubing now, you may be able to get a good deal on them. I used barrow below as an example to show how much they look like an upbranded Bistpower fitting, but you choose which you find is best

Of course, if you dont care about aesthetics as much and want performance/efficiency, then there is nothing wrong with barbs.

As for tubing size, it really doesnt matter. Just remember, this for soft tubing. The narrower the guage, the more chance you have of the tube forming a kink. If you go for beefy thick tubing, if can limit flexibility if you have some tricky angles to train, but its rigid enough to prevent kinks.

My first tubing was 10/12mm ID/OD which was easy to setup but did have an annoying kink. I then moved towards a 19mm OD which was a good choice for me. The temp difference and flow between these are very little so no advantage is gained in going for thicker tubing really.

Watercooling is now all about personal preference.

Hi Warchild,
Thanks for sending a link on the barbs for me to see. I've been looking at the fittings from Barrow and must say that i am impressed, they do look sturdy and remarkably like Bitspower fittings as previously mentioned.

I have made my mind up and definitely going soft tubing, I think its probably the best way to get me started in to water cooling. As per Tom's suggestion in the beginners video I am thinking of getting the 7/16" ID Hose with a 1/2" barbs. A link to the hose I am looking at is below:-

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-duraclear-tubing-16-11-clear-3m-wc-9db-ek.html

I am finding it difficult to locate Barrow Fittings in UK shops (maybe I'm looking in the wrong places?) but managed to find them on the bay, the seller has good feedback so I would assume they are genuine, link to the barbs is as follows:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barrow-G1...Fitting-139-/171536704255?hash=item27f06262ff

Hopefully can start ordering some bits over the weekend

 

[AlienALX]

Barrow mostly sell on the bay yes. That's probably how they keep costs down. There is no middle man.

 

[JLR]

Barrow mostly sell on the bay yes. That's probably how they keep costs down. There is no middle man.

Ahhhh that would be why

 

[Eddie long]

I had the same choices / questions a few months ago when i want to upgrade from an AIO, after trawling the web for ideas and making up various lists of bits trying to cover all the parts i needed , i eventually opted for an EK performance kit which cover all the basics , then added the extra fittings / rad i needed , made it a lot easier , but that's a real newbies take on it

 

[JLR]

I had the same choices / questions a few months ago when i want to upgrade from an AIO, after trawling the web for ideas and making up various lists of bits trying to cover all the parts i needed , i eventually opted for an EK performance kit which cover all the basics , then added the extra fittings / rad i needed , made it a lot easier , but that's a real newbies take on it

To be fair that is a good idea, I will keep that in mind .

 

[Kaapstad]

Yes barbs are very effective, but I have never been keen on them. They do require a cable zip tie to ensure indefinite tight fit making them quite ugly to look at. Compression fittings are the best option. Considering most of the world transition to hard tubing now, you may be able to get a good deal on them. I used barrow below as an example to show how much they look like an upbranded Bistpower fitting, but you choose which you find is best

Of course, if you dont care about aesthetics as much and want performance/efficiency, then there is nothing wrong with barbs.

As for tubing size, it really doesnt matter. Just remember, this for soft tubing. The narrower the guage, the more chance you have of the tube forming a kink. If you go for beefy thick tubing, if can limit flexibility if you have some tricky angles to train, but its rigid enough to prevent kinks.

My first tubing was 10/12mm ID/OD which was easy to setup but did have an annoying kink. I then moved towards a 19mm OD which was a good choice for me. The temp difference and flow between these are very little so no advantage is gained in going for thicker tubing really.

Watercooling is now all about personal preference.

Monsoon fittings are my favourite to use and look good too.

They even come with a little tool to do them up.

 

[JLR]

Monsoon fittings are my favourite to use and look good too.

They even come with a little tool to do them up.

Awesome, will keep them in mind