First time to Water Cool.

[magicc8ball]

Well peeps I am going to do water cooling for my new build and I am wondering what you all think about the different manufactures of radiators and cpu blocks.

What will be on my loop is a 7970 or a 670ti depending on the performance as well as a new IB proc. I wont be water cooling my GPU right away but will soon after my build is complete.

This will be going in a NZXT switch 810 so a 420 and a 280 rad will be going in. I will be getting the 420 first and I am lost as to what manufacture to go with. I see alot of people going with phobya and black ice. Does it matter what manufacture I go with or am I just wasting my time?

Next would be what CPU blocks should I consider? I know ek and Dangerder are great, but is there a difference between the different manu or is it like the rads and I should just go with with what I prefer?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[CaptRex635]

Hey! You have chosen a great case. Myself does not speak with experience with water cooling but from what I have heard, try checking out some stuff from XSPC. Ill get back to this post if I find anything else helpful, good luck!

 

[I Hunta x]

I cant pick the best stuff for you out of the air as my experience with watercooling consists of reading a bunch of reviews about current blocks/rads trying to decide for when i take the plunge.

The difference between similar rads from different companys and equivalent water blocks generally only varys a few C.

For the rads check the retailer you will be buying from, pick a few and google for a review, see what takes your fancy/ticks the box's your interested in (some work better with faster fan speeds vs a similar rad and some work better with slower fans vs a similar rad ect).

CPU blocks can have a fairly large gap temp wise from the cheaper end to the more expensive, pick some you like the look of and google for reviews to see how it compares relative to the cost to some others.

GPU blocks there is generally little difference performance wise from what ive seen so pick what you like the look of, copper/nickel base, black/clear top.

 

[magicc8ball]

If you all were to guess would you all say that a 280mm radiator would just fine for one of the new IB procs? I know it is not out yet but I am curious to know what this lot has to say about that.

Between the 280 and the 420 would I see that big of a difference when doing a moderate oc? My guess is the IB will be a tad cooler then the sb but I could be wrong.

Radiators that I am looking into

XSPC RX series

Alphacool NexXxos UT60

Coolgate Triple Radiator

These 3 seem to work well with 600-1500 rpm fans. The XSPC does exceptionally well, the only problem is they do not make a 420mm rad...

 

[Master&Puppet]

If you all were to guess would you all say that a 280mm radiator would just fine for one of the new IB procs? I know it is not out yet but I am curious to know what this lot has to say about that.

Are you thinking about 60mm thick rads? A 280x60mm would keep an IvyB cpu cool and quiet under an overclock. A 420x60 will manage the cpu and gpu on its own fairly comfortably.

Between the 280 and the 420 would I see that big of a difference when doing a moderate oc? My guess is the IB will be a tad cooler then the sb but I could be wrong.

You are almost certainly right - the smaller IvyB die will run cooler so you can clock higher for the same temps.

A 280x60 would keep it probably in the 50-60C range, whereas the 420 would keep it in the 40s or maybe even 30s. Upper limit will be in the early 70s so there's no issue either way (although cooler is always nicer).

You said you were planning on cooling the cpu and gpu with both a 420 and 280 rad installed. You might as well put them both on the same loop with one pump:

Pump&res>420rad>cpu>gpu>280rad>back to pump&res

Doesn't really matter which order you put the rads in since the temps will average out. Just concentrate on making it neat and tidy as you like. Take a look a ddc 18w for a pump. The D5 is also very good but overkill for a 2 block loop although you would get control over the pump speed (and therefore noise - not that pumps are particularly loud).

Radiators that I am looking into

XSPC RX series

Alphacool NexXxos UT60

Coolgate Triple Radiator

These 3 seem to work well with 600-1500 rpm fans. The XSPC does exceptionally well, the only problem is they do not make a 420mm rad...

Alphacool is probably the best there (in fact I've got one). The XSPC RX is also good. I haven't got any experience with coolgate.

As for good quality rads with 140mm mountings - take a look at the Phobya G-Changer series. They have 12 fins per inch will suit a quiet (low rpm fan) build.

Hope that helps.

M&P

 

[Master&Puppet]

Oh and XSPC Raystorm cpu blocks are very good.

 

[magicc8ball]

Thanks MP for the advice. I will be going with the d5 because it is variable speed and I can add blocks to the the loop later on. It looks like I will be going with the Monsta 80 mm rad from Alphacool for both my rads. I will be putting just my CPU and GPU on it and later on will probably add a second GPU. I figured that those rads will easily handle that.

 

[Master&Puppet]

Ha, if you are going to do something - do it properly eh? I've heard that nuclear powerstations are cooled with a couple of monstas...

A sound choice, I will be investing a monsta myself as it turns out. I read somewhere that they are being released in May (I'll go and double check that...)

D5 will serve you well!

 

[DarthDudo]

Ha, if you are going to do something - do it properly eh? I've heard that nuclear powerstations are cooled with a couple of monstas...

A sound choice, I will be investing a monsta myself as it turns out. I read somewhere that they are being released in May (I'll go and double check that...)

D5 will serve you well!

I think its being released earlier (april I think) but only available from aquatuning and then in may it will be released to everyone else iirc

M&P,you reckon a 360 monsta and a 360 nexXxos st30 (30mm thick) would be sufficient for a cpu+2 Gpu's? for arguments sake a 3930k and 2 580's?

 

[magicc8ball]

Ha, if you are going to do something - do it properly eh? I've heard that nuclear powerstations are cooled with a couple of monstas...

A sound choice, I will be investing a monsta myself as it turns out. I read somewhere that they are being released in May (I'll go and double check that...)

D5 will serve you well!

That is how I was always taught! I hope they will be released sooner than that, I plan to have everything done in the middle of April. If what Darth said is true that it wont be available to everyone else till may then I will have to deal with the noise a little longer... I want that damn GTX 680 to come out so I can decide what GPU I should get.

I think its being released earlier (april I think) but only available from aquatuning and then in may it will be released to everyone else iirc

M&P,you reckon a 360 monsta and a 360 nexXxos st30 (30mm thick) would be sufficient for a cpu+2 Gpu's? for arguments sake a 3930k and 2 580's?

Darth you will have around 630 watts pegged to cool those rads should do ok. You can always upgrade the ST30 to the monsta at any given time. I believe with that setup you could cool around 800 to 850 watts. Im still new to Water Cooling but from what I have been reading that sounds pretty close.

 

[Master&Puppet]

Just checked on the aquatuning site for the 360 monsta and they have the shipping date set for 11th may

However it's worth checking the particular rad you are looking for because there isn't a single release date and doesn't even look like there is any pattern to the dates although I'm sure there probably is. The 140mm range mostly seems to be shipping 10th of April.

Yea I'm waiting for the 6xx series too. Yesterday's faux paper release was annoying. Still, gives me the time to order my new case this month.

 

[Master&Puppet]

@Darth.

The short answer is yes, but I would always council bigger if you have the space and the extra few pounds.

I know you have been paying attention to Ibanez81s thread. He is cooling a cooler cpu and a cooler gpu on one 360x60 and his temps are fine usually but touching the cpu limit under maximum stressing. Both his components will be putting out less heat than yours and you are wanting to add a second gpu. So:

The monsta would handle the cpu and one gpu just about leaving the 30mm for the second gpu. If they are in the same loop I think that will be fine usually and probably on the limits under max stressing.

I would get a monsta and 45/60mm to make sure you keep away from those upper limits using quiet fans even under max stress. All depends on if you do a lot of stressing - folding causes more heat than gaming for example.

M&P

 

[DarthDudo]

That is how I was always taught! I hope they will be released sooner than that, I plan to have everything done in the middle of April. If what Darth said is true that it wont be available to everyone else till may then I will have to deal with the noise a little longer... I want that damn GTX 680 to come out so I can decide what GPU I should get.

Darth you will have around 630 watts pegged to cool those rads should do ok. You can always upgrade the ST30 to the monsta at any given time. I believe with that setup you could cool around 800 to 850 watts. Im still new to Water Cooling but from what I have been reading that sounds pretty close.

No I cant upgrade the ST30 due to space limitations,can you tell me how you get the amount of TDP a Rad can dissipate?

Just checked on the aquatuning site for the 360 monsta and they have the shipping date set for 11th may

However it's worth checking the particular rad you are looking for because there isn't a single release date and doesn't even look like there is any pattern to the dates although I'm sure there probably is. The 140mm range mostly seems to be shipping 10th of April.

Yea I'm waiting for the 6xx series too. Yesterday's faux paper release was annoying. Still, gives me the time to order my new case this month.

I seen that I was hoping that there would be an update on it in the next few weeks if not Ill just get the Magicool Slim one

Just sent them an email about the ST30 and the Monsta, Ill post on here when they reply

@Darth.

The short answer is yes, but I would always coucil bigger if you have the space and the extra few pounds.

I know you have been paying attention to Ibanez81s thread. He is cooling a cooler cpu and a cooler gpu on one 360x60 and his temps are fine usually but touching the cpu limit under maximum stressing.Both his components will be putting out less heat than yours and you are wanting to add a second gpu. So:

The monsta would handle the cpu and one gpu just about leaving the 30mm for the second gpu. If they are in the same loop I think that will be fine usually and probably on the limits under max stressing.

I would get a monsta and 45/60mm to make sure you keep away from those upper limits using quiet fans even under max stress. All depends on if you do a lot of stressing - folding causes more heat than gaming for example.

Unfortunately space is the biggest factor for me so 30mm is the thickest rad I can fit due to the case height, It will all be in the one loop and will be for gaming,3D modelling and texture work so I it should be Ok It shouldnt produce major heat...I hope!

 

[Master&Puppet]

You'll be fine with it