First watercooling endeavour.

[Acid90]

My rig is in my sig and in the next coming months (once I get myself a summer job, hohoho). Been doing some research as of late but I'm still a novice at what to do.

I'm looking for a CPU loop only with the possible expansion to watercooling the GPU early next year, so I think a triple rad will suit me the best. Thermochill is abit expensive for me and I prefer the look of the Swifttech or Black Ice but I don't know which performs better.

I'll be using a Laing D5 pump and I was looking at the XSPC Arcylic top CPU block but I am unsure on the tubing size and the barbs etc.

I want quite big tubing, I think the smaller tubes don't look as good and bigger tubing would push more water right? The standards are 1/2 and 3/8 right? I think 1/2 is bigger?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT:

Just been pricing up a CPU loop and this is what I have, let me know what you think:-

Laing D5 Vario

Swiftech MCR320-QP-K Triple 120mm Radiator with 1/2 barbs

YATE LOON 120mm Case Fan - D12SL-12 Black / Orange x3 (Subject to change once I research more fans, I'm after quiet yet powerful!)

EK-Supreme CPU - Acrylic with 1/2 barbs

Swiftech MCRES-Micro

XSPC 1/2" Blue/UV Blue tubing

PrimoChill Anti-Kink Coils - 3/4" OD Tubing - Black

12-20mm Hoseclips Pack of 10

Feser One - F1 - Cooling Fluid - UV BLACK 1ltr

£172.86 inc delivery.

Anything I am missing? Will this be compatiable? Thank you.

 

[rrjwilson]

Looks ok to me. Well done.

I would get Wormdrive clips instead though for more security and you may wish to conformal coat your motherboard just incase you have an accident.

 

[Acid90]

Thank you.

What do you mean by conformal coat my motherboard? And wormdrive clips are noted! Cheers!

 

[haofeng]

i'm doing my first wc loop soon, but thermochill or feser apparently offer much better rad performance, for a premium price. maybe that could be a thought, if you want to expand your loop in future.(i may be wrong, being a noob...)

 

[rrjwilson]

Primochill coolant has given me 3-4C raised temperatures in my loop over Feser One coolant. I don't know why unfortunately but I don't think my loop is strange in anyway so can only attribute the change to the coolant.

Conformal coating is something the Sub-zero boys do to stop condensation ruining their parts. I did it just in case I buggered something and it leaked. Sure enough my worries and preparation were tested. Just under one litre of coolant emptied on to my motherboard and graphics card without even the slightest flicker. The temps went mental and I shut off the computer but she was rejigged and refilled she has been sweet since.

Step 5 installing a Peltier has the info on conformal coating. I took it one step further and coated my whole board after copious masking to protect all interfaces.

My project showing my masking of the board. Its proper thick both back and front to make sure its safe.

 

[Acid90]

i'm doing my first wc loop soon, but thermochill or feser apparently offer much better rad performance, for a premium price. maybe that could be a thought, if you want to expand your loop in future.(i may be wrong, being a noob...)

In my original post I said thermochill was to expensive for me, I am sticking with Swifttech I think.

@rrjwilson

I've decided not to use any dye or coolant and get an additive and put it on distilled water to stop the algae.

And is it the norm to do this to your motherboard, I haven't heard of alot of people doing this when they set up their loop.

The way I was planning ond oing it is, set it all up without the actual hardware there and let it leak test. This means putting it in the correct places in my system without the hardware. Since its CPU only, I believe this will be possible. What do you think?

EDIT: Is a DCC pump just as good as a Laing D5, whats the primary diffrences minus the price?

 

[Mr. Smith]

Absolutely no need to conformal coat your mobo, as rjj said it is a requirement for sub zero, waste of time and effort if you ask me as you are just w/c!

 

[rrjwilson]

I was talking about coolant, Feser rads are fairly new to lineup. I wouldn't recommend something you said not to would I

Primochill is also coolant and I found it made a significant rise in temps over Feser so stick with Feser.

You should be fine with the Swiftech.

Possible. I used the bath tub (man I got told off in the morning)

The DDC is a good pump but comes in two versions 10W and 18W. 10W is ok for your loop, 18W will do your whole rig if needed.

Conformal coating is as I said something I took from the Subzero people. You do NOT need to do it but as everyone knows water and electrics do not mix so I did it anyway and found the £6 can paid for itself within a week. I will be attempting some below ambient testing in the future so its worth my effort but it would have been worth it given what happened anyway for me.

 

[Acid90]

I am planning on upgrading my loop in the future, so I want a good pump which will last me awhile hence why I'm going with the D5, so I think I'll stick with that.

It's also the reason I am going with the triple rad, I know a single/double would be suitable for a CPU only loop but I just want to be future proofed with what I by for futher expansions.

Thanks for all your help.

Is using distilled water from somewhere such as Halfords instead of coolants ok? I am not after any coloured liquid because of the UV tubing.