First WC build feedback

[DragonFire]

Greetings,
I'm looking to build my first custom water loop, and was interested in feedback. I am planning on CPU only for now, as air cooling can handle maximum voltage on my GPU, and I will likely upgrade soon.
I am not particularly noise-sensitive (within reason), and am more interested in maximum overclocks than a silent system.
I plan on mounting the rad externally for now, as my case cannot hope to fit it. I am considering a case upgrade (perhaps the Caselabs Merlin SM8), but that doesn't really fit in my budget right now.

I know the rad is probably overkill for a single CPU, but does it reach the point where increased size makes no difference at all?

Is a single set of NF-A14s (1500rpm) enough to handle an 80mm thick rad? Are faster fans or push/pull necessary?

Other comments/ways to save money without sacrificing performance?
Thanks.


Here are my current system specs:
AMD Phenom II 965 at 4ghz (1.548v)/2.83ghz NB (1.4v)
Noctua NH-D14
Asus Sabertooth 990FX
Gigabyte Windforce HD7950 at 1235mhz core (1.3v)/1800mhz memory
2x4 GB Gskill Ares RAM at 1575mhz/7-8-7-33 timings
Seasonic M12II 620w PSU
Corsair 300r


Watercooling Parts:
Swiftech MCP655 pump
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=19862&vpn=MCP655&manufacture=Swiftech

XSPC Dual 5.25" Bay Reservoir
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...er_Black.html?tl=g30c97s152&id=aiwnswn8#blank

Heatkiller CPU Rev3.0 939/AM2/AM3 Ni-BL
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1..._14051.html?tl=g30c323s1117&id=aiwnswn8#blank

Noctua NF-A14 PWM 140mm Fan x3
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=82803&vpn=NF-A14 PWM&manufacture=Noctua

Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta Triple 140mm Radiator
http://www.aquatuning.us/product_in...-420mm.html/XTCsid/m4jdirdt2nu2aja1qvemfdc2t0

 

[NeverBackDown]

Very few cases can handle a 140.3 Monsta... A caselabs case may be your only option unless you go down the 120.3 Monsta route.

 

[PetetheSweet]

I would go with a 120 Monsta, because of the compatibility and because of the effectivity of 120 mm Fans.

If this isn't enough cooling surface, put another rad somewhere else.

Single set of NF-F12 works, push/pull can operate more quiet. Same with Corsair fans.

 

[jamesriley94]

To be honest - I don't really see a great deal of point in spending £200+ on a loop for what is now a £55 processor.

I'd think about upgrading that before spending shed loads on WCing.

 

[DragonFire]

I had chosen the 140x3 because it has comparable surface area to a 120x4, and I thought it would be easier to mount, as it is significantly shorter. Am I mistaken? How bad is 140mm support? Would there be any difference for a heavily overclocked single CPU going from 140x3 to 120x3? Also, are Monsta rads in general good? It's hard to find reviews of specific WC parts.

To be honest - I don't really see a great deal of point in spending £200+ on a loop for what is now a £55 processor.

I'd think about upgrading that before spending shed loads on WCing.

I see your point, but there are no appealing upgrades now; Intel's last two generations were disappointing, and Piledriver isn't enough of an upgrade. I want to see how Steamroller turns out before I buy a new CPU.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[NeverBackDown]

TBF James has a point. That Phenom can be upgraded to a 8350 and you'll have more perfromance than your rig even if your cpu is overclocked.

140mm support is okay. The fans aren't really there yet and are iffy. Mounting is quite hard to come by for 140s that will fit most rads cause many are at a 15mm or 20mm spacing between fans. Monsta rads are basically the best performing low rpm rad. Also the thickest on the market at 80mm.

 

[DragonFire]

TBF James has a point. That Phenom can be upgraded to a 8350 and you'll have more perfromance than your rig even if your cpu is overclocked.

140mm support is okay. The fans aren't really there yet and are iffy. Mounting is quite hard to come by for 140s that will fit most rads cause many are at a 15mm or 20mm spacing between fans. Monsta rads are basically the best performing low rpm rad. Also the thickest on the market at 80mm.

How low is low RPM? I'm reading a lot of glowing reviews about the Noctua NF-A14s, would they be enough at 1500rpm (82.5 cfm, 2.08 mm H2O static pressure)? Would push/pull be necessary?

 

[theDTP]

Nice overclock on the 7950, such a waste with that CPU. That CPU with that overclock is just about cutting it (that is, if it is actually cutting it) for a stock 7950 not to bottleneck.

I'd personally spend that £200 on 2500k (if you don't like the latest 2 generations of Intel) and decent Motherboard, not to mention Sandy Bridge is still going to be better than Steamroller.

Don't feel bad for buying a Sandy Bridge even though it is not the current generation, I replaced my Phenom II 965 with a 2500k about 18 months ago and I... Not so much regret upgrading to Haswell a couple months back but looking back I don't feel I needed too.

 

[DragonFire]

Nice overclock on the 7950, such a waste with that CPU. That CPU with that overclock is just about cutting it (that is, if it is actually cutting it) for a stock 7950 not to bottleneck.

I'd personally spend that £200 on 2500k (if you don't like the latest 2 generations of Intel) and decent Motherboard, not to mention Sandy Bridge is still going to be better than Steamroller.

Don't feel bad for buying a Sandy Bridge even though it is not the current generation, I replaced my Phenom II 965 with a 2500k about 18 months ago and I... Not so much regret upgrading to Haswell a couple months back but looking back I don't feel I needed too.

I know it's a bit silly to spend $500 cooling a $90 CPU, but I'm not really interested in upgrading the CPU now, and am looking more for feedback about the watercooling setup itself (which will likely also be used for whatever CPU I upgrade to in the future). If nothing else, I want to have a a bit of fun sending the Phenom off with a massive overclock.

I'm still unsure about 140mm vs 120mm rads (particularly 140x3 vs 120x4), and I've not received any feedback about the fans, block, pump, or res. I'm new to watercooling and want to make sure that I'm not making any horrific mistakes or getting anything overpriced.

Edit:
Looking around at Caselab's offerings, it seems that they don't have much 140mm support either. I like the idea of a cube case, but the only way to get 140mm support with those is a pedestal, which brings the cost of the case well above $600. I suppose, then, that a Monsta 120x4 radiator would be better, but I could use fan suggestions. Noctua NF-F12s seem ideal, but would cost almost $100 for 4, whereas 3 NF-A14 PWMs were only $54.

 

[Bartacus]

For pump and res, you're fine. D5's are great pumps, and the bay res isn't the one people had leak complaints about.

If you're considering Case Labs, you should also consider the Corsair 900D, and the savings that come with it. I love CL (M8 owner), but the 900D is a lot of bang for the buck. and will eat a 120 rad with ease, and several more when you get the upgrade itch in the future. My $0.02