First WC loop advice

[PeterStoba]

Hello,

Decided to jump on the bandwagon after a bit of persuasion and have just ordered some watercooling stuff and a new case to put it in It's not gonna be as good as some of the things on here, but should be ok, as long as it doesn't leak!

Specifications

Lian Li PC-A70B

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600

Sapphire 4850 512MB

2x2GB OCZ Reaper X DDR2 800

Corsair HX520w

Samsung Spinpoint SATA 160GB

Sony-NEC-Optiarc SATA DVD-RW

Thermochill PA120.3

Swiftech Apogee GTZ

DDC 18w & Petrastech top

XSPC Clear single drive bay res

XSPC Blue UV 7/16" Tubing

Feser One Clear Coolant

1/2" barbs

Plans

• Get the hardware in, all wires tidied
  
• Get the watercooling in, get used to it, see what it can do
  
• Upgrade to i7 and better graphics card
  
• Get a window cut, but something odd shaped and original
  
• Fan controller
  
• Replace the stock fans with yate loons, and braid them
  
• Replace the switches with vandal switches
  
• Cut some holes in the motherboard tray for cable mangement if there aren't good enough routes of putting them
  
• Powdercoat the internals / externals
  

Right, got all my bits today, installed the GTZ on my motherboard and I'm gonna do the rest tomorrow after some thinking. On the GTZ, on the actual block, where the screws come through the mounting plate, there are little washer type things on them, one was missing, is this ok?

Also, how far do I tighten it? Right the way in or just until it begins to get tight? It feels and looks even on all 4 screws so should be ok right? I've left the sticky pad covers on the backplate so I can reused with a new mobo, should also be ok?

Now, I need some sort of loop order, does it matter which is in or out on a rad?

Pump out - block in - block out - rad in - rad out - res in - res out - pump in

It sounds ok in theory but I'm sure there's an issue with it.

Once I know it's ok the way the block is mounted and a loop order is sorted I'll be building and filling (filling, how? no t-line, use the res outside the case and them screw it in somehow or am I missing something?)

Peter.

 

[fruityness]

Right, got all my bits today, installed the GTZ on my motherboard and I'm gonna do the rest tomorrow after some thinking. On the GTZ, on the actual block, where the screws come through the mounting plate, there are little washer type things on them, one was missing, is this ok?

Not exactly sure where you mean, my block doesnt have any washers on that i can see. perhaps I am blind.

Also, how far do I tighten it? Right the way in or just until it begins to get tight?

yes, the instructions with the apogee say to tighten all the way i belive (check!) installed mine the other day, sure it said this.

Pump out - block in - block out - rad in - rad out - res in - res out - pump in

Generally, they say:

pump out > radiator > cpu > pump in

Thoug add in a generic; try to keep tubes short as possbile with no sharp bends.

 

[PeterStoba]

Small update - got it all tubed up, out barbs on the cpu block is leaking ,need a replacement, will hopefully be done in time for the forum wars!

 

[fruityness]

Did you wrap PTFE tape around the screw threads?

 

[PeterStoba]

No, I didn't know I had to. I've got it to stop leaking now, i tightened the barb more and it's fine now.

I've got the res full of coolant, most of the tubing looks full but some slight gaps near the res inlet, and when i switch it on there is a vortex sorta thing on the pump inlet, i think there is alot of air in the loop but how can i get rid of it? I can't get to the bleed screw on the rad and the moving the case around method doesn't work.

 

[Hatman]

If you take the top cap off and just run the pump normally it'll get rid fo all the bubbles in like 20mins.

Worked like a charm with mine.

 

[PeterStoba]

I undone the bleed screw on the radiator and its now fine, just ran out of coolant. I assume distilled water from tesco would be fine?

 

[tinytomlogan]

Its ok mate, but best to get another bottle really.