Help with water cooling build

[yggdrasil]

As the title says.

I am building a new PC over the next month, few goodies on the market that I'd like

and in the month following this I will be looking at water cooling

The build basics

Case: Cosmos s2

Motherboard: Rampage 4

CPU: Intel 3930

HDD: 240gb ssd + 2tb 3.5"

Optical: blu-ray rw

PSU: AX-1200

Video: GTX460 in SLI (upgrading to dual 680's WC)

Ok so my idea is to water cool the motherboard, CPU and video cards focusing mostly on the video cards as I don't see any big gain by going crazy on the CPU cooling.

Computer usage: Video converting 10%, Internet 20%, web design 10%, Games 50% and 10% for other stuff.

So with the video cards my main goal I was looking at running a 360 RAD (unsure thickness yet) in the roof for the CPU and dual 240x60mm in the bottom of the case from looking around XSPC seems to be the RAD's people get and seem happy with them. For a res I was looking at this dual 5.25" dual loop res that EK have with a basic acrylic front and flow indicators seems it would be good.

Ok this is where I become unsure on Pumps, blocks and barbs.

Mb Block: The only one I can seem to find in AU is the koolance one for the rampage 4 so I guess that is what I will be getting.

CPU Block: at the moment I have in mind a EK block but I have seen the XSPC blocks with lighting and they would look cool with he LED's being swapped for red, I will go performance over looks but if I can get looks and performance in one It would be good.

Pumps: At the moment I am looking at 2x EK-DCP 4.0 pumps. But this is a area I haven't payed much attention to in others builds so I do not really know much about the pumps, I wasn't going to get such a big pump for the CPU but the look of a small and a big pump next to each other would look a bit funny and it isn't much more for the bigger ones.

Barbs: These should be fairly easy but still that's how I may be wrong in thinking that lol, I would like compression fittings for a cleaner look but they are a fair amount more in cost so i may for with 1/2" and 7/16" tubing. I have seen in other builds people use SLI fitting and angle barbs to join the CPU and motherboard cooling together instead of using tubing for a cleaner look around the mobo. Is this a good idea to attempt or not?

Also do right angle barbs slow the water flow down much as compared to just having sweeping bends in your tubing or using 45 deg fittings?

Video card blocks: As I do not have the cards I will be water cooling yet this still has a few options. Should I get an aftermarket cooler for the cards or should I look at getting EVGA's ready to go WC 680 cards, But I would wait for the super clock edition to come out?

Notes: I am currently looking at buying my parts from [url]http://www.pccasegear.com[/url]

 

[SparkleDJackson]

I wouldnt worry about a res with inbuilt flow indicators get some mayhems aurora and you will see its flowing. I have a d5 pump and it seems to work perfectly well over a cpu 2ram and 2 mobo blocks at setting 2 of 5. Very good pump. If i were you i (i wish i done this myself and saved a few quid) get the d5 pump just the pump not the one that has the housing and barbs on it. Then get a acrylic top that way you get the big boy pump an attractive top which gives you more options on how you want your flow directed whether its front/top/or top and front. I made the mistake of getting the complete unit then buying a separate top so i spent about an extra 40 total (2pumps). On the rads get some 60mm thick ones and do a little research on the fans for it. Im thinking of changing mine but cant decide to what

Also consider just getting the reference evga cards that way you get warranty and you get to choose what block goes on i instead of the boring hydro copper plain black lump of plastic

 

[yggdrasil]

Thanks I probably go with the EVGA reference cards like you suggested and I will will be covered for warranty removing the block.

With the res I not really fussed about the flow indicators they were just on the dual res.

with the res on the pump how do you go about topping it up if the pumps located at the bottom of your loop?

Does water cooling lose much water say over 1 year?

I wont lie and say I will always be making sure its Ok, I will prob end up flushing it every year and if temps go up a bit I would look at it sooner or if i get board and want to tinker.

What little things do I need for the loop also?

 

[S_I_N]

you loose a minute amount daily but it adds up over time. I'd say within the first 2 weeks you'll be topping it off if any air was trapped then dislodged. After that prolly monthly top off will do. As for changing the fluid I'd say at min every 6 months is good. Or sooner if you run it 24/7

 

[yggdrasil]

Been searching high and low for the answer to this but cant seem to find it. I am probably not looking for the right thing.

I am looking for some 120mm fans for the cosmos 2 but it has a built in LED controller with the fan controller so you can control if the LED's are on or off in the case. It uses I think 9 2pin connectors for 9 different fans.

For the life of me I cannot find any fans with the 3pin power connector and the 2pin LED connector.

Does any one know of any good (semi silent good air flow. works well on a 3 speed fan controller), red LED fans with this connector?

 

[cbiltsouris]

honestly the cosmos 2s fan controller is crap ive just finished my loop and im running just of the motherboard until i can get myself a decent fan controller.

also have you looked at the swiftech mp655 pump? btw pccasegear is a good choice to get your parts from, ple or netplus dont have even half of what pccasegear.BUT when you purchase

ur gpus make sure to check ple has them because i can guarrantee you that shipping is gonna be an extra 20 dollars so also factor that in since ple is just in wangarra

 

[yggdrasil]

You just just listed all the shops I shop at except one, Scorptech sometimes.

Most things I get from PLE but I don't "settle" on parts now. I order what I want or hunt it down. I mainly use PLE as it makes returns for warranty a lot easier since I live in WA and postage is normally better but for the water cooling I will probaly use PCCG or maybe look at using a UK company like Specialtech.

I have noticed the fan controller its self is a bit eh like when the rear 140mm fan is on low or medium it ticks. I have read the fan controller sends pulses to the fan instead of a decreased voltage this causing the ticking. also the step from medium to full is a big step its like 25% - 50% - 100$.

Any way mainly I was looking to be able to turn the lights on the fans on and off as some times I like bling and some times I don't in terms of lighting but I may run non LED fans and just run separate LED's. that way I can get better fans + the LED's.

No I have not looked at the mp655 pump, I will look it up, Whats good about it?

 

[S_I_N]

spectere pros have the 3pin fan and 2 pin led leads your looking for and are pretty decent fans