Hey, custom water cooling.

[Pat123]

Hey i am a n00b at water cooling, however i am confident i can set up a custom system, i have a list of parts and just wated you guys input on which parts to keep and which parts to change. Atm the list comes to around £180 i would really like it around £150, i will only be cooling the CPU but i would like the option to upgrade to more in the future with as few changes as possible.

Alphacool Black Ice GT Stealth II (Dual 120mm radiator) £31.71

1l Feser One Fluid - UV Green for water cooling systems (Non Conductive < 10 ìS) £8.21

Alphacool NexXxos HighFlow 775 £35.24

Alphacool Hose PVC 11/8mm UV-Active Green x1 Meter Length £2.33 (x2)

Alphacool Screwconnector 11/8mm G1/4 £9.75 (x10)

Alphacool Cape Bullseye Black (POM) Polyoxymethylene Reservoir £25.84

Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Pro Electronically Commuted Ball-motor Pump £54.08

Theres my final list, things will change like the pump most likely i just need to wait and see how much money i can muster up

 

[AydST]

Not a bad little start for a WC loop but if you want to save money

The EK CPU Block is also cheaper than the Alphacool and performs just as well (unless you want to keep it all Alphacool.)

Plus I'd look at getting the 3/8" or 1/2" barbs and tubing instead of messing about with the extra fittings to convert to 11mm.

The reservoir you've gone for will also need a mounting bracket which adds to the expense so look at the XSPC Drive Bay Res as an alternative (again unless you want to keep it all Alphacool)

Plus if you do change the tubing to 3/8" this will fit directly on the Laing Pro Pump without plexi top (35.89) and save you more money.

BUT thats just what I'd look at, all in all not a bad little loop you've chosen.

 

[Pat123]

orite thanks, i was looking around for 3/8 and i cant find it anywhere??

 

[AydST]

HERE

and Barbs HERE

 

[Pat123]

Ah right thanks, im guessing these sites are legit as you have their support forums.. lol.. thanks

 

[NoL]

And drop the non conductive fluid. Its going to be conductive when you use it.

 

[Pat123]

New list,, from specialtech.co.uk

Swiftech Apogee GT Extreme Performance CPU Waterblock

£ 31.95 x 1= £ 31.95

Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Pro (13900)

£ 30.54 x 1= £ 30.54

Black Ice Xtreme II 240mm Radiator

£ 24.67 x 1 = £ 24.67

Alphacool 5.25" Bay Slot-In Reservoir Black (no LED)

£ 22.12 x 1= £ 22.12

XSPC High Quality 3/8" Tubing

£ 1.69 x 2 = £ 3.38

Alphacool Hose Barb 1/4" Thread for 3/8" Tubing

£ 1.69 x 6 = £10.14

Fluid XP+ HP Alien Green UV

£ 19.82 x 1 = £ 19.82

Comes to £176 lol.. Need a way to get the price down to around £150 anything i can get cheaper?

 

[nunzio]

Not really.. unless you are willing to drop some things off, or look at cheaper blocks and pumps, which i wouldnt advise.

You could drop the res and do a TLine that would save you about 15 quid at the end of the day, but makes the system really hard to fill and bleed.

 

[FarFarAway]

Basically that stuff is very nice. Drop the prices on some of it and lose the performance

 

[Pat123]

is that rad good for cpu cooling?? and if i got cheaper fluid i could drop the price about £10? however i want reliable stuff that aint gonna break real quick.. Am i best off gettin that lot or a kit for around £150?

And If using one of THESE KITS would i get decent performance? Coz you build your own, which of the options are the best?***

 

[FarFarAway]

That kit is ok, but the stuff you've thrown together is better. If you can stretch the extra then it's worth it imo

The Black Ice are very nice rads

Little hint for the Fluid XP - go get a £2 4ltr bottle of De-ionised water and a £4 pot of Zerex water coolant or something and you'll be set - in fact plain ol' de-ionised (read battery water from Halfords) will do you just fine.

 

[Pat123]

ah right, this provide as good cooling as the proper stuff?? and i can then add uv dye can i??

 

[FarFarAway]

There aint a whole lot of difference...and certainly not £20 difference...imo

UV dye = yes

 

[Doddsy]

Was just about to suggest that too!

 

[Pat123]

Nice one save myself a bundle lol.. price nearly at my price target. well as close as im gonna go, now all i need is another £80 lol..

 

[weihk]

get a Micro Res instead of that alphacool res (its made from aluminum, which is not good, and its noisy)

like kempez has said, get some de-ionised water for 50p a litre (tesco petrol station, 49p per litre)

 

[Pat123]

orite, can someone give me a link to a decent rad that isnt as expesive have the thermochill one but offers good performance and is dual 120mm. please lol..

Thanks

 

[nunzio]

i find my XSPC ones are fine they are also slightly cheaper than the black ice ones.

Dunno how the stand up to a Thermochil tho

 

[weihk]

this is what i'll guesst youdo......

save up as much cash as possible. say, with a budget of 300quid MAX, not allowed to go over that price not even 1p.

then ask lots and lots and lots questions.

if you buy a crap rad now, you'll keep hitting your own balls once you are in summer.

if you buy a crap pump now, you'll hammer your balls when you start adding more parts.

if you go for budget items, and when your system give them enough crap, which makes you want to sell later on.....you're fooked, casue nine times out of ten wont buy budget stuff. (in my thinking)

you have to plan WAAAAAAAAAY WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY ahead of what you want for WC.

i've spent nearly 300quid on my last mistake, and then i went out with 300 again to get the BEST i can from that 300, and im now happy. no complaints, and i can add more later and i wont have to change my setup.

 

[Pat123]

ah right yeh, im thinkin of doin that how ever 300 for cpu cooling alone is alot of money lol, if i want that much im gonna have to wait till end of the year when i have a job etc.