LCS Newbe

[neilinuk]

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:4371]

Im new to this forum and to liquid cooling. Please find the pic of my rig, this is my first ever attempt at custom liquid cooling.

 

[neilinuk]

The build is still a work in progress, I want add another 8gb of ram and do a couple of case mods to the right side and the corsair fan controller at the top of the case.

I may also change those yellow fans. I know the graphics cards are abit dated now. However I already owed a single HD6970 and buying a second card was within budget.

Also I have to admit I used to be a fan of AMD cos mainly there cheaper. But after the disapointment I felt with this CPU (FX 8150), this will be the last AMD based platform I ever build. Dont get me wrong the CPU is ok but I was expecting more cos of all the press AMD gave. Intel here I come.........

 

[Goldskis45]

nice setup, but I cant help but ask what pump you are using with 3 rads in one loop, seems like a lot of resistance for one pump to handle? and the rear rad's tubing looks a little odd to me (just my opinion)

 

[neilinuk]

Thanks for your reply the pump is a Alphacool D5. I know very little about watercooling and I got the idea for this setup from another forum. The temps seem to be pretty good and alot better than air, would a lot of resistance reflect on the over all temps of my rig??

I know the rear tubing is a little strange but it was the only way I could think at the time of solving a clearance problem.

Maybe its the direction of my loop which caused the above problem?

Res/Pump -- CPU -- Top Rad -- Chipset -- Rear Rad -- GPU/s -- Front Rad -- Res/Pump

 

[Goldskis45]

More resistance equals slower moving liquid and more wear and tear on your pump and sucks up more power...

And yeah if the order you have posted is the flow direction I usually see the normal as the opposite of what you have, but with the rads in between everything I don't really see any issue with it.

Side note, are there fans on the top rad where you cant see? because if there aren't and if thats your post CPU rad you might want to put a fan on it otherwise its not doing too much just your extra case flow moving air and warming your chip set

Edit: just looked up your pump it has a Maxium head of: 10 ft (3.1 m) so looking at your setup it seems to me like you have around 11-14 feet of flow... you may want to consider getting a larger pump, or adding another mid loop where you can...

(If this is actually the pump you have)

http://www.overclock...id=2141&subcat=

 

[neilinuk]

The pump is this one

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/12V-Alphacool-Laing-D5-Fixed-Pump-TPP644-T12_1796.html

I dont suggest anyone uses this shop tho cos they take a long time to deliver anything. I think waiting two weeks for an item that is in stock is taking the mick abit. Anyway most of the cooling come from specialtech who was really brilliant.

Yes, there are two 120mm fans above the top rad hidden away

 

[Goldskis45]

Cool beans, that pump is a little more powerful and should be enough. setup looks like its comming along nicely to me. although I do think you went a little overkill with the PSU you could have gotten an AX850 and been in the clear. No SSD hiding in your HD bay is there? if not you might consider that for your next upgrade.

 

[neilinuk]

I agree with the guy that does the you tube video reviews on this website, I want the system to be very quiet, hence watercooling. Would a second pump make the system more noisy?

If I have to add a second pump what do you think about an EK pump in mid loop?

http://specialtech.c...-pid-10378.html

or

http://specialtech.c...-pid-10379.html

Yes there are two OCZ Vertex 3 120gb in raid 0 under the optical drive

 

[Goldskis45]

If you did get a second pump you would want to get the same one as you have so they aren't fighting each other with different flow rates, but as I said you should be good to go with the pump you have... My general rule of thumb; take the "Max head" (Highest it will pump) multiply by 1.5 and that should be the longest your loop should be without a second one. you are around 1.3-.1.4 the max head so you are good to go...

Ah, I see the SSDs now

 

[neilinuk]

I put the SSDs in the top bay to allow for any future upgrades.

I had alot of differculty trying to pick good 120mm fans. the fans I choose was these

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/120mm-akasa-viper-fan-high-performance-s-flow-blade-pwm-fan-inc-rubber-mounting-pins

If I decide to change the fans what would you suggest?

The top rad is only a 30mm thick HW Labs stealth rad and I read some where that this rad requires a high air flow

 

[Goldskis45]

Generally I recommend Noctua fans because they have a good amount of airflow and are quiet. But they are ugly as heck and never match anything...

I have been hearing quite a few good things about BitFenix Spectre fans lately though, very similar airflow rates and quiet... (without all the ugly)

 

[neilinuk]

Good idea.

I have used two bitfenix spectre Pro 230mm fans on the front rad and they are very quiet and I do like the look of them. So I may buy the 120mm versions to match.

Thank you for your help and coments its much appreciated

 

[Goldskis45]

You're very welcome, anything to help fellow enthusiasts out.

 

[The Scientific Moustache]

I use the bitfenix 120mm Spectre Pro's along with a 200mm one in my 650D, they are nice and not too loud.