My first watercooling project

[Freeride]

Hello people,

Well it's time for me to start a new build. My motherboard failed on me a few weeks ago and it's too old to be worth replacing. I am currently using my good old Asus G50v laptop in the mean time. Here are the specs of my decommissioned system:

Case:
- Corsair Obsidian 800D

Motherboard:
- Evga 780i FTW (defective)

CPU:
- Intel Q9550

Video card:
- BFG GTX 285 x 2

RAM:
- Corsair dominator XMS2-8500 2GB x 4

PSU:
- Silverstone 1500 watt

HDD:
- OCZ Vertex 2 120GB, WD Black 4TB x 2


This will actually be my third personal build. I have build more systems for others than myself. I just got promoted at work so I am looking forward to treating myself with a nice upgrade without my gf murdering me .

So far, I have been reading threads, looking at video reviews and it's making me stoked! I am looking at building my first watercooled rig that will allow me to accomplish my daily browsing, listening to music, watching movies as well as gaming and overclocking. I am not a huge gamer but I will game enough to influence the way I will build this system. Overclocking will be new to me and handled later.


Here is the list I have made so far:

Case:
- NZXT H440 (I am madly in love with the case but does not have a 5.25 bay to fit the pump/res I was looking to get...:angry
- Corsair Obsidian 750D (seems like the best choice for watercooling with all the space available)
- NZXT Switch 810 (I like it but there are things bothering me; don't like the top and missing a dust filter in front)

CPU:
- Intel i7 4770k

Motherboard:
- Asus Maximus VI Formula

RAM:
- Corsair Dominator Platinum 16GB (2x8GB)

Video Card:
- Evga GTX 780Ti

PSU:
- Corsair AX860i

HDD:
- Samsung 840 PRO 256GB x 2


Now to cool all those goodies, is where I will need help... I was looking at the Koolance RP-1250 pump + res. I like that it fits in the 5.25 drive bay, has sensors that auto shutdown your system if threshold is exceeded and basically looks pretty simple to use/monitor. In the event I would go with the H440 case, I could always use another pump like the XSPC D5 that seems very popular with a separate res. As far as rad choice goes, I have looked at the Black Ice from Hardware Labs as well as Koolance rads (they have 30 fpi) and it seems that Alphacool Nexxxos Monsta is a big favorite here as well. There is also all the barbs/fittings, water blocks, tubing...

This is where I am scared to miss or fail to get the proper equipment. I want to watercool my CPU, GPU for sure. I was also looking at using the EK motherboard water block for show only. I understand it is useless because the back of the motherboard will not be watercooled but I still think it would look great.

I have not purchased any parts yet. I was looking for feedback from anyone and everyone as well as tips and pointers specially for the cooling part... I am all ears for now.

BTW I have not set a budget limit for this build but I will try to be reasonable .

 

[SeekaX]

I don't get why you want a bay res so badly, they look worse than a tube res and the tubing is always a mess.
The h440 is my favourite out of the cases you posted, the 750d is very nice as well, but for watercooling i'd prefer the h440, the switch 810 is kinda outdated.
You can't go wrong with alphacooling and xspc for watercooling, their stuff looks very neat and the xspc razor/raystorm blocks look very nice when you put in custom LEDs.
I am pretty sure that the switch 810 can't fit a monster rad, for the 750d i'd have to check the review again, but the h440 can definitely fit one in the front.
The D5 pump is a good choice. I am not too sure though how capable the pump in that pump/res combination is, it could struggle with 3 blocks/2 rads.
Tygon tubing is the way to go iirc.
You can spend an awful lot of money on fittings, even though those little things only cost 3-10 euros a piece the amount you need sums up.

 

[lAnimal]

If I'm not mistaken, this is a H440 with the 5.25' bays, the H630 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/nzxt-h630-gloss-white-ultra-silent-mid-tower-case-w-o-psu

 

[QuietOne]

If you're going to watercool your GPU, you may aswell get a reference 780ti. Would be cheaper for you and you can OC it yourself. I could be wrong though.

 

[Freeride]

I don't get why you want a bay res so badly, they look worse than a tube res and the tubing is always a mess.
The h440 is my favourite out of the cases you posted, the 750d is very nice as well, but for watercooling i'd prefer the h440, the switch 810 is kinda outdated.
You can't go wrong with alphacooling and xspc for watercooling, their stuff looks very neat and the xspc razor/raystorm blocks look very nice when you put in custom LEDs.
I am pretty sure that the switch 810 can't fit a monster rad, for the 750d i'd have to check the review again, but the h440 can definitely fit one in the front.
The D5 pump is a good choice. I am not too sure though how capable the pump in that pump/res combination is, it could struggle with 3 blocks/2 rads.
Tygon tubing is the way to go iirc.
You can spend an awful lot of money on fittings, even though those little things only cost 3-10 euros a piece the amount you need sums up.

I was very interested in the Koolance bay res because I thought it look clean and easy to use. Like I said, it is my first time with watercooling and know nothing about it. I am very happy to hear from an experienced user that it makes cable management harder. That makes me want one a lot less.

I willl look up more about separate pumps and res from XSPC and Alphacooling as well as water blocks. Still debating if I really want to include the board in the loop as this might also make cable management mesy... I am looking for a neat installation.

I will also be looking at the tygon tubing and look up some fittings.

Thanks for the tips SeekaX!

 

[Freeride]

If I'm not mistaken, this is a H440 with the 5.25' bays, the H630 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/nzxt-h630-gloss-white-ultra-silent-mid-tower-case-w-o-psu

Yes they do look very much similar but the H630 does not have the side window. I would like to see and show the inside of my case .

 

[Freeride]

If you're going to watercool your GPU, you may aswell get a reference 780ti. Would be cheaper for you and you can OC it yourself. I could be wrong though.

Great tip! I never thought of that. I will save a lot of money and the GPU is the same anyway right (besides the OC but I will take care of that part)? Will all 780ti GPU water blocks fit all 780ti cards?

 

[SeekaX]

I was very interested in the Koolance bay res because I thought it look clean and easy to use. Like I said, it is my first time with watercooling and know nothing about it. I am very happy to hear from an experienced user that it makes cable management harder. That makes me want one a lot less.

I willl look up more about separate pumps and res from XSPC and Alphacooling as well as water blocks. Still debating if I really want to include the board in the loop as this might also make cable management mesy... I am looking for a neat installation.

I will also be looking at the tygon tubing and look up some fittings.

Thanks for the tips SeekaX!

Imo the best way to have your pump/res setup is to buy a d5 with a top and then have the res directly on the pump.
The bayres doesn't mess with the cable management, it messes with the tube management. I find bayres builds to look a bit ghetto.
I also never had a waterloop myself, but i spent a lot of time planning one before i decided that new peripherals would take the priority for me.

Yes they do look very much similar but the H630 does not have the side window. I would like to see and show the inside of my case .

When i planned my waterloop i was favoring the H630, back then the h440 didn't exist yet. The h630 and the phantom 630 share the same measurements for the sidepanel, so you can just buy a phantom 630 window panel.
http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/135-phantom-630-window-accessory.html

 

[Freeride]

Imo the best way to have your pump/res setup is to buy a d5 with a top and then have the res directly on the pump.
The bayres doesn't mess with the cable management, it messes with the tube management. I find bayres builds to look a bit ghetto.
I also never had a waterloop myself, but i spent a lot of time planning one before i decided that new peripherals would take the priority for me.



When i planned my waterloop i was favoring the H630, back then the h440 didn't exist yet. The h630 and the phantom 630 share the same measurements for the sidepanel, so you can just buy a phantom 630 window panel.
http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/135-phantom-630-window-accessory.html

That makes the H630 a very interesting choice now that you pointed that out. I like the way it looks, I'm pretty sure I'd be able to fit everything in it. The only flaw I've seen in reviews is bad air intake from the front of the case. I also would have liked to see a power supply cover with SSD mounts on it like the H440. Nothing is perfect right? ^_^

I spent a lot of time watching and re-watching case reviews last week end and I can't seem to make up my mind on what case to choose...

- I still think the H440 is the nicest but I fear it would be too small to fit all the cooling componants. I will post a list of everything I would like to setup.

- The Corsair Obsidian 750D looks ok and seems to be able to take all componants without looking "too busy".

- The Corsair Graphite 760t looks very nice as well.

 

[Freeride]

Watercooling Section

After getting some good tips and lots of browsing and reviewing, here is what I am looking to cool my system with:

Pump: Swiftech MCP655

Reservoir: XSPC Photon Glass Cylinder Reservoir 270 if possible otherwise 170

Radiator: Alphacool nexxxos x 2 (not 100% sure of the size since I have not decided on the case)

Tubing: PrimoFlex Advanced LRT Tubing (3/8 ID 5/8 OD)

Fittings: Bitspower Deluxe White Compression Fittings (they are expensive but too sexy to ignore lol)

Water Blocks:

- Koolance CPU-380i (Nickel-Plated Copper, Stainless Steel, POM Acetal, EPDM)
- Koolance VID-NXTTN2 (Nickel-Plated Copper, Nickel-Plated Brass, Stainless Steel, POM Acetal, EPDM)
- EK-FB Kit Asus M6F (Acetal + Nickel)

Fans: Noctua 140mm and or 120mm (again depends on case and rads)

 

[SeekaX]

After getting some good tips and lots of browsing and reviewing, here is what I am looking to cool my system with:

Pump: Swiftech MCP655

Reservoir: XSPC Photon Glass Cylinder Reservoir 270 if possible otherwise 170

Radiator: Alphacool nexxxos Monsta x 2 (not 100% sure of the size since I have not decided on the case)

Tubing: PrimoFlex Advanced LRT Tubing (3/8 ID 5/8 OD)

Fittings: Bitspower Deluxe White Compression Fittings (they are expensive but too sexy to ignore lol)

Water Blocks:

- Koolance CPU-380i (Nickel-Plated Copper, Stainless Steel, POM Acetal, EPDM)
- Koolance VID-NXTTN2 (Nickel-Plated Copper, Nickel-Plated Brass, Stainless Steel, POM Acetal, EPDM)
- EK-FB Kit Asus M6F (Acetal + Nickel)

Fans: Noctua 140mm and or 120mm (again depends on case and rads)

If you want to fit two Monsta rads you will need something like a 900d, not even sure if that case can do 2 Monstas. If that is however what you want, take a look at the Phanteks Enthoo Primo, it has probably the best watercooling options on the market (excluding the likes of caselabs), it has a PSU cover and you surely will not miss the space.
The more sensible choice would be one 360mm Monsta and a 360mm 45mm rad fitted into the h440.

 

[paulstung]

Dependent on your motherboards heatsink you might get a monsta up top in enthoo primo. Ive got the Z77 MPower and have managed a 420mm monsta up top in mine

 

[Freeride]

If you want to fit two Monsta rads you will need something like a 900d, not even sure if that case can do 2 Monstas. If that is however what you want, take a look at the Phanteks Enthoo Primo, it has probably the best watercooling options on the market (excluding the likes of caselabs), it has a PSU cover and you surely will not miss the space.
The more sensible choice would be one 360mm Monsta and a 360mm 45mm rad fitted into the h440.

My mistake... I want 2 Alphacool Nexxxos rads. Not necessary the Monsta ones. I have edited my post.

I have looked at the 2 cases you suggested and I am not a big fan of them. I do understand where you were going because of the Monsta, they are huge rads!