Need help with my first watercooling setup

C

chestwood96

New member
Good evening Gentlemen(and maybe women)

I will start at the beginning, about 1,5 jears aggo I started a job training as a computerscientist wich got me interestet in hardware too.
Later that jear I built my first own PC (I had allready built simple ones in scool and at work).
Around the beginning of this year I got interestet in doing a custom watercooling setup for said PC, but i ran into some hurdles (Incompatible GPU and bad case, that was my first threat here) so I put it down again.

Now I am willing to buy a new case and a new GPU to make my own watercooling loop. Of course it is not just because it is really nesesayry but I am also doing it partly because f**k you.

So thats what i came up with I chose the corsair 750D(Not written into stone at all), with a 320x60 rad in the top and a 240 Monsta in the front as a starting point.

My current system looks like this:

CPU: Intel 3930K(not overclocket because its not needed)
Mainboard: Asus P9X79 standard
GPU: Gigabyte 7970OC
RAM: 4x4Gb Patriot 1600MHz
PSU: Seasonic X650
Storage Drive: Seagate 7200:14 3TB
SSD: 2x Samsung 830 128Gb Raid0
If i forgot something just ask

I thank you all in advance for any help you can give me.

Greetings

Adrian

*Excuse my english I am swiss and I sometimes mess up grammar
 
Well, well, well, what have we here, a fellow Schwiizer, you say? :D

Anyway, since you've not given a budget I'll start with some general notes:
  • Not too familiar with the 750D and what rads it can fit precisely, but a 240 Monsta +
    360x60 will be sufficient for your cooling needs IMO.
  • CPU Block: There really isn't much difference when it comes to performance, pick
    the one you like best (EK, XSPC, Aquacomputer, Alphacool, Koolance etc.). Personally,
    I have made good experiences with Aquacomputer's and EK's blocks, and am about
    to install some Raystorms in my new build.
  • GPU block: Same as above.
  • Pump: D5 Vario with a custom pump top. They are also sold preassembled, for
    example this one. I have the same top and am pretty happy with it.
  • Fans: The Scythe Gentle Typhoons are still excellent radiator fans. You could buy
    the 1850 rpm variant and then undervolt it if it's too loud for you (they're great undervolters).
    Alternatively, Noctua's NF-F12, the eLoops (different brands available), Swiftech Helix,
    Gelids and Cougars are what I have seen recommended around se webz.
  • Fittings: Primarily a matter of taste and money IMO. Whether you go with barbs or
    compressions, it should all work OK. Just make sure it all fits your tubing diameter
    and plan your loop beforehand carefully so that you don't end up buying the wrong
    fittings (angle, straight, 45's), or way too many.
  • Tubing: I've been using 16/10 mm for the past years, and am very happy with it. It
    has good kink resistance without the tubing or the fittings becoming overly bulky. As for
    brand/model, Primochill's LRT Advanced (not LRT Pro) is what seems to be the current
    recommendation for most people, or alternatively Norprene. Norprene is phenomenal
    stuff, but slightly more prone to kinking from what I've been told.
  • Reservoir: I'm not a fan of combined 5.25" reservoirs/pump mounts because of the
    possibility for the pump to transmit its vibrations to the case. Aside from that, I prefer
    tubing reservoir for aesthetics, but bay or tube, either should work fine. Pick what you
    like.
  • Radiators: Since you're intent on a Monsta in the front, you might as well pick an
    Alphacool UT60 for the roof. It's an excellent radiator.

That's it for now, if more comes to mind I'll let you know.
 
I have a Corsair 750D, you might have to mod one of the fans to fit the 360 rad in the roof as i did, I will say one thing it would not of been a problem in a switch 810....just saying...

 
chestwood96 said:
I did the research on the 750D before I started this thread.

So how does this look?
https://www.aquatuning.ch/shopping_cart.php/bkey/3b3d11df4f50d0682ed4f486b7d25f5f
Click to expand...

If you can somehow fit a pump on its own into the case, I'd go with a separate
bay reservoir and pump+top (as said, vibrations->case). However, that's more
of a personal niggle than a real issue, the pump/bay res combo should still work
pretty OK if you really want to go with that. :)

chestwood96 said:
What fans do you guys recomend?
Click to expand...

Scythe Gentle Typhoons, Noctua NF-F12, Swiftech Helix, Cougar Vortex, Noiseblocker
eLoops (also sold by Alphacool and Phobya in different rpm's and colour schemes,).
Aside from that, I think Gelid also makes some decent fans, not sure which model
though. It will depend on what rpm range you're looking for, I recommend googling
around a bit and reading some reviews before making a final decision.

Whatever fans you go with, I highly recommend running the Monsta radiator in push/pull,
it significantly benefits from that.
 
chestwood96 said:
Ok i picked a reservoire and a pump seperately

https://www.aquatuning.ch/shopping_cart.php/bkey/690ad545bdfc7c6fc0d46aaf2dac7190
Click to expand...

Looks OK.

chestwood96 said:
Wold this be an option with fans?

http://www.aquatuning.ch/product_in...eblocker-NB-eLoop-B12-2-Bionic-1300U-min.html
Click to expand...

Yup, that should work. Just make sure you don't buy another separate 360, there's
one in that kit. ;)

chestwood96 said:
It seems to be a little harder to find the 140mm ones
Click to expand...

Yup, the 140 mm fan market is a bit sparser. I have some Bitfenix Spectre Pro's,
alternatively you could go with Noctua's NF-A14 FLX or NF-A14 PWM, depending on
whether you want a PWM fan or a 3 pin one. Cougar's fans also come in 140 mm
I think, as do the Swiftech Helixes. I have also heard good things about the Noiseblocker
BlackSilentPro, which is available in different rpm versions, for example this one.
Ah, the money I would pay for some 140 mm Gentle Typhoons... :(
 
Got a 280 monsta in the front and a 360 x 60 in the roof of the 750D, no prob.
My 360 rad is turned 180°. The 1/4's are in the front.
Order in my rig is Res > pump >280 monsta > 360 x 60 > CPU > GPU.
Fans are 3 x SP120 PWM perf. edition on the 360 x 60 and 4 X Noctua NF-A14 FLX on the Monsta. All fans hooked up to the board.

I don't think you can install a 360 in the roof with a bayres installed.
 
chestwood96 said:
I think I am going with this

http://www.aquatuning.ch/product_in...cker-NB-Blacksilent-XK2---140x140x25mm--.html

Ar those ok?
Click to expand...

Yup, those should work.

chestwood96 said:
Is there an easy way to put in a temperature sensor?
Click to expand...

Sure there is. You can either use an inline sensor (need to buy two more fittings
for that though), or just a standard G1/4" sensor (red display, blue display) and
mount that into a spare port on a radiator or reservoir (I would suggest that).

Alternatively, you can of course buy a more sophisticated monitoring unit such as
an Aquaero, but those are pricey and can be a bit complicated to set up (great
for playing around with though if you have the time and inclination).

chestwood96 said:
In what order am I suposed to mount the parts?
Click to expand...

Mount the reservoir before the pump and located so that coolant can flow into
the pump on its own when you pour it into the reservoir (the pump cannot suck
coolant in, it needs to flow in, the pump then pushes it out into the loop).

The rest doesn't matter, loop it up in the most orderly fashion so that it looks
tidiest/best.

PetetheSweet said:
I don't think you can install a 360 in the roof with a bayres installed.
Click to expand...

Thats... important. Yeah, so a tube res then I'd say.
 
Iv'e got a EK-D5 X-RES 140 installed with a D5 Vario.
All strapped to the Monsta with Noctua's in push/pull.
If the res pipe is to small for you, you can buy a longer one afterwards.
 
So a tube-reservoire then, but what kind? there are a lot of options.

Can you post pictures, i would like to see where you mounted everithing, especially the pump and the res?
 
chestwood96 said:
So a tube-reservoire then, but what kind? there are a lot of options.
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter that much IMO, pick the one with the design, mounting options and
port number/locations which suits your needs best.

The two that stand out a bit (to me, at least) are the Aquacomputer Aqualis and the
XSPC Photon with their tubes actually made from glass. The Aqualis has borosilicate
glass (very chemically resistant and temp-gradient-tolerant stuff), not sure about the
specific kind of glass used in the Photons. I have an Aqualis, build quality is superb. :wub:
 
Well personally i would rather pick something plexi/plastic, just because glass sounds kind of fragile. Does glass have any benefits?
 
chestwood96 said:
Well personally i would rather pick something plexi/plastic, just because glass sounds kind of fragile. Does glass have any benefits?
Click to expand...

I'm actually fairly confident that you could bludgeon someone to death with the
Aqualis' glass tube. Not that I'd ever try, but you know... :lol:

Seriously, that tube is really solid. Glass is more solid than people tend to give it
credit for (as long as it's of good quality and adequate material strength).

Surfie said:
The main benefit of glass is its resistance to staining.
Click to expand...

And scratching, don't forget resistance to scratching. ;)
 
chestwood96 said:
Ok you convinced me,
this http://www.aquatuning.ch/product_info.php/info/p15914_Aquacomputer-aqualis-ECO-150-ml--G1-4.html
or this http://www.aquatuning.ch/product_in...penadapter-450-ml-mit-Wassers-uleneffekt.html ?
Click to expand...

The second one needs a pump adapter, just FYI. The corresponding normal version
is this one I think. It also comes with the option to put LEDs into the bottom (that's
the one I have).

You can also get all of them with a nano coating, but I haven't seen any pictures of
what effect that actually has in practice.

If you want to go with the pump version, you'll need this AFAIK.

As for the actual decision, I recommend having a good look at your setup, seeing
what you can fit how and where, no point in us deciding this for you IMO.
 
I found a W-I-P picture of my Monsta EK-D5 X-RES 140 combo*.
I know... the Alphacool unimount is not the classy part, but for now it got it's work done.
BTW: with my new Graphicscards in mind, I will change to a Bitspower tuberes radmount eventually, because the Alphacool unimount is to fat, means that the gap between Graphicscard and res is to small in my eyes.

*no final fittings in this picture just testfitting...

20131006_013830.jpg
 
So, now that i have holidays and time to research stuff i decuded to pick this back up.

I am pretty shure i will get a r9 290 as my new Graphics card so i should go on with the watercooling.

I am actually kind of confused about the whole pump/tube reservoir thing, speciffically about where and how it should be mounted. maybe someone can explain this to me.

After that i should plan the loop right?

I would like to order around end of december and sorry that i have just layed down this thread for like a month.
 
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