New PC Advice

[ldjalal]

Hi Guys,

Hello,

I have just sold my previous gaming pc and need to get a new system. In two words, this will be purely made for gaming.

I enjoy putting them together, over-clocking and gaming from time to time.

Heres what I had in mind:

Cosmos 2
ASUS Maximus Formula V
i7 3770k
EVGA GTX 690
Samsung 840 Pro SSD
G Skill Trident X 2400

Now, for this system I wanted to create a proper water cooling loop. I've had the Corsair H series in the past which is OK, but I wanted to go for something more special.

At first i'll be just water cooling the GPU and motherboard (which has integrated cooling) but eventually will add a block for my 690. I wanted to know if it was worth getting a proper loop rather than a H100i or the new Eisberg 240.

I was thinking of getting:

RayStorm 750 RS360 WaterCooling Kit
or
RayStorm D5 EX360 WaterCooling Kit

I've heard that the 750 pump is not very reliable, however the RS system is relatively cheap and only £50 more than the H100i. This will also be my first water cooled build and the pump/reservoir combo seems practical.

I've also heard mixed opinions about dye's. For me it will be very important, as a big factor of the water cooling is that its aesthetically pleasing.

Additionally, will an AX860i be enough? What would be your recommendations about the water cooling and about any other parts of the build? Should I change anything else?

Thanks a lot!

 

[jamesriley94]

You'd probably be better off with 2, 670s than the 690. Should save you a fair bit of money and if you overclock the 670s, you could probably get better performance out of them.

 

[ldjalal]

Thanks, but I already got the 690 as a gift. Will also allow me to pop in another one down the road!

 

[tinytomlogan]

Thanks, but I already got the 690 as a gift. Will also allow me to pop in another one down the road!

Another 690...... You really need to do more research

 

[ldjalal]

As I said, I got it as a gift so theres not much I can do about that part. And even if I do decide to add another one it definitely wont be any time soon and will allow me to do more than enough research.

I am more concerned about the water cooling and PSU...

 

[B NEGATIVE]

AX 860 is plenty.
Raystorm D5 > 750
Dont bother with Dye,use DI water and a biocide with coloured tubing

 

[ldjalal]

Thanks, maybe I should consider any other kits?

The EK-KIT H3O 360 HFX seems to be in the same price range...

 

[Master&Puppet]

Just in case you don't know - the money you would be spending on the i7, 2400MHz RAM and that mobo are wasted on a gaming rig. You only need the i5 3570K, 8gb of 1600/1866 MHz RAM and you can get the same performance from a board that is significantly cheaper if you want to.

The D5 XSPC kit is probably the best start you can get to be honest. You'll need more than the 750 pump if you eventually add a GPU block. You'll also need more rad space than the EK360 when you add that second block - make sure you factor that in.

I use dyes in my water cooling in clear tubing. It makes little difference so go for looks.

 

[Deejeta]

+1 to the above.
-& imho a gtx690 is overkill. Save some cash and get a reference 7970 or 680/670. Plenty of nice water blocks around for them.
-Plus a D5 all the way, leaps and bounds ahead of the 750 pump, although Im not sure how good the latest revision of that pump is. Supposed to have a better impeller.
-AX860 is more than enough. A really nice psu. Buy buy buy!
-Invest in a really nice IPS screen with the money saved from buying a 690.
-Oh yeah, do your homework with how the build is going to look. Remember - wc fittings (colour, angles etc) colours of board > blocks > ram > tubing

glwb

 

[ldjalal]

Thanks for the input. I agree about my set-up being overkill. But I did already receive my 690 as a gift and I might as well build a nice gaming rig around it.

The only thing which I do think is overkill is the XSPC D5 kit...

Would you guys recommend anything else? Maybe the Coolermaster Eisberg?

 

[CPMFW]

the xspc kit is totally fine maybe add another rad

 

[airdeano]

the eisberg is developed off of alphacools LT ceramic pump. single rad, CPU block
and thats about it.. a dual rad CPU/GPU would annilate the lil LT. thats why
alpha has a bayres fitted with dual LT pumps for a lil more in a loop. but so far
it hasn't really upped the game any. too loud to operate, still working bugs out,
and limited controls.

EX360, Raystorm block, D5 pump, whatever top or res and now you have a base
to begin additions to. if the GPU gets to looking lonely without water support,
add GPU block, RX240 (2x like in Tom;s CKC build) and now you have a play pretty
with ballz.

airdeano

 

[ldjalal]

So a single EX360 with a D5 pump would not be enough for a CPU and a GPU?

I thought that Tom's review said that it was plenty as the pump delivered amazing performance...

 

[Bowerz]

You would probably need another 120 or 240 (front mounted most likely) rad for CPU mobo and gpu is what they are suggesting, the pump should be ample for the loop

 

[ldjalal]

hmm, this became less appealing to me as I thought that the 360 rad and the d5 pump would be sufficient for the gpu and cpu.

This is also the impression I got from the review on overclock3D.

I will probably have to spend about £400 for the complete package then... seems a bit pricey.

Might just go for the h100i and eventually upgrade...

 

[Bowerz]

The thing is with the h100i, is its good as it is, but if you pgrade, you really want to start off witht he d5 and a 360. Tbh, it should be sufficient for just cpu and gpu, however if your gonna sli and also cool the motherboard, you will need another rad there in the loop.

 

[ldjalal]

Ok, so basically the D5 and 360 will be enough JUST for the CPU and "thermal fusion" cooling on the Maximus V Formula?

In case I'll want to cool a single GPU, ill have to add another pump and a rad?

 

[Bowerz]

I would say yes it will be fine as long as you dont go crazy with overclocking and get a good air flow over the rad

 

[airdeano]

Ok, so basically the D5 and 360 will be enough JUST for the CPU and "thermal fusion" cooling on the Maximus V Formula?

In case I'll want to cool a single GPU, ill have to add another pump and a rad?

you'll just wanna add another radiator.. one D5 will be fine. the radiator upgrade
should be a 45-60mm thick radiator 240mm or better. because of the thinner
360 rad already "in service".

airdeano