New to Water Cooling

[Briggsy]

Hi All,

I'm really interested in putting a WC'ing loop inside my current setup, but don't really know where to start...

I've watched Tom's beginners guide and he makes it look easy

- which I guess it is when you know how...

What I would like to know is where I should start? I would like to put a custom loop in as I feel buying a H100 really isn't going to teach me anything....

Should I buy an all in one kit? Are there different grades in quality? I would like something top of the range, or maybe I should start with a cheap loop as I'm beginning?

I'm currently using a NH-D14, so my reasons for going WC is I would like better temps for higher OC's and a slightly quieter sounding rig.

Any advice would be really appreicated.

Thanks

 

[S_I_N]

the kits offer a good way to get your feet wet into water cooling I recommend the RX series comes with everything you need except the fluid.

 

[grandpatzer]

A option is to get a pump like Laing D5 (swiftech 655), EK D5 top, Phobya Gchanger 360, EK LTX cpu block, tubing, fitting.

Depending what the RX360 kit costs I think it might be cheaper with the above and you get a good pump aswell?

Either use hose clamps or use something like tubes with 11mm ID and barbs with 13mm fitting but then I had to boil some water and put tube in for 10-15s so it slips on fitting easy and then I also put cable tie just for extra safety.

 

[rmorse27]

1 piece of advice I can give you from personal experience with water cooling for about 10 years now,once you start it becomes addictive so beware.The silence is my favorite part of water cooling,once you hear the difference you will never go back to air again.Good Luck.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

I loved my watercooled 6990, but it is to much for me. Not trying to move you away from watercooling BUT it can be a REAL pain in the ass. CPU not so much GPU is a real pain.

 

[Shift87]

I loved my watercooled 6990, but it is to much for me. Not trying to move you away from watercooling BUT it can be a REAL pain in the ass. CPU not so much GPU is a real pain.

Care to elaborate there? I don't see how water cooling the gpu is really that difficult. Hardest part is attaching the water block and even then its afew screws and some thermal pads and paste.

More on topic though. Though i have no personal experience with preassembled kits the only thing i have heard is most of them come with a pretty low end pump mostly the xspc and ek ones, again no first hand knowledge of that just from what i have read around online. Really taking the time to learn abit about what you need is worth it in the end as then you can have something exactly that you want and like the look of.

 

[airdeano]

I'm really interested in putting a WC'ing loop inside my current setup, but don't really know where to start...

I've watched Tom's beginners guide and he makes it look easy - which I guess it is when you know how...

What I would like to know is where I should start? I would like to put a custom loop in as I feel buying a H100 really isn't going to teach me anything....

Should I buy an all in one kit? Are there different grades in quality? I would like something top of the range, or maybe I should start with a cheap loop as I'm beginning?

I'm currently using a NH-D14, so my reasons for going WC is I would like better temps for higher OC's and a slightly quieter sounding rig.

i'm confused, but we can start with the basics:

what kinda temps do you have currently?

what kind of case do you have?

are you going to include your video card in the loop?

what kind of budget are you going to allow for water cooling?

toms H100 video is pretty lay-down on basics, its only that if you are into high-end overclocks and driving the gpu into the red in temperatures,

then he did suggest that the H100 is not for this application. he also went on to explain that if your case allowed push/pull was another update

to increase its ability. even changing the fans to noctua NF-F12 again can knock the temps down another couple of degrees.

the complete kits are where the research effort comes in. a lot of peeps here all have different combinations of water cooling and they can range

from free - 600 depending on what you really need and what looks cool. so we can spend your cash pretty good and not make it right for you.

because you know all the pertanents and we don't know only can guess what you have. i saw a template on this forum to help out in this case.

dunna know where it went, but list your build, temps, where you think you need to be and what kind of budget you have from this upgrade.

i'd hate to recommend a 240 system only to find out you have a HTPC. kinda see what i am talking about? this forum is top-notch in help.

only if they know what you have to deal with.

hope this din't muddy the water, so to speak.

airdeano

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Care to elaborate there? I don't see how water cooling the gpu is really that difficult. Hardest part is attaching the water block and even then its afew screws and some thermal pads and paste.

More on topic though. Though i have no personal experience with preassembled kits the only thing i have heard is most of them come with a pretty low end pump mostly the xspc and ek ones, again no first hand knowledge of that just from what i have read around online. Really taking the time to learn abit about what you need is worth it in the end as then you can have something exactly that you want and like the look of.

Applying the block and getting the loop going is easy. But maintaining it is a real pain in the ass. when it comes to replacing the mobo it takes the whole day just to do that one task. For a CPU loop it's easy because the block is small and light. The GPU block with the GPU weighs a good pound and half so unless you have quick connects you have to drain the whole loop seal the openings and then remove the mobo.

 

[C3mods]

First off I totally agree with what airdeano said, we need to know more about what you have or going to have to WC. The RX series stuff is good except for the pump isn't as reliable as others. I know here in the US they are now selling the kits with the raystorm in them which is an excellent block, and they are also putting in either a ddc or d5 pump with the kit for a little extra. So if you can find one of those kits you would be doing good.

You need to see if your case supports a rad, how thick of a rad, and how big of a rad i.e. 240 360 and so forth. Size of the rad/s will determine what all you can watercool also.

 

[Briggsy]

Thanks guys for your replies.

Basically my set up is below (sig) That's what I will add the wc loop too.

I'm currently using a NH-D14 and I have 70c at full load with a 4.7 OC.

My main reasons for water cooling is:

Cooler temps for my current OC (if possible)

CPU wc loop only at the moment

The look

The noise reduction

The chance to learn a new skill & knowledge

What are you recommendations for the H100? Worth it?

Thanks

 

[C3mods]

The H100 is a good little cooler, and like the review Tom did, you can make it whisper quiet spending some extra money on some Noctua fans. The H100 basically is a combined unit of a cpu block with a pump built into it, with a thin rad with fans. It has more features, like it is an completely enclosed loop, has a speed control for the pump and fans, and can be used with corsair software.

If you you want to go with a kit, go with the XSPC RX kit with the Raystorm cpu block for a good reason. The RX series rads are one of the best rads you can get, also the Raystorm cpu block is one of the best cpu blocks atm. With that being said, if you buy a kit with those two things, if you do want to upgrade you will just need to start with a different pump and res, then you can go from there.​

Or you can just buy all the bits, which would be a rad, fans, pump, res, cpu block, hose, fittings and fluid. Which will give you more control over what you loop looks like and parts in it.

There is pros and cons of using any water cooling system.

Pros of the H100 is that it is completely enclosed unit, no hassles, no having to add more water, no having to change the water.

Cons of the H100 is that it has a thin radiator so can only transfer so much heat, if the radiator, hose or block leaks, or quits working you have to replace the whole unit.

Pros of a water cooling loop is that if a part breaks you can just replace that part, you can have bigger radiators for better heat transfer, add more hardware on later as you like as long as your radiator will sustain the extra heat needed to be transferred. You can set it up how you would like it to look, as in different colored fluid or hoses, different reservoirs and other bits.​

Cons of a water cooling loop is what some people call the hassle, having to drain and flush the loop and refill every so often. Building time - First to plan your water cooling loop, making sure you get all the bits you need Second the time to get every thing set up, filled, and leak tested. Last but not least, if you don't go with a kit and do a proper set up, is the cost.​

So that is the things to look at when you do want to get started with water cooling. You have the case that will support it, next is to decide if you want to go with the simplest solution with a H100, or a kit that will get you started, or a proper setup where you buy all the bits you want. The decision is your to make, you know how much time you have to put into it, how much you can spend on it, and how you want it to perform.​

Hope this helps​

C​

 

[Briggsy]

Thanks C - That some brilliant advise.

Can you change the fluid in the H100?

And what are the performance results between H100 vs Custom Loop vs NH-D14??

 

[Firat]

Thanks C - That some brilliant advise.

Can you change the fluid in the H100?

And what are the performance results between H100 vs Custom Loop vs NH-D14??

No you cant change the fluid in the H100 it is pre-filled and is a sealed unit.

performance wise, the H100 is on par with the D14 (with custom fans) the only reason you would choose it over the D14 is:

1: the D14 takes up alot of space and limits RAM options

2: The H100 is small and looks good.

heres toms review where he compares it to the D14 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPAhvIPXU54&feature=plcp&context=C4aae467VDvjVQa1PpcFMATkwyiZx65BMO7QnZM9RgckKB78t-miA%3D

A custom loop will destroy both of these solutions ( a good custom loop that it) i have both my gpu and cpu in a loop both madly overclocked my cpu max temp = 55c (2600k @4.8ghz) and my gtz 570 @904mhz = 41c)

on a h100 my cpu would hit 75ish cosidering my cpu uses 1.392v (fairly high vcore) so yes.

it depends on what you want. I have my fans like on 30% i cant hear my rig temps on load on low fans get a little warmer (65C) but thats what custom WC is about.

Total SILENCE

gd luck

 

[Briggsy]

WOW - Custom wc it is then

 

[Firat]

WOW - Custom wc it is then

1 last thing be warned, a custom loop will cost ALOT and it is utterly addictive.....

other then that its the best thing in the world

check my SIG to see my rig

 

[Briggsy]

Yep just did mate......very nice! That case is a behemoth

 

[Master&Puppet]

I can't see the point in replacing a D14 with an H100. The cooling gain will be pretty minimal so it's a waste of time from that perspective and more importantly the H100 is a factory sealed bit of kit. I don't think you are actually going to learn anything by fitting one.

You already know how to change a block since you have fitted an D14.

You won't be fitting tubes, pumps, a res or even filling up the loop with coolant so go custom!

An XS-PC kit is great place to go.

 

[Firat]

I can't see the point in replacing a D14 with an H100. The cooling gain will be pretty minimal so it's a waste of time from that perspective and more importantly the H100 is a factory sealed bit of kit. I don't think you are actually going to learn anything by fitting one.

You already know how to change a block since you have fitted an D14.

You won't be fitting tubes, pumps, a res or even filling up the loop with coolant so go custom!

An XS-PC kit is great place to go.

yup i agree

 

[Briggsy]

Thank you guys

 

[Vicey]

Something to mention, if you don't like the look of the XSPC kit there are EK kits in the market too which are around the same price with the same capabilities but with very different looking reservoir and CPU blocks which you may like better. I'd say the XSPC kit is easier to fit if you have front 5.25" bays in your case as it combines the reservoir and pump in a bay while the EK kits do not but it depends what you prefer the look of.

Here is an example of an EK kit: http://www.scan.co.u...preme-lt-240-en

Just thought I'd mention it in-case you're not aware of the other kits available