Starting Watercooling System

[Asura]

Hi OC3D,

Before i start i should apologize for my english :/ I'm Portuguese so I don't write very well. So I'm building a new rig with the following hardware:

NZXT Switch 810
Corsair AX-850W
2Gb Hard Drive 7200RPM
Intel 520 Series 240 Gb (not decided)
Gigabyte-GA-X79-UD5 (not decided)
Intel Core i7 3930K
Corsair Dominator 1866Mhz 16Gb (4x4Gb)
Asus GTX 680 DirectCU II Top

This rig is for work mostly, modeling 3D, Rendering, and a few gaming. So I'm thinking to invest in some good water cooling so I can overclock the CPU and the VGA with good temperatures and low noise. But since I've never did nothing like this I have many doubts about it. I've been watching reviews and videos but I like to read some advices of more experienced people. So if you guys could give me some advice on what to buy I would be apreciated.

I was thinking on a 360 radiator in the roof and a D4 pump, but I don't know if that's enough...

Thanks a lot for reading - Asura

 

[andrewmchugh]

Has the hardware been ordered yet?

Anyway.. I believe that the roof of the case can fit a RX360 rad, with a little bit of modding. So grab an XSPC RX360 D5 Kit + the ek 680GTX DC2 block

 

[Asura]

Thanks for the tips So one 360 Rad will be enough to cool the system?

 

[andrewmchugh]

Thanks for the tips So one 360 Rad will be enough to cool the system?

Yeh, but if you want to run the fans lower then you should maybe have a look at getting another rad in there.

I have a i7 920 and a gtx580 which are fairly hot chips and that's running on standard 360 rad.

 

[Asura]

I really want the fans on low, i want it to be very silent. So if I want the fans on low I should get another 360 rad?

 

[andrewmchugh]

I really want the fans on low, i want it to be very silent. So if I want the fans on low I should get another 360 rad?

Thats a bit extreme mate, another 120 would be nice or 240 brilliant. The extra 360 wouldn't fit in the case.

 

[Asura]

Thanks mate, you helped me a lot!! but for 2 rads do I need another pump? Or the D4/D5 is enough?

 

[andrewmchugh]

Im not sure about the d4 because I have never seen / used one. But the d5 will be fine on cpu gpu and 2 rads for your loop (and more). Rads don't actually add that much restriction its more blocks that you have to worry about.

My D5 runs on the lowest setting.

 

[Asura]

Nice so I think I'll get a D5 instead of a D4. Thanks a lot mate!! Really you were a great help, thaks to you I can build my rig perfectly

Thanks Again

Asura

 

[andrewmchugh]

So where is the second rad going and what are you going for? I'm guessing a 240 in the floor?

 

[Asura]

I was thinking about that, a 360 in the roof and a 240 in the floor. Now I only have 2 questions:

Do I need push/pull in the 240 rad or just push? Does a 60mm thick rad have space with only 3 fans 25mm thick pushing?

 

[B NEGATIVE]

Im not sure about the d4 because I have never seen / used one. But the d5 will be fine on cpu gpu and 2 rads for your loop (and more). Rads don't actually add that much restriction its more blocks that you have to worry about.

My D5 runs on the lowest setting.

A D4 looks the same as a D5....just noisier and no speed control.

 

[andrewmchugh]

A D4 looks the same as a D5....just noisier and no speed control.

Actually the d4 is an older pump that was the predecessor to the d5. The d5 has a vario and fixed speed versions.

 

[andrewmchugh]

I was thinking about that, a 360 in the roof and a 240 in the floor. Now I only have 2 questions:

Do I need push/pull in the 240 rad or just push? Does a 60mm thick rad have space with only 3 fans 25mm thick pushing?

Yeh there isnt enough room in the roof for an RX in push pull, you will only fit the fans in the roof in pull. Which is fine.

You will need to get a dremmel to cut the top of the 5.25 bay to fit the barbs at the other end if you want a tidy loop. Also if you want to expose more of the rad as the last couple of inches are covered by the top of the 5.25 bay which is not removable. I think if you were to de-rivet it the case will become weak.

 

[B NEGATIVE]

Actually the d4 is an older pump that was the predecessor to the d5. The d5 has a vario and fixed speed versions.

I know,i was putting a pic as you say you have never seen one.

 

[Asura]

Yeh there isnt enough room in the roof for an RX in push pull, you will only fit the fans in the roof in pull. Which is fine.

You will need to get a dremmel to cut the top of the 5.25 bay to fit the barbs at the other end if you want a tidy loop. Also if you want to expose more of the rad as the last couple of inches are covered by the top of the 5.25 bay which is not removable. I think if you were to de-rivet it the case will become weak.

Thanks, I'll do that, and as i'm getting a dremel maybe i modify my case

 

[andrewmchugh]

Thanks, I'll do that, and as i'm getting a dremel maybe i modify my case

Cool, best to get all the modding done off the bat so that you can get the case all clean for the components.

 

[Asura]

Cool, best to get all the modding done off the bat so that you can get the case all clean for the components.

Yeah, I'll get the case 2/3 weeks before so I can the little modifications and then i bu the hardware.

Just a question and this may seem stupid but how many meters of tube do I need?

 

[Asura]

Sorry for double post but i have some doubts:

Which 360 rad would you pick:

Phobya G-Changer 360 Ver. 1.2 Black

EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream RAD XTX 360

Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 Full Copper 360mm

or should I give more money for

RX360 XSPC Triple Radiator?

 

[B NEGATIVE]

RX all day long
or a SR-1....