The process of setting up a loop ?

[paulstung]

I thought I would start a 2nd thread as it is not directly related to my previous .

I am about to fit a cpu loop to my rig , and was just curious of peoples ways of beginning the process . As in do you remove everything accept for the motherboard ? And treat it as almost a full build ?
This isn't a how to thread . I am just wondering , cos everyone will have their own way of doing it . And to be honest I am Kinda dragging my feet , thinking of ways to put it off , at least till 4.30 when the Rugby starts .

Sorry peeps COME ON WALES>>>:slap: the English

 

[noudi93]

I personally removed everything except the psu and the hard drives. This made placing the components easier. (placing the rad was easier without mobo - placing pump/res was easier without a gpu) And installing the cpu block was easier for me outside the case.

Then with every component ready i reinstalled everything into the case and then i did all the tubing.

 

[alpenwasser]

Before I do anything w/c related, I perform a function check on all components (put the rig together, power it on, etc.). I *might* use an improvised and temporary external water loop for cooling the CPU during this, but never the GPU or the M/B.

From then on out, it's usually a very fluid process. I don't strictly follow any routine. Before purchasing I of course make a rough outline of component arrangement and loop order in my head, but I only really develop the final version once I have the components to fiddle around with.

Basically, I'll be sitting in front of my case and try out various configurations with my components until I've found a satisfying solution. This might take a few hours ^_^. Same goes for cable management, which also has to be taken into account when arranging your loop (well I do, anyway).

After that, I'll mount my stuff in the order which makes the most sense. Some components might be tricky or impossible to mount after another one has already been put in, so of course I pay attention to that.

When I don't have a deadline on my build, I usually only order a few sample fittings at the beginning. Once everything else is in, I'll try out different things with those samples and only then will I order the actually required fittings in the numbers needed. If it's a very simple loop this is usually not necessary though.

 

[Fr0sty]

For me; I first check to make sure the pump works, then just do a basic loop with the other parts, so theres no leaks in them... (Drain after etc, and set aside, unless a part leaks, and depending on where, I may have to return it etc)

Then I place everything in, from HDDs to MoBo (all with their respected blocks)

Then I go about with a camera, and some string, and I take test fits/configs on the full loop (with string, not tubing)

Once im happy, I go about on paint, so that I dont change my mind, as one does when they procrastinate, and setout how its all connected.

Then I cut, and connect tubing.. then do all the other fun little stuff after.

 

[Damien c]

I test everything then, once I know everything works and doesn't leak I will then strip the case down fully and then rebuild it up, starting with the motherboard and then the rad(s), gpu(s), res, pump.

Then I tube it all up and once that's done I put the ram in and do all the cable work.

 

[jamesriley94]

Depends on the case for me.

I'd only take the motherboard out if it was necessary to fit a rad at the top, or due to lack of a CPU cut out in the case, I had to to fit the waterblock.

I'd take any GPUs or soundcards out, but that's pretty obvious - just to give you more room to work with if anything.

Wouldn't bother removing the PSU as that may need to be in anyway before you fit a bottom rad or anything - and if you don't have a bottom rad, then it isn't really in the way so no point in removing it anyway.

Agree with everyone for testing things first though. I bought my GPU a couple of weeks earlier than my WC set up so I could test it first with the stock cooler before taking that off. I'd do the same with a motherboard too if I was thinking of WCing that, but I don't really see the point in motherboard WC anymore.