water cooling kits

crap-at-games

New member
hi guys and girls
I have been toying with the idea of doing water cooling for ages. And was just wondering if would be best to start off with a watercooling kit. As you seem to get everything you need like this one ( http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-k...es-plus-pump-ek-tube-zmt-black10mm-fitting-ek ).Or would it be best to buy individual parts.I have seen toms video in which he uses a kit.At the moment i would just like to do the cpu but if goes well would progress to my gpu as well.Any advice would be most appreciated.Also i dont know which is best a bay reservoir or tube reservoir.So like i say all help will be took on board and then i could make a decision thanks in advance
http://forum.overclock3d.net/forumdisplay.php?f=23&order=desc&page=2
 
As it's your first time watercooling, kits do make it really easy to get to grips with at first, as all the components will be compatible (size of fittings, no bad reactions between different metals etc), and it contains everything you need. However, if you're already looking ahead to incorporate other things into the loop like your GPU, then you're probably going to end up just replacing some of the things that came in the kit and spending more money overall. In the short term a custom loop will probably be more expensive, but it will work out better if you end up replacing some of the components from the kit.

I got an EK kit a couple of years ago, and I very quickly outgrew it. I added 2 GPUs, got 2 new radiators, a new reservoir, and a new pump. In fact the only thing I still have that came in the kit is the CPU block.

It's a bit more difficult to make sure you have everything if you do a custom loop, but I think it's worth it. You can choose all the different parts instead of being stuck with what EK gives you, and you can future proof it too, so if you want to add your GPU you could get a better pump than the EK 2.2 that's in the kit for instance.

As long as you feel confident putting it together yourself, you should go custom in my opinion. Just ensure that blocks are compatible with your CPU socket/graphics card, radiators will fit in your case (remembering to include space for the end tanks, fans, and fittings), don't mix aluminium blocks with other metals, and make sure that the fittings and tubing fit each other.

As for bay or tube reservoir, go for which you prefer, or which you have the room for, but bear in mind that if you have a bay reservoir with a built in pump, they often are quite noisy, and it's difficult to dampen their vibrations against the case.
 
Hi Remmy
Thanks for your reply and i think i will have to look at getting some bits and pieces together for a custom loop then and that way as you say i could add to it in the future once again thanks
 
No worries, if you've got any questions about putting together a list of items for the loop I'll be happy to help.
 
Hi there :) TBH you are better off getting advice from the guys here as to buying a kit I just replaced my XSPC X20 750 pump for a D5 and the X20 750 pump was from a kit and only 2 months old.
From my own experience just get the parts individually otherwise it costs a lot more in the long run :)
 
If you start out with a D5 vario, nice CPU block and EK PE or XSPC AX rad then you will keep them for a lot longer... so I think aside some of the top end XSPC kits they probably aren't the way to go if you intend to expand. And if you don't intend to expand then you may as well get an AIO like the Kelvin which you can still take apart and play with.

Essentially just look up everything you would buy individually and if you find it all in a kit and it's cheaper then go for that.

There are a few options with resevoirs, tube or bay but also including the pump or not. What option works out best will depend on your case and what you find aesthetically pleasing. Getting a resevoir that replaces the pump top can often save you some space and eliminate the need for one extra piece of tubing which could make it much neater. If you buy everything individually them you have a lot more freedom to get the parts you prefer. Re-assembling a pump with a different top or res is very easy and accessories are quite cheap compared to the pump itself so you can always change your mind.

JR
 
hi again as i have been advised by JR23 i have now invested some money in a d5 vario pump and also 2 XSPC EX240 radiators and now i need a bit more help im looking for a 150mm reservoir and i was looking for something like this and wondered if someone could point me in the direction of achieving this many thanks

PdGVcsI.jpg
 
You'll need a few parts mate, firstly the res, a Bitspower Z, 40mm 100mm, 150mm, 250mm, or 400mm https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-318-BP&groupid=962&catid=2133 it comes in a few colours

Then the pump top, https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-517-BP&groupid=962&catid=2141&subcat=2143

Then you'll need the mod kit, https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-328-BP&groupid=962&catid=2141&subcat=2143

There is also the bit that connects the res to the pump top, but I have no clue where to find that piece in the Uk, http://bitspowerwork.com/html/product/pro_show.php?products_id=3135

You can also get it in a few different pieces, but as far as I'm aware, not here in the uk, http://bitspowerwork.com/html/product/pro_show.php?products_id=3050

http://bitspowerwork.com/html/product/pro_show.php?products_id=1401

http://bitspowerwork.com/html/product/pro_show.php?products_id=1398


they sell them over at Highflow.nl too mate
 
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hi again failing to get this setup does anyone know if i could make this up useing other pieces ie xspc or something similar many thanks
 
hi guys yet another question well more of a bit of reassurance really ive got a good deal of off a friend on a evga superclocked gtx 780ti with the acx cooler hes upgraded to a 980ti (lucky him lol) and im trying to put together a watercooling loop and ive been looking for a waterblock for it and ive come the conclusion that this will fit

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-fc780-gtx-ti-acetal-plus-nickel-vga-card-cooler

So i was just hoping someone could confirm this for me it would be most appreciated many thanks
 
That EVGA 780ti superclocked ACX has a reference PCB not a custom so a lot of blocks are available for it
 
Hi guys me again just a quick one this time
could someone help me with the choice of tube and fittings please ( ie barb or compression ) as there is so many i was just wondering what size tube people use and why ( ie ease of use or cheap etc etc etc } many thanks in advance
also forgot to mention it will be soft tube dont think i could tackle hard lines yet
 
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hi eveyone just a quick question would i be better off going for 10mm id and 12mm od tube or 12mm id and 16mm od would there be much difference in flow rate or would it be minimal thanks in advance
 
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