Water cooling parts list

[Johnmini]

Hi I'm new to the form/watercooling so I'm looking for advice about my parts list, feel free to tell me about better parts and why it's better.

My computer as of now is as fallows.

Case: Corsair 800D
CPU: i7-2600k OC to 4 now will OC more when I'm liquid cooling.
GPU: evga GTX 460 v2 x2 not going to water cool these but am looking to upgrade in less then a year so i need a loop that can handle that.
PSU: Corsair AX860
Motherboard: Asus P8Z68 Deluxe/Gen3
Ram: G.Skill 12gb 3x4gb ddr3 1600

The parts I'm looking at getting are as fallows.

Reservoir: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...V_Cathode_-_UV_Blue_Helix.html?tl=g30c97s1110

Radiator: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5326/ex-rad-109/Black_Ice_GTX_Xtreme_360_Radiator_-_Black.html

Fittings:http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...on_Fitting_BP-MBRCPF-CC5.html?tl=g30c409s1609 x6 i think 6 is all i will need.

CPU block: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...are_AMD_Ready_Apogee-HD-BK.html?tl=g30c85s139

Pump: http://www.swiftech.com/mcp655.aspx

Tubing: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...Clamps_Tube_Cutter_12ID_x_34OD_-_UV_Blue.html

I'm not sure what the best coolant is i know i don't want to just use distilled water but that's all so post your favorite.

PS. I'm 16 so i don't have a million dollars to spend, all this will take me a good while to save for as is, so if you have options that are less expensive but will work just as well let me know!

John.

 

[WenHan]

The Black ICE GTX rads are no longer the king of performance, you may want to look at XSPC's RX series of radiators. I've heard bad reviews regarding Danger Den tubing, you may want to look at Primochill's Advance LRT series of tubing. As for fluids, you could run distilled water+Mayhems concentrate.

 

[Johnmini]

That rad is cheaper which is good but it looks like it only has 8fpi vs 20 that the black ice has. At least that's what I'm seeing on frozen CPU under the specs. As for tubing thanks! I didn't read about there being problems with it I was just looking at it cuz it's uv reactive so I will look at some primochill tubing. As for coolent I wanted to stay away from straight water with additives for my first build and go with a per mix.

 

[WenHan]

More FPI doesn't mean it will perform better. To effectively cool things using a high FPI rad, you will need to use higher CFM fans which tends to be louder. The RX series is thicker than the black ice gtx which provides more surface area for cooling

 

[GiftedReflex]

More FPI doesn't mean it will perform better. To effectively cool things using a high FPI rad, you will need to use higher CFM fans which tends to be louder. The RX series is thicker than the black ice gtx which provides more surface area for cooling

this is true. The RX series is a great rad, and like WenHan said, you will be able to keep a lower CFM fan and therefore a quieter rig. quieter with beastly performance at the same time, seems like a win win to me. keeps your costs down to boot.

 

[airdeano]

the XSPC RX-series, Hardware Labs SR1, and alphacool all have sub10fpi for low
fan speed quietness and cooling performance. the alphas have st30, xt45 and ut60
thicknesses, as the XSPC and SR1 are 55mm+ thick.
many gudes on 360 rads and these three always are top performers. so fans from
600rpm-1600rpm will do fine..

XSPC highflex, Primochill LRT, and TYGON are pretty much the standard hose to
use that carry the least or no plasicizers (compound to make the tubing flexible).

not to pick at ya, but the 460(s) should be getting sold now, before they have lil
value and pickup a newer 660ti/670/7950/7970 GPU. this will reduce the necessary
wattage for PSU selection. and run quieter, cooler and more performance over
SLI 460(s).

airdeano

 

[Johnmini]

Thanks for educating my on fpi that will save on money because it is a cheaper rad and it sounds like it will perform better without 26$ fans which will save me more money on that end as well!
As for my 460s i know they are getting old but if i get a newer card i would want to water cool it and that would cost an extra 100$ for a block so it will be perches upwards of 400$ That's a little out of my price rang at the moment.

you mentioned selling them my GPU and I'm wondering where? who wants to buy an out of date used GPU?

last but not least, i was reading and some sites say that pre mix coolants can ruin your system/blocks is that true?

 

[airdeano]

you dont have to cool the GPU(s) or not just yet.

there are alot of second-hand PC part houses, fleebay, local traders that use them
in incidental builds for beginners and such.

there are some that might lend issues to a cooling system. Mayhems Dyes are
not one of those. because they tend to settle and clump if not used in time.
being your first, you might just use a good coolant and biocide or kill-coil.

this way, you can learn without spending so much and once it is the way it needs
to be, then drop in color coolant. but if a look is needed, colored tubing is an alternative.

airdeano

 

[B NEGATIVE]

The Black ICE GTX rads are no longer the king of performance, you may want to look at XSPC's RX series of radiators. I've heard bad reviews regarding Danger Den tubing, you may want to look at Primochill's Advance LRT series of tubing. As for fluids, you could run distilled water+Mayhems concentrate.

Not true.
They are kings of performance with the right fan,you will not find a better performing rad at the 2000 rpm+ fan ranges...
At 1600 rpm and lower,they are not so good and they fall victim to the lower speed optimized rads.
GTX are high speed/high performance,SR or RX type rads are for silence and the ability to use lower specced fans.
Horses for courses

Pair it up with 38mm fans and watch the numbers drop even further.

 

[Johnmini]

Thanks for all the input everyone! I think I know the items I'm going to get (for now anyway) but it will take me a while to save the money to get all the parts so things might change, I will post back here with pictures of my build when I get it all done.

 

[njallday]

Just clarifying, if you don't want any headaches with plasticizers go with the Primochill Advanced LRT tubing. The Pro version has issues, as with essentially every other tubing type at the moment.

 

[airdeano]

i hadnt any with the XSPC high-flex plastisizer. the only issue in hose has been
clear isnt clear, age seems to "turn" colors from clear->blue->pink (blah). i even
have stored some in a vacuum sealed bag in a black corsair PSU bag in a cool
dark room and still changes color from any brand XSPC, TYGON, Primo, Koolance..

airdeano

 

[Johnmini]

Ok I will post a new parts list tomorrow so I can make sure I got everyone's input right!

 

[Johnmini]

Here is my updated list, i have a different cpu block posted i was reading somewhere and someone said that it is better not sure if it so so let me know. New rad seems like it has a good medium between fpi over the other 2 that got posted, I also added a coolent to see what everyone thinks about it good or bad.

Rad: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...S_UT60_Full_Copper_Triple_120mm_Radiator.html
This one looks like a good in between for fan speed/cooling

Tubing: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1..._x_34_OD_-_Brilliant_UV_Blue_PFLEXA-34-B.html

Res: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...n_Reservoir_-_UV_Cathode_-_UV_Blue_Helix.html

fittings: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...ssion_Fitting_-_Matte_Black_BP-MBCPF-CC5.html

CPU block: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...ntel_Sockets_LGA_775_1155_1156_1366_2011.html
I heard this one is better the the apogee HD can anyone confirm/deny this?

coolant:http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...s_X1_Coolant_Concentrate_-_250mL_-_Clear.html

Pump: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6...ed_Control_and_38_Conversion_Kit_317_GPH.html

As for fans still not 100% sure what im going to get feel free to tell me what you like!

 

[airdeano]

list looks good, but incomplete..

since its the first stab at watercooling, why not use a full-on RX360 D5 kit?
its not as sexy as the helix, but its your first and you can add and build up.
$300 and the fans are fine for starter kit. then once you got the bugs and mods
done, save-up for sexier add-ons. spend the cash on functional items and spend
mad money on dress-up. the helix is $100 (33%) of a full kit.

just an idea to get wet with

 

[Johnmini]

I was thinking about a cheaper res also that is still up in the air. You said it was incomplete how so? i did notice i missed linking the tubing but that is fixed now, is there something else I'm missing?

I will also look at kits as you suggested.