Watercooled build in TJ07

[Scoob]

Hi all,

I’m hoping to run my ideas past you all here to get your views on various water cooling bits.

For the record I currently run a 2500k @ 4.6 using an Antec Kuhler 620 push/pull, and a pair of GTX 570’s on standard air cooling. All this on an ASUS P8Z68-V Pro Motherboard in a CoolerMaster 690 II lite case.

My plan is to migrate this into a larger (TJ07) case and properly watercool it.

Here are my ideas regarding parts I’ll need – I’m not set on particular makes of item yet and would welcome your input. Much of the below is from my original plan to water cool it all in my 690 II case, but I now want the space a larger case offers.

I don’t have any particular budget, but don’t want to waste money of course. Equally I do want to do this right and not overly compromise things just to save a tenner.

Right, my bits:

Case

- Silverstone TJ07, black with large window

GPU Blocks

- EK-FC580 GTX+ EN (Nickel) – for my Palit GTX 570

- EK-FC570 GTX SE EN (Nickel) – for my Inno3D GTX 570

- OR plain copper versions

- Do I need some sort of SLI block for the card to join them? Also, are these blocks serial or parallel flow? I was planning just to make what I needed using compression fittings and tubing...though I'm unsure if spacing will make this tricky or not.

CPU Block

- XSPC Rasa, this was recommended to me, though I don't know much about it

Pump

- DDC Ultra 18w (Pump top needed?) *

- I think my loop will not be that restrictive, limited to three blocks as it is. So a higher-flow rather than higher pressure (less flow) pump might be needed

* Pump tops, do they just change flow or does it include changing the impellor as well?

Reservoir

- Really not sure, I had originally thought bay res, but this will spoil the look of the front of the case in my view. I like the cylindrical reservoirs but I'm not sure how easy to mount they are and if further case drilling might be needed.

Radiator

- 480mm, as thick as I can go with push/pull fans – this will be fitted in the base

- 360mm – (EK-Coolstrem RAD XT 360) I already have this, will only add in if single 480 in base can’t do the job. If this is the case I will likely go dual-loop with the 360 managing the CPU. I know I’ll need to mod the case slightly to fit a 360 in the top if needed. *

* Note: I like the idea of dual loop to use two different colours of Mayhem Aurora/+

Fans

- Recommend me some

I’ve been using Alpenfohn Wing Boosts quite happily so far. Ideally I'd like a fairly quiet PC, but cooling is of course important. Fan choice is HUGE!

Tubing

- XSPC ½” ID, ¾” OD clear tubing throughout

Fittings

- lots of each, spares are good

- Provider-wise I'm not sure though bitspower/alphacool have been recommended.

- Compression fittings for ½” ID, ¾” OD

- 90 degree rotary of the above

- 45 degree rotary of the above

Coolant

- a Mayhem pre-mix to start with, hopefully Aurora/+ once I’m happy with loop.



Things to consider:

- Are there any bits I've missed? I.e. things I need to plumb everything up? I assume a pump comes with what you need, as does a reservoir etc.

- Filing the system, should I include some sort of t-piece I can run to a funnel for easy filling?

- What about these fittings that let you remove parts of a loop leak free? I.e. when you unplug them they self-seal like those garden hose attachments? Don't know what they're called.

Note: I wanted to experiment with parallel flow for my GPU cooling, having read up a fair bit on this lately and being impressed with the results people are achieving. Obiviously if I go single loop the CPU will be part of this, but ultimately I may go dual loop - in part for the fun of the build as well as better cooling. Stage one as a single loop with just the 480 is likely the way I will go initially - if this proves to work well then I'll leave it there...for the time being

This is my first proper attempt to pull together a list of parts, I hope to refine it as I get feedback. I did suffer from a bit of information overload when I first started spec'ing up bits I admit

Cheers,

Scoob.

 

[sheroo]

Looks like you've done a tonne of research there Scoob. I'd also be interested to learn about the pumps and different tops etc. Hopefully some water cooling guru will give you some answers.

 

[ruthless_villain]

i'd pm mayhem or ttl tbh mate thems are the biggest watercoolers on this site i think... just reading all this confused me

but i have heard that xcspc tubing is crapola and i think scythe gentle typhoons make good rad fans

and i believe these are what you are talking about http://www.tekheads.co.uk/product/K...e-For-ID:-13mm-12in;-OD:-19mm-34in_34108.html

oh and if you buy your case from ST they come premodded for a 360 in the roof

 

[SieB]

GPU Blocks

You can use one of THESE or you can use compression fittings and and tubing.



Not sure about the whole parallel vs series though but there is a thread about it on ST at the moment so you will more than likely get your answer there.

CPU Block

The RASA and the EK Supreme HF are two of the best CPU water blocks the EK is more restrictive than the RASA though.

Fans



Fans with high static pressure are better than fans with just pure high CFM because once the fans start blowing through the RAD air flow is reduced so a high static pressure would help forcing the air through the RAD.

The most recommended are the Scythe Gental Typhoons but other good fans are Akasa Apache , Akasa Venom and xigmatek xlf's.

Tubing

From what I have read the Primochill PrimoFlex Pro LRT is the best tubing, no leeching and no misting with good flexibility.



Fittings

Doesn't really matter what fittings you use, Bitspower ones look nice but they are also expensive.



Things to consider

The pump comes with everything you need apart from fittings same goes for the RES. The top the pump comes with only has certain sized barbs though (can't remember the size) so most people get a different top which allows you to use G14 thread fittings so you can use what ever size tubing with fittings to match. Also I think the other tops give you higher pressure.



For filling the loop you can just use a funnel into the top of the res or if you want you can fit a fill port like one that fits into a case that supports one like the HAF in the Shadow H20 build.

Thats all the info I have learned since I started researching watercooling anyway some people might be able to help you more.

 

[Scoob]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies

Sheroo: Well, I thought I'd been a little lazy not refining things some more. To be honest I got a little confused due to the amount of choice out there lol.

Ruthless: Ok, I'd not heard that about XSPC, thought they were generally well respected. Maybe their tubing is the weak spot. I do remember reading something Mayhem (I think) wrote on how the various tubing reacts to the coolant after a while. Must try to find that.

Thought it a little cheeky PM'ing people, I did PM Natashawow a little while back as she too was looking at the TJ07 case. Got some very useful tips there but don't like to pester.

Cheers for the link! Reckon that's what I was thinking

To be honest I sorta had a break from thinking about this today, though I will continue refining things soon.

Oh, I did see the pre-modded TJ07's available, but it seems quite a price hike considering it's a reletively simple mod (a tip I received

)...I might not actually need that top rad, but can always mod later if required.

Btw, I got those 570's both to 850 core btw...working well! One hit 76c (well, once for less than a second) on air when playing Crysis 2 though..fans were at 70% which is a little louder than I'd like but not too bad.

I will try to do some more research this weekend and start modifying my original post to reflect my changes.

Cheers,

Scoob.

 

[ruthless_villain]

Btw, I got those 570's both to 850 core btw...working well! One hit 76c (well, once for less than a second) on air when playing Crysis 2 though..fans were at 70% which is a little louder than I'd like but not too bad.

Cheers,

Scoob.

glad your enjoying the card, hows the psu?

 

[Scoob]

Hi SieB,

Looks like my earlier post crossed with yours, thanks for the info. Been digging up some of my other notes and a lot of what you say certainly makes sense! I really need to collate things a little better as I have my notes from my aborted 690 II build, a load of general notes and my new stuff lol. Appreciate the information - really want to do this right.

I'm already pretty happy with my understanding of parallel flow and have read up on a couple of builds that use it. One build switched from serial to parallel so the results were a little more measurable...seems that temps are more balanced over two devices (GPUs) so, half way between the hottest and coolest of a serial loop. Adding the CPU into the loop also seems to work well. Cheers for the link, it's added to my list!

I will be re-reading your post tomorrow when I@m more awake

Ruthless: PSU seems to be working well and coping with both an overclocked CPU (4.6) and the two 570's at 850 core...PSU remains cool and quiet.

Cheers,

Scoob.