Watercooling setup - suggest any changes?

[Davva2004]

Hi all,

Planning my first water cooled build, and would be grateful for any suggestions you could make regarding the kit I'm choosing.

Was originally going to go for an XSPC exclusive build, but I've had my mind changed already by some good advice on here.

So: this little lot is to cool a 4770K @ 4.9ghz and dual 290Xs, in a Phanteks Enthoo Primo case.

• Pump / Reservoir: EK DDC 3.2 PWM X-RES 140 Pump & Reservoir Pump Top
• CPU block: EK Supremacy Clean CSQ Universal CPU Waterblock : Copper Plexi
• Radiators: 2 x Alphacool NexXxos XT45 480mm Quad Radiator : Full Copper
• Fans - radiator: 8 x Corsair SP120-LED Purple Quiet Edition fans (when available) – all in push
• Fans - case: 3 x Corsair AF140-LED Purple Quiet Edition fans
• GPU block: 2 x Aquacomputer Kryographics Hawaii for Radeon R9 290X & 290 Acrylic Glass Edition
• GPU backplate: 2 x Aquacomputer Backplate For Kryographics R9 290X/290, Active XCS
• Fittings: Primochill G1/4" Thread Rigid Ghost Compression Fitting for 3/8" ID - 1/2" OD (10-13mm) Rigid Acrylic Tubing : Purple
• Tubing: Primochill Purple 3/8" ID - 1/2" OD (10-13mm) Rigid Acrylic Tube
• Coolant: Feser One Non Conductive UV Cooling Fluid UV Purple

I know the rads are probably complete overkill but I'm going for as silent as possible, running all fans at 7v and the pump being PWM controlled. Plus, I've got a case that can take two 480s so why waste the opportunity!

So, barring changing the rad size which is set in stone, carved in granite, and written in letters of fire six feet high - is there anything on here that I've utterly cocked up?

 

[NeverBackDown]

I would look into diffreent 290x blocks. Those are quite expenive compared to others.

Powercolor already have 290x's with preinstalled EK blocks. Might be looking into?

 

[Davva2004]

Looking on the Specialtech website, the Kryographics 290X blocks are only £3 above the cheapest - the EK FC nickel acetal - and look so much better.

Will definitely look into the preinstalled ones though, saves me a job if it's cheaper than buying the card and block separately - thanks for the heads up!

EDIT: Holy sh!t. £599.99 for the preinstalled card, whereas I'm looking at £399 for the card and £121 for the block and backplate - total price £520. Seeing as I need two, I'm saving £160 by fitting the blocks myself. And I can easily match or beat the preinstalled models overclock speeds myself.

 

[NeverBackDown]

In the US those aqua blocks are $20-$30 more! Lol

Also The powercolor 290x's are a tad more expensive but they will still have a warranty and saves you time. Though make sure the block supports your fittings and such.. i think it was a 3/8 ID and 1/2 OD?

 

[Davva2004]

All my kit is G1/4" so the Primochill fittings will fit on everything.

Sucks that those aqua blocks are more expensive than the run of the mill kit, because from a cosmetic viewpoint they really do stand out as an awesome looking block!

Just to pick your brains - am I right in thinking that a 45mm rad will give better performance with slow fans than a 60mm one? Because I've only chosen 45 as that's the thickest that will fit in the roof with 25mm fans on it (max clearance 70mm) but in the bottom there's room for absolutely any thickness I want - even the huge 80mm Monstas fit in there with push/pull. So is it worth going for a UT60 in the bottom and XT45 in the roof?

 

[NeverBackDown]

60mm thick rads vs a similiar FPI 45mm thick rad= the 60mm coming out on top.

For the roof a 45mm rad would be my choice and if i could fit the 80mm monsta rad i would as well in push/pull(or just pull, but it comes into its own league when in push/pull)

 

[Davva2004]

Yeah I'm tempted by the monsta in push pull but then adding another four fans into the build will generate more noise, and I reckon I'm way overspecced in rad capacity anyway even with just the two 45s. But push pull monsta = enormous epeen. Hmmm.... I'll sleep on it.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Contendo]

Not 100% sure but from the pictures I have seen top fans are mounted on the outside of the case so you can easy use 60mm rad in just pull, maybe even push&pull since the mounts are offset.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Run the fans on 5v. You'll be fine on noise.

 

[Surfie]

Also be aware that noise, particularly below a certain threshold is very subjective. NeverBackDown, is particularly sensitive to noise, or at least is more sensitive to it than I am, since he can hear fans which, to me, are perfectly silent (in fact the only noise I hear from my rig is the low hum of the pump and my fans are maxed out).

I'm not saying disregard what he is saying, just that you can test above the specs that NeverBackDown has stated and see what you think.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Also be aware that noise, particularly below a certain threshold is very subjective. NeverBackDown, is particularly sensitive to noise, or at least is more sensitive to it than I am, since he can hear fans which, to me, are perfectly silent (in fact the only noise I hear from my rig is the low hum of the pump and my fans are maxed out).

I'm not saying disregard what he is saying, just that you can test above the specs that NeverBackDown has stated and see what you think.

The fact i never stated i was sensitive to noise(i am btw) kind of scares me that you know that...:mellow:

 

[Davva2004]

Cheers mate, I'm going to set the pump speed manually to make it as silent as possible but still give good flow, then run all the case and rad fans off a pwm hub controlled by the motherboard. That should give me the best of both worlds.

 

[Surfie]

The fact i never stated i was sensitive to noise(i am btw) kind of scares me that you know that...:mellow:

I've been involved in several threads where you mention that the corsair fans are too loud for your tastes, and I run that very fan, at 12v and still can't hear them (and I know I have good hearing - I have to get it tested every 12 months).

This says that you are more sound sensitive than I am at least, and I know that I'm quite sensitive to it.

Re: using a fan controller, sure that can work. You may need to be a little careful with how low your fans go... my system can only handle my fans at minimum speed under gaming load for about 40 mins before it crashes...

 

[DarthBaggins]

Personally I would go with a different choice in fans, look into GT's quiet and work great. So far the BGears Blasters I have on push pull in mine are quieter than my af140's (quiet ed.) other than that the rest of your setup looks to be a good one.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Personally I would go with a different choice in fans, look into GT's quiet and work great. So far the BGears Blasters I have on push pull in mine are quieter than my af140's (quiet ed.) other than that the rest of your setup looks to be a good one.

I have never tried bgear fans, are they really quiet? Running over 2000rpm to me is most defientely loud. On the plus side though they are cheap.

 

[DarthBaggins]

so far they seem very quiet compared to the stock front case fans on my C70, also I guess I'll be able to better guage their noise level when I put 4 more in with the 240 rad.