Need advice for first time water cooling

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pb7280

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Hello, I'm planning on adding water cooling to my system. For now I only want to water cool my GPU, but I want expandability to add a CPU block and maybe a second GPU block.
My current system is:
Intel Core i5 2500K
ASUS AMD 5870 1GB
NZXT Phantom 410 case
Corsair 750tx PSU
ASUS P8Z68 PRO
8GB DDR3 1600MHz

Looking around, I've noticed some appealing all in one solutions (most notably NZXT's Kraken 60x and G10 combo) but I want a custom system for its expandability and better aesthetics.
Supposedly this case was built to house a 240mm radiator on the top, with two fans pushing from underneath (on opposite sides of the metal). I don't think a radiator thicker than 30mm would fit though. I also want a pump/reservoir bay drive combo. I'm not sure what pumps I need for what system, but would a single pump work well enough for the 240mm radiator and GPU block?
If I add a CPU block, I'm sure I need two pumps. So are there bay drive reservoirs that come with one pump with room for a second later on? I can also add a 140mm radiator to the back or bottom when that time comes.
Basically what pieces will be good for this setup? I have no idea where to start for GPU blocks, but some of the parts I've looked at for other spots are:

Alphacool Single bay 5.25" drive with one Alphacool DC-LT pump (also has room for another one)
Alphacool NexXxos ST30 Slim radiator (240mm)
And the EK Ekoolant UV Blue (I like blue things inside my computer)

Also thinking of going with 1/4" tubing. Like I said I'm not sure if these parts are good quality/will last, but the reviews I find aren't very descriptive. Of course other parts look much more intense but since I'm only cooling my GPU for now and will buy better parts later, I don't want to spend more than 200$. That's why the NZXT G10 with the Kraken 60X was so appealing, nice and cheap.
Anyways thanks for any help!
 
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Personally, I would save the money of water cooling, and do a GPU upgrade, I don't think it is worth it to buy a ~$75 water block for a card that is equivalent to a R7 260X. You are much better off with the GPU upgrade, and saving your money.

If you do end up doing this I would recommend blue tubing and distilled water, the pre-colored stuff usually gets gunky.
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TheRealShoe

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Personally, I would save the money of water cooling, and do a GPU upgrade, I don't think it is worth it to buy a ~$75 water block for a card that is equivalent to a R7 260X. You are much better off with the GPU upgrade, and saving your money.

If you do end up doing this I would recommend blue tubing and distilled water, the pre-colored stuff usually gets gunky.
 
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pb7280

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I thought about doing that at first, but a 290X is out of my price range right now. I'll wait until the summer before buying a new GPU and finishing the water cooling.
The reason I want it right now at least for my 5870 is because I'm living in residence and I have to keep the volume way down while gaming, and the fan is crazy loud. I hate headphones, and also I've really wanted to always get liquid cooling. The overclocking is a bonus of course. I can really only spend around 200$ now but I was sure that there are GPU blocks that are universal that I can use on a new card when I do upgrade? The G10 from NZXT works with 24 different cards apparently, including my 5870 and the 290X.
Thanks on the distilled water tip though, it does sound like a better solution.
 
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toolmaker_03

toolmaker_03

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Ok let’s Be real here a good kit that can handle this build will have a 360mm rad and D5 pump that will cost about $250 and it has a CPU block with it already, so adding a GPU block to that will be another $150 so $400 total for a system that can handle what you are looking to do, but as for adding another GPU to that later lets cross that road when it occurs.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/20838/ex-wat-262/XSPC_Raystorm_AX360_Universal_CPU_Water_Cooling_Kit_w_D5_Variant_Pump_Included_and_Free_Dead-Water.html?tl=g30c83s137

 
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pb7280

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Well that's basically what I want to have by the end, but I don't need to have my CPU cooled right now. What you just linked, minus 120mm of radiator, change the CPU block for a GPU block, and that's perfect. Problem is I can't find any "catch all" bundles with a GPU block instead of CPU, so I need to make my own. Of course adding a CPU block will require more radiator space, but I'll look at that later on. I'm perfectly fine with having stock cooling on my CPU for the time being as it does everything I need it to do at low air speeds without overclocking, but my aim is to do it in a couple months time.
 
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toolmaker_03

toolmaker_03

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Then I would wait until I could afford to do it all.





Building a full custom loop is not going to be cheaper it will cost more to build than a kit would.





Even when trying to make a cheaper build, it still cost me $500 to complete this build.
 
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