Thinking about a Custom Loop water cooler.

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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Hello Everyone,

I am thinking of going for a custom loop water cooler. I prefer to get out as cheap as possible. I know there are much more expensive parts, though I don't really know how much better they are. I have never built a custom loop before so I don't know what else I need for sure. Here is what I am thinking so far:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17480/ex-blc-1345/EK_Supreme_LTX_Intel_CPU_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_Acrylic_CSQ_EK-Supreme_LTX_CSQ.html?tl=g30c325s1118#blank
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14327/ex-rad-315/XSPC_EX240_Dual_120mm_Low_Profile_Split_Fin_Radiator.html?tl=g30c95s160
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/15237/ex-tub-1211/Alphacool_G14_Thread_38_10mm_ID_FatBoy_Barb_-_Copper.html?tl=g30c407s1029

I know I need tubing, pump, liquid, and thermal paste. Is there anything else I need?

I think the tubing is simple enough I can pick out without help, and I know thermal paste. For the pump and liquid I am at a loss though. I have no idea what would be best to get and what would work well from the choices.

Any expert opinions would be greatly appreciated. If you have an idea for a better build which is not too much more than this would end up being I would be happy to hear it. This doesn't look to be too much more expensive than an expensive Closed-Loop cooler so I thought it would be best to go this way.


One more thing. I realize this is probably looking to be around $200 probably. I would prefer to get out as low as possible, but I think $200 will be about my limit for what I want to spend. So if you have other ideas please try to keep it under that.
 
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Deuce65

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The water block is good. The supremacy is better (and a lot easier to install), but is 20 dollars or so more.
The radiator is bad. Alphacool is better. They make a 30mm one like that one, or if you can, get the 45.
You don't have a pump or a res. While a res isn't absolutely necessary it makes your life a lot easier; a pump of course is mandatory.
Tubing you said you will do yourself; fluid you just need distilled water from a drug store or whatever.
Anyways, 200 is kind of pushing it, considering a quality pump will eat up half your budget.
 
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saint19

saint19

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Hi and welcome to Tom's forum.

Block and radiator seems perfect but I would suggest you change that bar for compression fittings that are more "secure" and easy to install. I use some of those in my loop: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10037/ex-tub-606/Bitspower_G14_Thread_12_ID_x_34_OD_Compression_Fitting_-_Matte_Black_BP-MBCPF-CC5.html?tl=g30c409s1609

You maybe also need a reservoir, I use this one: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11220/ex-res-233/XSPC_Tank_Reservoir_-_Laing_D5_MCP655_w_Blue_LED_Light_-_Acrylic.html

For pump I have this: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16737/ex-pmp-203/Swiftech_MCP655_Variable_Speed_12v_Water_Pump_w_G14_Thread_Ports_Perfectly_Tapped.html?tl=g30c107s153

Tubing maybe you want take a look of this: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17892/ex-tub-1626/PrimoChill_PrimoFlex_Advanced_LRT_Tubing_12ID_x_34_OD_-_10ft_Retail_Pack_-_Onyx_Black_PFLEXA10-34-BK_w_Free_Sys_Prep.html?tl=g30c99s1614

Thermal paste could be something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

For liquid, you can use distiller water and you also need use one of this: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11441/ex-tub-705/IandH_Silver_KillCoils_-_Antimicrobial_999_Fine_Silver_Tubing_Reservoir_Strip.html for avoid contamination in your reservoir and loop.

Except for block and radiator, I give you the same components that I use in my loop. I know, that cost much more that $200 USD but if you want a good loop with great performance, you need spend a little more.
 
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nikoli707

nikoli707

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xspc radiators are no bad at all but dont get the ex series. their rx and then ax are very good. also im going to assume you have a decent sized case and you should at the very least do a 240mm rad. the xspc ax240 kit with a d5 variant pump will work just fine. its quietier than a noctua, phanteks, hyper212, and vastly superior at cooling. it really depends on what you want, high noise and high performance or quiet and good performance. if you are going to cool a gpu also then you will need another setup or a much bigger setup. i like xspc's version of the d5 variant pump/res because 2 of them can be mounted in most cases up front where the drives are which saves room. mounting the second 240mm rad is another story though. but almost every case has enough room up top for a 240mm rad.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Sorry for my slow reply. Thanks everyone for your helpful insights.

@saint19: It helps to get a good look at what a good custom cooler would look like, but unfortunately its out of my price range. I'm a college student and i'm probably leaving the country for a month soon so nearly all my extra cash is going into that. I think maybe this will all cost a bit more than I was thinking and I will need to wait till the end of the year to build it, or just go with a good closed-loop cooler.

@nikoli707: I have an Apevia DreamerX4 case. Its pretty big. It came with tons of 120mm fans on it. I planned to remove the top two fans giving me an area of 120mmx240mm to use, and then mount the fans on the radiator. Not sure if that is the same size as a 240mm radiator. I know all about parts, but I've never dug much into cooling so I am not sure.


Since this is seeming a bit too expensive for the moment, does anyone think maybe I should just get a closed-loop cooler or just wait? I only need to cool my CPU better. My GPUs could use a little better cooling I think, but I plan to buy Coolabrotories Liquid Pro for the CPU, and plan to apply it to the GPUs also, and I haven't increased their fan speeds at all past default so I am not so worried about them. So maybe closed-loop will work for me.
 
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Amangoel23

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According to your specs you have a radeon 7850 and a i7-3770k.Now correct me,with that extra 200$ wouldn't you be able to get better gpu by selling your previous gpu which will net you even more significant boost? Or are you looking to boast about your e-peen about having a liquid cooling.Personally I think custom liquid cooling is only required when you have the top of the notch cpu and gpus but as it seems your gpu seems a bit lack luster.Now I may be wrong and you might need that extra cpu power but really,is a 20-30% boost in cpu really worth the 200$ when you can just buy a even better component with that same money which will net you more performance increase.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Yes that is close, I have an i7-3770k and two Radeon 7850s in crossfire. I could sell them both and probably get around $100 each. I have been thinking about selling one of them though, cause in Shogun II I get worse performance in Crossfire, and that the game which pushed me to buy a second 7850. I've overclocked the 7850 as high as 1150mhz without boosting voltage so far and it gets max settings on a lot of games so I am pretty happy with it. I mostly am wanting better cooling cause at current I am overclocked to about 4.3Ghz and hit 85C. Which worries me. I would like to get the clock higher, but my main reason for wanting better cooling is to keep the CPU running healthy for longer.

I do see your point though, I might go for a much cheaper cooler, like a $50 closed loop, sell off the two GPUs and then have around $300 for a new GPU. I'm not to that point quite yet but it is an interesting idea I will consider.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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This is the cooler I have at the moment.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200056

I'm not 100% sure what my idle temps are, I don't watch them that closely, but at load with default voltage, 103Mhz FSB, and max turbo of 42 my temps under IntelBurnTest sit from 80-85C. I tried to take the turbo multiplier up to 43, which required a touch more voltage and I got the test running with a small +.010v offset, but then I quickly hit 90C and it slowly builds if I let it continue. I didn't give it another moment when it hit 92C.

I ordered some Coollabrotories Liquid Pro last night since my laptop is having an issue overheating also so I need to apply it to a few things. I might get deliding my CPU a try since I've heard that easily makes a difference of 10C if not more, but I do think I need a better cooler.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Yea I know its not much. I got it forever ago when I just had an i3. I think its a lot better suited for AMD though since they have mid-range CPUs that can be overclocked. It doesn't seem to be able to take the high end CPUs.

I will add it to the consideration. I was also looking at a few Closed-loop coolers, too many to link but in general do you think a $100 closed loop cooler would perform good enough to justify the cost increase? Or would you just go with a good Hyper 212.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Thanks everyone again for your time. I am going to go with an air cooler. I've cut it down to 3 options really. The PH-TC12DX at $50 (Or $50 for Red Amazon), the Noctua NH-D14 at $74 (Amazon), and the Phanteks PH-TC14PE at $80.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709018
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709021
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709011

I'm a little more partial to the PH-TC12DX cause its got a good price gap. Any idea how much better the Noctua or PH-TC14PE will do? Are they worth the extra $15-$20?
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Phanteks/PH-TC12DX/6.html

I also found this. So going by these, the Noctua is out cause the PH-TC12DX beats it. I will have to sit and think for a while between the other two. 6C is a pretty good difference, but the price gap is pretty big too. Touch choice.

Still thanks everyone for your help. I really appreciate it. I would pick a best solution now, but all of you have been so helpful I am really not sure who to pick.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Alright so last question, just to make sure I am seeing all of this completely right before purchasing.

I had decided on the PH-TC12DX, but worried about RAM clearance and 6C is pretty significant enough that I changed my mind and decided to go with the bigger PH-TC14PE. Wanting to be completely certain I double checked the closed-loop water coolers on Newegg and found that the Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme is selling after rebate for $10 more. I figured if I am willing to go from $50 to $80, for $10 more this is probably better. I tried to find some reviews, but they look like it will actually perform WORSE than the PH-TC14PE.

Its an indirect comparison, couldn't find a review with both, so I compared it relative to the Corsair H100.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6984/thermaltake-water-30-closed-loop-cooler-roundup/3
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Phanteks/PH-TC14PE/6.html

Please someone double check and confirm this for me encase I am reading it wrong.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Nevermind, upon closer inspection I found that the larger PH-TC14PE will not even fit my case. In fact, I only have a few milimeters of space between the case siding and the area the PH-TC12DX will end. I don't think the water cooler will do a better job given the reviews I posted earlier, so I will stay with the TC12DX like I thought originally. Thanks again for everyones help.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Apevia X Dreamer 4
http://apevia.com/products_level3.asp?CID=1&CID2=1&CID3=20

but I'm sure about it. Phanteks is good enough to list exact measurements on their website, and I just measured the case. I plan to get the blue Phanteks PE12DX. Hopefully they get one in stock soon though or else I'll just go red. I'm a little worried they are stopping production on them cause every website is sold out of them in Blue and Black.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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saint19

saint19

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The web page do not say that directly, but listed the measures of the case. The important part in this case is the "Wide", for your case says that is 7.75" o, I change that to 7.50" because the motherboard and side panel use a little of that space.
 
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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Ohh well it also has about 1CM more or less of space behind where the motherboard is mounted for cable management. Super helpful, though my back of the case is exploding off cause I try to run everything through it lol. Then also the case fan sticks out about 5mm at least and eats up space, so its cutting it a little close. I do kind of want the bigger one, but its just not worth the risk of it not fitting to me along with other issues. I really appreciate your time and help though.
 
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