Watercooling Loop for my Gaming/Streaming Build!

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Brandon Robinson

Brandon Robinson

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Jul 25, 2014
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Greetings friends!

I recently built my first gaming/streaming machine for a Twitch stream that I run with my wife and I've been looking into making a watercooling loop! After doing a few weeks of delving into forums and online shops for parts I've put together a very crude loop drawing (VERY CRUDE) and would like to get some insight as to what parts (tubing, pump, res, rads, waterblocks and fittings) to purchase! It's difficult to get non-biased and objective reviews on parts because all of the forums and shops I browse have very conflicting information on brands. Feel free to recommend any number of parts and/or configuration changes!

Thanks in advance for any advice! =)
-Brandon

Here's a link to pictures I drafted!

http://imgur.com/a/VCmxn

Here's a link to my build config/parts!

http://pcpartpicker.com/b/4rD8TW
 
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Jake Fister
Well, I mean you can't really have too many radiators. If you plan on adding more to the loop then yeah go ahead and keep them both. Especially if you're not worried about cost. My tubing is a 3/8-5/8. I wanted the thicker wall cuz... Well idk, cuz I like the thicker walls I guess haha it doesn't really matter. Just make sure none of your components holes for the fittings are too close to accommodate them for the selected tubing size you have.

As for the order of components, pump always goes after the radiator, other than that, it's just whatever is convenient for you.

This is a pic of my build (before I cleaned up those ugly wires) and the front res. I like it in the front cuz it looks really neat when the coolant is sloshing around...
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Jake Fister

Jake Fister

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You probably only need that 60mm rad in there since you're only cooling two components. Staggering them doesn't make a difference either. The water temp change is incredibly slight because of the high flow rate.
 
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Jake Fister

Jake Fister

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I would recommend, however, the new EKWB Supremacy EVO CPU block, and whatever full card block they make for that video card. I like getting the widest ID tubing as possible so as not to lose pressure head (although it doesn't really make that much of a difference). The DDC pump with EK Performance top is great and SUPER QUIET. Fittings are mostly just preference. I have the black EK compression fittings on my stuff with a couple BitFenix rotary elbows throw in there for the tough angles. I only use one dual 120mm EK PE Coolstream rad (about 40mm thick) to cool both my CPU and GPU. My CPU doesn't even get into the 40s on the loop so I run the coolant by that first, then my GPU to keep the temp difference between the component and the coolant as wide as possible (this makes sure you get the maximum heat transfer rate).

Ek makes so good stuff. I used Mayhems Pastel Orange coolant, Primochill tubing, and an XSPC front single bay res to get that neat visual on the front.

You would be fine with just the 60mm dual rad though.
 
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Jake Fister

Jake Fister

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Would also recommend getting some Blade Masters as opposed to those Corsair fans. They're literally better in every way and are less expensive. Got 4 on my radiator in push pull and it moves some serious air through that thing.
 
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Brandon Robinson

Brandon Robinson

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Jul 25, 2014
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Cool man! Thanks a bunch for the info! I was thinking about doing a bay reservoir as well... How do you like the XSPC one? Also, what thickness of ID/OD is your tubing? I was looking at doing 3/8 ID 1/2 OD but I would love more feedback lol In reference to the dual rads in my config, I want to eventually put a second GTX 770 in SLI with my current one so I wanted to make sure that I had enough cooling potential to support them. Do you think a 240mm X 120mm x 60mm and a 360mm x 120mm x 30mm is overkill? I suppose I can always go with a 40-45mm rad in the front to make it less crazy lol
ALso, thanks for the advice on the config order, I wasn't sure if it made a big difference to have your componentes staggered with the radiators or if it didn't matter. I'll probably revise the image to make the front radiator go to the top radiator and then to the CPU and GPU back to the res and pump.

Thanks again for all of the advice! It's helped alot!
-Brandon
 
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Jake Fister

Jake Fister

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Jun 4, 2014
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Well, I mean you can't really have too many radiators. If you plan on adding more to the loop then yeah go ahead and keep them both. Especially if you're not worried about cost. My tubing is a 3/8-5/8. I wanted the thicker wall cuz... Well idk, cuz I like the thicker walls I guess haha it doesn't really matter. Just make sure none of your components holes for the fittings are too close to accommodate them for the selected tubing size you have.

As for the order of components, pump always goes after the radiator, other than that, it's just whatever is convenient for you.

This is a pic of my build (before I cleaned up those ugly wires) and the front res. I like it in the front cuz it looks really neat when the coolant is sloshing around in there and you don't have to look in the side to see it.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/6hxe2daxu98op97/PhotoGrid_743916234_jpg.jpg
 
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