Custom Water Cooling Loop Questions

aces19 · Mar 8, 2016

-What parts do I need
-Suggestions for parts under 250$ or so?
-What is a good but cheap workstation CPU for overclocking with this loop? I'm on a budget.

cdabc123 · Mar 8, 2016

why do you need to overclock a workstation? what will you be doing on it?

Spectre694 · Mar 8, 2016

If you have a strict budget then go air it'll be cheaper. Proper watercooling is fairly expensive to get started in.

aces19 · Mar 8, 2016

Spectre694 :

My budget isn't that strict. Its actually pretty flexible, I could go to like 350$ on a custom loop if that is required. What are some parts you would recommend? I want to go hardline tubing, but I feel that might not be a good idea.

Spectre694 · Mar 8, 2016

aces19 :

Well in that case my favorites are:

CPU: Swiftech Apogee XL
GPU: EKWB
RAD: XSPC or EKWB
PUMP: DDC or D5
RES: can be pump top, bay mounted doesn't matter too much
Tube: tygon or XSPC for flex. Rigid although it looks fantastic takes some practice to do. So you may watch some videos or something first on that one to see if you want to try it.
Fittings: compression or barb for flex. Compression only for Rigid. brand doesn't matter too much on these.
Coolant: distilled water and PTnuke/Kill coil are the best performance and maintenance wise. Colored tubing is better than colored coolant.
Fans: look around for the latest reviews. New fans come and old fans disappear all the time.

EKWB, swiftech, and XSPC all have kits available too. If that is more your style. The kits should have a CPU block, RAD, fan, fittings, tubing, a pump and coolant everything you need to get up and going with a CPU loop. Honestly not a bad way to start as you don't have to wonder if you got everything you need. Bit more though.

EKWB and XSPC are made up of their off the shelf parts. Swiftechs is closer to an AiO that can be expanded.

aces19 · Mar 8, 2016

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

Well in that case my favorites are:

CPU: Swiftech Apogee XL
GPU: EKWB
RAD: XSPC or EKWB
PUMP: DDC or D5
RES: can be pump top, bay mounted doesn't matter too much
Tube: tygon or XSPC for flex. Rigid although it looks fantastic takes some practice to do. So you may watch some videos or something first on that one to see if you want to try it.
Fittings: compression or barb for flex. Compression only for Rigid. brand doesn't matter too much on these.
Coolant: distilled water and PTnuke/Kill coil are the best performance and maintenance wise. Colored tubing is better than colored coolant.
Fans: look around for the latest reviews. New fans come and old fans disappear all the time.

EKWB, swiftech, and XSPC all have kits available too. If that is more your style. The kits should have a CPU block, RAD, fan, fittings, tubing, a pump and coolant everything you need to get up and going with a CPU loop. Honestly not a bad way to start as you don't have to wonder if you got everything you need. Bit more though.

EKWB and XSPC are made up of their off the shelf parts. Swiftechs is closer to an AiO that can be expanded.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Just a quick request. I have a very flexible budget and want to go for pink tubing and a pink theme. Suggestions for that?

Spectre694 · Mar 8, 2016

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Just a quick request. I have a very flexible budget and want to go for pink tubing and a pink theme. Suggestions for that?

It actually appears that you are in luck

PrimoChill has pink Rigid
Masterkleer has pink flex
And a pink res
Some sort of pink rad insert

aces19 · Mar 8, 2016

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Just a quick request. I have a very flexible budget and want to go for pink tubing and a pink theme. Suggestions for that?

It actually appears that you are in luck

PrimoChill has pink Rigid
Masterkleer has pink flex
And a pink res
Some sort of pink rad insert

Hm, it seems the pink rigid tubing isn't actually pink according to reviews. Any other rigid tubing suggestions?

Spectre694 · Mar 8, 2016

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

It actually appears that you are in luck

PrimoChill has pink Rigid
Masterkleer has pink flex
And a pink res
Some sort of pink rad insert

Hm, it seems the pink rigid tubing isn't actually pink according to reviews. Any other rigid tubing suggestions?

No that seems to be the only pink rigid. You could use a dye like mayhems. Careful though that stuff will eventually stain the tubing and you will want to increase maintenance to every 6 months or less

Stay away from "pastel" dyes though unless you realy like to clean they drop out and plug your blocks pretty quickly or at least the older ones did. 3 months max

aces19 · Mar 8, 2016

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

Hm, it seems the pink rigid tubing isn't actually pink according to reviews. Any other rigid tubing suggestions?

No that seems to be the only pink rigid. You could use a dye like mayhems. Careful though that stuff will eventually stain the tubing and you will want to increase maintenance to every 6 months or less

Stay away from "pastel" dyes though unless you realy like to clean they drop out and plug your blocks pretty quickly or at least the older ones did. 3 months max

My big thing: would you recommend it?

Spectre694 · Mar 8, 2016

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

My big thing: would you recommend it?

Well I'm not against but you should be aware of what you need to do.
Maintenance = replace water, flush rads and clean out water blocks (take them apart make sure nothing is in them etc.)

Distilled water and PTnuke = 1yr between maintenance.
Water and Dye/ most coolants = 6 months between maintenance
"Pastel dyes" = 3 months MAX (admittedly newer ones may last a little longer)

Check temps periodically as well if they shoot up for no reason either your pump went out or a block is clogged.

My first choice is always Distilled, PT Nuke and colored tubing. However, that isn't always possible for a certain look and, that's when dyes come into play. So long as you increase the maintenance they work just fine.

Disclaimer: These are my personal rules of thumb you may find they don't work for you.

aces19 · Mar 9, 2016

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

Well I'm not against but you should be aware of what you need to do.
Maintenance = replace water, flush rads and clean out water blocks (take them apart make sure nothing is in them etc.)

Distilled water and PTnuke = 1yr between maintenance.
Water and Dye/ most coolants = 6 months between maintenance
"Pastel dyes" = 3 months MAX (admittedly newer ones may last a little longer)

Check temps periodically as well if they shoot up for no reason either your pump went out or a block is clogged.

My first choice is always Distilled, PT Nuke and colored tubing. However, that isn't always possible for a certain look and, that's when dyes come into play. So long as you increase the maintenance they work just fine.

Disclaimer: These are my personal rules of thumb you may find they don't work for you.

Well thank you. Just one question, sorry for so many: how would I dye tubing? Could I buy clear tubing and dye it pink?

Spectre694 · Mar 9, 2016

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

Well I'm not against but you should be aware of what you need to do.
Maintenance = replace water, flush rads and clean out water blocks (take them apart make sure nothing is in them etc.)

Distilled water and PTnuke = 1yr between maintenance.
Water and Dye/ most coolants = 6 months between maintenance
"Pastel dyes" = 3 months MAX (admittedly newer ones may last a little longer)

Check temps periodically as well if they shoot up for no reason either your pump went out or a block is clogged.

My first choice is always Distilled, PT Nuke and colored tubing. However, that isn't always possible for a certain look and, that's when dyes come into play. So long as you increase the maintenance they work just fine.

Disclaimer: These are my personal rules of thumb you may find they don't work for you.

Well thank you. Just one question, sorry for so many: how would I dye tubing? Could I buy clear tubing and dye it pink?

Ahh no the dye is for the water. You will get clear tubing and then run with the water colored.
By dye the tubing I meant that after a while the tubing will get stained by the dye. Means if you change colors you may have to get new tubing depending on how bad they are stained.

aces19 · Mar 9, 2016

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

aces19 :

Well I'm not against but you should be aware of what you need to do.
Maintenance = replace water, flush rads and clean out water blocks (take them apart make sure nothing is in them etc.)

Distilled water and PTnuke = 1yr between maintenance.
Water and Dye/ most coolants = 6 months between maintenance
"Pastel dyes" = 3 months MAX (admittedly newer ones may last a little longer)

Check temps periodically as well if they shoot up for no reason either your pump went out or a block is clogged.

My first choice is always Distilled, PT Nuke and colored tubing. However, that isn't always possible for a certain look and, that's when dyes come into play. So long as you increase the maintenance they work just fine.

Disclaimer: These are my personal rules of thumb you may find they don't work for you.

Well thank you. Just one question, sorry for so many: how would I dye tubing? Could I buy clear tubing and dye it pink?

Ahh no the dye is for the water. You will get clear tubing and then run with the water colored.
By dye the tubing I meant that after a while the tubing will get stained by the dye. Means if you change colors you may have to get new tubing depending on how bad they are stained.

Well thank you. Sorry I'm asking so many questions, but I decided to actually go with white. I found some PrimoChill white tubing, I should be good with that, right?

aces19 · Mar 9, 2016

I'd just like a water cooling loop themed full white.

Spectre694 · Mar 9, 2016

aces19 :

Ya that primochill will work just fine for white. Don't forget the heatgun you will need that to bend rigid tubing.

There are plenty of white parts out there far more than pink ones

aces19 · Mar 9, 2016

Spectre694 :

Hey sorry to ask so much. Thanks for all the suggestions, could you just put together a master part list with price together for me?

That's it, I promise

Spectre694 · Mar 10, 2016

aces19 :

Spectre694 :

Hey sorry to ask so much. Thanks for all the suggestions, could you just put together a master part list with price together for me?

That's it, I promise

Ya let me see what I can come up with.

Spectre694 · Mar 10, 2016

CPU
Rad
RES
Pump
Tube You can use PETG or Acrylic or clear with dye up to you.
Fittings I think you will actually need 6
Fan Need two or 4

Pretty sure I remembered everything though you will still need something to cut the tubing/chamber the edges and a heat gun to bend. This was just a quick list you may find stuff you like better or cheaper etc. Don't forget a biocide if you go distilled some coolants have it in them already though if you go that route.
Look around on http://www.frozencpu.com/ and http://www.performance-pcs.com/

Custom Water Cooling Loop Questions

Reputable

Honorable

Dignified

Reputable

Dignified

Reputable

Dignified

Reputable

Dignified

Reputable

Dignified

Reputable

Dignified

Reputable

Reputable

Dignified

Reputable

Dignified

Dignified

Share this page