Recommendations for best water cooling components

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Dragonarmy

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Hi, I need recommendations for water cooling components. I want to cool my Intel I7-6950x CPU and my 4 Nvidia Titan XP GPU's. My case is a Caselabs Magnum SMA8. I need recommendations for all the components except for the fans. I am going to use Noctua NF-A14IPPC 3000 PWM and the NF-F12 IPPC 3000 PWM. Price, liquid restriction and air restriction is not an issue, the only considering factor is thermal performance. I can fit 2 560 80mm radiator and one 240 80mm. I am going to list the comments I need, if I have specified a certain part it means that I prefer that one due to design, but I am more than willing to replace it for better performance:

Fan Controller: Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 XT
CPU Cooler: Aquacomputer Cuplex Kyros NEXT Vario with Vison
4 GPU Coolers for Titan XP
4 way SLI bridge
2 560 80mm radiators
1 240 80mm radiator
Reservoir: Aquacomputer Aqualis XT 880 ml (I like the fountain design)
1 or 2 D5 Pumps ( it would be nice for the pumps to have PWM so I can control the flow rate with my fan controller.)

Any company is fine but I would prefer if they were German products made in Germany like Aquacomputer or Alphacool. Also, will a 1600 Watt PSU be able to run all of this? I could install a second PSU if needed. Thx!
 
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n0ns3ns3
Nice pick on the CPU block.
For GPU blocks, EK's is very good option (slim and excellent performers), they also make the widest variety of terminals.
for the radiators, look at HWLabs and Alphacool. I personally prefer the XFlow as they are less restrictive and have more convenient to bleed/fill and tubing routing. Thickness is not really important, just pick the one that will fit (including 25mm fans).
for such a setup, i'd recommend doing 2 separate loops:
1. CPU + 240 rad + D5.
2. GPUs + 2xD5 pumps + 2x560 rads.
For such project, have a look at Singularity computers D5 mounts. I'd recommend to go with their pump tops as well. Check out their videos, it is boring and the guy clearly has an OCD, but he does excellent work (except using...
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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May 25, 2016
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Nice pick on the CPU block.
For GPU blocks, EK's is very good option (slim and excellent performers), they also make the widest variety of terminals.
for the radiators, look at HWLabs and Alphacool. I personally prefer the XFlow as they are less restrictive and have more convenient to bleed/fill and tubing routing. Thickness is not really important, just pick the one that will fit (including 25mm fans).
for such a setup, i'd recommend doing 2 separate loops:
1. CPU + 240 rad + D5.
2. GPUs + 2xD5 pumps + 2x560 rads.
For such project, have a look at Singularity computers D5 mounts. I'd recommend to go with their pump tops as well. Check out their videos, it is boring and the guy clearly has an OCD, but he does excellent work (except using to much fittings/adapters and corsair's crappy SP fans).
The D5 pump is a D5 regardless of the company selling them. Most of them come from the same factory. Lowara is in fact manufacturing non PWM D5.
The PWM might be slightly different between different brands. For example Alphacool sells one that has both dial control (which limits max RPM) and PWM to operate within the limit set by dial. you don't really need the PWM pumps, but if you want to, you can go with them.
3000RPM fans are overkill - 2000 version is more than enough. I'm using them in very harsh environment. 2 days ago I tested my loop in 40C ambient at full synthetic load on CPU + GPU and it was holding fine. I have just a bit less power hungry components, but they are in mini ITX, power modded and overcklocked to max.

1600Watt of a good PSU (something on Corsair AX level) should be sufficient.
If you have more questions, feel free to post.
 
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Dragonarmy

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Hi n0ns3ns3! Thank you for your answer! I do have a few questions:
1. I would like to know the performance difference between the EK-FC Titan X Pascal-Nickel GPU and the Aquacomputer Kryographics. Because I have read that Aquacomputer made the best GPU water blocks before (though the only terminals that aquacomputer sells that I can use is the 7 slot one).

2. Tutorials and Reviews like Jaystwocents recommend get the thickest radiator one can fit. Not in this case, is it?

3. If not, Which one would you recommend for the 560 or 480 rad: Aquacomputer airplex modularity system copper 480 or Hardware Labs Black Ice GTX 560?

4. Is it possible to do one single loop? My original plan was to run from the reservoir to the first pump, front 240 rad, bottom 560 rad, second pump, GPU water blocks, CPU water block, top 560 rad, reservoir. Would it work? If two pumps is not enough, than I will forget the single pumps and get three Aquacomputer airplex modularity system copper with D5 pumps integrated.

6. Thanks for pointing it out, but I choose the 3000RPM fans because they were overkill. I decided if I am going to build an overkill system, I will go to the extreme limit that I can reach.

7. Should I water cool my MOBO? It does seem like a nice option but I do not want to lose the RGB lighting on my MOBO. Is it worth it?

Thanks again!
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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Hey,
1. I can't tell you the performance difference as I have no experience with Aquacomputer Kryographics. what i can tell is that compared to Bykski, it's about 5-7C - that's a lot for liquid cooled GPU. Another thing is that it seems that it seems like EK FC are slimmer and probably lighter. More terminals choice = easy life.
2.Jay is nice guy, my system was inspired by his Nano S build. but i caught him saying BS few times. Especially on fans side and he is kinda very biased towards EK. Even him says that surface is more important and thickness adds just a bit more performance, but comes at the price of higher RPM on fans - I like things quiet and you have more than enough surface for both cool and quite with 30mm rads. it will be just cleaner with slimmer rads.
3. I have both HWlabs Black Ice Nemesis GTS and alphacool nexxxos st30 (both XFlow) as well as few older Swiftech's rads. They were chosen on performance/flow restriction basis.
Black Ice looks amazing, the finish is simply awesome. Alphacool is a bit more narrow (important for my mini ITX) and more important, it conveniently has more ports so it can be flipped. Looking back, I'd prefer to have them both Alphacool.
4. It is possible as a single loop with 2xD5 - linus did single loop for 7GPUs, I just suggested the more optimal config as many people (including jay) splitting the loop for multi GPU configs with more than 2 GPUs.
5. (that is missing from your list)
6. 3000 RPM has higher min level - that's why i suggested 2000RPM as I guess you will want your fans often run at ~500-600RPM. BTW, Noctua's PWM is making some clicking noise - weak, but i can hear it in quiet room with computer standing next to me. So may be DC is a quieter option.
7. Practically not many reasons to do it. the only thing that worth to cool is VRM - I don't remember any MB that has RGB on VRM, usually on the north bridge. the only thing that looks nice IMHO is MB monoblocks. If you have one compatible with your MB go for it. That means no Cuplex Vision Next as it's EK's specialty.
 
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n0ns3ns3

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Dragonarmy

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I typed something wrong. Sorry about that.
1. Will the Hardware Labs Black Ice GTX 560 60mm (not the new Nemesis) with its 20 fpi have better thermal performance than the Alphacool UT60 with 10 fpi (I prefer a 60mm rad)? This is a performance build, so I do not mind a little sound.

2. So the EK FC is the best GPU water block I can get, correct? Or should I use Alphacool?

3. My only options for VRM water blocks are EK correct? Or should I use Heatkiller?

4. For my four GPU's, do you recommend me use a terminal or just use tubes to set up a 2x2 series/parallel?
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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1. If you manage to push enough air through HWLabs, yes, it will perform better. On the other side, 20FPI for a thick rad is a lot!!!
For such thickness 10 is much more reasonable.
2. other companies also make VRM blocks, you will have to search what fits your MB. It is possible that there is no such part at all.
3. Since you are going to use 4 GPUs, they will be very close to each other - probably no "tubing" option as you do need space for 2 fittings and tubes.
 
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Dragonarmy

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What about the GPU water block? Which one should I use?

Also, I just checked EK's website, they have something called EK-Cable PWM Fan Adapter for GPU, if I connect that to my fans, will I still be able to connect the fans to my fan controller?
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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Any of those:
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-titan-x-pascal-nickel
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-titan-x-pascal
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-titan-x-pascal-acetal-nickel

I like the first one.
any backplate:
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-titan-x-pascal-backplate-nickel
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-titan-x-pascal-backplate-black

any of those to connect:
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-bridge-system-quad-semi-parallel-csq-plexi
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-terminal-quad-semi-parallel
 
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Dragonarmy

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1. But the website said that the EK-FC does not support bridge and link systems?

2. Alphacool Acrylic tubs and Bitspower fittings are ok, correct?

3. Could you recommend me some thermal paste? Also, do I need to buy extra thermal pads? If so, which one do you recommend?

4. Could you recommend me a red coloring additive? What does UV mean?

5. These are the tools I will be using, please let me know if I am missing anything:
Alpha cool Acrylic Double Bending Tool,
Alpha cool Acrylic Tubing Pipe Reamer Heavy,
Alphacool pit saw
Alphacool Silicon Bending Insert
Alpha cool HardTube Head Gun Pro
Modright Mog Mat
Magnetic Screw Tray
Declass MT02 Magnetic Project Mat
ArticClean TIM Remover kit
And of course, the almighty magnetic screwdriver!
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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1. of course they do. unscrew the terminal and connect the bridge/terminal. read the manuals of those two
2. I never used bitspower, but I hear they are the best. I'm using those and really like them https://www.alphacool.com/shop/fittings/hardtube/hardtube-1210/21639/alphacool-eiszapfen-12mm-hardtube-anschraubtuelle-g1/4-fuer-carbonrohre-deep-black-sixpack?c=20665 also, the acrylic tubing I used was alphacool.
3. It really depends on what you looking to do with it. I mainly use the Arctic MX-5 and Thermal Grizzle Conductonaut (liquid metal), though there are quite a few syringes of thermal grizzle hydronaut (comes with EK blocks) and noctua's NT-H1.
You do not NEED thermal pads as all blocks come with everything required to install and mount. If you do want to have some, I use Gelid's ones as they have highest thermal conductivity http://gelidsolutions.com/thermal-solutions/accessories-gp-extreme/
4. for liquids (concentrates, pastel, UV, color) check out mayhem. simply the best. UV means it is UV reactive - if you have UV lighting, it will glow.
5. I don't use any of those tools (well, except screw drivers http://www.pbswisstools.com/en/) :) dremel is all I need. but i don't bend tubes (glass in not bendable at home).
 
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Dragonarmy

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1 and 2. Got it.

3. I am going to use the Thermal Grizzle Kryonaut. Do I need to apply thermal compound to the GPU before I apply the thermal pad? Or should I just stick with thermal compound?

4. I check mayhem's website, they have Aurora, Pastel and XT1. What the difference and which one should I use?
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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3. The EK GPU block comes with everything you need including manual. Just follow it :) don't try to do something that is not in that manual.
4. Aurora is not for home use, it is very cool looking showroom liquid. Pastel is opaque liquids. I use the Extreme White (comes as concentrate to be mixed with distilled water at home). Just go over every item in coolants and read description/see pictures
 
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Dragonarmy

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Thanks for all your time and effort!
 
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