New Watercooling System

[Enko]

If I was to build my own water cooling system, which parts are the best to get and from where? I plan on it being an internal system so I'll probably have to get one of those cases that have the extra space on top with 6 5" bays (I only have one with 3) so I'll need a recommendation on where to get one of those big cases too. I have a budget of around $500-$600 but I don't expect it to cost that much (I'll probably upgrade my cpu and other parts of my system with the surplus).

The main considerations are good cooling and sound. As I will be moving into college dorms with 3 roommates, I don't think they'll be too happy with me since I have a volcano 7+ right now which is pretty loud.

 

[LtBlue14]

are you trying to cool only the CPU? are you overclocking?
cases can be had anywhere - i've got my internal kit in a mid-tower (four 5 1/4" bays), but a full tower might be easier to set up.

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[LCARS]

You'll always hear a bias opinion no matter where you go.

I have the Innovatek CPU waterblock. It works VERY well, and it's a large mass of metal so it'll protect the CPU if the pump breaks down for some reason.

I also like the mounting hardware. You don't need a screwdriver for installation/removal, you just turn a knob and it'll tighten/loosen. That is a nice feature because you're less likley to damage the CPU or motherboard.

I also have the Innovatek HD waterblock. It works well.

The only thing I don't like is the Innovatek Northbridge/Video Card GPU waterblock. It's just about as effective as the stock HSF's.

 

[Enko]

I'm planning to mod my case and I want a big case as seen in the picture here: http://www4.tomshardware.com/howto/20020701/watercooling-12.html

I'm planning to have everything in my computer watercooled; hard drive, cpu, gpu, and chipset.

 

[LtBlue14]

this is your classic full tower case: <A HREF="http://www.directron.com/da01wd.html" target="_new">http://www.directron.com/da01wd.html</A>
they're everywhere, made by tons of different companies.
as for what water cooling company to go with, i have no experience with innovatek so i can't speak about them, but d-tek and danger den are both solid companies to go with.
some advice for your system: i'd get 1/2" tubing to keep restriction to a minimum - you're gonna have a lot of restriction in there already with all of the waterblocks. i'm gonna recommend a danner mag 3 as your pump of choice. the choice of heatercore is up to you - just make sure whatever you get is at least 120mm by 120mm.
if you want more specifics as to what parts you should go with, LCARS likes his innovatek hdd blocks (never worked with hdd blocks before, myself), danger den maze 3 as a cheap but good cpu block, danger den z-chip, danger den gpu block. i'd get 15 feet of tygon tubing, since the case is big and there will be a lot of connections to be made. 15 feet will easily suffice, and you wouldn't want to run short while you're putting it together. Plus you have extra if you make a bad cut. don't forget metal hose clamps, too.
a pump relay switch kit is nice, too, since it turns on your wc system when your computer is powered on
how loud do you want your fans?

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[LCARS]

The Innovatek HD waterblock has an 8mm (5/16) restriction at the acrylic tube. So take that into consideration.

<A HREF="http://www.highspeedpc.com/" target="_new">http://www.highspeedpc.com/</A>

That is a good place to buy everything watercooling.

The Mag#3 pump by Danner is a supreme pump. Eheim also makes very high quality pumps, some of which can now be powered by your power supply.

I agree with ltblue14, get your NB/GPU blocks from <A HREF="http://www.dangerden.com" target="_new">Danger Den</A>.

As for tygon tubing, I'd look for regular thick-walled vinal tubing from your hardware store. It's less likely to collapse or kink. But it will not fit onto the compression fittings provided by Innovatek.

<b>ALSO</b>, it would not hurt to incorporate some kind of filter into your setup. Mine is just a foam pond filter that I've cut to size and jammed in my reservoir.

Radio Shack makes a nice cheap <A HREF="http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_010_005_001_000&Page=2" target="_new">Thermometer with submergable probe</A> in case you want to monitor your coolant temp.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by LCARS on 08/28/03 10:37 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Enko]

thanks for all your help.

i want this rig to be as silent as possible.

if the tubing you suggest doesn't fit into the innovatek compression fittings, what do you suggest i do to remedy that problem?

 

[Enko]

is there water cooling available for a power supply or is better to just leave those air cooled?

any power supplies that are recommended? currently i have a cd-rw drive and a dvd-rom drive, a 120 gb hard drive, some fans, a cold cathode light, and a athlon xp 2100+. I'm planning to eventually upgrade the processor amd get 1 or 2 more hard drives. i'm thinking of getting at least a 450w power supply if not a 500w. any suggestions?

 

[LCARS]

Only Koolance offers a water cooled power supply. But you have to buy the whole kit to get it.

But if you have a deathwish, you can try <A HREF="http://www.zerofanzone.co.uk/projects.asp?request=liquidenermax550w" target="_new">modding a PSU</A>

 

[LtBlue14]

i'm sure an antec true power 430W or enermax EG-465 would work, but if you really want more power and to be more "future-proof" you could go true power 480 or 550, and whatever the enermax equivalent is

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[LtBlue14]

if you want a silent rig, then you may want to put your 120mm fans (for your heatercore) on a rheobus, because no 120mm fans that i've ever seen are as quiet as, say, your 80mm vantec stealth. you can probably find conversion fittings for your hdd waterblocks

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[Enko]

any possible way i could do without fans or just get some quieter but still have an internal system? also, i read on another guys site that he had a problem with ambient air in his computer since there was no air flow so the hot air kind of just accumulated in his computer. how would you solve that without throwing in some case fans?

 

[LCARS]

It kinda depends on the case.

I just us the PSU to move air inside the case. I don't have a side case fan. It works out alright.

But my case is a small aluminum case.

If you have (or buy) an Antec true power or eqiv. you'll get fan only outputs. They'll control the speed of the fans according to the air temp.

Mine are controling the two 120mm radiator fans.

 

[Enko]

how loud are the radiator fans? that's the whole reason why i'm moving to watercooling so the system is quieter but its kind of pointless if the watercooling makes just as much noice.

so is this a good power supply to buy? its got good reviews from a bunch of people.
True Power 550W Power Supply Gold Plated Connectors

 

[LCARS]

Very quiet. They exact dba level varies with temperature. they do make a "whooshing" sound. But a far, far cry from what the original HSF used to make.

In the winter time, I turn them off. you can only do that with a big radiator.

Oh, yes, and don't get the Maxxpert radiator. It sucks.

 

[Enko]

here's what I came up with so far:

Case: Directron Dragon DA-01BD full-tower ATX case
With side panel and window

Power Supply: True Power 550W Power Supply Gold Plated Connectors

Radiator: Innovatek Dual Fan 120mm Radiator

Pump: Eheim 1046 12v DC

Reservoir: ???? (no idea which one to pick for an internal system)

Waterblock: Innovatek (which kind)
Plex-o-Matic
InnovaCOOL Rev3 Water Block

Hard Drive Cooler: Innovatek Hard Drive Water Cooler


I still need to find a waterblock for my graphics card. I currently have a VisionTek Ti4600 but when I upgrade my computer (mobo, cpu, graphics card), I'm thinking of getting a Radeon 9800. The cpu waterblock can probably be used on the next one I get as I am going to stick with AMD. So should I just wait before I get watercooling on my video card? Are there any changes I should make with what I have selected? Anything else besides tubing and fittings that I forgot?

 

[LCARS]

Since you're going to be having so many waterblocks, I'd get a pump with a much higer flow rate. Such as the Danner Mag#3 or the Ehiem 1048.

That innovatek plexiglass waterblock is a new one on me. Up to you really.

You might have to make your own reservoir or buy one of the outrageously expenive ones.

If you do decide to build your own, DO NOT make it out of polycarbonate. My first reservoir was a Nalgene waterbottle, it shattered a few days later, water was everywhere.

 

[LCARS]

Also, I'd just get a car heatercore from the autoparts store and use that as a radiator. Spend the money you save on a fluid bearing hard drive.

 

[LtBlue14]

gotta get rid of that eheim 1046 12V (didn't know a 12V version existed!), it will never work with your system, 79gph with 4 feet of head!
the danner mag 3 is cheaper and far better - comparably quiet to its competitors as well. 350gph and 10 feet of head
how much are you getting the innovatek wb for? a quick google search showed me that it was twice as expensive as a maze3. the danger den gpu block works on gf4, radeon 9x00, and geforce FX series cards.
PS: get an AC pump with a pump relay switch kit
a quick link to two reservoirs you can get: <A HREF="http://www.dangerden.com/mall/Misc_Hardware/tubing.asp" target="_new">http://www.dangerden.com/mall/Misc_Hardware/tubing.asp</A>
no, i don't work for danger den =)
they're just cheap and make good products. their customer service is great too, and i think their products look cool. what's not to like? =)


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[Enko]

ok updated list with additional questions on each part right below that listing:

Case:
Directron Dragon DA-01BD full-tower ATX case ($64)
With side panel and window ($25)http://www.directron.com/da10bd.html

Power Supply:
True Power 550W Power Supply Gold Plated Connectors($101.84)
http://www.yesmicro.com/shop/Product.aspx?sgd=6849&seid=2&pid=473716

Pump Relay Switch:
Pump Relay Switch Kit ($18)
http://www.dangerden.com/mall/Pumps/Pump_acces.asp

Radiator:
Innovatek Dual Fan 120mm Radiator ($88.99)
http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HSPC&Category_Code=Radi

Black Ice Xtreme ($65.99)
Black Ice Xtreme II ($102.00)
http://www.dangerden.com/mall/Radiators/radiators.asp

The Black Ice radiators don't have fans on them but have the holes for them. Are fans needed for these two radiators?

Pump:
Danner Mag Drive 3
http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/pumps/103755.html

Any other online stores you guys recommend to buy this?

Reservoir:
Clear Reservoir ($25)
Typhoon-Quad Reservoir ($29.95)
http://www.dangerden.com/mall/Misc_Hardware/tubing.asp

Is there any problem with having a bay mounted reservoir? I'll probably just get the clear one since its easier to access. This one will probably be only temporary (1-2 years) until I can build my own. I found a guide that explains it pretty well.

Waterblock:
CPU:
Maze3 ($42) or Maze4CPU ($41.95)
http://www.dangerden.com/mall
you guys recommended the maze3 but is there anything wrong with the maze4?

GPU:
Maze4GPU ($48.95)
http://www.dangerden.com/mall

Since I currently have a Nvidia card but will probably upgrade to an Radeon later, which should I pick? What will I be getting different when I choose the different ones. What's the difference between the fitting types? Do I need an o-ring?
Options when buying followed by the choices.
GPU Style:--------------- Radeon Nvidia
Fitting Size (OD):------- 1/2 Fittings 3/8 Fittings
Fitting Type:------------- Chrome Fittings $1.00 Polypropylene Fittings Brass Fittings
O-ring:--------------------- None Extra Oring $2

Misc:
TweakMonster RAMsinks ($15 for 4, $28.50 for 8)
(For the video card. Website said I might have to remove the ramsinks)

Chipset: Have no idea which one to get. I have an Asus A7V333 right now but I'm probably going to upgrade to an nForce2 mobo sometime in the future.

Hard Drive Cooler:
Innovatek Hard Drive Water Cooler ($53.99)
http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=HSPC&Product_Code=InnovaHDD&Category_Code=HDDH2O

Koolance Hard Drive Cooler ($34.99)
http://www.xoxide.com/hardrivcool.html

 

[LtBlue14]

the black ice heatercores also require fans

what size tubing are you using? because the innovatek rad appears to only take 3/8" OD tubing, which is a bit small

reefgeek seems to have a good price on your pump

no problem with having a bay mounted res

the maze3 performs better than the maze4, which is why i recommended it. in one noteable review where the maze4 beats the maze3, the maze3 has the water running through it backwards, exiting over the core!

with the new gpu blocks, i'm not sure if they fit both radeon and geforce cards (the old ones had two sets of holes in the top to allow this). you ought to email danger den to find out

fitting size 1/2" OD means the fitting (the metal tube coming out of it) has a 1/2" outer diameter. 3/8" is the same deal, but smaller.

chrome fittings = fittings in a silver color
polyprop fittings = white plastic fittings
brass fittings = goldish/brownish colored fittings
all fittings will do the job equally well, though i personally prefer the look of metal to plastic. i think it looks like a higher quality block that way
the extra O-ring is for if/when you clean your waterblock by removing the plastic top. the O-ring ought to be replaced when you do this to ensure a tight resealing. i didn't buy one, as i didn't plan on cleaning my waterblocks much. i haven't yet cleaned them, after about 5 months of operation.

chipset - nforce2 is a solid choice

innovatek vs. coolance HDD cooler is just a matter of fitting size (read: flow rate restriction) to me. i'd pick the one with the biggest fittings

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[LCARS]

It'd be cool if there was a review somewhere comparing the two HD waterblocks.

 

[LCARS]

PS: Don't dismiss the Eheim 1048 pump so quickly, it comes with a 2 year warrenty and is very easy to buy <A HREF="http://www.eheimparts.com/client/homepage.aspx" target="_new">replacement parts</A> for it.

 

[Enko]

since the black ice ones just say that they have holes for the fans, does that mean i'm going to have to buy a couple of 120 mm fans too?

 

[LCARS]

Yes.