What size barbs do I get?

tridac

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Hi,

I'm on the planning stage to WC my mid tower case (Lian Li PC-A17B) and I have the parts somewhat planned out but I am stuck on what size tubing and the matching barbs that would go with it.

I am planning to go with a 3/8" ID tubing but I am not sure if I should go with a 3/8" barb. Should I go with a 1/2" barb instead?

This is going to be my first watercooled rig.

Parts (in general to what I want.):

2x120 rad - mounted in back of pc
1x120 rad - mounted inside pc
Swiftech MCP655 - water pump
EK Reservoir 150
Swiftech - Apogee cpu block
DD or EK GPU block for a 4870x2
 

IH8U

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Step 1. Drop that single 120 Rad. (unnessecary)
Step 2. If you are using 3/8" ID tubing get 3/8" od Barbs (do NOT get the 1/2" OD barbs, as the tubing will not fit)(you may also split the tubing)

As for tubing I stick with Tygon 3/8"ID, 1/2"OD (thinwall, as I have some compression fittings)


Edit
As for Radiators I use these: (single) http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6570/ex-rad-125/Swiftech_MCR120_Quiet_Power_120mm_Radiator_w_Reservoir_-_MCR120-QP_Res.html?tl=g30c95s708
$44 (radiator/resivior)
(dual 120) http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6571/ex-rad-126/Swiftech_MCR220_Quiet_Power_2_x_120mm_Radiator_w_Reservoir_-_MCR220-QP_Res.html?tl=g30c95s708
$60 (Radiator/resivior)(dont use 2 single 120mm radiators, as it uses more tubing, and takes more space)(also a serious pain to bleed/fill)

I use those Radiators above so I don't have a resivior filling a drive bay (it looks cleaner).
 

TonyL222

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The MCP655 has fixed 1/2" barbs. Personally, I'd go with 1/2" barbs all around and use 7/16 ID tubing. Doesn't take up the space that 1/2" ID tubing does, and gives you a tight fit over the 1/2" barbs.

If you plan to OC then you definitely need at least 3x120mm of rad surface, IMO. I'd go with a single 320 rad. You still don't need a reservoir if you install a T-line capped with a fill port.

You didn't say what kind of cpu you had, but there are cpu blocks which will give you 2-4C more cooling (D-Tek Fuzion v1 or v2, Swiftech GTZ)
 

IH8U

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Here is a link to the MCP655 with 3/8" barbs: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2128/ex-pmp-27/Swiftech_MCP655-B_12v_Water_Pump_w_38_Conversion_Kit_317_GPH.html?tl=g30c107s154
$90 (comes with a 3/8" conversion kit)

or this one: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7505/ex-pmp-64/Danger_Den_DD-CPX_Pro_12V_3_Pin_Powered_Pump_-_237_GPH_DD-CPX_Pro.html?tl=g30c107s154
$57 (easier to mount, same throughput as the MCP655, and much smaller)(quieter too)

As a note, I usually look around at http://www.frozencpu.com/
 

rubix_1011

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You want at least 1 120mm radiator surface area for each component you want to cool...1.5 is even better. So, a CPU and GPU, you want at minimum a 2x120mm radiator...and if you want to add more components or OC, you will definately need another 1x120mm surface area somewhere. Having more than one radiator isn't a bad idea, but don't mess with a single 1x120...might as well get another 2x120mm if you are going that route (unless space is a major concern).

You will want to use 1/2" barbs all around if possible. 3/8" would work, but you will have to get some tubing restrictors to go from the native 1/2 down to 3/8, which will also impact your flow a little. Tygon or Feser tubing really is a godsend since they flex so well, and stand up well against heat, warping and coolant stains. The junky vinyl tubing from hardware stores is OK, but isn't nearly as flexible and is prone to collapse after multiple warming/cooling cycles of the coolant.
 

Conumdrum

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That GPU, the 4870x2 needs a 120x2 sized rad for itself.

And if you want real WC info, and no stupid jokes (where they would be insta-banned) go to

OC forums and xtreme forums.

Couple good inputs here though from more knowledgeable members, thats a rarity here.
 

Kaldor

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I second this. Xtreme Systems forums is one of the best forums to ask questions about water cooling. Link to WCing forums: http://www.xtremesystems.org/Forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70

And yeah, you will need a 120X2 just for the 4870X2 and another 120X2 for the processor. You may be able to get away with a 2x and a 1x, but Id go on the safe side. Bigger is better, most of the time.

Id look at the new Swiftech block, Apogee GTZ, as Im not sure if that is what you meant.

The EK FC 4870X2 blocks are very nice. DD blocks just look plain in my eyes, but whatever you want.

I would go with 1/2" barbs with 7/16 ID tubing. Easy to work with, but still clamp everything if you have doubts.

Links to a few decent stores other than Frozen CPU:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/
http://www.petrastechshop.com/

Ive bought stuff from Petras and Sidewinder, and can recommend both highly. My current system runs on air, but next build, Q9650 and either a 4870X2 or 2 4870s, will all be on water.
 

rsetter1

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I like this. We have people who dont have and never had a water cooling system trying to make believe that they know what the heck they are talking about. Get off the computer and go back out side and play with your skateboard or what ever.
 

TonyL222

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Please note that this is the "B" model with 3/8" reducers. The B model produces 30% less flow than the vario model on top speed. Not necessarily bad, but for $10 or so more, I'd just get the vario. You can find those pumps cheaper at other places like Petrastechshp.com or Jab-Tech.com



If you're looking to save pump space, consider the MCP355 pump with the XSPC top:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5125/ex-pmp-47/Swiftech_MCP355_12v_Water_Pump_Native_38_120_GPH.html
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5733/ex-pmp-52/XSPC_Laing_DDC-1T1TPlus_MCP-350355_Acrylic_Replacement_Top_w_LED_Port.html?tl=g30c107s155
 

bydesign

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If you're not sure which barbs to buy your a month away from buying. You need to research each and every part. You need to know what your goal is and so would we. More importantly you will learn a lot. For example with high-end parts a 2x120 could easily meet your needs. It wont be quietest but I doubt you could find a air setup that would beat it at load, even with a 4870x2 OC's to the limit.

Personally I'd do the whole thing in 1/2" it improves flow which is a key value to the loops performance. The sites Kaldor posted are staffed with surprisingly knowledgeable people, bounce your ideas off them. One thing I will tell you off-hand is two radiator equal two pumps. Just putting a y spit was the difference of nice temps in stealth to running moderate fans all the time for me. In my case a single loop was vastly more efficient.

I'm waiting for the DD block for my 4870X2, their 8800GTX block was awesome in term of temps and flow. If the EK uses acrylic avoid it, way to prone to cracking and leaking.



 

TonyL222

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First, there are other forums with great WC advice. I personally hang out at overclock.net. I'd sugesst you check them out as well.

Second, two rads does not mean you need two pumps. I'm running two PA120.3s with a single MCP355. Surprisingly, radiators are not very restrictive.

Third, if you are going to OC the cpu and the gpu, and single 2x120 will not give you good results. Feel free to check one of the other listed boards on that.

Forth, avoid Y splits if you can. Many people use them with good results and it looks way cool, but they do restrict your flow. Keep thing inline uless you just wave to or more concerned with the look.
 

tridac

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Wow, thanks for all the info guys. I appreciate it alot.

I do plan to oc but only the CPU. CPU is a Q9450 2.66GHz and thought to maybe bump it up to 3GHz tops. GPU (4870x2) remains stock. I'm hesitating on doing anything else to it other than wc... it's really due to the extended warranty I bought and will most likely get voided anyway after all this. :fou:

My initial plan with the 2 rads was to use the smaller rad in between the GPU and CPU. This way it will cool the fluid before going to the cpu block. Good, bad? I really wanted a 3x120 rad but had to split it due to space.

Here's a ghetto graph:

2x120 rad --> reservoir --> pump --> GPU Block --> 1x120 rad --> CPU Block --> 2x120 rad

Will a Swiftech MCP355 flow rate be good enough for this setup? If not then I guess I can toss the 1x120 rad. The MCP655 was my first pick but I am partial to smaller tubings.

Thanks for all the tips!

Some ideas I got from this thread:
-MCP355 mod (clear inlet/outlet).
-Top-off tubing with inlet mounted on top of case.
-3/8" ID tubing with 3/8" OD barbs.
-Avoid y splits.
-Check out sites. (so far, I checked out xtremesystems and is in awe at some of those pics)
 

TonyL222

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Loop order is probably the most debated subject in WCing. I don't beleive loop order makes any significant difference in a closed loop. People discount the speed at which the water is flowing through the loop, which causes the temps to equalize across the loop. The only "must" in loop order is to have the res or T-Line just before the pump and preferably higher than the pump for a res. After that, order the components such that you minimize tight bends and amount of tubing. A common recommendation is to have the rad out going in to the cpu, since that will be the "coolest" water. In absolute terms that's true. However many test by Martin of Martin's Liqud Labs shows that after a warm up period, the temp different between water entering the rad (hottest) and that leaving the rad (coolest) is less that .1C. Check out the "Water In" and "Water Out" data points in his PA120.3 thermal testing:

http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/Thermochill-PA-120_3-Review.html

The MCP355 would work well with what you've listed. I'd go for either the XSPC res top or the plain XSPC top. Both increase the performance of the base mcp355.

Also, check out the WC section at overclock.net.