Water Cooling - Doing it the right way.

Hello Fellow Techies,

I am completing my build today and am looking at a Water Cooling system. I've researched quite some bit, and still don't feel I have sufficient knowledge to go out and buy (I like to learn first, as I hate having bought something then regretting finding I should have gone another route).

I want to know what brand, and where to buy the pieces to building a custom water cooling kit. My guess (and complete guess) is to start with something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...Item=N82E16835118032
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...Item=N82E16835103045

Is this overkill or just perfect? Would you go with an alternative, and if so, why? What else is needed?

Thanks!

Dave

i agree with richardscott,

I'd go with custom cooling as i've tried the kit way and although it wasn't too bad,i have much better temps with the setup i have now.

I have:

MCR220-QP Res Radiator with 4 x 120mm fans, 2 on each side in a push-pull configuration attached to a Swiftech Apogee GTZ(CPU Block) cooling my QX9770 3.2ghz upto 4.3ghz so far and the temps are good.

Here's a screen shot of my temps as i'm writing this to you

http://i544.photobucket.com/albums [...] enshot.jpg

I've shrunk the screen so you can see what speed i run this CPU at, and this water cooling setup handles it no problem whatsoever.

pump: liang d5 (swiftech mcp655) $65
waterblock: (swiftech, dtek, or dangerden) $60
radiator: '68 bonnie heatercore $40, the more popular '77 is cheaper but smaller
fans: 2x 140mm $20
tubing, fittings and the rest $15

Thus you can have about the best cooling possible for $200

of course that is three times the price of a Thermalright ultra120 extreme black

I agree, the post shadow gave is very usefull, I was planning on going liquid aswell, but didn't really see the huge benefit Custom build, is also more friendlier on the budget/performance what you will get.

Just for the brags: My Q6600 @ 3,2ghz With scythe 2000RPM and CM Hyper Z600.

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned FrozenCPU as a place to get stuff. They have a better selection for water cooling and modding than Newegg, though they don't have as many user-reviews.
In terms of components, I think you can't go wrong with Swiftech blocks and pumps, and their slim radiators are pretty decent if space and noise is an issue (others make better all-out performance radiators though). But definitely check out FrozenCPU.
I would advise, however, that you don't go for any whole-card GPU coolers when you could use GRAM heatsinks and an actual GPU waterblock, which you can transfer to a newer card when the time comes without having to worry about compatibility with model-specific card coolers. Some people use them because they perform better, but they are generally more expensive and are useless if you decide to upgrade your card to something completely different.
With regards to actually setting up the system, think back to high-school physics class and the unit on electrical circuits; many of the principles are interchangeable with fluid dynamics. Blocks in parallel will deliver cooler, um, coolant to both blocks, while in series one block will get the warmer coolant from the block upstream, reducing its overall effectiveness. The trade-off of parallel circuits is reduced flow rate as a result of distributing coolant across multiple loops. Also, whichever block has the lowest pressure drop (resistance) will channel more coolant away from the block with the higher pressure drop. Then you would have to use two pumps to force both loops to have relatively equal flow.

I'm pretty sure this is the order the loop goes in:
Reservoir>Pump>Block>Radiator>Reservoir

And IMHO, I think the recent kits Swiftech offers are actually pretty decent all-round solutions. Includes good large-diameter tubing, too. (Their site is somewhat of a PITA to navigate though.)

DA BLING BLING

Without a doubt its not the most practical of endeavors...

but there is no reason a wc setup needs to cost over $200, and a top air cooler will set you back at least $60... so its more like 300% and it does last for multiple builds I just made new brackets when I moved from athlon -> a64 -> 775

plus the hoses are guaranteed to confuse/ irritate your wife, thats good for something

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] %20z%20600

http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/ [...] etail.html

How I agree it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg, I myself considered buying a high end cooler, which I could re use. Also the Z600 is compatible with the new i7, if you wish to upgrade later on. Just keep in mind that this thing is huge.

This is what it should look like for superb cooling (Push Pull)

It's all about preference though. I didn't mind to sacrafice $70,- for a cooler that gives me superb cooling.

I might suggest something like this
http://www.crazypc.com/products/h2 [...] -9372.html
or this
http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/swi [...] 16491.html

It will save you some money over buying everything individually but you still get the benefits of a custom watercooling system. Here's a review:
http://www.overclockersonline.net/ [...] 360&pnum=0

I came across this at XS you might be interested:
http://www.externalpccooling.net/

Shadow, you need to update your links in your noob cutnpaste. Martin shut his website down as he is taking some time to himself, but has several mirrors up.

I use this one....

http://martinsliquidlab.i4memory.com

Also, last I knew, Seth has stopped manufacturing (At least for the time being) the waterkegs. Not sure when he is getting back into it.

I went with the swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultima kit from Sidewindercomputers.com for 240$ and some better tygon tubing for my new I7 system. I'm very pleased with it. The Apogee GTZ is one BA block.