New to Watercooling

[steadly2004]

I ordered my first water cooling setup. I then joined this forum and decided to get another radiator. Any comments?

Here's what I got coming.

DangerDen MPC-CPU for the 1156 socket (I know they're not the best rated, but I didn't know that and I just went with a name I recognized) I'm sure it'll do the job, even if its 2-3* hotter, who cares right? As long as its WAY cooler than my ZeroTherm CPU cooler.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9688/ex-blc-643/Danger_Den_MPC-CPU_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_Socket_LGA_1156_i3_i5_i7.html?tl=g30c325s1118

Pump/Reservoir combo (I hope this will pump enough to pass through two radiators and the CPU/Videocard.....
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6473/ex-res-130/XSPC_Bay_Reservoir_Pump_Combo.html?tl=g30c107s154

1st Radiator I ordered (then I got another after realizing I needed more heat dissipation)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6570/ex-rad-125/Swiftech_MCR120_Quiet_Power_120mm_Radiator_w_Reservoir_-_MCR120-QP_Res.html?tl=g30c95s159

2nd radiator, will have to go outside the case
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9013/ex-rad-154/Black_Ice_GT_Stealth_280_Radiator_-_Black.html?tl=g30c95s930

GTX 295 water block (I do like having the two blocks the same brand... I dunno why) also this is the only dual PCB water block I could find
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8587/ex-blc-589/Danger_Den_DD-GTX295_VGA_Full_Card_Liquid_Cooling_Block_GPU-6850.html

Oh, and some fans/tubing/coolant/clamps. I figure I'll just have to build some mounts for the radiator, I don't know if I want to go above the case or on the side with the external radiator. Above would be easier, would have the shortest and simplest tubing path, but would make the water pump work harder. The side would have longer tubing, and air wouldn't get trapped in it, having it not at the top of the loop. I think the fill spot should be the top off the loop so any bubbles rise to the reservoir and it can be refilled, rather than having any air trapped above unknowingly. (since the rad is black you can't see the air.

 

[steadly2004]

And I've read here and there that you're supposed to do a 24hr leak test? Does that mean I should go ahead and plug it all into a circuit and run it for 24hrs before mounting it on the CPU/VID card? I just think if I do that, I'll have to empty the system and *** to mount it....

Last thing is I was planning on running the loop like this

Reservoir/Pump --> CPU --> 120mm internal radiator --> GPU --> 140.2 external radiator --> Reservoir/Pump

I figure capitalize on my screwup and since I have an extra radiator I don't need to have heated water from the CPU going to the GPU, that extra little cooling should help IMO.

 

[Conumdrum]

You have barely enuff rad for your setup. You overclock the CPU it needs a 120x2 at a MINIMUM. The 295 will saturate or close to it, the 120x2 ability. You'll need some high speed loud fans on that black ice rad, it's fins per inch are very high. Look at two 38mm thick 2000+ rpm fans for the rad. The stealth rads are an old design and much newer ones perform better.

The pump/res setup isn't a top notch setup. I hope it's flowrates and head pressure ratings are enough for the blocks. Probably will be, the TDX block is pretty low restriction. The TDX might be 5-6C worse than something like the HK LT or the Swiftech XT.

Noticed you got the MPC CPU block. Yep, your temps aren't gonne be very good.

Bit short on the homework, took me 3 months to buy my first part.

I wrote this long ago, it should help.
READ THE WATERCOOLING, look here first at the top of this forum.
This should be there if not.......
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=312743
BTW, it's at the DD site too in the forums in the faqs.

 

[steadly2004]

Thanks for the reply. I actually did ZERO homework before placing my order.... I know its stupid. I joined this forum, read the stickey and ordered the 2nd radiator.

That really sucks my temps are going to blow, kinda defeats the whole water cooling purpose....

I guess I'll just have to try it and see where it takes me. I can't imagine it will be worse than my air cooling.

 

[steadly2004]

Hmm.... so at this point should I return the MPC block and get something better before using it? Or try it out and see for myself? ??

 

[Conumdrum]

I dunno. I'd pretty much start over. Your pump/res is poor, your rad choice is weak.

The DD block is one of the better ones. it's worth keeping. BTW, I use DD blocks on my GPUs.

http://www.overclockers.com/annual-water-cooling-cleaning-rebuild-journal/

Restart. Zero research=bad. If the air cooling is working just join a few forums (in the sticky at the top, watch, read learn. Don't expect an easy time if you just ask for a "Best Buy" experiance. You gotta learn. I do this a million times a year helping folks. It always is the dedication and the ability of the user. Some fail, some just give up.

Dice on your side of the table. What you have will work, but if it's enuff for you you win. You'll upgrade in time to better stuff as you learn.

I would replace that CPU block with at a a min a Swiftech GTZ, it's one version old and still a great block, way capable of a an i7 at 4.0 GHz.

 

[steadly2004]

I decided to add another pump inline with the current one. That means the second pump will be the one doing the work, the first will just have to pump enough to get to the second pump.

I've actually seen this done with fuel pumps on cars. The stock pump won't supply enough for a high performance setup, so the second high flow one can be ran inline.

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

800 liters/hour should be plenty, 4x that of the one in the reservoir.

 

[steadly2004]

OH, and I'm going to try out the DD MPC-CPU block and see what I get. Frozen CPU doesn't let anybody return liquid cooling components, so might as well see where it gets me. If my temps are unacceptable, then I'll swap it out

Looking at the different comparisons of blocks. People are worried about a 2-5* difference. I DGAF about 2-5*. I'm hitting 60* consistantly on air, I was up to 70* for a little while but I don't like that. If I can keep the temps under 60* on load, then I'll be happy.

I'm going to run the setup with what I got coming and see. I'll report back with my results. If it gets too hot, I'll just shut it off, get another CPU block and start again. If its still too hot, I'll add another radiator and start again, ect ect.

 

[steadly2004]

Got the water setup going. Here is a quick snapshot and one of my highest 3dmarkVantage score. This is with the core clock at 695mhz, and memory at 1025. I'm sure I can get more out of it, it tops out the temps at 50* or so. Same with the CPU and prime 95, 50* peak at 3.6ghz, voltage 1.23v

<a target='_blank' href='http://www.slide.com/s/4FJ7tJZUnj8eoq2IAdsJZWuSjDlUYrcJ?referrer=hlnk'><img src='http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/1/W/500000024c85805/1/231/tiDXteQB4T-v5rGMeYec4FWC51lfPVJj.jpg' border='0' alt='3dmarkHighScore' title='3dmarkHighScore' /></a>

Here is a view of the inside, I know I have to deal with the electrical wires eventually, I'm being lazy

<a target='_blank' href='http://www.slide.com/s/gOFmm4Sblj_M6JfQiluyp0XxSKzD2P1z?referrer=hlnk'><img src='http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/1/W/500000024c85843/1/120/mJCDPZ3e4j-xTKrdAMkPTHIXJfiAj0nM.jpg' border='0' alt='100 2844' title='100 2844' /></a>

and where I drilled through the side and mounted the 140x2 radiator, there is a 120 on teh back. I think I may upgrade the fans from low to medium speed fans.

<a target='_blank' href='http://www.slide.com/s/MavP2plm5j8uRTPCLKmPJhYdawh0w8DC?referrer=hlnk'><img src='http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/1/W/500000024c85852/1/142/aEtY9xOguD8CrXJEjyyXrmFUlt10fmPz.jpg' border='0' alt='100 2845' title='100 2845' /></a>