Water cooling shopping list.

[Adamw0611]

Hey guys, I'm new to water cooling and just would like some experienced folks to look and give some opinions as far as not missing anything. I've read the sticky here about 3 times and spent a few weeks reading other forums, watching videos, and build logs, so I think I know everything I need to know to begin.

CPU Block: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16253/ex-blc-1134/EK_Supremacy_Universal_CPU_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_Acetal_Nickel_EK-Supremacy_-_Acetal_Nickel.html?tl=g57c603s1908
GPU Block x2, with backplates: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/23687/ex-blc-1696/EK_GeForce_780_GTX_Ti_DCII_VGA_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_Acetal_Nickel_EK-FC780_GTX_Ti_DCII_-_AcetalNickel.html
SLI Terminal Block: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/22309/ex-blc-1597/EK_Terminal_Block_-_Dual_Serial_-_Black_Acetal_EK-FC_Terminal_DUAL_Serial.html#blank
Pump: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6190/ex-pmp-54/Swiftech_MCP655_12v_Water_Pump_w_Speed_Control_and_38_Conversion_Kit_317_GPH.html
Reservoir: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17510/ex-res-433/EK-MultiOption_RES_X3_400_-_Liquid_Cooling_Reservoir_6_Total_Ports.html
Radiators x2: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21321/ex-rad-647/EK_High_Performance_CoolStream_480_PE_Series_Liquid_Cooling_Radiator_EK-CoolStream_PE_480_Quad.html?tl=g57c597s1902
Fans x8, or x16 if push pull is worth while: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16042/fan-994/Corsair_Air_Series_SP120_High_Performance_Edition_High_Static_Pressure_120mm_Fan_CO-9050007-WW.html

I've left out fittings and tubing since its personal preference and I haven't quite decided what to use other than I know I'm going with black compression fittings. I also realize that 2 480mm Radiators may be overkill, the case is just too damn big I need to fill it with stuff, and I like the symmetry of 2 of the same size.

This is a rough idea how i picture the loop.



My only remaining questions really are:
1. I've read about flow and such with pumps, but I want to make sure that pump is powerful enough by itself to run this loop, at this point in planning I'm thinking of having 5 90 degree fittings, and using either 3/8" or 1/2" tubing?

2. Will a 400mm tall reservoir fit in the case and still have enough room to access the top for filling and such in this case ( corsair 900d )? I've seen alot of water cooled builds in this case but nobody really specifies what size reservoir is in it.

3. Does Push/Pull make a large enough difference in temps to warrant an extra 150 dollars on fans? I prefer the clean look of seeing just radiators, but would do push/pull if the end result was going to be very noticeable. Im also going with 50mm thick radiators just in case, that way there will be room for a 25mm thick fan on either side of the radiator without interfering with the ram I have.

4. I was wondering if it's worthwhile to add the ASUS XChill to the loop. I've read mixed things about mixing the aluminum with the other metals in the EK blocks. I'm really just adding it to add more to the loop, just want to make sure it wont be detrimental in the long run. If not the loop would go from the GPU's straight to the CPU and the top Radiator would be turned around with the fittings in the front of the case so it would go from CPU to the top rad then back to Reservoir.

5. I think this is the last one at least for now, For the Drain plg I was thinking about building I was going to use:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6186/koo-79/Koolance_Universal_Brass_Nozzle_Body_no_nozzles_-_SPL-XUFY5B.html#blank
and,
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/22164/ex-tub-2378/Bitspower_G14_Mini_Valve_-_Carbon_Black_BP-MVV-CBBK.html

On the main tube from the pump I was going to install the universal brass fitting long ways, plugging both holes on the side with 2, and using a fitting and tube to connect the mini shutoff valve, then when the time comes to drain it use a fitting with longer tube attached to that to drain it, but if someone else has a better suggestion I'm open to advice.

Sorry this got so long but hopefully some helpful people will have some advice.

 

[zachparr2442]

1. the pump is good i have 3 rads in mine with 4 different blocks, just at a little flow indicator to see your flow.

2. you dont really need 400m used a 200mm res or use two 200mm res and 2 pumps and do two different loops

3. i only used push you really dont need both with that much rad space you are going to have and buy good fans like the corsair sp.

4. me with fluid i used a piece of silver and primo chill neon green and its been 6month and nothing at all in the loop.

5. i have the bitpower drain plugs it sucks but i have it installed at the lowest point of the loop and my top rad has a beath port noe my system will drain slow until i realse that top plug then the fiuld can rush out due the pressure inside the loop.

if you really want to go over board do two seperate loops, and or i would add a 120mm rad before the res so the water is cooler before it gets to the pump. i have mine setup like this res,pump,360top,cpu,60mmthick 240mmrad, gpus, 120mmrad, then res again

 

[Adamw0611]

Thanks for the reply only reason I want the 400mm res in there is to fill up space top to bottom, the case is gigantic so I want as much to fill it up so it doesn't look empty. The idea of 2 loops was something I've been tossing around too.

 

[zachparr2442]

you can always add uv lights and what not to your case to help fill the empty space, which case do you have by the way

 

[Adamw0611]

Oh I thought I put that in there, it's a corsair 900d. It's a monster.

 

[zachparr2442]

here is a monster build by linus it has 5rads and dual gpus and useing only one pump the one you are looking at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtHDqdo5pR0 but doing a 250mm with the pump attached to the bottom is your best bet i think http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21672/ex-res-677/EK-MultiOption_RES_X3_250_-_Liquid_Cooling_Reservoir_-_White_Acetal_6_Total_Ports.html?tl=g57c615s1940 with this http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16419/ex-pmp-198/EK_D5_X-Top_Acetal_Pump_Top_CSQ_-_Laing_D5_and_Swiftech_MCP-650655_EK-D5_X-TOP_CSQ_-_Acetal.html?tl=g30c107s1805#blank and attach with double male 1/4g fitting

 

[EK_Derick]

1. The pump is plenty powerful. Your loop is relatively small compared to what D5 can handle.

2. I don't recommend using a 400mm res in the 900D. I'm not even using a 400 in my STH10. I think you'll be a lot more comfortable with a 250.

3. Push pull would depend on how loud you things to be. The PE rads have pretty high FPI so for optimal performance you'll want a lot of air going through them. If you put them in Push/Pull you can turn the fans down even more for a quieter solution. So is $150 worth the noise is the better question here.

4. Personally, I wouldn't, but lots of people have without much problems. Aluminum is always a big no-no to me, even if anodized. We have a copper block available for the board.

5. You're on your own there, the solution would probably work fine.

I'd also highly recommend one of our X-Res products. A Pump/Reservoir combo is very easy to setup and use, especially considering it's your first loop. They're very easy setups and I highly recommend them.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. Can't wait to see pics of the build

 

[zachparr2442]

if you really wanted to take up some space you can do 2x360mm rad and a 240mm rad and go like this Res,pump, 360rad, cpu, Mobo, 360rad, gpu, 240rad, then res. i have mine sort of like that just to cool the water before it reaches the pump

 

[Adamw0611]

Thanks for the good advice, I've gotten a few responses here and overclockers about the 400mm res being too much, so I'll be going 250mm I think. As far as fans go I think Ive made up my mind with. I've heard good things about the pressure series fans from Noctua, but I just cant put brown fans in with a red and black color scheme:

Noiseblocker: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16921/fan-1051/Noiseblocker_NB-eLoop_B12-PS_120mmx25mm_Ultra_Silent_Bionic_Blade_PWM_Fan_-_400_-_1500_RPM_.html

All hooked to the CPU fan header with:
8 way splitter:http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16921/fan-1051/Noiseblocker_NB-eLoop_B12-PS_120mmx25mm_Ultra_Silent_Bionic_Blade_PWM_Fan_-_400_-_1500_RPM_.html

Would it be better since there a little less pressure than the fans I was looking at to use the ultra performance Rad instead, its 11 fins per inch rather than 38, but also thicker @ 64mm thick. I think fans are the last choice I have to make before I order everything, I didn't think of all the parts to buy fans would be holding me up so much.

 

[zachparr2442]

i wouldnt hook it up the cpu header you should have a fan controller in the back of your case if not i would get on i use cougar fans and sp fans trust me with as much rad space as you have you dont need to have alot of fans just get the sp 120 quiet edtion and you'll be fine

 

[zachparr2442]

also you can always paint your fans to whatever color you like

 

[Adamw0611]

I was only thinking of cpu header cause the reviews on that splitter and I think even in the description. It said only controls speed if hooked to the cpu. I would like to hook it to bottom chassis fan and manually set it with fan Xpert. I've thought about painting the fans, but I suck at everything artistic, I've never painted anything that's come out good.

 

[zachparr2442]

Well then the so 120s have red rings I think and I use a fan controller it fills a don't bay also and adds aesthetics

 

[zachparr2442]

Drive bay

 

[Adamw0611]

Actually I did have a specific question about an EK SLI Block and you seem to be the person to ask, I see there's dual and triple blocks for 2 way SLI, do you know for sure with an ASUS Maximus VI Formula would use the Terminal block I linked for 2 way SLI:

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132038

Terminal Block: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/22309/ex-blc-1597/EK_Terminal_Block_-_Dual_Serial_-_Black_Acetal_EK-FC_Terminal_DUAL_Serial.html#blank

1. The pump is plenty powerful. Your loop is relatively small compared to what D5 can handle.

2. I don't recommend using a 400mm res in the 900D. I'm not even using a 400 in my STH10. I think you'll be a lot more comfortable with a 250.

3. Push pull would depend on how loud you things to be. The PE rads have pretty high FPI so for optimal performance you'll want a lot of air going through them. If you put them in Push/Pull you can turn the fans down even more for a quieter solution. So is $150 worth the noise is the better question here.

4. Personally, I wouldn't, but lots of people have without much problems. Aluminum is always a big no-no to me, even if anodized. We have a copper block available for the board.

5. You're on your own there, the solution would probably work fine.

I'd also highly recommend one of our X-Res products. A Pump/Reservoir combo is very easy to setup and use, especially considering it's your first loop. They're very easy setups and I highly recommend them.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. Can't wait to see pics of the build

 

[EK_Derick]

Apologies for the late reply.

For 2 way SLI on the M6F you'll need the triple slot bridge if you want to use the first two pci-e x16 slots as there are two slots in between. If you're using the 2nd and 3rd pci-e x16 slots then a double will be good.

 

[Adamw0611]

Cool thanks alot, I am using the top 2 and would have ordered the wrong one.