Another Watercooling parts thread

[adairusmc]

I have been running an XSPC RASA 750 RX360 kit for a while on my i7 2600k, with good results, but I finally bit the bullet last night and ordered parts to revamp my loop, and add both of my 6970 cards to it as well. Just want to make sure I am not forgetting anything, or made a major mistake with my order.

My kit started off as the RS360 kit, but I upgraded that RS360 radiator to an RX360 when I moved into my Corsair 800D case earlier this year.

I have decided to scrap all of the remaining parts from that kit except that RX360 radiator.

What I ordered last night was a new block, pump, reservoir, connectors, 1/2" ID tubing, waterblocks for the cards, RX240 radiator, and some fans and other goodies.

Anyways, here is the stuff I ordered -

CPU block - Swiftech Apogee HD - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14...o4LA&mv_pc=153

Reservoir - Bitspower Z-multi 250 - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/95...o4LA&mv_pc=161

2nd radiator - XSPC RX240 - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/85...o4LA&mv_pc=159

VGA blocks - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12...o4LA&mv_pc=164

Pump - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/61...o4LA&mv_pc=160

I tried to read as much as I could about each part, the only thing I was unsure of were the water blocks. They had heatkiller ones for a little more money, but it sounded like they were very heavy. I did not get the crossfire water bridge like I see in other builds (dont even know what that part is called, and could not find one), so I am just using fittings to go between the cards in the loop.

I am using the animation that Aigomorla posted in his cooling thread for inspiration in a lot of the design of this loop, I guess the current plan is to run the loop like this -

Pump-->RX240-->Bottom 6970-->Top 6970-->RX360-->CPU-->Reservoir-->Pump


I made sure to get lots of extra fittings in various angles and new tubing (stuff I am using now is 7/16" ID, going with 1/2" ID this time). Anyone see a major problem with what I have planned?

 

[aigomorla]

mmm interesting build

no aftermarket top for the d5?

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Where are you placing the 240 rad? You have to mod the 800D for it to fit.

 

[adairusmc]

The plan is to put the 240 rad on the bottom, which I do not mind if I have to mod my 800D to make it fit. My RX360 is already at the top of the case, but I am going to remove it to at least clean it out and add my 1/2" ID fittings that I got for this (the XSPC kit originally came with 7/16"s ID barbs).

Just hope there isnt anything huge that I am missing here, supposedly everything is shipping today from frozenCPU. I had forgotten to order a few fans this morning, and they were kind enough to add them to my existing order when I called so I would not get charged for shipping on them.

 

[adairusmc]

mmm interesting build

no aftermarket top for the d5?

No, I actually didnt know you could get one until you mentioned it. Maybe sometime in the future, I did just spend about $800 on everything.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

The plan is to put the 240 rad on the bottom, which I do not mind if I have to mod my 800D to make it fit. My RX360 is already at the top of the case, but I am going to remove it to at least clean it out and add my 1/2" ID fittings that I got for this (the XSPC kit originally came with 7/16"s ID barbs).

Just hope there isnt anything huge that I am missing here, supposedly everything is shipping today from frozenCPU. I had forgotten to order a few fans this morning, and they were kind enough to add them to my existing order when I called so I would not get charged for shipping on them.

I was going to do a similar mod to my 800D but I chickened out. I instead went for a thick 120mm rad on the back of the case.

Also, FrozenCPU's customer service is great. Call them up, they answer right away and will get you taken care of. Only thing that sucks is their shipping costs and their prices tend to be a little higher than other places. That said, I'm willing to pay a few dollars extra on bigger items for the excellent customer support.

Make sure to show us before and after pictures. Its fun to drool over other people's projects. I'd also be interested in your bottom radiator mod, in particular what tools you used and how it all turned out.

No, I actually didnt know you could get one until you mentioned it. Maybe sometime in the future, I did just spend about $800 on everything.

Yeah... like aigomorla told me when I first put my rig together, welcome to getting wet. This stuff is expensive, but incredibly fun to build.

 

[adairusmc]

I will make sure to post pics. Here are the before pictures, with my XSPC water kit as it is right now (though this is with my old i7 860 motherboard, now I have a different board and a 2600K but same case and loop configuration) -

Looking forward to getting the new parts to play around with, should be here by Friday.

 

[aigomorla]

well ur gonna love the gpu blocks.

if anything today's modern gpu's do benifit greatly from watercooling.

You can expect your load temps to drop by almost 1/2... so what i mean is when your used to seeing your gpu's heat up to like 60-70C, they will be nice and cool at around 30-35C.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Nice looking machine to begin with. I'm liking the red a lot. Too bad Scythe does makes GT's with red LEDs or I'd be rocking those.

How do you plan on connecting the GPUs? If you are just doing tubing between them, maybe consider one of these:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12...tl=g30c101s873

GPU blocks + water is very heavy. This makes the GPUs more rigid and easier to connect up. Plus it looks slick:

Note: This setup, using the top right port and the bottom right port, is incorrect. I'm just waiting on a 45 degree barb to fix it.

Don't forget the proper connectors for your blocks.

 

[adairusmc]

I was planning on using tubing to start, I have seen those link connectors but last night when adding all of my parts to my cart I could not find them for some reason and decided just to go with tubing. I can always add one of those in the future I figure.

I did remember to get connectors, plugs, 90 degree connectors, 45 degree connectors, and extras just in case something changes in the design.

I too like the red/black theme a lot. Originally I did it to match my old Maximus III Motherboard, but I liked it so much with this machine that I recently got a another machine in a matching color scheme -

I am looking forward to the parts arriving though, should be here by Friday. I will have to get this loop drained and the radiator cleaned out before then, so I will be ready to get it going and get the leak testing started.

 

[adairusmc]

Well, I went ahead and ordered the Ek SLI bridge and the connectors for my 6970 cards, as well as some more plugs. I like how it turned out on your build OVerLoRDI, figured it would look much better than just tubes.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Well, I went ahead and ordered the Ek SLI bridge and the connectors for my 6970 cards, as well as some more plugs. I like how it turned out on your build OVerLoRDI, figured it would look much better than just tubes.

Ha, you were successfully tempted I kid, it is a great purchase.

What are you planning on using for coolant?

 

[adairusmc]

Just distilled water, like I do in my current loop, with a silver killcoil in there. Nothing special, never figured I needed anything other than distilled.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Just distilled water, like I do in my current loop, with a silver killcoil in there. Nothing special, never figured I needed anything other than distilled.

You don't.

http://martinsliquidlab.org/2012/01/02/distilled-water-is-the-king-of-water-cooling/

 

[aigomorla]

I too like the red/black theme a lot.

:whiste:

Black and Red definitely looks nice.. (old picture tho... retired that cpu block in lue of a new koolance block)

 

[adairusmc]

I got a big box from frozen CPU yesterday, so I started working on the build into the night last night.

I did get the RX240 mounted in the bottom of my 800D, had to take the ride side of the lower hard drive cage out. I just drilled out the two rivets at the front of the case, and was able to get the cage out with a hacksaw and a little strength. I also got the new enzotech connectors put in my CPU block, reservoir, and both radiators.

I am just waiting for a 2nd package to come today to get the EK crossfire bridge for the video cards, then I am all set. I have the blocks mounted on the cards, just need that bridge now.

I had to take the lower 140mm case fan out to make room for the pump and the lower radiator, which are mounted down low, and I cut some holes in the fan grill for it to run some hoses. I also cut a hole in the back side of the case, right behind where the pump is mounted, so give me access to the adjustment screw for the pump speed. I also drilled a couple of holes to put some screws in to secure that RX240 down low, so it doesn't move around much.

Hopefully I should be leak testing by this afternoon when the other parts arrive.

Some pics -

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Looks awesome. What does the bottom of the case look like after the rad install?

 

[adairusmc]

You mean the bottom where I have the two screws? Here is a picture of the bottom of the case where I have the two screws holding the rad in place -

I had to bend that bottom flap for the hard drive carriage up on the bottom front of the case, so the rad would sit as far forward as possible to make room for the pump. I know there are marks from my pliers on there making it look ugly, but I dont mind since the cover will be on the case covering it up anyway.


I have also found that the EK bridge I have is not going to work, since my two PCI-E slots are too far apart for the cards to be bridged together. I am having to go to tubing to connect the cards for now. Hopefully frozenCPU will allow me to return the EK bridge and the adapters. Just about finished setting the loop up now, will be ready to start leak testing before too long.

 

[adairusmc]

I -think- I have it set up like I want it, going to try leak testing here in a while. Pic -

 

[adairusmc]

Well, it went all afternoon yesterday and all night last night with no leaks, so I decided to try and fire it up...And everything works. Some more pics -

For those interested, the specs are -

Intel i7 2600k @ 4.7Ghz (overclock established with previous water loop, will try for more)
Asus P8Z68-Vpro motherboard
16gb Corsair Vengeance memory (4x4gb sticks)
2x XFX Radeon 6970s (now added to the loop)
Corsair AX850 power supply
Intel 320 series 120gb SSD
3x2tb WD black hard drives
Corsair 800D case
Dell U3011 monitor
Logitech Z-5500 speakers

The 140mm replacement fans are Entermax TB Apollish fans, and the 120mm fans for the radiator are Aerocool Shark fans.

Now I will see how far I can push those video cards.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Sad you ended up with the wrong bridge size. Frozencpu should let you exchange it for the correct size without much issue. Their customer service is excellent.

Also the build looks great.

 

[adairusmc]

Thanks.

At this point, since I have leak tested and its all good (so far), I am going to just go without the bridge. Each card is running great though, showing 24C in Catalyst control center. Not used to seeing video card temps that low.

 

[adairusmc]

Well, got my 2600k up to 4.8 stable now, temps are still looking good, and I overclocked the video cards some. I have them at the max the Catalyst drivers will allow, 950/1450 and not a single issue when furmarking, what is the best utility to add some voltage and push them higher?

 

[OVerLoRDI]

MSI afterburner.

CCC enables limits on how high you can overclock. There are two ways to get past it.

1) use MSI afterburner with "unofficial overclocking mode"
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=338906

2) use RacerX registry hacks to increase overclocking limits in drivers, and then use MSI to overclock.
http://www.techimo.com/forum/graphi...9-enable-higher-overclocks-ccc-reg-entry.html

In my experience the RacerX method has worked the best. It requires a little bit more work, and a lot more reading, but the alternative in my case was BSODs using MSI unofficial mode.

 

[adairusmc]

Thanks, that worked well.

I am using the Sapphire Trixx application to adjust clock speeds and voltage now. I tried it at default voltage at 990core 1500mem, but it locked up on furmark, bumped the voltage to 1.2 and so far no issues at 990Mhz/1500Mhz, Going to continue testing.

I have not seen the cards break 46C so far though.