Best online watercooling resource for beginners?

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praktik

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Jan 23, 2009
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Hey all!

So frequent reader, sometimes poster here..;)

After much deliberation settled on a TJ11 and have it setup with a wicked air-cooling setup, but part of my purchase decision was based on future plans of trying a watercooling loop in 2 or 3 years (have planned for CPU/mobo, GPU upgrades in the years before that!)...

So I'm starting to look around and I'm learning - but my google-fu must be weak on this because I am finding interesting things here and there, but wonder if there is some kind of site that offers a whole host of WC info, such as:

- basic principles of water cooling
- best gear (reviews)
- installation tips
- active forum dedicated to WC'ing

IS there a one-stop shop, or at least, a few trusted sources used in combo that the community here can recommend for me?

I want to take my time and really learn the best approaches and have plenty of time to read up - so all suggestions are welcome, I guess it's just part of the enthusiast community I haven't spent much time thinking/looking around for online so I just don't know the best places to go yet!

Thanks!

JS
 
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OVerLoRDI

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2006
5,490
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This thread is is one of the best online guides for beginning water coolers:

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/water-cooling/33772-water-cooling-guide-beginners.html

It explains practically everything you need to know and has lots of excellent pictures.

Beyond that, the cases and cooling section here may seem not that active compared to the other subforums here, but there are quite a few of us who come out of the woodworks the second someone starts a new WC build thread :)
 
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nealh

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 1999
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FWIW, WC seems intimidating but it is not. Personally, I would not WC thinking you will magically overclock alot more.

WC will get better temps and if setup correctly can be quieter. I loved the idea and the challenge.

WC takes a bit of planning where air cooling does not.
You have to think where things will go in the case and it does cost more.

For me it was very satisfying to hear my wife say, your going to what? watercool your computer. Do not kill yourself or the equipment.

When I was done, she was amazed, it worked and I did it without frying a thing. Even to this day she tells people to get a rise out of them and then says, yup he did it, and believe it or not and it worked.
 
K

Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,505
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nealh said:
I would not WC thinking you will magically overclock alot more
Click to expand...

True....But it's nice to be limited by the chips ability rather than the thermal brick wall :)

OVerLoRDI said:
This thread is is one of the best online guides for beginning water coolers:

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/water-cooling/33772-water-cooling-guide-beginners.html

It explains practically everything you need to know and has lots of excellent pictures.

Beyond that, the cases and cooling section here may seem not that active compared to the other subforums here, but there are quite a few of us who come out of the woodworks the second someone starts a new WC build thread :)
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
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aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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my guide is not a part recomendation list.

Parts tend to get updated and upgraded.
During my peak in this hobby, we were getting new blocks every 3-4 months.
Hence why i didnt list any real recommendation on brands.

The best thing to do is research what you need, what your objective is, and how much your willing to spend.

I tell people when you set a budget... always assume your going to go over it by a good 33%... i honestly have yet to see someone whose actually made budget and not gone over.
 
Grooveriding

Grooveriding

Diamond Member
Dec 25, 2008
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A good way to control costs on WC is not use compression fittings. I swear the fittings alone cost me almost $200. Regular barbs + clamps are significantly less and in some cases more secure than a compression fitting.

From my research there were also small differences between the different CPU blocks, but large price differences, so there was money to be saved there as well.

On the pump, reservoir and radiator front, they all seem rather similar in price for the respective sizes.
 
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praktik

Member
Jan 23, 2009
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HA ya I found myself seduced a bit by the compression fittings they definitely look cooler - but you can actually get decent looking clamps too...

Something to consider...

In terms of budgeting I think I will do this in phases:

- Get the best pump I can possibly get, potentially a pair in series...
- look at a 4x140mm rad like the BlackIce Sr2 (or whatever is best in that form factor 2 years from now)
- do the CPU loop only to start

For this I am thinking 500 is fair but could be like 600+ a bit more when all the tools I will need and tubing/accessories to start out are factored in...

-----

Year after I would look at getting my GPU involved, and I imagine with a radiator like that I could run a GPU (or two) and a CPU off of it no problem...

But I definitely wouldn't be looking to get everything in my loop from day one - parcelling it out year over year allows me to spend more in year 1 on higher quality components and set the stage for a cheaper 2nd year where I can fit in the GPU side of things...

This would also allow for a more flexible negotiating strategy when running things by the SO..;)
 
Grooveriding

Grooveriding

Diamond Member
Dec 25, 2008
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praktik said:
HA ya I found myself seduced a bit by the compression fittings they definitely look cooler - but you can actually get decent looking clamps too...

Something to consider...

In terms of budgeting I think I will do this in phases:

- Get the best pump I can possibly get, potentially a pair in series...
- look at a 4x140mm rad like the BlackIce Sr2 (or whatever is best in that form factor 2 years from now)
- do the CPU loop only to start

For this I am thinking 500 is fair but could be like 600+ a bit more when all the tools I will need and tubing/accessories to start out are factored in...

-----

Year after I would look at getting my GPU involved, and I imagine with a radiator like that I could run a GPU (or two) and a CPU off of it no problem...

But I definitely wouldn't be looking to get everything in my loop from day one - parcelling it out year over year allows me to spend more in year 1 on higher quality components and set the stage for a cheaper 2nd year where I can fit in the GPU side of things...

This would also allow for a more flexible negotiating strategy when running things by the SO..;)
Click to expand...

A wise method of going about it. I also had to work around the SO on the purchases, as well the outrage over putting 'water inside your computer, are you nuts?' :D

Lay a good foundation for your loop looking forward to your future uses and you'll be good. What I read said that a Laing D5 could basically power almost any loop out there and that dual-pumps on a single loop are mostly just about redundancy in the case one dies, something to think about.

If you're considering a huge rad like that and this applies to any rad you consider, you need to account for where you are going to put it if it's going in your case. I started with a 360 rad, a pump, a reservoir and a cpu block and I'll add two gpu blocks once I upgrade my video cards.

I actually already regret getting a 360 rad, I should of gotten a 480 and modded the top of my 800D case to install it. I'm going to have to mod it anyways to put a 240 in the bottom when I add my GPUs. I've read that you should allocate a 120 rad qty. for each component you want to cool and then add some extra for overhead and to improve cooling further.

If I can manage to sell the 360 rad I'll get a 480 when I do the upgrade.

Also wondering where you are going to put such a massive rad o_O
 
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praktik

Member
Jan 23, 2009
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There's enough room in the bottom compartment of a Silverstone TJ11, currently I have both hot swap bays out cause well, I have all my drives in a NAS anyway and only need an SSD and one HDD for a little more breathing room...

So its pretty much an empty compartment save the power supply, which on it's side, only takes up half the depth (there is space for two power supplies in the bottom if you want)... just sitting there, waiting to take the giant rad a few years down the road...;)
 
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praktik

Member
Jan 23, 2009
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Ya it was a year long struggle before I jumped on it almost- was close on this, 800D, FT02 -> just wanted the one that would give me most options down the road and it just seemed this was most flexible - giving me great air cooling until I decided to do the water thing.

I thought to myself: "any computer stuff I wanna do, I do not want my case to be limiting factor, or have to replace it again"

It will be my case for 10 years, at least, that was the way I rationalized the extravagance..;)
 
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OVerLoRDI

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2006
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praktik said:
Ya it was a year long struggle before I jumped on it almost- was close on this, 800D, FT02 -> just wanted the one that would give me most options down the road and it just seemed this was most flexible - giving me great air cooling until I decided to do the water thing.

I thought to myself: "any computer stuff I wanna do, I do not want my case to be limiting factor, or have to replace it again"

It will be my case for 10 years, at least, that was the way I rationalized the extravagance..;)
Click to expand...

Sweet case. I would love to fit a 4x120mm rad easily in a case. I'd take measurements before I buy a 4x140mm rad. It looks like it could be a tight fit. I'm looking to mod the top of my 800D and fit a 4x120mm on the top. Should be a pretty simple surgery.

Also, the 140mm fan selection is much more limited, so a 120mm could be a better choice depending on your noise and airflow requirements.
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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Grooveriding said:
Man this is one sweet case. Would like to have one, $600 is steep for a case though. :cool:
Click to expand...

here is my 600 dollar case errr box..

IMG_0859.jpg


and how many radiators do i have inside my system?
IMG_0779.jpg


Ummm here lemme pull them out for you..
IMG_0758.jpg


oh and my complete LC system uses 6 pumps on 3 independent loops as well..
IMG_0777.jpg



<--- yes i love water cooling... and no i dont understand the word overkill... what does overkill mean again? :p
 
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