best water cooling setup

[hardwareking]

I decided to ditch the idea of a 3rd party heatsink and decided look for water cooling.
So which is the best and most reliable one under $350 price tag?
I've heard asetek waterchill is good,but i don't think i'll be compatable socketwise with lga 775.
Then theres the zalamn reserator.But i prefer to keep the thing portable.
So i'm lookin for something that'll cool cpu,chipset and gpu.
Any help would be appreciated.

P.S
I've hit 3.6ghz on stock heatsink and stock vcore on a gigabyte 945p-pro mobo.
So will liquid cooling help me get further?

 

[nealh]

You should get some o/cing benefit but that is always YMMV

are only looking at water cooling kits?

if you budget is $350 ..you can setup a very nice DIY

Your case will be important for what size radiator you purchase...that is a dual or triple 120mm radiator

DIY should perform much better than most prebuilt kits

Some suggestions:

Pump:
DDC ultra modded $110
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...roduct_info&cPath=201&products_id=4509 this pump performs as well as the Aquaxtreme 50z and MCP655/D5 or better with equal to better noise
MCP655 $80
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCP655-12-VDC-Pump-pr-2982.html
Aquaextreme 50z $75
http://www.cooltechnica.com/Merchant2/m...duct_Code=AQX-50Z-DC12&Category_Code=P

Cpu Block:
Storm rev 2 $80
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-Storm-Universal-Waterblock-Rev-2-pr-3022.html
Apogee $45..jab tech

Gpu block:
MCW60 w/ram sinks $60
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCW60-VGA-cooler-pr-3252.html
DD Maze 4 $42 but you need ram sinks
http://www.jab-tech.com/Low-Profile-Acetal-MAZE4-GPU-1-2-Barbs-pr-3262.html

Radiator:
HE 120.2 or PA120.2 ~ $100
http://www.jab-tech.com/120mm-Dual-c-257.html

tubing
Masterkleer(50cents a foot) or tygon($2 foot) 7/16internal dia and 5/8 outer diameter
http://www.jab-tech.com/Masterkleer-Tubing-7-16-ID-5-8-OD-pr-3079.html

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/ty7id5odlatu.html

I would recommend 1/2" barbs(less restrictive) and worm drive clamps(these help secure the tubing to the barbs), fans, teflon tape

I am new to water cooling did my first loop recently and started with a Reservoir but switched to a T- Line..shortens the loop and may provide a small improvement in temps, but made my case inside a bit cleaner

I am not cooling the chipset..others can chime in on this but I have heard it can add a fair bit of restriction to flow

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: hardwareking
So which is the best and most reliable one under $350 price tag?

If you're careful in what you buy this amount will get you a nice cooler. Expect a bit more if you decide on a top-notch radiator/core and/or pump. At any rate, if I were you, I'd make SURE I had a very reliable, proven pump.

I've heard asetek waterchill is good,but i don't think i'll be compatable socketwise with lga 775.

In terms of blocks, the mounting hardware is usually separate from the actual contact plate, meaning you SHOULD be able to order a unit like this with compatibility for your motherboard. Asetek, BTW, are relatively low-flow, Euro-style systems. There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but it's something to keep in mind.

Then theres the zalamn reserator.But i prefer to keep the thing portable.

IMO, the Reserator is water-cooling in mechanics\medium only. Beyond not being too portable, the operational temps you'll get are on par with air.

So i'm lookin for something that'll cool cpu,chipset and gpu.

nealh's suggestions are good, with the exception of the Storm. In short, it's a high-maintenance block that should be considered carefully. It's not tolerant when it comes of meatball coolant mixtures (will clog) and requires a better than average pressure rating to really shine.

P.S
I've hit 3.6ghz on stock heatsink and stock vcore on a gigabyte 945p-pro mobo.
So will liquid cooling help me get further?

I barely know AMD overclocking so I'm not going to make any definitive statements about Intel. You can, however, expect a substantial increase in vcore overhead with water. Even moreso with truly high end water.

Two things of note: There's nothing problematic about chipset water-cooling, as long as you meet some very basic requirements. Likewise, there aren't any inherent issues with using a res if you choose in that there are pro's and cons to either approach (increased temps with a res simply don't come into it, BTW).

 

[Ping to the Pong]

wow, for 350 bucks, you can basically build a top of the line water cooling system.

Swiftech Storm rev2 80 bucks (in many reviews, even at low flow rates it still performs better than other blocks. If you take off the IHS than it blows everything else away)
AquaExtreme MP1 GPU cooler 45 bucks (more restrictive than the mcw60 but should perform better)
Swiftech MCR220 dual 120 rad 40 bucks (better than BIP II and much cheaper than thermochill rad)
Swiftech mcp655 - 75 bucks (same as D5 pump but with mounting hardware)
10 ft 7/16" Masterkleer tubing - 5 bucks
Delrin Fillport - 9 bucks (delrin, so no mixing metals as with the danger den fillport)
T fitting 2 bucks
12 Worm Drive hose clamps - 12 bucks
Swiftech Ramsinks - 20 bucks
2 Yate loon fans - 12 bucks

ok i think i got everything in there except what type of coolant/ additive you want to use.
That should already amount to 300. Yes, this loop is somewhat restrictive, however, the D5 will be able to handle it without a problem. If you really want a top-end system, switch the D5 with 2 AquaExtreme 50z's and run in a series for more head pressure without adding anymore of a heat dump than the D5. However, that will run you over your budget.

There's not really a reason to watercool your chipset, but if you absolutely have to, check out the Silverprop chipset block, i've read some stickies on xs and oc forums and say its the best, but then again, it dont really matter.....

As for the reserator, that kit doesnt perform very well and from what i recall, the radiator is aluminum. You usually dont want to mix alum and copper togther unless you wan corrosion in your loop. Additive will help, but still.....

Asetek has decent kits, but not worth the price. DIY kits offer more versatility and better performance with quality parts for less....

 

[HardWarrior]

The reasoning behind the idea that chipset cooling is worthless is faulty.

1. Nothing HAS to be water-cooled. People get by on air just fine.
2. It's just another heat source, that's all. If you have the surface area needed to cope with the extra dump there simply isn't a problem.
3. Chipset water-cooling removes one more fan plus the point of failure it represents. Aren't at least some people into water for the quiet it can represent?
4. Most chipset blocks are NOT restrictive by nature. They aren't designed to handle the sort of heat generated by a CPU, so there's no need adorn them with detailed impingment structures. With good flow (~1GPM), generated by pump with a decent dead-head, a loop can handle another block easily.

Again, as long as you meet some basic conditions, chipset water-cooling is viable. If you have the money and the will, go ahead and do it.

 

[nealh]

Worm drives can be bought a Lowes/Home Depot for ~$5/10..I caught 2/.88

Others can comment but the DDC ultra modded..has very good specs and is a good choice too but more money$$

Hardwarrior..what cpu block would you prefer that is less restrictive and performs on par as the Storm rev2...

AquaXtreme MP-05 SP Limited Edition Universal CPU Water Block
http://www.cooltechnica.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?
Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AQX-MP05-SP-LE&Category_Code=AMD-WB

with delrin accel plate I do not have this block but would assume it is restrictive as well

My post above was a list of items that were suggestions..and to show the excellent components you could purchase

Also I do not use a filport...I cut the stalk of a cd spindle an use this as a cap for my Tline..works very nice

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: nealh
Hardwarrior..what cpu block would you prefer that is less restrictive and performs on par as the Storm rev2...

Unless you're a real stickler for the lowest possible temps, I'd recommend the Apogee. TBH, the Storm is just too much of a potential PITA right now, nealh. Beyond the standard Storm early adopter horror stories, there was a guy at overclockers who had his jam up with something like tar. He couldn't clean it with any standard means and had to send it to Cathar to have it drilled out. That sucked hard.

Now, having said all this, I haven't had any problems with my rev1, but I tend to be very anal about it, and the type of coolant I feed it. In the 6-months I've had it, I've broken it down 3-times just to see what the deal was. If you're willing to baby a Storm, it's a truly outstanding block, but I wouldn't recommend it for someone new or a person who isn't into tinkering.

 

[HardWarrior]

And for anyone who gets all moist and salty over a quality pump, this baby might be worth a go. The way I understand it, it's been in use in Europe for a while and has a good rep so far. It'll for sure be in my next loop, unless there's something better.

 

[nealh]

Originally posted by: HardWarrior

Originally posted by: nealh
Hardwarrior..what cpu block would you prefer that is less restrictive and performs on par as the Storm rev2...

Unless you're a real stickler for the lowest possible temps, I'd recommend the Apogee. TBH, the Storm is just too much of a potential PITA right now, nealh. Beyond the standard Storm early adopter horror stories, there was a guy at overclockers who had his jam up with something like tar. He couldn't clean it with any standard means and had to send it to Cathar to have it drilled out. That sucked hard.

Now, having said all this, I haven't had any problems with my rev1, but I tend to be very anal about it, and the type of coolant I feed it. In the 6-months I've had it, I've broken it down 3-times just to see what the deal was. If you're willing to baby a Storm, it's a truly outstanding block, but I wouldn't recommend it for someone new or a person who isn't into tinkering.

I agree regarding the clogging..I got the block and for other not so smart reason(no Storm related) my temps sucked in a big(with the door closed on a P180 I was choking my Radiator cooling ablities)

I opened the block and several nozzles were clogged from residue from the raiator??

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: nealh

Originally posted by: HardWarrior

Originally posted by: nealh
Hardwarrior..what cpu block would you prefer that is less restrictive and performs on par as the Storm rev2...

Unless you're a real stickler for the lowest possible temps, I'd recommend the Apogee. TBH, the Storm is just too much of a potential PITA right now, nealh. Beyond the standard Storm early adopter horror stories, there was a guy at overclockers who had his jam up with something like tar. He couldn't clean it with any standard means and had to send it to Cathar to have it drilled out. That sucked hard.

Now, having said all this, I haven't had any problems with my rev1, but I tend to be very anal about it, and the type of coolant I feed it. In the 6-months I've had it, I've broken it down 3-times just to see what the deal was. If you're willing to baby a Storm, it's a truly outstanding block, but I wouldn't recommend it for someone new or a person who isn't into tinkering.

I agree regarding the clogging..I got the block and for other not so smart reason(no Storm related) my temps sucked in a big(with the door closed on a P180 I was choking my Radiator cooling ablities)

I opened the block and several nozzles were clogged from residue from the raiator??

That sucks hard too. I'm guessing you're pretty anal about things now too.

 

[nealh]

yup...I recleaned the radiator for a second time....I figured the first 16hrs I cleaned, soaked with distilled white vinegar and rinsed ..what seemed like forever would be good...wrong

repeated cleaning, soaking, rinsing for addtional 12hrs...the crab that came out of my radiator.....yuck

I can see the Storm will need be cleaned periodically to maintain optimal performance

 

[HardWarrior]

Uh wow, all of this from a PA160??? Thermochill is supposed to be better than this considering their reputation. This sounds like something you'd only experience from a junkyard-acquired core. Did you contact TC to register your dissatisfaction with their QC?

 

[nealh]

I figured from what others reported at XS that it was normal for rads to have alot of white residue inside after manufacturing

I have to point out the residue issue that's reported at XS are for all rads..not a specific brand and I never thought much about...the tutorial said to make sure you really clean any radiator as it will have left over manufacturing residue(??)

I will say Danger Den where I bought PA160 packaged the rad like crap..I had some of the fins bent from the neoprene,shroud and packing in the box...

 

[HardWarrior]

I can understand SOME residue. The manufacturing process looks messy as hell. I've got five radiators other than the one I'm currently using (including 2 cores), and none of them required the sort of stuff you had to go through. 48-hours cycling white vinegar was more than enough to clean them all. I don't know, maybe I've just been lucky. Yeah, either TC packs like crap, or it's FCPU. My TC 120.3 showed up like it was packed by a monkey too.

 

[hardwareking]

hey listen guys,thanks for all the links.
But i was looking for something that comes as a kit.
U know like all the blocks,tubing,anti-algae fluid,reservoir,pump etc..all comes together in one kit.
The asetek waterchill has really caught my eye.But i don't know which one is actually compatable wth socket 775.
So can someone tell me which model is compatable with the socket 775 and the price of the model too?
All the reviews i've seen use socket 478 processors.But the good thing is everything is available in 1 kit.
Thanks in advance.

 

[HardWarrior]

This one looks pretty good for 775, plus the pump is sexy as hell. You may be able to find it cheaper if you're so inclined.

 

[hardwareking]

thanks a lot hardwarrior.
I think i'll get that,and i'm pretty sure i can find it cheaper.Or what the heck i'll spend the extra 30.
Thanks again.

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: hardwareking
thanks a lot hardwarrior.
I think i'll get that,and i'm pretty sure i can find it cheaper.Or what the heck i'll spend the extra 30.
Thanks again.

Anytime. Finding sh1t to buy is easy for me. I'd really like to see pictures of it installed, BTW.