Looking to get into water cooling

[SimianR]

I have an R9 290 (reference card that I've put an MSI Gaming hsf on) and I've been sort of tempted for awhile to try throwing a water cooling setup together. I have no experience with water cooling though and have no idea what I would need to get started. Can anyone recommend a good setup? I would need everything because I'm starting from scratch, so if you can recommend a better value setup that would be great too.

I'm also in Canada, which I'm sure adds to the complications, so if anyone knows of any places that are in Canada that sell these parts, that would be great. Obviously the usual suspects like NCIX and Newegg have Canadian sites that operate here but I know you can't really get too much in the way of water cooling parts off either.

 

[thilanliyan]

How much are you willing to spend? You can go full custom which will cost more obviously, or there is a "ghetto" mod you can do to fit one of those AIO coolers to your card.

Dazmode.com has a very good selection of parts but the same parts might be a bit more expensive at ncix, if you can find them there. I've bought parts from them both here in Canada and they've been good.

I'm watercooling 2x290 and my 4670K right now.

 

[ClockHound]

You could dive into the Canadian DazMode pool at: https://www.dazmode.com/store/

NCIX does have a small pond of water products at: http://www.ncix.com/majorcategory/water-cooling-ff-144.htm

ExtremePC has water on the menu: http://www.extreme-pc.ca/

I'm an Airhead, so swim in these links at your own risk. ;-)

 

[SimianR]

How much are you willing to spend? You can go full custom which will cost more obviously, or there is a "ghetto" mod you can do to fit one of those AIO coolers to your card.

Dazmode.com has a very good selection of parts but the same parts might be a bit more expensive at ncix, if you can find them there. I've bought parts from them both here in Canada and they've been good.

I'm watercooling 2x290 and my 4670K right now.

I think I would rather get a proper block made for the 290 and whatever setup I need to get it going. Can you recommend a setup, including pump/rads, etc? I know that there are some all in one setups as well, are those worth looking at or do they not work as well?

 

[SimianR]

I've noticed that on the AIO coolers that come preinstalled on GPU's like the 295X2 that the pump is built into the rad, are there any rads out there that also have the pump built in that can be used with a specific GPU block?

 

[thilanliyan]

I've noticed that on the AIO coolers that come preinstalled on GPU's like the 295X2 that the pump is built into the rad, are there any rads out there that also have the pump built in that can be used with a specific GPU block?

Most AIOs have the pump built into the block, not the rad. Swiftech used to sell one with a pump built into the rad but I don't think they sell it here in Canada anymore. At least, I couldn't find it when I looked for it.

Here is a block you could use:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/ek-fc-r9-290x-nickel-rev2/
(You will have to check compatibility though)

Pump:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/dazmode_storm_ddc_3_2_pwm_18w_pump

Pump top with resevoir:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/ek-xres-100-ddc-acetal/

Rad:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/nexxxos-xt45-full-copper-240mm/

Search through the dazmode store as they have a good selection, and compare prices with ncix. You'll have to do your research.

EDIT:
Actually, looking at extreme-pc, they may be cheaper:
http://www.extreme-pc.ca/listmenu3items.asp?pagenum=1&menu2id=160&menu1id=12&menu3id=197

Just make sure you stick with a MCP355 (DDC 3.2) or MCP655 (D5) pump no matter where you buy from. And definitely buy a pump top as it increases pump performance from standard.

I myself run a MCP655 vario pump that is integrated into a XSPC dual 5.25" bay resevoir. Saves me some space.

 

[SimianR]

Thanks Thilanliyan you've given me some ideas to work with

What's your take on the Kraken G10 bracket and a AIO CPU cooler? I guess the down side would be the VRM cooling wouldn't be as good. This is basically a more streamlined ghetto mod in a way.

 

[thilanliyan]

What's your take on the Kraken G10 bracket and a AIO CPU cooler? I guess the down side would be the VRM cooling wouldn't be as good. This is basically a more streamlined ghetto mod in a way.

Yeah that was the "ghetto" mod I was referring to lol. Does it include VRM heatsinks or just the fan over the VRMs? I can't tell from the reviews. If it doesn't I would try to use one.

I think considering there have been a lot of people who have done it, it couldn't be too bad, and would be a good way to get your feet wet. First time I cooled a GPU, I also bought a kit instead of going full custom, then once I got more comfortable I went with full custom.

As for VRM cooling, this is what I'm using since I don't have a full cover block:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835426042

Works pretty well since I have a fan pointed at it, but I'm not 100% sure if it will fit under the Kraken bracket if you go that route.

 

[SimianR]

From the reviews I've seen it just has a fan over the VRM's. The only problem with my case (Define R4) is going to be that there is only space for 2x140mm fans at the top above the CPU, and I don't think any AIO cooler will have tubes long enough to reach the GPU. So I would have to go with a rad that is only 1 140mm fan. Do you think a smaller CPU AIO like the the Corsair Hydro 90 would be enough for an R9 290 or am I going to have to crank the fan thus really negating any benefit.

Edit* Actually there is room in the front for a bigger rad, for some reason I just feel weird about pulling warm air into the case across it. It seems odd to me that putting it there seems to be the standard setup.

 

[thilanliyan]

Coincidentally I also have the same case and I've fit 3 rads in there lol:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2431405

Can you fit a 2x120 rad up front? Even a slimmer one than the one I have?

As long as you don't OC too much, I'm sure that AIO should be fine.

 

[XavierMace]

I used a G10 bracket and X31 on my reference R9 290X and it was like a gift from god. Massive drop in idle and load temps. Equally massive drop in load noise. Getting heatsinks for the VRM's is recommended though.

 

[SimianR]

Coincidentally I also have the same case and I've fit 3 rads in there lol:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2431405

Can you fit a 2x120 rad up front? Even a slimmer one than the one I have?

As long as you don't OC too much, I'm sure that AIO should be fine.

I think I could fit them up there. What do you think about installing a 1x120 rad in the side panel (blowing out)? (I have the R4 without the window).

I used a G10 bracket and X31 on my reference R9 290X and it was like a gift from god. Massive drop in idle and load temps. Equally massive drop in load noise. Getting heatsinks for the VRM's is recommended though.

Good to hear

 

[MrTeal]

I use a Swiftech H220 on my R9 290, and it was a huge improvement in noise and temps. I have a G10 and an H55 in a box, but they didn't work worth a damn. The surface of the H55 was extremely convex, so it wouldn't make good contact with the die.

I didn't even need a using just a GPU block wouldn't even stock under Furmark due to VRM heating. A Gelid VRM kit helped, though you still need decent airflow to run at high clocks under Furmark. I eventually just cut a piece of copper and tapped some holes in it to replace the VRM heatsink, and soldered that to an old AOI waterblock that had a bad pump. Now the VRMs stay in the 40s even at 1200MHz core/1400 memory.

 

[thilanliyan]

I think I could fit them up there. What do you think about installing a 1x120 rad in the side panel (blowing out)? (I have the R4 without the window).

Yep that could work as well. It's just annoying to have one there though because you have to be very wary any time you open up the panel.