My water cooling loop design

[z1ggy]

I have created 3 different lay outs for my up coming loop. I can't quite decide which would end up being better, so if you have an opinion as to why one would be best, please let me know.

For designs 1 & 2, my drain point would be a quick disconnect on the lowest tube. I just did not show it in the pic. Design 3 I've showed a spot where I would put a valve on an output of the pump.

Legend:
Red- Rads
Gray-Fans
Blue- Res & pump
Green- PSU
Yellow- Mobo

Design 1:

Design 2:

Design 3:

Parts list, in case you care:
EK Supremecy- Gold for LGA1150
EK or XSPC for GTX 780
AlphaCool NexXxos 360 & 240 rads
EK D5 X-Res 140 Pump Top & Res
MCP655 PWM
PrimoChill UV Tubing in 3/8 x 5/8
Pack of Monsoon Compression Fittings
Misc fittings for angled bends/Draining/Air bleeding
Fan Controller
Distilled H20, silver coil, etc
Fans, probably Cougar Vortex or NoiseBlocker BlackSilent XLP

 

[BrightCandle]

(2) is going to be very difficult because there isn't a lot of space to get that piping into a rotation out of the radiator and into the reservoir. I think 3 looks about the easiest of the options to do and maintain depending on how the tubing comes in and out of the pump/res. Looks like you need a couple of 90 degree barbs for that. 2x45 barbs for the CPU and mobo link, another 2x 45 for CPU to GPU and then the rest can probably work ok with standard straight ones.

 

[z1ggy]

(2) is going to be very difficult because there isn't a lot of space to get that piping into a rotation out of the radiator and into the reservoir. I think 3 looks about the easiest of the options to do and maintain depending on how the tubing comes in and out of the pump/res. Looks like you need a couple of 90 degree barbs for that. 2x45 barbs for the CPU and mobo link, another 2x 45 for CPU to GPU and then the rest can probably work ok with standard straight ones.

I think option 3 is the best as well.

The pump has 2 ports on one side, and 1 port on the opposite side of those 2. I'd have the 2 ports facing left, and then naturally the other port would face right, toward the rad. Also, I believe on the top of the res, there is a fill port.

Since I don't have the rads and case at home right now, I might not order fittings until I end up getting all the parts in place to see how everything aligns. My sketch there is just a rough estimate of how things will fit.

 

[BrightCandle]

I find before I build my loop its best to take the dimensions and draw it out relatively accurately. I calculate the angles from that and find the best fittings. A little bit of extra prep will save you some build time.

 

[z1ggy]

I find before I build my loop its best to take the dimensions and draw it out relatively accurately. I calculate the angles from that and find the best fittings. A little bit of extra prep will save you some build time.

Yeah that's a good idea. I based this drawing on actual hardware dimensions I found in their respective spec sheets, so it's at least somewhat accurate. But yeah, once I order the case, I can actually mark things out in there.

Also, I posted this same thing in OCN to get more comments. A few people are giving me different opinions as to direction of airflow. I was under the premise that my rads should be blowing hot air OUT of the case, as opposed to "sucking" in cool air through the rad. To me, it makes more sense to use slightly hotter air forced over the fins to remove heat, then using slightly cooler air which overall will up the temps inside my case, thus upping the temp of my loop.

Edit: Actually my GPU might interfere with me having the Monsta 240 in front.. I'm looking at some pics with 780's in the loop with tube res's and there's really not much clearance between the res and fans in the front with a regular 60mm rad. I don't have room for a bay res either because 1 slot is taken up by the 360 rad, another by an optical drive, and the last one by my fan controller. Hm...might need to get crafty with fittings, but I'm pretty sure I will make it work.

http://www.overclock.net/t/831636/lightbox/post/22420145/id/2056107
http://www.overclock.net/t/831636/lightbox/post/22278233/id/2010355

 

[feixuanling]

Wow.