need help selecting a water cooling system

[iamakimmer]

Hi everyone,

I want to get a water cooling setup and I'm looking for an all-in-one system...I was thinking about the Zalman reserator since I like zalman products so much. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I want something that will last me a while and performs well when overclocking. Is it better to get the parts all separately or does anyone have any recommendations on other setups? Any help would be appreciated...thanks!

 

[HardWarrior]

If you don't want to source the parts individually you can take a look at something like this.

 

[FelixDeCat]

I like danger den.

 

[leegroves86]

Building one yourself will be a whole lot better than buying one pre-made. You will get much better performance, upgrade-ability, quality & of course fun. Of course, DIY is not for everyone. I purchased all my w/c needs at Danger den, they are excellent! I called them to check on my order once and you could tell it was a quality family run business.

Depending on your cooling needs I'd reccomend something like this:

Danger Den "D5" pump
Storm or DD cpu block
Radiator supporting at least 2, maybe 3 120mm fans, I like Hardware lab's new "generation two (GT)" series (google it)
Tygon tubing
Either reservior or T-line
Distilled water, never tap water!

PM for more questions

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: leegroves86
Building one yourself will be a whole lot better than buying one pre-made. You will get much better performance, upgrade-ability, quality & of course fun.

If you had taken the time to look at the link, you'd see that it contains parts that are the same as those that you can individually source. Beyond this, some people simply don't want to go the hobbyist route, and that's just fine. There's nothing inherently wrong with wanting to get all the parts, in a single box, and be done with it. Doing it this way doesn't sacrifice "performance, upgrade-ability, quality & of course fun", because each of these aspects is relative to the individual.

People who want to pretend that there's only one way to get the job done are in for a real surprise. Kits aren't going anywhere, and will only get better as time goes on.

 

[leegroves86]

Hardwarrior: its too bad you didnt' read the next sentence: "Of course, DIY is not for everyone"

 

[HardWarrior]

Building one yourself will be a whole lot better than buying one pre-made. You will get much better performance, upgrade-ability, quality & of course fun.

It's possible for any other opinion or approach after this sort of hyperbole? You painted anyone who DIY isn?t ?for? as a complete imbecile. Who in their right mind would turn down all that performance, upgradeability, quality and of course fun? The problem is that you?re wrong, not to mention stuck in the past. You?re obviously bonkers over your cooler, and I?m satisfied with mine, both being DIY rigs. Why not let those who want too explore kits as an option do so without the automatic supposition that their choice is inferior?

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: leegroves86
Hardwarrior: its too bad you didnt' read the next sentence: "Of course, DIY is not for everyone"

Maybe he did read it but suggested it anyway out of sheer forethought & wisdom.

 

[iamakimmer]

thanks for your help! I think i'm going to get Danger Den stuff...it would be a nice project. I have the antec p180 case and i've seen a lot of threads with an internal watercooling set up with the pa160 radiator...maybe I'll try it!

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: iamakimmer
thanks for your help! I think i'm going to get Danger Den stuff...it would be a nice project. I have the antec p180 case and i've seen a lot of threads with an internal watercooling set up with the pa160 radiator...maybe I'll try it!

Good luck, kimmer. And don't forget to post pics! 😉

 

[Ping to the Pong]

Im not going to tell you the advantages and disadvantages of buying a pre-made kit or a DIY kit, but i will say that you should look around at the individual components within kits and see if they are right for you. Here's a very useful guide that i like to follow from the XS forums:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75873

You can use this as a reference on what to buy and what the general consensus is on certain components.

i might also add that Swiftech has some decent kits such as the apex. If you do the necessary research and decide to buy parts individually, check out this link http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67179 for places to buy. Maybe you can save shipping and buy all the parts from one or two stores.