New WC Build

[HoloZapz]

Hello everybody!

I'm trying to switch from AC to WC. I put together some parts that I researched that seem ok to me. I already have the current system listed. The watercooling parts are what I would be looking to buy:

System:
CPU: E8500 @ 4Ghz 1.1825 vcore
Temps (Air): ~35 idle - ~50 load
Motherboard: P5Q Deluxe
Video Card & Quantity: 1 4870x2
Temps (Stock): ~75 - 85 @ 40% fan speed
Videocard Overclock: Not yet!


Watercooling:
CPU Block: Apogee GTZ
NorthBridge Block: n/a (maybe, maybe not)
SouthBridgeBlock: n/a (maybe, maybe not)
Mosfet Block: n/a (maybe, maybe not)
Videocard WB/WBs: XSPC Razor
Radiator & Quantity: Swiftech MCR320-QP
Radiator Fans & Quantity: 120 Scythes - 3
Radiator Location: Back of Case
Radiator Fan Direction: Pull
Reservoir: XSPC Arcrylic Reservoir
Tubing & Size: Tygon 3903 1/2"ID 5/8"OD
Barb/Fitting Size: Bitspower 1/2"ID - 5/8"OD compression (8)
Pump & Quantity: Swiftech MCP355
Pumps-Series/Parallel: Youve lost me here

I'm going to be mounting the rad externally on the back of my case (Antec1200), but would it be possible to put the rad upside down? I don't really want to drill new holes into the case for the tubing and want to use the ones already there if possible. I heard that air bubbles can form when the barbs are on the bottom and want to avoid that. Should I use a different rad or will I be fine?

Also, how are the parts I've chosen? I may eventually add a NB/Mosfet block, but not too sure at the moment. Should I change out any of the parts?

Thanks for any help!

edit: changed from res to rad - Also on the xtremesystems forums

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Pics of your case would help. Usually rads end up being mounted on the top of the case after the case is drilled out with a 4.1/2 hole saw or other method but this is not set in stone, just something I've had to do and am currently doing to my LL PC-60

EDIT: opps forgot the most important part, Get a UD3P or UD3R - forget about Asus, seriously unless you go for a Rampage X48 board. They are not the board maker they use to be.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: HoloZapz
Hello everybody!

I'm trying to switch from AC to WC. I put together some parts that I researched that seem ok to me. Here are the specs/parts:

Code:
User Name: HoloZapz

System:
CPU: E8500 @ 4Ghz 1.1825 vcore
Temps (Air): ~35 idle - ~50 load
Motherboard: P5Q Deluxe
Video Card & Quantity: 1 4870x2
Temps (Stock): ~75 - 85 @ 40% fan speed
Videocard Overclock: Not yet!


Watercooling:
CPU Block: Apogee GTZ
NorthBridge Block: n/a (maybe, maybe not)
SouthBridgeBlock: n/a (maybe, maybe not)
Mosfet Block: n/a (maybe, maybe not)
Videocard WB/WBs: XSPC Razor
Radiator & Quantity: Swiftech MCR320-QP
Radiator Fans & Quantity: 120 Scythes - 3
Radiator Location: Back of Case
Radiator Fan Direction: Pull
Reservoir: XSPC Arcrylic Reservoir
Tubing & Size: Tygon 3903 1/2"ID 5/8"OD
Barb/Fitting Size: Bitspower 1/2"ID - 5/8"OD compression (8)
Pump & Quantity: Swiftech MCP355
Pumps-Series/Parallel: Youve lost me here

I'm going to be mounting the rad externally on the back of my case (Antec1200), but would it be possible to put the reservoir upside down? I don't really want to drill new holes into the case for the tubing and want to use the ones already there if possible. I heard that air bubbles can form when the barbs are on the bottom and want to avoid that. Should I use a different rad or will I be fine?

Also, how are the parts I've chosen? I may eventually add a NB/Mosfet block, but not too sure at the moment. Should I change out any of the parts?

Thanks for any help!

Nope, you can't put the res upside down. The XSPC res and top (I'm assuming this is what you meant by XSPC res) is bolted directly to the top of the Swiftech 355 pump housing. Your pump wouldn't work properly, since any air bubbles, instead of being in the top of the res, would form within the pump, which would mean that the pump would not pump correctly plus it would likely damage it (the pump should always contain water). And how are you going to fill / top up the res? The fill port is in the top of the res, which would become the bottom if you mounted it upside down.

If you are wanting to cool the CPU, NB, SB, Mosfets and 1x GPU, you are going to need more than 1x MCR320 rad. Plus you will need more than one loop.

I would probably have the CPU on one loop with a MCR220 or MCR320 and another loop for the NB, SB and Mosfets with a MCR220/320 and yet another loop for the GPU. Either that or put the CPU, NB, SB and Mosfets on one loop with a MCR320(?) and have another loop for the GPU. Both scenarios leave some room for expansion if you want to add another GPU to the loop in the future. Between the two options, the latter one is going to require a large rad surface area (probably more than what you will get from one MCR320; perhaps the Feser X-Changer 480mm Xtreme) and a decent pump (or two). Also, ideally you should have the CPU on its own loop.

Either way, to have two or three loops for the CPU, NB, SB, Mosfets and 1x GPU is not going to be cheap.

Aigo/Woodbutcher, what are your thoughts on this?

You don't want to do what this guy did. Note his crappy temps (amongst other things).

 

[HoloZapz]

I should've been a lot more clear -_-;. The specs is what I have currently. I have all the computer parts, but is currently on air. My CPU temps seem fine, but my GPU temps are obviously hot. Turning up the fan on the 4870x2 would make it sound like a dry blower, so that's why I want to switch to water cooling. Getting a new mb would be out of the question since I already have one. Sorry for the confusion again dude!

Currently, I'm looking to cool my CPU and GPU. I may eventually want to cool the NB, SB and mosfet in the future, but not now The loop would go CPU > GPU > Rad > Res/pump. I think that's right...

I don't really want to drill holes into my case. There are 2 slots for tubing near the bottom, so that's why I wanted to know whether I could mount a rad upside down. If I used a different rad, would it be possible? Or is it just not gonna happen?

I also got some info from the xtremesystem forums that I should go with 7/16id tubing rather than the 1/2id tubes. I'll look into that also.

I'll take some pics of my current setup once I get home and post em.

edit: Ah, stupid me, I meant, "Can the rad be put upside down" not the reservoir... -_-

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

You might want to try a stackable MCR 320 or 220 for both cpu & gpu.. 50c isn't that bad for cpu so a GPU loop would be best and you can then use a smaller rad like a single 220 at minimum

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

1/2 id and 7/16 id tubing - stick with that

yes you can run the rad like that, there really is no proper up or down orientation on a rad just non-optimal

 

[daw123]

Oops, I've just re-read your OP. You queried whether you could mount the rad upside down (I thought you said res). Sorry, should have read your post more carefully. Ignore that bit in my previous post.

You can use 7/16" ID tubing on 1/2" OD barbs. That's what BTRY and I'm using along with quite a few others. It gives the tubing a nice snug fit over the barbs.

 

[HoloZapz]

no, no, no, i did say reservoir, but fixed it

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Wait, I'm not sure about rads with the built in res, but that rad you have listed you can orient 'upside down etc'