Please critique this WC parts list

[Liquidsnakes]

Just about to start doing my second watercooled build, and wouldn't mind getting some critiques. Something not up to spec? Waste of money on something? Could do better somewhere? Feel free to comment.

It's a dual loop setup, cooling the cpu and video card. Both will be OC'd, but I'm not looking to break any records here. This setup is as much about silence as speed.

Loop 1, CPU: MCP655 -> MCR220 -> Apogee XT -> XSPC 5.25" Bay Res

Loop 2, GPU: MCP655 -> MCR220 -> MCW80 -> XSPC 5.25" Bay Res

Fittings: Bitspower compressions on some of the odder angles, regular barbs on the simpler stuff.

Tubing: 7/16 x 5/8 Tygon

Case: TJ07

Fans: Zalman F3's

Some of this I'm reusing from my previous build, namely the pumps and radiators. Do I need to do any special cleaning on these before I reuse them? They've been in use about 3 years.

Is it worth it doing compression fittings? Previously I just had barbs with zip ties, no leak problems whatsoever.

I was also looking into the bitspower aftermarket top for the MCP655s. Is the flow that much better? I do like the idea of being able to use fittings on it since it's threaded.

I'm also interested in finding a better mounting system for the radiators. I have them in what I'm fairly certain is the most common mounting point in the TJ07, in the bottom section mounted next to each other. Previously I just had them ziptied into place, but I'm looking to do this build a bit more elegantly, so no zipties. I saw a radiator mounting system on sidewindercomputers, WCUK I believe it's made by, but it doesn't list the MCR220 as being compatible. Anyone know for sure? Would swiftech's own radbox be of any use here?

Now some of this stuff is purchased, some of it isn't. If I could save money somewhere, or should spend more somewhere, please advise.

Thanks for any and all input,

Nick

 

[EarthwormJim]

Gentle Typhoons are better fans if you're after silence. http://www.jab-tech.com/Scythe-Gentle-Typhoon-D1225C12B3AP-13-1150rpm-pr-4499.html

Compression fittings aren't really needed with that tubing.

It's a big case, so if you plan your loop properly, you shouldn't really need any angle connectors.

I'd consider swapping out an MCR220 for an MCR320 for the CPU loop at least.


As for mounting the radiators, something as simple as L brackets would work fine. That's what I did in my Black Pearl (similar design as the TJ07).

If there's a machine shop near you, you could have a nice looking aluminum bracket made for maybe $10-20.

 

[Liquidsnakes]

Well, as I said I've got the radiators from the last project. When I first did the last water setup I thought about doing PA120.3s, but since I'm keeping the PSU and the two D5 pumps down there, there's not really any room for 3x120s the way I have it set up.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I'm using the bp top on my 655 and it is noisier than the stock top but the flow is very nice. Are you planning to add the mb chipset to your cpu loop?

 

[Liquidsnakes]

Interesting that the bitspower top is noisier. Not what I wanted to hear Is it enough to make you regret the purchase, or is the added cooling performance (if any) worth it?

No, I'm not planning on cooling the mobo at all. Just the processor and video card.

 

[EarthwormJim]

I'm using the bp top on my 655 and it is noisier than the stock top but the flow is very nice. Are you planning to add the mb chipset to your cpu loop?

Is your pump hard mounted to your case? My stock 655 was pretty loud when I had it bolted down. Sitting on a pad of foam it's silent now.

Interesting that the bitspower top is noisier. Not what I wanted to hear Is it enough to make you regret the purchase, or is the added cooling performance (if any) worth it?

No, I'm not planning on cooling the mobo at all. Just the processor and video card.

Your loops are very very small, I doubt you would see any performance benefit in each loop with a new top.

There's a combo top/reservior from primochill (Typhoon III) for the D5 that you could get. It would let you run your video card and CPU loop in parallel with basically the same performance as running two separate pumps and loops.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=228962&highlight=primochill

http://www.jab-tech.com/Primochill-Typhoon-III-Reservoir-System-PEC-pr-4497.html

It might be discontinued now though, so it could be difficult to track down and it has some iffy build quality.

Basically I don't think you'd really benefit from going with an aftermarket top.

 

[Liquidsnakes]

I forgot to mention the hardware being cooled, probably important

CPU is core i7 930, gpu is 5870. Is an MCR220 each enough for these? Previously they were cooling a Q6600 @ 3.0 and an 8800GTX.

 

[EarthwormJim]

I forgot to mention the hardware being cooled, probably important

CPU is core i7 930, gpu is 5870. Is an MCR220 each enough for these? Previously they were cooling a Q6600 @ 3.0 and an 8800GTX.

I think you're pushing a 2x120 radiator with that CPU if you're trying to attain silence. The video card should be fine.

 

[Liquidsnakes]

Based on some more reading and the comments here, I decided to bite the bullet and ditch the old mcr220s. Ended up ordering a PA120.3 for the cpu, going to mount in the bottom of the case where the rads were previously, and a 120.2 for the video card. Hopefully that should take care of things nicely.

I may have splurged a bit, but I kind of did the last build on a budget so I felt entitled

 

[Meghan54]

Just an FYI....two thick rads in the bottom of a TJ07 is a tight fit. Having done just what you're contemplating, I had to resort to 90 degree fittings to get the tubing in and out without kinking. Not a lot of space between two thick rads.

On the other hand, your gpu would have probably been quite fine with the MCR220. Gpus don't respond to ultimate cooling quite as well as cpus, unless you're going for benchmarking records.

Remember, gpus are designed, at least the last two gens, to operate at temps approaching 90C. Watercooling with almost any rad on them will give you a significant drop in load temps, MCR or Thermochill or any other brand.....and size isn't quite as critical with gpu cooling as it is with cpu cooling.


I'd take the suggestion to ditch the F3's though and move to a Gentle Typhoon. The sleeve bearing F3 is a fan that's rather short lived while the GT's have a much longer life expectancy and better and quieter overall performance. Wouldn't use any sleeve bearing fan for rad cooling, except maybe a Yate-Loon, and only because they're cheap as heck.

Not a real fan of the XSPC bay res either. Lots of people have been having problems with joint sealing and leaks with them. I'd look into something like an EK or IanH res.

 

[Liquidsnakes]

Well, I do have two swiftech reservoirs, I wanted to go with the xspc bay ones just for aesthetic reasons. I thought the reported leaks with XSPC were for the pump-res combos? Same idea then?

As far as the tight fit at the bottom, I was going to mount the 120.2 at the top of the case.

The PA120.3 should fit fine with the PSU and two MCP655s down at the bottom. 120.2 at the top, and the two xspc reservoirs in the bottom two drive bays. As far as the F3's, I was thinking about replacing them but jesus those gentle typhoons are $$$.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Well, I do have two swiftech reservoirs, I wanted to go with the xspc bay ones just for aesthetic reasons. I thought the reported leaks with XSPC were for the pump-res combos? Same idea then?

As far as the tight fit at the bottom, I was going to mount the 120.2 at the top of the case.

The PA120.3 should fit fine with the PSU and two MCP655s down at the bottom. 120.2 at the top, and the two xspc reservoirs in the bottom two drive bays. As far as the F3's, I was thinking about replacing them but jesus those gentle typhoons are $$$.

Well if you want to stick with sleeve fans just go with yate loons. http://www.jab-tech.com/YATE-LOON-120mm-Case-Fan-D12SL-12-pr-3009.html

Sleeve will be fine for the bottom radiator, but for the top one in a horizontal layout; they will wear out faster and possibly be louder.

Where are you sticking your hard drives if you're occupying your 5.25 bays?

 

[Meghan54]

I'd look at replacing the F3's anyway.....and take Jim's advice and use Yate-Loons instead if cost is a priority.

The GT's will last a long time, have dual ball bearings and are much higher quality construction vs. either the F3's or YL's....hence, the higher price.

Personally, I bought 2 red LED F3's and 3 plain black F3's when they were tested by Vapor at XS as being excellent on rads.

The two LED lit ones were used simply as case fans, the three plain were rad fans, horizontally placed unfortunately.

Within 6 months, every single one was either pulled or about to be pulled out of service due to the sleeve bearing making horrible noise while running. While they worked, they were great. But terribly short life.....I've run YL's that lasted 2-3X longer in the same use.

Currently, I'm using Scythe S-Flex fans that have over 1.5 years of use on them with no change in noise, air output, anything, just working great. They were as costly as the GT's are and I'm getting what I paid for....and with the GT's you should get the same.

 

[nitromullet]

There's a combo top/reservior from primochill (Typhoon III) for the D5 that you could get. It would let you run your video card and CPU loop in parallel with basically the same performance as running two separate pumps and loops.

It might be discontinued now though, so it could be difficult to track down and it has some iffy build quality

I wouldn't recommend the T3. First of all, there is considerable debate regarding the actual performance of the T3. Secondly, (as you mentioned) they are of questionable build quality.

They are discontinued now basically because Primochill couldn't get the thing to work reliably no matter what they tried.

from http://www.primochill.com/:

As of May 19th 2010, PrimoChill has decided to stop production and any further pursuit of revisions to the Typhoon III Reservoir System. PrimoChill has exhausted all of its time and resources allotted for any further production on the Typhoon III Reservoir System and has decided that this effort would be better directed towards the new reservoir product line which we believe will exceed the market's expectations . We would like to thank all of our customers and resellers for their patience in working out the kinks and unforeseen events that occurred throughout the life of the T3.


Primochill has and will continue to stand behind all users who have received a defective reservoir. Warranty replacements will be handled on a case by case basis.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Is your pump hard mounted to your case? My stock 655 was pretty loud when I had it bolted down. Sitting on a pad of foam it's silent now.

Yes its on the outside rear of my case and I have the thick pad plus bolted with rubber washers and it's slightly noisier than my other stock pump which is mounted inside the case.