Seeking some advice..

[NitroTurtle]

I'm working on putting together a new machine, and was hoping I could get some advice. It's use will primarily be gaming, World of Warcraft in particular. I realize the machine I'm planning to build is kinda overkill for WoW, but I like to play with settings maxed, tons of UI mods and I spend most of my time raiding. I already have an eVGA 8800gts 512 that I'll be using, and have no intention of bothering with SLI.


So far, this is what I'm looking at for the rest of the system:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
DFI LP UT P35 T2R ATX Intel Motherboard
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)
CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W Power Supply
Antec P182SE


This will be my third PC I've OC'd, and I've decided I'd like to try watercooling for a change. I'm currently using a p180 that I absolutely love, but it's the older version and does not have the cable routing holes like the newer version. I had my heart completely set on a p180se, but for the money I was thinking I could probably find a case more suitable for watercooling. I looked at a CM Cosmos, which is in a similar price range, but I was kinda hoping to have a window to show off the watercooling. I'd also like the case to be large enough to house the radiator inside, and hopefully remain as quiet as my current p180. I don't mind spending more money on a case, but I'd like to find something that fits my needs perfectly.

I'm also unsure about which MB to get. I've never owned a DFI, but I've read that people have had a lot of success with them. I'd also like to shoot for 500fsb with this setup (I realize I probably won't reach that) and I've heard this is the board to go with for high fsb. I planned to stick with P35 (any benefit to X38?), but I'm not sure if I should get the LP LT, or LP UT. It looks like the UT has better chipset cooling, but I wouldn't be opposed to putting the chipset on water if it'll help me reach a higher clock, in which case the LT would probably be the better choice.

I was considering something like this for the watercooling solution. But as I've started to research I'm not quite sure. I think I'd probably be better off getting a custom system, but I don't have any idea what parts to get. On top of that, without knowing which case I'm going to use, I don't know how to size the radiator or the rest of the system.

Anyways, sorry for the long post. I read this board daily and I know there are some guru's here so I'm hoping I can get some good input and make some decisions so I can get my stuff ordered.

 

[krnmastersgt]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2005078&enterthread=y
I found aigo's sticky to be incredibly helpful, alas I went ahead with air but my next rig will be water cooled , btw shouldn't this be in the Cases&Cooling section?

 

[Mandin62]

i know this isnt what you want to here but dont do it. watercooling is well...cool but dont do it. i spent so much money on water cooling my computer it was insane. i am running 2x2x120 rads and have chipsets, cpu, gpu, and vregs water cooled. i had to modify the case pretty heavily. it looks cool. stays cool. and well looks really cool. but its not worth it. the cost is simply too much when you can get basically the same performance out of a top of the line air cooler. its a pain in the arse to upgrade and change around too. just get good air flow and after market cooling for your cpu and you will be good to go. sorry to rain on your parade im just trying to help you save lots of time, money, and potential frustration. best of luck with your build.

 

[sutahz]

Watercooling is a pain. I'll keep it now that I got it, but it makes changing hardware a pain.
If you are going to do it, buy each part seperatly. Don't buy a premade kit.

 

[Mandin62]

What parts are you looking at watercooling? CPU, GPU, Chipsets, Vregs, RAM, HDD, I mean you can cool everything with water if you want. I am guess you are mainly looking at CPU? In this case water might not be bad idea. It gets really hard when you start cooling multiple components. Water cooling is pretty nice if you don't upgrade often.

http://i238.photobucket.com/al...Mandin_62/DSCF1434.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/al...Mandin_62/DSCF1433.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/al...Mandin_62/DSCF0984.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/al...Mandin_62/DSCF1002.jpg

these are some pictures of my setup. Its not the most elaborate setup but its pretty good I think. It cost way to much to do this. Its a CM Stacker 810 with a window panel, another $30 or $40. But its just money right. I got almost all of my stuff from petrastechshop.com they are good place for almost everything you need. Hope this helped a little. Good luck.

As far as cases go... I love my stacker it weighs about a ton with all the water and stuff in it. its not the aluminum version that is out now. its cold hard steel. but yeah i like the Stacker's they are roomy and build extremely well. The cosmos is a cool looking case and roomy as well. You can get window panels for both of these if you don't mind paying. or you can make your own. I got impatient and just bought one.

 

[NitroTurtle]

Yeah, I guess I should have probably split the topic into two posts; one in here and one in cases & cooling.

At this point, I think I've decided to go with only CPU/NB water cooling, and see how that works. That CM Stacker 810 is actually one I've considered, because I was thinking I could fit an MCR220 on the back where the 2 120mm fans go. But I'm still undecided. Yours looks great Mandin62, hopefully I can get to that point someday

I guess since this isn't the forum to discuss the case/cooling, I'd still like to ask the questions regarding MB/RAM. Which of the DFI offerings would you guys recomment? Also, is the Gskill DDR2 a good choice to use with this board?

Thanks for the comments and suggestions so far. I know water will be a bit of a pain, but I'm doing it for the experience. It's something that's always interested me, and I think it'll be a fun project.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Mandin62
but its not worth it. the cost is simply too much when you can get basically the same performance out of a top of the line air cooler. its a pain in the arse to upgrade and change around too. just get good air flow and after market cooling for your cpu and you will be good to go. sorry to rain on your parade im just trying to help you save lots of time, money, and potential frustration. best of luck with your build.

Watercooling is a hobby.. Never a requirement.

I never force or push anyone to water cool there rig. Infact i do the oposite. I pick at them and find out why there watercooling.

Are you doing it for fun? or because you expect something big in the final outcome? The bigger the outcome the larger the price tag.

Are you thinkn about watercooling because you think its fun? there is no additional requirement if its for fun.

Lastly, im sorry where you getting this "match high end air" comment from?

Uhhh lets see air keep your loaded temps sub 40C @ 16C ambients.
http://i125.photobucket.com/al.../aigomorla/Temps-2.jpg


What about my last CM project where i was board limited but still was pulling these kind of load temps on a B3 @ 425x8 FSB?
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...p73/aigomorla/Temp.jpg

Dont have a quadcore? Well heres what medium tier h2o can do on a dualcore!
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...igomorla/FinalTemp.jpg


You setup your system correct, with good head pressure, good blocks, and have good flow, water doesnt match high end air.... it DESTROYS it. :X

Problem is setting it up correct. Lots and LOTS of planning, thinking, and tuning is required. Its not something you wake up in the morning and say, "im gona water cool my computer today".


And yes this post belongs in the case and cooling section.


And thank you krnmastersgt, for pointing out my sticky.
Some of my works are here:

CM690:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0862.jpg

Queen:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0721.jpg

Princess:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0406.jpg


A lot of parts was swaped out tho. Thats the hard part of Watercooling. Major rework is required when you swap things out. But thats also what makes it fun. Because each time you rework it, it only gets better because you understand that much more in how to make it better.

 

[Mandin62]

The water cooling is much more stable. i wont argue that it isnt better in that respect. but as far as performance to cost ratio its not even close. i love my water cooling setup. but i dont know if i would do it again. i probably would. it is fun and it is a good experience. so i am sorry if i discouraged you in any way. it is nice to run a high over clock with very little varience in temps no matter what you are doing. and as far as cooling a GPU water is amazing. my 8800 GT never goes above 35C. and CPU never above 40C. so yeah it works but its a commitment and a hobby like aigomorla says. oh and the 220 rad you are talking about putting on the back of the CM 810. it doesnt fit quite right. you will have to do some modding to get that to fit. that was my original plan too.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Mandin62
The water cooling is much more stable. i wont argue that it isnt better in that respect. but as far as performance to cost ratio its not even close. i love my water cooling setup. but i dont know if i would do it again. i probably would. it is fun and it is a good experience. so i am sorry if i discouraged you in any way. it is nice to run a high over clock with very little varience in temps no matter what you are doing. and as far as cooling a GPU water is amazing. my 8800 GT never goes above 35C. and CPU never above 40C. so yeah it works but its a commitment and a hobby like aigomorla says. oh and the 220 rad you are talking about putting on the back of the CM 810. it doesnt fit quite right. you will have to do some modding to get that to fit. that was my original plan too.

yeah i was kinda worried about that rear fan also.

Is the spacing setup for a HWlabs radiator? i know they have smaller spacing.


To the OP:
Maybe if you want to play with an entry level kit, a H2O-Compact 220 version might fit your bill if you want a cpu loop only.

Basically its a MCR220 with a direct drive apogee all in 1 box. You prefill and then prebleed and then attach. Comes with neoprene tubing so it reduces the amount of water lost to evap. Reservoir is all intergrated on the radiator. Just mount the top fan directly to the case, and leave the second fan mounted only to the radiator. So your going to hang the radiator with only 1 fan mount on the case, the other fan will just hang .

 

[NitroTurtle]

I posted a new thread in the Cases & Cooling forum, to focus more on my watercooling questions. I'm still looking for input here on the MB/RAM combo though. Maybe that should have been in the motherboard forum though! ARGH!