Water cooling kit for a first-timer

[dmw16]

I am currently running an AMD 1700+ @ 2325Mhz and I need to use an Alpha8045 w/ a Vantec Tornado to keep it cool. Trouble is, it is far too loud to sleep with and can be midly annoying when just watching TV. So I am thinking about going to water cooling. I'd like to buy a kit cooler and keep it under $250. I would also perfer something taht will fit into my Antec SX1030. I read about the Koolance systems that just sit on top of the system. How are they?
thanks.
-doug

 

[BoomAM]

If you can get hold of one, the Asetek WaterChills are awsome.
Not quite as good as some of the custom built ones, but not far off.
The Koolance EXOS`s are OK. But compared to the Aseteks, suck. Ive heard of good OC`s out of the EXOS`s, but thats at 45*c + temps. Anything over 40*c is bad in my books.

 

[loic2003]

Watercooling is a load of effort and can be quite risky. If you want a quiet machine why not try the quiet CPU cooler and other quiet gear from: www.quietpc.com ? i've got the flower CPU cooler, the chipset heatsink and the silent PSu and my machine is dead quiet, the hum of my amp for my speakers is louder.

 

[Corporate Thug]

EXOS would be a good choice. priced well, and simple. btw, my local pcclub has the koolance case with the exos installed for $200. not bad for a case and watercooling kit considering how those towers go for $50-75

 

[cheapgoose]

I'm going water,

so far i have a swifty block, an iwaki pump, a bix and a heatercore,(can't decide on which one to use)

you can probably find all the parts you need in the fs forum.

 

[AMCRambler]

The Koolance EXOS`s are OK. But compared to the Aseteks, suck. Ive heard of good OC`s out of the EXOS`s, but thats at 45*c + temps. Anything over 40*c is bad in my books.

That's crap. My XP 2400 runs between 40 and 50c regularly. I don't even have it overclocked. It's not for lack of cooling. I've got a 5300rpm Volcano 9 heatsink on the sucker and even with it cranked up, still runs hot. If you're running in the 50s I'd say that's bad, under 50, no prob.

I've been thinking of watercooling myself. My friend went and bought the Koolance case and we put together the system in one night. Worked great. I don't want to get a new case either so I'll probably customize the one I've got. www.dangerden.com has some good stuff as far as watercooling goes.

 

[Mingon]

My xp2500+ at 2.45ghz on a msik7d gives me 45c max 100% load, current runtime is 8days 8 hours! all on my poor performing Koolance case. Mind you I expect the temps to go up 10c next week I am getting a second to run in my msi k7d mmm dual bartons!

 

[Funkymushroom]

I'm sorry did i miss something???... I thought most of the koolance kits sucked major ***...

I'm a newbie to water cooling but I was reading some reviews such as:

http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20010706/

on a lot of the barebones water cooling setups and haven't seen anything with a good review..

Basically, everyone keeps telling me homemade custom setups work best...

Can anyone post some links of some sites I can trust the reviews on that give some additional help for making your own custom setup.

Who likes Mushrooms?

---The Funkymushroom

 

[Mingon]

I'm sorry did i miss something???... I thought most of the koolance kits sucked major ***...

Try one and youll find out that they in fact are quite good. My top overclocks include;

xp2500+@2.45 (limited by motherboard)
P4 3.06@ 3.6ghz
P4 1.4 mobile @ 2.9ghz
P4 2.0ghz mobile @ 3.1 ghz

Of these only the P4 would really strees the system - that is one HOT chip.

 

[crimedonkey]

I don't know much, but from looking at the water blocks that come with those kits, I don't think they'd do a very good job of cooling. So buy one of those kits and replace the water block and I think you'd be fine.

I have a dangerden maze 4 block that seems to do pretty good. Without overclocking it, I'm at 34C. On my old machine, I had it down to around 27C - but that was just sitting idle.

 

[Mingon]

The cpu200 block is very good, its not standard on the older machines but its an excellent design.

 

[AMCRambler]

Was at my water cooled friends house last night. He had the fan speeds set to the lowest setting on the Koolance case and his readout on the digital display was showing 30C. Not too bad I would say. He's running a non overclocked 2200 and before hand he had been running around 40 with air cooling. When it cranks up the fan speed it goes into the twenties now. Koolance does alright I think. Maybe they meant the external exos? I dunno.

 

[BoomAM]

I belive that the thermal sensors on the Koolance`s are above the waterblock, which is a less that ideal way to get the temps. And so, to a degree, the temp readings are a bit off. If the thermal probe was on the underside of the block, near the processors core, there would be a very good chance that the temps would be nearer the 40*c ~+ range. Although having said that, thats still more than good enough.
If i was to buy a watercooling kit, i would not get the Koolance, any varient. But thats because it doesnt offer the performance that i`d need to justify the cost. I already get 41*c load with air cooling, silent air cooling i might add, so i`d need something that`d drop the temps to <35*c to make the upgrade worth while. But thats just me.
The EXOS is a good kit however. A very well performing kit for WCing n00bs and "amatuer" OCers alike. But for pure performance in temps, something a little better would be required. For someone requiring something a little better than the Koolance`s, then the Asetek WaterChill range is ideal.

 

[Mingon]

the thermal sensor is set into the base of the waterblock, and temps vary by 10-11c compared to on die measurement. Somehow I doubt you will get much lower than 40c from the internal die, and quite a few motherboards -10c to account for die measurement. I find it hard to undestand people who say ' it doesnt offer the performance that i`d need ' who have not tried one. All I know is that I can overclock around 20% further with my koolance than I can with air and without phase change I strongly doubt you would get more than 5% further without serious vcore.

 

[Bound_Vortex]

I doubt the koolance system will provide any benefit over your tornado setup. The flow rate and the 1/4" diameter of the tubing really holds back serious improvements. Also the temperature reading for the exos is actually the water temperature, not the temperature of the cpu. Using any temp software, you will see a disparity of 7.5-10 degree difference.

You would probably be able to get the same overclock, just without the excessive noise with the koolance

If you are looking to improve on your o/c as well as quiet your system down, I would recommend the Dtek kit

You get the 1/2" tubing, and you can customize the rest of your parts. Or just build from the ground up, but that kit provides a good checklist of what to make sure you have. As for a waterblock, the whitewater is the best non-pelt waterblock you can buy aside from the cascade.