• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Watercooling Questions

tw33ter

Senior member
How difficult is it to set up and maintain a watercooling system? I've been looking into getting one for a while now, but I've always been kinda hesitant about putting water into a pc... lol. Is it really all that easy as people say it is, and can yall recommend some parts to cool a 7800gtx and 3700+ sandie on a DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D inside a p180? I dont really have a budget, so feel free to pick whatever you think would be best 🙂
 
from what my friends say (who all have h20 systems), "you get what you pay for."

so of all things you put into your case, don't skimp on the water cooling system. that $80 thermaltake one... may look tempting.... but will it leak? will it cool effectively? what about noise, etc? THat's why I was recommended the Asetek kits. $200 at the cheapest, but it's worth every penny.

From what they say, installing it is basically the same as a normal HSF, you just have to run the pump for 24-48 hours to get all the air bubbles out and to stabilize the water temp. checking for leaks along the way. then turn on the pc and it's good to go until your next upgrade.

BUT, this is from what I hear. I'm not going to have first-hand experience until after christmas (special present to myself. asetek vga, cpu, chipset dual 120mm kit)
 
I saw this cpu block in the thread below, so I'm thinking about that one. I went to the danger den site, and they have this message up "Nvidia changed out the RAM for the 512MB version of the 7800GTX...so the current NV-78 will need a revision for this card. Stay tuned and we'll try to get one out soon." So I guess I'll wait till they have that out and get it. As for the tubing, is it all pretty much the same, apart from size differences..? And about the rad and pump, I have no clue about those lol.

edit: forgot about the res lol, is there one that would fit in a 5 1/2'' drive bay?

http://img517.imageshack.us/full.php?image=pb2702529cr.jpg

that's what my case looks like so far, pardon the mess of wires in it lol
 
SwiftTech Apogee CPU Block or the storm, there seems to be a debate about which is better...

Danger Den Acetal MAZE4 GPU Block

Tygon 3603 Tubing 1/2" ID 3/4" OD

AquaXtreme 50Z-DC12 Pump
or
Danger Den DD12V-D5 Pump
any suggestions or differences between these 2 pumps, since they're both $75?

Thermochill PA160 Radiator
not sure about the rad, only that I want a rad for 1 120mm fan

Danger Den Single 5 1/4" Bay Reservoir
or would I be better off with a T line and something like this
Fillport Reservoir

What my p180 looks like now (minus the vid card, cuz I've yet to buy it lol) to give you an idea how much room I have. I only have one 5 1/4'' bay free, as seen here.
 
the d5 has a higher flow rate than the 50z but the 50z dumps like 3x less into the water than the d5
the d5 also has more head pressure
in terms of quietness, the 50z is quieter

you might want to think about getting a dual radiator. cooling down the 3700+ and a card like the 7800gtx is pushing the limits of a single radiator, even the pa160
 
you should be able to fit 2 120mm rads in a p180.
I personally use a t-line as its smaller and easier to have, but harder to fill and bleed. those acrylic reservoir tend to crack and i didn't want to take that risk, t lines also much cheaper..

saw your thread over on xtreme forums 🙂
I've never tried one and don't know too much about the particular p160 radiator, so i think it would be better if you listen to their advise.
 
The only thing I'd make sure you do, aside from what's asaid above, is with the reservoir, make sure there's little chance of air becoming trapped by the outflow, otherwise the pump might end up sucking on nothing, and.. Well. Blow up 😀

Asetek kits are good, even though a tad expensive. Totally worth it though. Make sure you set it upt and run it for a while, I did it for 24 hours, before installing it into a live case, try and run it in the case with no componants so fewer connections have to be changed, less chance of leaking that way.
 
I just got an asetek kit and beside changing the fans for some which were more quiet, it was pretty easy to install and runs fine. I have the radiator outside my cabinet.
 
Ok, i changed it up a little, which would be better, the pa160, like this or the [/b]black ice pro 2 like this[/b]. Or, is there little difference between the performance of the pa160 with 2 fans vs the BIP2? Also, concerning the order of my loop, would it be better to have it go res > pump > blocks > rad, like i have it, or res > pump > rad > blocks, so the heat added to the water from the mcp655 gets cooled off before it reaches the blocks?
 
After more thinking i would go the pa160. it does better than teh BIP2 but comes with a hefty price to pay..

like many of the people on XF will tell you, the order of the loop has no effect on the cooling performance of the system.
Mine is set up
pump>cpu>rad>pump just because its easier for me to run the tubing
 
the nv-78 is a flow killer and cost so much more than a regular maze4. you get almost no cooling benefit over the maze4 and watercooling memory is useless
 
yeah, i've heard lots of people say that the ram doesn't need to be cooled, so i think im gonna go ahead and get the maze4 like i originally planned and just get some ramsinks
 
the d5 pumps back 3x as much heat back into the water from itself as the 50z does, and since im not going with a huge 2 or 3 fan radiator, the 50z will be perfect for me 🙂
 
Originally posted by: amd200mhz
watercooling system is noisy. If you are not overclocking, the original cpu fan should do the job.

Noisy?

Only if you use loud fans :|

Quiet fans on the radiator, an intake/outtake for the hard drives and so on, it's quieter than an eight or nine fan setup.
 
Its noisy based on what you want your watercooling for. My system was made for betters temps and quietness. I get 42-45C with a near silent setup. If your looking to do some insane overclocking and getting near ambiet temperatures, then you going to have fast and loud fans to keep things cool.
 
Back
Top