Watercooling Queries

[The boy 4rm oz]

Ok, I am thinking about purchasing a watercooling setup i just want to know everything from pipe diamiter to layout and coolant.

I have had my eye on a few products for a while now but first i'll give you the facts.

Currently i am running an AMD Athlon 3400 (socket 745) with a stock cooler, 1 GB of RAM, AGP 6600GT (128mb) and a 200 GB HDD. I have an NZXT Lexa case and this is all powered by an Antec Neo HE 550 PSU. I am going to up grade by august next year and currently my upgrade stands as a CORE 2 Duo E6600, 2GB G.Skill F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ RAM, Abit AW9D - MAX Mobo and at the moment a 7950GT but i will get a 8800GTS.

I have been having a look at some sights but no one does it as well as the guys here so i am asking for your advice.

Here is the list of parts that i have had my eye on, and yes they are thermaltake so don't rip my head off over this.

Thermaltake Aquabay M3 Reservoir = $35.00 AUS

Thermaltake TMG1 Radiator = ?

Thermaltake Volcano 4008 or 4005 = $95.00AUS (4005)

I haven't chosen a pump yet and tubing is now problem, I just need the right diameter.

Any help would be great thanks.

[Zephik]

Enjoy! ...heh heh :devious:

http://wiki.extremeoverclocking.com/wiki/Water_Cooling
http://www.virtual-hideout.net/guides/watercooling_setup_pt1/index.shtml
http://www.wc101.com/guides/installguide/
http://www.spodesabode.com/content/article/watercool
http://www.overclock.net/overclock.php?file=articles/water-cooling-guide.htm
http://www.xoxide.com/water-cooling.html
http://www.techimo.com/articles/i221.html
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54331
http://www.overclockers.com/tips505/
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=71321
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/06/09/diy_water_cooling_101/

What? You thought I was going to spend 5 hours explaining to you in microscopic detail about water cooling? HA! You wish my friend, you wish. :)

-SnowFire

[The boy 4rm oz]

Thanks for that. Um just to let you know the prices i listed for those items i listed were found on an australian based pc search engine called staticice.com.If you know of any good australian stores can you please let me know because i don't want to order overseas. Thanks.

[Zephik]

There are a few Australian websites... but for some reason I can't remember what they are!? We have a few members from Australia so they should reply here soon with some linkage. ^^

-SnowFire

[The boy 4rm oz]

Thanks for your help. Because it's my first build i've decided to go with what i can get my hands on. I want to buy a kit for my first build rather than purchase every individual part because that way i can fiddle with it and not spend a heap of cash.

I have decided to go for the Thermaltake Bigwater 745 and also buy a Thermaltake AquaBay M3.

One question i have with this set up is because the pump has a res attached to it and i'm using the AquaBay should i make the Aquabay run to the water tank on the pump and then let the pump do its thing or should i make the pump pump water into the Aquabay and then onto the cpu block.

It think it would be easier and safer to go aquabay - res - pump - cpu block - 120mm rad - 2400mm rad - aquabay.

When i upgrade my system and get a 8800GTS i'll add that to the loop inbetween the two radiators. that should keep the liquid cool enough.

Any feed back would be great. THANKS.

[Zephik]

My opinion about the 745 is this, you aren't going to see much of a difference between a high end fan system and that low end H2O kit. That kit to me, is just so you can SAY you have water cooling. If thats what you want, then by all means go for it. Most of that kit, is pretty un-expandable. It's really a CPU only kit, if you add anything else in the loop your not going to be happy with it. If you are dead set on that kit, I would go with it for a low heat producing CPU and a "ok" video card. It wont cool a high end CPU and/or a high end graphics unit. Not effectively or as efficiently as a "water cooling kit" should.

Btw what are your computer specs for what you have right now and for what you wish to upgrade to in the future??

-SnowFire

[Zephik]

If you are a bit tight on money, I would recommend this kit over that Thermaltake 745 as the reviews are much much better and one even mentioned cooling a 8800GTX successfully.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16835128015

FYI- These kits are cheaper than if you were to build one yourself for a reason. Just keep that in mind. My honest advice would be to save up your money and build it yourself. Most Pre-made kits just don't cut it when it comes to effectively cooling high end equipment and the ones that DO cool effectively will cost you a bundle compared to if you build it yourself.

-SnowFire

[The boy 4rm oz]

Thanks for that. I was going to add on to the system and upgrade as i needed it, i'm not a big overclocker so i don't see the point of spending $350+ on a water cooling system, i rather get a physx card. I have heard good things about that gigabyte system but for me the thermaltake one is fine for what i need it for,

[Zephik]

Well let us know how it turns out! Good Luck! :up:

[isunktheship]

I just bought a watercooling system on DD (Danger Den), and the whole thing was about $250 altogether. Thats for the Radiator, Res, Tubes, Core 2 Block, Pump, Clamps, Fillport.

I don't know if I would say I spent TOP dollar, but I definately didn't skimp. I can then add parts as I go if I wanted to cool my GPU, memory, HD, Mobo..etc.

If you buy a cheap brand, chances are you will regret it later when you learn more about watercooling, and then end up spending more to upgrade. On the plus side... watercooling for $90!!

[Zephik]

DangerDen is a fantastic brand for water cooling. You really just can't go wrong with them! :up:

[The boy 4rm oz]

Yes i know about not skimping on parts when it comes to cooling and i know DD is a great brand but with no stockists in Australia (That i know of) i rather buy local. This kit supports Intel 775 so will this block be okay for Core 2 Duo?

I have one question with the kit though. I have a NZXT lexa and i was looking at the size of the 120mm rad and was just wondern if it would actualy fit in the case. I will have to remove to PCI retention clip but that dosen't bother me. The Radiator is 166mm(L) x 122mm(W) x 35mm(H).

Also could i get confirmation on the layout of the components.
So far it is as follows: AquaBay - Res - Pump - CPU Block - 120mm Rad - 240mm Rad - Aquabay
I have intentions of cooling my GPU later down the track and that will go between the 120mm and 240mm Radiators.

[The boy 4rm oz]

My current and future specs are in my first post.

[Zephik]

The Conroe Core 2 Duo is LGA-775. THANK GOD! :D

Well, they say that Conroe's run pretty cool, So maybe you will be fine with that kit? One thing I read in some of the Reviews on Newegg is some kind of stuff getting into your kit that looked like rust? It might or might not happen to you, but just keep an eye out for discoloration and things that don't look normal.

About the Lexa... I am not sure about that. If it doesn't work? Make it work! One thing that I do know is this though, the Lexa won't have room for that dual rad and everything else. That will have to be external. You'll get better performance this way anyways. I was interested in both the Lexa and the 745 kit awhile back and I remember discovering that problem. External isn't a bad thing though, I've actually taken a liking to it with your "made to be" external kits. Like the Thermaltake Symphony Mini. Now that thing is "cool"! :hurt:

Also, another tip would be to read website reviews on that kit. They offer some pretty great advice sometimes! :up:

Your layout seems to be fine to me. With only a CPU in the loop to cool down for now you won't have many problems. Just make sure you don't send heated liquid to the pump or any of the water blocks.

-SnowFire

[The boy 4rm oz]

I know about the duel rad and i am happy to keep it out of the case. I have installed a fan in the space on the bottom of the Lexa so i will have to remove that to fit the pump and res in. That doesn't bother me,i'll just keep it as a spare.

I currently have a 30cm Flexiglow Blue CCFl that i will remove because it is to blue and wrecks the theme. I was just wondern if UV CCFl's are really bright and if it will bee seen over the blue of my fans and mobo?