Watercooling

manny8083

manny8083

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I already updated all my internals.
Mobo: Gigabyte X99 Ultra Gaming
CPU: 6850k running at stock speeds for now
Ram: 64gb ddr4 3200
Storage: 1 256 gb Samsung 950 for OS
1 400gb Intel pcie for games and 1 6tb HDD for all the porn @Soulzz has me downloading.
PSU: Evga 1200w
Basically now I'm looking at my watercooling options.
EK stuff looks good and withing my budget. Not going to do hard tubing because while I have the money, I don't have the time. The case I'm looking at is the in win 303, looks good and is pretty cheap. It can fit a 360 and 120 rad, so defiantly enough to cool the cpu and gpu. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with Ek's products or if they know of a better choice.
 
I have used EK stuff plenty of times with no issues I will be on TS quite a bit over the weekend if you see me on there come have a chat.
 
Just remember, your case dictates a lot of water cooling options. With 303 there's room for a 360 rad up top and probably a thin 360 on the bottom if you choose. I'd get a small reservoir and personally I prefer the D5 pumps-very quiet, reliable, and they push a lot of water through the system and can handle two radiators, the cpu, the gpu easily on one pump.

EK makes good shit, always to spec, cools well, and looks nice too. Just don't limit yourself there are lots of options.

I'd also suggest compression fittings which are easier to use and more reliable, not to mention better looking. They do cost more than barb fittings, but they're worth it.


http://www.performance-pcs.com/?gclid=COKQhuqJ6s8CFQ6OaQod49AMkg

Has a ton of watercooling parts, everything you need and then some.

Oh, also think about some quick disconnects for draining the loop, or a drain valve. It makes changing hardware or flushing to loop so much easier and quicker.
 
prices are a drop cheaper on EK's website but they'll hit me for shipping, got to use my great accounting skills and figure it all out. But ill definitely pick up some after market PSU cables from them. Also decided to ditch the 303 and maybe go for the corsair 540, more room for play, and i don't mind the width of the case. I couldn't go for the 900D, its as tall as the empire state building, plus the 540 can take an e-ATX in case I decide to buy a real fancy x99 in the future. And as for fittings, never a doubt i was going for compression. And I'll defiantly look at some quick disconnects.
 
sixer9682 said:
I'd also suggest compression fittings which are easier to use and more reliable,
Click to expand...
nuff said. six told me about these....My first build ever, and I went off the deepend and put it under water. As long as you "compress" the hoses, shouldn't have to force anything, nothing will leak. change your O rings after 12-18 months and you will be tight like a ducks ass.

**you could get away with 24months....I took mine apart after 24....and they are looking haggard. but no leaks..needless to say, I will be picking up new O rings.
 
Ek has nice blocks, they're all ive used so far (nice that theyre transparent also so u can see air bubbles if u cant hear them). I believe i bought mine through frozencpu's site. Have u decided on sizes for tubing and fittings? My fittings were 1/4 for 1/2 tubing, so i got tubing that was 1/2 inner diameter 3/4 outer. D5 pumps are nice try to get one that is PWM or has a switch, makes it easier to get bubbles out of the loop. This is pump/res combo i got

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2...S_140_DDC_32_PWM_incl_pump.html?tl=g30c97s152
 
thenamesgart said:
(nice that theyre transparent also so u can see air bubbles if u cant hear them).
Click to expand...
if your reseviour is mounted vertically, and it has a fitting port at that top, unscrewing that port and opening it while system is in test(or on) will alleviate any bubbles.....sorta like "thumbing" a straw in a soda.
 
Well, theres always that lil air pocket everyone has trouble getting out.

Edit: And thats where the hard part of watercooling really is.
 
So after 3 hours of eye burning research I decided to go with the corsair 540.
Radiators: 1 PE 360 for the front panel and 1 XE 240 for the top.
Pump: Revo D5 pwm.
Reservoir: x3 150
CPU block: Supremacy evo
GPU block: ftw 1080 w/backplate
Tubing: primo chill 19/13
Fittings: 12 acf 13/19mm.
And 5 of their 3000rpm fans for the rads, don't worry I'm hooking them up to a fan controller so I can hear myself think when I have my headphones off.
I plan on upgrading to a couple of TI's when they come out or to the next generation, so I'm assuming my best plan is to add a quick release to the gpu block to make life easier when I upgrade. My only problem is ek doesn't make any quick release valves to buy separately, so can I buy quick release valves with a G 1/4 thread from a different company and connect them to the ek gpu block?
 
Went ahead and ordered everything, I actually went with using performance pc and a Canadian company for the waterloo, cam out to the exact dollar amount as it would had I ordered direct including shipping, but I'll get everything quicker cause it doesn't have to cross a damn ocean by plane. Once that stuff arrives ill go to microcenter to pick up my new case. I'll post pics when it's done in about 2 weeks. Thanks for the input guys. BTW I went with a splitter/ball valve to drain the system, kind of bypasses the gpu problem.
 
mostly odds and ends but they have good prices on the items they stock and shipping is cheap: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/fico.html
thenamesgart said:
Well, theres always that lil air pocket everyone has trouble getting out.

Edit: And thats where the hard part of watercooling really is.
Click to expand...
Huh, I've never had that problem. I keep hearing about it but I've never experienced it. Then again I don't completely fill the reservoir for a day or two. I leave a couple of inches free and don't close the cap while I'm testing and checking things out then fill it all the way with the top cap secured.
 
manny8083 said:
Went ahead and ordered everything, I actually went with using performance pc and a Canadian company for the waterloo, cam out to the exact dollar amount as it would had I ordered direct including shipping, but I'll get everything quicker cause it doesn't have to cross a damn ocean by plane. Once that stuff arrives ill go to microcenter to pick up my new case. I'll post pics when it's done in about 2 weeks. Thanks for the input guys. BTW I went with a splitter/ball valve to drain the system, kind of bypasses the gpu problem.
Click to expand...
I've got a ball valve drain on mine too. With the hardline tubing it was just easier and cleaner to configure rather than using extra attachments and having the quick release sticking out where I didn't want it.

Anyway, that will work fine and alleviate a lot of headaches for you.
 
I think I'll make use of those useless 5.25" bays and pick up a fan controller, there are some pretty good ones out there and fairly inexpensive. It'll be a lot easier to controller those 3000rpm fans through hardware.
 
Well all my toys arrived, when I was about to buy the corsair 540 I found out they released the 740 and was able to snag one from Newegg.Ill probably build it either Sunday or Monday.
 
manny8083 said:
BTW I went with a splitter/ball valve to drain the system, kind of bypasses the gpu problem.
Click to expand...
@sixer9682 ive seen yours, but never asked, I take it this is what you are running or close to it?

when I rebuild, I need something more efficient than what I was using.....but was first build ever and it turned out decent.
 
Yep, same thing. Here's a pic.

17516489894_8f879df151_z.jpg
 
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Looks dood! The only thing I'd recommend is cutting your tubing shorter where possible, How are your temps?
 
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