Basic Rules for water cooling.

[hga777]

What are the basic rules for water cooling?

For example, how come I see some water coolers used to cool the cpu, and others link and cool several components like cpu/gpu/mobo etc...What are the list of components in a system that can be water cooled? is it best to water cool all of them? or just cpu would be ok? Also some cooling kits have fans and some dont. Why is that?

As you can tell im a complete noob and want to learn the basic rules. I googled somuch but got more confused... So i would just need a small summary of the very basics of water cooling. I just purchased a CoolerMaster Stacker 830 RC-830 case. And now deciding on how to water cool it. This will really help me. And im sure others :)

[Avid6eek]

What are the basic rules for water cooling? There is only one rule...don't spill it on your hardware :D

For example, how come I see some water coolers used to cool the cpu, and others link and cool several components like cpu/gpu/mobo etc...What are the list of components in a system that can be water cooled? is it best to water cool all of them? or just cpu would be ok? Also some cooling kits have fans and some dont. Why is that?Water blocks tend to be very expensive, and the more components you cool, the less efficient the system becomes. The hardware priority list for water cooling is:

1.) Processor
2.) Video Card
3.) Chipset
4.) Hard Drive
5.) RAM

[Qbical]

if u just want to cool one device then i would suggest the thermaltake bigwater SE kit. it is very noob friendly :)
if u want to cool multiple devices then i would suggest something more high end with a dual fan radiator.

[omga14]

how much is your budget? i would not recommend the Big Water as the tubing is very small and overall doesn't perform much better if at all then high end air solutions. take a peek at the Swiftech Apex series water kits. noob freindly with performance to match custom setups.

[ElrichMeister]

most essential is, Processor, and video card, that is what i have running, heres a thread i started a couple of months ago when i started my H2O project, im using a stacker 810.
http://forum.pcstats.com/showthread.php?t=33827

i used these following components
Maze 4 CPU block (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=31&cat=20&page=1)
Maze 4 GPU block acetal top (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=150&cat=48&page=1)
Tygon Tubing 1/2 in ID (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=172&cat=33&page=1)
10 Snap Clamps (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=62&cat=33&page=1)
Black Ice Extreme II rad (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=2&cat=5&page=1)
Hydor L35 AC pump (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=40&cat=25&page=1)
5.25 bay reservoir (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=52&cat=27&page=1)
for the fluid i just used premixed antifreeze for cars. i also used silicone sealant so i can seal the tubes and fittings on all the parts, with the Snap clamps, i also leak tested the system for about 48hrs to make sure i had no leaks. my rad also has 2 120mm fans on it as youll see on the thread i post on ,but one thing i do advise dont buy cheap fans lol, of them died on me so im only using 1 120mm fan so my temps increased about 2C, my H20 kit is handles heat nicely, w/ 2 120mm fans my Opteron at 2.87ghz at 1.65v would give an average idle around 22C, but depends on the ambient temperature in the room, ive seen it dip down to 16's. on load i have never seen it break 41C on full load full OC.

one more thing make sure u get big tubes with the 1/2in Inner Diameter (ID) it has a higher flow rate, so better performance

[1337NuB5!]

I still have yet to jump onto the water cooling bandwaggon, but I heard from the guy at our local computer shop that mixing different types of waterblocks is bad.

Example- Copper CPU with an Aluminum GPU

He claimed that corrosion happens a lot easier

I myself have no clue as for I have yet to try water cooling, but people here in the forums may be able to tell you; just thought I would bring that up to help clarify it for myself as well.

[ElrichMeister]

that why i use automotive antifreeze to avoid corrosion, besideds all my stuff is copper

[yahooadam]

some kits may be passive, but i dont think i would reccomend them

if their in your case their still relying on the airflow in it

if their outside the case then their relying on convection

most rad's use 120mm fans, so you can get quiet ones that will cool nicely (push a fair amount of air)

mostly it seems that 1x 120mm fan rad for a CPU, then 1x 120mm rad for a GPU, and a bit more for the chipset, depending what components you have

(by 1 for each, a dual 120mm fan for both is equal to the 2 seperate, actually better)

so if you want to cool ure GPU and CPU then a 2x 120mm fan Rad should suffice

you dont really need to water cool anything else

chipsets only for the quietness, but that adds more resistance in the system, and is worse on the overall cooling but if you want silent, its the best way to go

HDD and RAM is really a waste (cooling ram is a ***** aswell)

and watercooled PSU's are definetly not worth it

[hga777]

how much is your budget?

The budget doesnt matter. Im currently using a really bad laptop cos my system got bloody stolen :mad: . Built it like 1 year ago. Loved my 3200+ amd. Im dedicating 2 months pay for this. Wanna know something funny? Im the head of development at the company I work - programmer, but at home im using a 600Mhz laptop. I cant even open more than one application, slow as fock. Been on it for the last 2 months and cant take it anymore. Wish I could know whos using my machine as im typing this...

So money is no issue. The issue is, I have a MasterCooler Stacker 830 case and im still thinking how to water cool it. Im still thinking about using the coolIt cpu freeze (this unit will only look after the cpu), and it should fit in nicly in this case. But the other matter is, what about the graphics card? How can i water cool that? Im thinking to add a rad on the fan side panel. But then again I dont know what parts i need. Is there a water kit that you could recommend that is ONLY for the gpu and maybe the chip also, but not cpu. This way i could have the coolIt cpu freeze looking after the cpu, and the other kit looking after everything else.

What do you think? Also I do want to get every bit of performance I can from this sytem. Hence the need for quality cooling.

[gokusimpson]

I would suggest purchasing either a custom kit where you don't have to use money on the cpu waterblock or a kit where everything comes separately.

The Koolance Exos 2 kit sells everything separately so it's easy to get exactly what you want. It's very good, but expensive. It's also easy to install I hear. I think howard has one. I was thinking about buying one, but it's way too expensive for me.

[ElrichMeister]

i love danger den products, completely customizable

[Farmer]

With the Stacker case you mentioned you'll have plenty of room for a custom setup, and that really is the way to go for best performance. A DangerDen or Aestek setup will be the next liquid cooling setup I do.

I'm running a Exos setup now, CPU & GPU, and it does really good for what the setup is. I was forced to an external kit because of mid-tower case limitations.

But bottom line, now after running liquid for a year, I'll probably never go back to air. An added plus is it's loads of fun to setup.

Good luck....

[bluegreenshxt]

The issue is, I have a MasterCooler Stacker 830 case and im still thinking how to water cool it.

Funny, I have it all planned out for my Stacker, but I can't seem to afford it :(

A Swiftech Apex Ultra+ kit, add a 2x120mm rad, and possibly another pump to maximize flow. No idea if it will be hard to attach water onto the side panel though. I took some initial measurements, it should fit fine but closing the panel with all the tubes connected may be hard.

I would also go for a push and pull fan config because when mounting a 2x120mm rad on the side of the stacker, one of the fans may be off center. So push/pull may be necessary to get more performance.

Now if I only had the cash :(. I've practically gave up water though because I still have to get a new graphics card, two smart drives, and possibly a tv tuner. At this rate I might not even upgrade the graphics until much later :(. And at that time Conroe would probably be on the door step and I would have to start saving up for that.

[hga777]

Farmer, I'll look into DangerDen and Aestek kits.

Bluegreen, What is a push and pull fan config?

Although the stacker 830 looks massive, it is rather small inside. This is due to the design. Its not your average box looking case. In my opinion and others, this is the only minus to this great looking case. I have read two threads so far, where ppl are trying to figure out how/where to have the reservior/pump/radiators installed in this case, stacker 830. Ofcourse they are building a custom water cooling system. The more i read, the more I realise that i might need to do the same. Meaning, design my system and where the parts should fit within the case. But again, im a noob to water cooling. So my question now is, What are the parts I need? And what make do you guys think do high quality parts?

Sorry about all the quesions and thanks to all of you that have contributed so far in helping a wannabe water-cooler/overclocker :)

[Farmer]

If I was building today, something like this http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-wat-44.html Is what I would do, along with whatever GPU block worked with the videocard I had. I could be wrong about Asetek, but they seem to have their act together where cooling goes IMHO. And again, DangerDen from all accounts has great blocks. That seems to be where it all starts, with the blocks, and the ability to disapate the heat...

Really an eye opener about the 830 Stacker! I thought it was the dream case, with room to spare. Hope you can at least keep me informed about how you make out with your build...

Later....

[hga777]

Thanks for all the input.

Thing is, this will be my first attempt at water cooling. I dont know what parts i need. Meaning, I know that I need a pump, res, rad, water blocks (for me, only cpu and gpu), but i dont know what make to go for.

Im thinking this: Have a daul 120 fan rad at the bottom. cut the bottom of the case. The rest 'should' be easy from there.

What parts do you recommend? By that I mean the make/model that make good blocks etc

Once again, Thanks ;)

[ElrichMeister]

Personally i like danger den, maybe get a TDX or Maze, dunno which performs better, for the video card, if you have the money u can get those blocks that danger den has specifically made for the Ati X1x00 series or Nvidia 7x00 series, they cool both the core and memory, but extremely pricey. Make sure you with 1/2 inch OD on the blocks, w/1/2in ID tubing to increase water flow. The pump u can get an aqaurium AC pump like i have, or get a DC pump that plugs into the PSU. it all depends on your budget, let us know how it goes :D

[hga777]

The money is no problem as I am holding 2 months pay for this.

1/2 sounds good. But what is OD?

Thinking Danger Den for cpu. if you think anything better then please let me know.

For gpu, can you pleace specify which Danger Den block you mean. Cos i want it for the x1900xtx.

For the pump I need it to be powerful. Still dunno wht pump though :confused:

Res I want the kind that goes under the dvd drive (as in in the bay I think u call it!?!?). Are they good?

Thanks again and I really appreciate it ;)

[yahooadam]

1/2 sounds good. But what is OD?
OD is outer diamiter, you want 1/2" ID i believe (internal diamiter)

Res I want the kind that goes under the dvd drive (as in in the bay I think u call it!?!?). Are they good?
I dont think their as good as a proper rad

yes its called a drive bay

really you want a proper rad, very few fit in a drive bay .. (i only know 1 by TT, but i think dangerden prolly do one)

[chris000001]

I dont think their as good as a proper rad

yes its called a drive bay

really you want a proper rad, very few fit in a drive bay .. (i only know 1 by TT, but i think dangerden prolly do one)

he was talkin about his reservoir

i believe elrich has his res in a bay

[yahooadam]

oh yeh - DUHHH

res in a drive bay is fine .... as far as i know

cept if it gathers air it could be quite hard to bleed

[ElrichMeister]

yea i have a 5.25 res in on of the bays, and rad i have it mounted in front of the case, with the fans behind it pulling air in through the rad. the res on the bottom if the case isnt so great, mainly because you will not be supplying it with enough fresh air, it needs to out in front or the top, u can put it on back too, just that youll prollly gonna have to reverse the air flow. you the fans on the rad pulling fresh air in, like an intake here some pics of my set up

oh yea i meant by 1/2 od on the barbs of the water blocks

http://mysite.verizon.net/res74gsa/prefillside.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res74gsa/casenakedrad.jpg

[Farmer]

Here's http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=38&cat=26&page=1 a pump that seems to be quite popular with water setups. Might be what you need...

GPU blocks are all over the board as far as price goes. On mine I am just cooling the GPU, then put ramsinks on the memory chips, and have a low RPM 92mm fan blowing across the card. This works best for me, and helps keep a bit of air moving across the MB...

Later....