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Time to make the jump to water cooling?

Affinitii
Level 9
So I'm okay with my temps at 4.7 (hits ~88C under IBT but never goes over 75C under normal usage that averages 75%-95% usage 12+ hours a day) but I want to go the extra mile to water cooling (Have an H100 now) -- I have about ~500 to play with, obviously the less I spend the better but I can work in there.


Any suggestions on where to start or what to buy? Feel like it's time to up the ante a bit 😛
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42 REPLIES 42

Melting_Point
Level 10
This thread will make for an interesting read for me also. I'm thinking of upping the ante soon myself.
Motherboard: RIVE (3602 bios)
CPU: Intel 3930K @4646MHz
OS Drive: 2 X Samsung 840 PRO (Raid 0)
Storage Drive: 2 X 1.5TB WD Caviar Black RAID 0, 2 X 3TB WD Caviar Red, Kingston V100 256GB SSD
Memory: 64GB G.SKILL Ripjaws Z (F3-12800CL10Q2-64GBZL)
GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX580 @795MHz - 1536MB GDDR5
PSU: OCZ ZX1250
Cooling: Phantek PH-TC14PE
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64. (EUFI)

maximiza
Level 11
i was looking into it, allot of planning is needed. One thing i did learn is always design the loop with a drain hose, easier maintance. You have to decide if you want all parts inside the case or outside like with an external koolance unit.

SUKARA
Level 10
This one looks very good cooling effect

Zalman Reserator 1 V2 Water
http://video.answers.com/tech-review-zalman-reserator-1-v2-water-cooling-148027803

Counteragent
Level 8
I personally would not go with the Zalman Reserator.. I had one of their products in recent years and ever since its been a headache.. Since that first project I then went fully custom water cooled setup. I have the room so I like everytyhing outside the case.. makes for better air flow of the RAD and better cooling I think.

Anyhow the first thing I would look at if you go with a pre built w/c setup or build your own is to use ID: ½” OD: ¾” water tubing. Anything smaller is to restrictive I think.. look at getting good quality Barbs and quick disconnects are good too.. I did not worry about a drain pipe on mine. I've only drained it once in 18 months and then I put a smaller pipe into the RES drained what I could and then just took the hose off the RES n drained the rest.

Just a few suggestions:

1. Buy good quality Pump - Speed Controlled is good
2. Invest in a good quality Radiator
3. Push / Pull fans for Radiator.. again good quality Fans

Cheers
MB: ASUS Rampage V Extreme
CPU: Intel Core i7 5960X Extreme Edition
RAM: Dominator® Platinum Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4 DRAM 2800MHz
PSU: Corsair AX1200i Digital ATX Modular
GFX: 3 x EVGA GTX Titan Black Superclocked 6GB
SSD: 2 x Samsung 850 Pro Series 512Gb SSD Raid 0
HDD: 2 x WD4003FZEX WD Black 4TB Raid 0
1234;
2 x WD1000DHTZ WD VelociRaptor 1TB Raid 0
MON: Dell Ultra Sharp 32 Ultra HD Monitor - UP3214Q
CASE: Silverstone Temjin TJ11 Black with Window Case
OS: Win7 x64bit

HalloweenWeed
Level 12
Don't forget to either add a VRM cooling block, or a "full-board" WB too.
i7-3930K; Asus RIVE; G.SKILL Ripjaws Z 4x4GB DDR3 1866; MSI 7870 2GD5/OC; Crucial M4 SSD 256GB;
Corsair 1000HX; Corsair H100, 4x Excalibur 120mm PWM CPU Fan p-p, AS5; SB X-Fi Titanium Fata1ity Pro;
Dell U2412m IPS 1920x1200; Cooler Master HAF 932 case; Tripp-Lite OMNIVS1500 UPS fully Line-interactive.
(EVGA site: ) And I have a second (wife's) computer, Eve.

Overclocking is useless to me if it is not rock stable.

HalloweenWeed wrote:
Don't forget to either add a VRM cooling block, or a "full-board" WB too.

I've not seen one of those before. Are they expensive?
Motherboard: RIVE (3602 bios)
CPU: Intel 3930K @4646MHz
OS Drive: 2 X Samsung 840 PRO (Raid 0)
Storage Drive: 2 X 1.5TB WD Caviar Black RAID 0, 2 X 3TB WD Caviar Red, Kingston V100 256GB SSD
Memory: 64GB G.SKILL Ripjaws Z (F3-12800CL10Q2-64GBZL)
GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX580 @795MHz - 1536MB GDDR5
PSU: OCZ ZX1250
Cooling: Phantek PH-TC14PE
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64. (EUFI)

Melting Point wrote:
I've not seen one of those before. Are they expensive?

Per Phillyflyer's link:
HEATKILLER MB-set ASUS-P9X79 - Full Copper

Somebody needs to start a discussion about mixing metal types. I'm dissapointed that they haven't already. Also, in some cases in the past nickel-plating has come off over time, and lodged in the loop or pump, or even plugged radiator veins.

Also Affinitii, are you aware that if you don't use a silver "kill-coil" that you will need to drain and refill your system every 6mos. just like your car radiator? And I believe the "kill-coil" limits what you can use for water additives.
i7-3930K; Asus RIVE; G.SKILL Ripjaws Z 4x4GB DDR3 1866; MSI 7870 2GD5/OC; Crucial M4 SSD 256GB;
Corsair 1000HX; Corsair H100, 4x Excalibur 120mm PWM CPU Fan p-p, AS5; SB X-Fi Titanium Fata1ity Pro;
Dell U2412m IPS 1920x1200; Cooler Master HAF 932 case; Tripp-Lite OMNIVS1500 UPS fully Line-interactive.
(EVGA site: ) And I have a second (wife's) computer, Eve.

Overclocking is useless to me if it is not rock stable.

HalloweenWeed wrote:
Per Phillyflyer's link:
HEATKILLER MB-set ASUS-P9X79 - Full Copper

Ahh.. that's not what I thought you meant. I was thinking of a single WB that covered the entire MB.

Somebody needs to start a discussion about mixing metal types. I'm dissapointed that they haven't already. Also, in some cases in the past nickel-plating has come off over time, and lodged in the loop or pump, or even plugged radiator veins.

Also Affinitii, are you aware that if you don't use a silver "kill-coil" that you will need to drain and refill your system every 6mos. just like your car radiator? And I believe the "kill-coil" limits what you can use for water additives.

*takes note profusely*

Thanx again mate.
Motherboard: RIVE (3602 bios)
CPU: Intel 3930K @4646MHz
OS Drive: 2 X Samsung 840 PRO (Raid 0)
Storage Drive: 2 X 1.5TB WD Caviar Black RAID 0, 2 X 3TB WD Caviar Red, Kingston V100 256GB SSD
Memory: 64GB G.SKILL Ripjaws Z (F3-12800CL10Q2-64GBZL)
GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX580 @795MHz - 1536MB GDDR5
PSU: OCZ ZX1250
Cooling: Phantek PH-TC14PE
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64. (EUFI)

HalloweenWeed wrote:
Don't forget to either add a VRM cooling block, or a "full-board" WB too.


Ya, agreed. When my R4E come back from RMA, will fit EK full board water block on it.
i7 3930K C2 (4.5 ghz, Core Voltage 1.320V, offset VCore +0.010 previous [+0.020], BIOS 4901)(XSPC Raystorm Water block)
ASUS RAMPAGE 4 EXTREME
Corsair CMZ 16GX3M4X1866C9
ASUS ROG GTX 1080 STRIX
DELL U2713HM
Intel 530 240GB SSD RAID 0
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA 6 x 2 (non RAID)
SILVERSTONE STRIDER 1500W
Hardware Lab Black Ice SR1 Low Air Flow Optimized - 360 Radiator
Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm x 25mm Fan - 1850 RPM x 6