Cooling Pumps

[abvolt]

Hi guys I have a question about water cooling pumps this will be my first custom loop, there are so many available to choose from I'm looking at a Swiftech mcp665 with or without PWM ?

The pump will need to be able to provide a good flow rate for 3 rads (2) 480's (1) 240. any comments or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks much..

[HiVizMan]

Get that pump with the ver control, do shop around as there are many many different versions of that same pump. And the prices for the same pump vary hugely maker to maker. I tried heaps of pumps and have stuck with these once I tried them. Currently have two.

[Macforth]

The choice of pumps is huge, but the Swiftech MCP 655 has been used very successfully, and is well known to live a long time.
I use the Swiftech MCP 35X2, again because it has great longevity, but more.... it is really two pumps in series. Both the MCP 655
and the MCP 35X2 are PWM controlled.

When building a watercooled PC for your main or gaming unit, I find that the peace of mind in having two pumps a plus.

Also remember that although these pumps can have their speed varied, work done by people such as Martin or Skinnie have shown that provided a volume of water running round your loop at approximately 1.5 to 2.5 GMP is maintained, your cooling efficiency is reached. Slowing the pump(s) down to deliver less than that.. or speeding them up past about 3GPM reduced to the cooling efficiency.

These pumps will not even notice a loop including all the rads you have mentioned.

For a great read on tests of these pumps...together with many rads see http://martinsliquidlab.org

As for the actual speed control of a PWM pump ... there you have a problem. There are no PWM pump or fan controllers on the general market made by well known PC after market manufacturers that will control pumps ..... PWM rad fans and PWM case fans .
Contrary to the literature available for ROG motherboards, Asus ROG MB's do not have the ability to fully control PWM except via the CPU_FAN outlet.
Let's take an example of a full loop gaming machine. Using one Swiftech MCP 655 PWM pump (which needs a nominal current of 2 amps)
Say 10 PWM rad fans (nominal total current in excess of 1 amp) plus various case fans (which maybe PWM as well). One cannot use the CPU_FAN outlet as it has a maximum current provision of 1 amp.

All power must come directly from the Power Supply, although the PWM signal from the CPU_FAN outlet can be used as well as ONE fan or pump tacho connection. As to rest your choices are minimal. If you are a bit of an electrical tinkerer you can build your own PWM controller.
They are very simple to build and a great thread which has been going for years describes exactly how:- (http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=641111)

Anyway.... post any questions...and good luck with the build!

[kkn]

this can be controlled by USB interface and a program.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17...l=g30c107s1802

[abvolt]

Thanks for all the info, Really great site Macforth I see what you talking about with the swiftech MCP35X2 pump very nice .

[Macforth]

kkn ......... the Aquacomputer D5 Pump Motor w/ USB and Aquabus Interface is itself a non PWM D5 type pump, with the ability to control speed via a USB interface or with Aquacomputer's proprietory "aquabus interface". It is used widely in the USA and spoken of well on many sites.... I personally have not used it as I prefer the PWM route.

[kkn]

i use aquaero XT and i can controll pump and fans, even on what temp i want the fans to start on.
so its a good program.

[fbm211]

I also use the aquaero xt pump. Truly a great pump and one of the most quiet available.