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Water cooling Kits

grassy
Level 12
I am looking into Water cooling for the first time and would like to know of any recommended top of the line kits available. I have a CM Storm Stryker case to fit it into.I dont mind going extreme as i would like to keep my temps down as low as possible and am also looking at Red coolant with plenty of chrome.:cool:
FAME IS A MASK THAT EATS INTO THE FACE
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Nate152
Moderator
Hey grassy !

That sounds nice. 🙂

First let's make sure this is your case.

http://us.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/case/storm-case/stryker.html

Your case supports:

240/280mm radiator at the top
120/140 radiator at the rear
240mm radiator at the bottom

What components will you be cooling? If just the cpu you could get an all in one cooler with a 280mm radiaitor and save a lot of cash.

Here's three examples:

1) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103198
2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835146042
3) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181094

Or...

You could do a custom loop with a pump/res combo using two of the 5.25" bays with something like this, I don't know if Frozencpu is back in business or not, if not Performance pc's is the next place to check. This has the pump already installed.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/18383/ex-res-474/Alphacool_Repack_Dual_525_Acrylic_Reservoir_-_Cle...

Then you will need fittings and tubing to what ever size you want, I'd probably do 3/8 x 5/8 tubing with with compression fittings such as these:

Red
http://www.performance-pcs.com/monsoon-chain-gun-compression-fittings-3-8-x-5-8-4-pack-red.html

Chrome
http://www.performance-pcs.com/monsoon-chain-gun-compression-fittings-3-8-x-5-8-single-chrome.html

Tubing

1) http://www.performance-pcs.com/primoflex-b-advanced-lrt-b-tubing-3-8in-id-x-5-8in-od-crystal-clear.h...

2) http://www.performance-pcs.com/primoflex-b-advanced-lrt-b-tubing-3-8in-id-x-5-8in-od-bloodshed-red.h...

Radiator

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/23917/ex-rad-705/Black_Ice_Nemesis_GTX_280_Radiator_-_Black.html

Rampage IV Extreme Full board water block kit, this might be tough to find.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14723/ex-blc-1028/EK_ASUS_Rampage_IV_Extreme_Full_Board_Cooling_Bl...

140mm red LED PWM fans for your radiator

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17313/fan-1122/BitFenix_Spectre_LED_140mm_PWM_Fan_-_Red_BFF-BLF-P1...

For coolant I recommend the koolance red uv. One thing about red coolant it stains the most because of the amount of dye needed to get the color red and this is with any brand of red coolant. Why I like koolance is they recommend to change it every 2-3 years vs. 1 year from everyone else, I use the blue.

Where it says Notes: read about the red color

http://koolance.com/liq-702-liquid-coolant-bottle-high-performance-700ml-uv-red

Will you be liquid cooling your gpu's too?

grassy
Level 12
Hi Nate, firstly i will confirm that my case is exactly what you have posted and i will be water cooling my GPU (graphics card ) and also my cpu. I have looked at Raystorm and Ek package kits i would like to go to the biggest radiator allowable for my case. So going by my case i would have to go a 280 mm is that correct.Here is what the inside looks like now
FAME IS A MASK THAT EATS INTO THE FACE

Vlada011
Level 10
Don't recommend him toys. 🙂

You need one nice watercooling kit for Intel Xtreme.
If you have place for 240mm radiator

https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-xlc-predator-240

if you have place for 360mm radiator
https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-xlc-predator-360-incl-qdc

Both are expandable on GPU Cooling with better design than all AIO Systems and I think they worth little higher price.
EKWB Predator 240 could be installed on Top of Case and one EKWB Coolstream PE 120mm radiator on back side.
On that way you could connect CPU and 1 GPU in normal liquid cooling loop with nice performance.

Chino
Level 15
The EKWB Predator 360 is an awesome AIO liquid cooler which is pretty much the best money can buy at this moment. It can probably fit inside your case with a little modding.

Chino wrote:
The EKWB Predator 360 is an awesome AIO liquid cooler which is pretty much the best money can buy at this moment. It can probably fit inside your case with a little modding.
If i can get a 360 in there then that is what i was hoping on doing only if the temps will be bettered by using one rather than a 280.With the radiator it all comes down to performance for me.
FAME IS A MASK THAT EATS INTO THE FACE

I am also looking at this I really like the look of it https://www.pccasegear.com/products/33820
and this also https://www.pccasegear.com/products/33152
FAME IS A MASK THAT EATS INTO THE FACE

grassy wrote:
If i can get a 360 in there then that is what i was hoping on doing only if the temps will be bettered by using one rather than a 280.With the radiator it all comes down to performance for me.


I won't bother with a 360mm rad because you'll have an issue with expelling the heat. If you get three fans on it, the last one closer to the front of the case can't expel heat meaning some serious mods to your case affecting the overall integrity of you case structure.

You were quite right, get the biggest rads you can fit in... also try and plan the layout in your head/ drawing before buying components i.e flow plan: res>pump>GPU>CPU>res and so on. try a few reiterations till you find the sweet spot...the last thing you want is so many loops in your case(if you are not going for hard-line tubing). Trust me..things may not work out as smoothly as you think.

Get ready for extra mods to your case too...drilling holes, you may need to remove HDD cages, ODD bays etc. be ready to sacrifice some things.

Be mindful of radiator width size too...they range from 30mm - 54mm..

You may also find the cut-outs for the fans may not be very efficient for 140mm fans and my be better suited for 120 to have optimal airflow.

Nate152
Moderator
I should have checked your specs and saw you had the swiftech H220 listed but seeing you said this is your first time water cooling I didn't check and you've already done my first suggestion. 😉

Your cooler is expandable, you could slap on the EK full cover block and add a 240mm radiator at the bottom or a 140mm at the rear or both and change the tubing to red or clear.

EK Full Cover 980ti Block

http://www.ekwb.com/news/618/19/EK-releases-ASUS-GTX-980-Ti-Strix-Full-Cover-water-block/

140mm radiator

http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-140gtx-ultra-stealth-dual-core-xtreme-profile-radia...

Here is the EK Rampage IV Black Edition monoblock, I like the Nickel one (not original CSQ version) and would look good with red coolant, scroll down you'll see it.

http://www.ekwb.com/news/489/19/EK-introduces-ASUS-Rampage-IV-Black-Edition-AIO-water-cooling-soluti...

A custom loop isn't hard to do, I like the 2 x 5.25" bay pump/res combo idea, you'll get to see more red coolant too. 😉

It's up to you how you want to do it and how much you want to spend, a custom loop will cost the most but you get to choose what you want. 🙂

Here's Chino's results with the Rampage V Extreme monoblock.

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?60778-The-Benefits-Of-Watercooling-the-Rampage-V-Extreme

Vlada011
Level 10
I don't know why you complicate only instead to order everything from EKWB site.
He can choose Coolstream PE or XE thick or SE Slim, fittings are good,
GPU waterblocks are best and no need any more to order from 2-3 different sides and pay shipping more.
There are unlimited number of combinations depend what he like and depend of budget.
Bitspower make some nice fittings but I don't like their logo, there are even similar types only different brand without logo but again that's Bitspower clone, same only without name and EKWB now have really good fittings and adapters.