Initial Custom Water Cooling Loop

[Lone-Wolf Fram]

Hello everyone,
Welcome to my first post. In it I'll outline my plans on my first watercooling build.
I've been entranced with the subject for a few years now and now that I've gotten my hands on the Enthoo Primo case, and my Swiftech H220 started having seriously bad noises, I plan on doing all I can within the boundaries of my budget to fill it with a custom loop! B)
 
-Here's a picture of my plan so far for you to feast your eyes on and pour over with your intellects and see if (aside from the obvious redundancy of reservoirs and coolers) I'm doing anything totally wrong.
Note 1: I don't plan to have a GPU shroud as at the moment there is no shroud for the Sapphire Vapor-X HD 7970 GHZ Edition 11197-12-40G. there's plenty of time to get this loop together before I upgrade.
Note 2: I know I'll have to keep the level in the vertical reservoir above the level of the intakes for the pumps on the bay reservoirs. I have experience with Hydraulics as a Heavy-Duty Mechanic.
 

 
 
-Here's some Resources I've been to and some Projects I've drawn inspiration from:
 
This topic is lengthy and it outlines all the "pleasures" of working with the Bay Res I've chosen:
Thread: "V2" Koolance *Dual D-5* Bay Reservoir! (RP-452X2)
 
My inspiration for the placement of the spinning flow meter above the Phanteks badge:
[build Log] Red Dwarf II - Enthoo Primo [Photo Heavy]:
http://www.overclock...y_order/page/40
 
 
My inspiration for how freakin' sweet it'll look to have an 80mm rad on the bottom:
Obelisk - 1st WC build - Phanteks Enthoo Primo:
http://themodzoo.com...s-enthoo-primo/
 
 
-And a list of the URLs for the parts I've definitely chosen, (As much as I can get from Dazmode.com):
 
Distilled water with Protector from Daz:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/dazmode_protector/
 
The Solid Front Reservoir that inspired my black and blue theme:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/rp-452x2_rev_2_0_dual_5_25_reservoir_f_1_or_2_d5_pumps/
 
All my fittings will be Black:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/straight_connector_-_3_8_id_-_5_8_od_-bk_value_pack_set_of_4_black/
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/ball_shutoff_mini-valve_-_matt_black/
 
To go with my Black Tubing:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/ek-tube-zmt-matte-black-38-58-15995mm/
 
A strong visual centrepiece for the inside:
https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/liquid-fusion-x4-quad-spiral-reservoir/
 
The only place I can seem to get these Phanteks LED fans that came in the front of the case:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709024
 
If I don't decide to go with all Noctua fans:
http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nf-a14-flx-140mm-ultra-06-78186.htm
 
Don't tell me how much this will all cost, as i'm not ready to admit that to myself or my Sweet Sunshine :wub: !

[Shd0w2]

Cracks chair out. I am ready for the awesomeness of this

[Deddie]

You don't need two D5s and IMO a D5 pumptop for the res is much nicer looking.

[airdeano]

@Lone-Wolf Fram

 

welcome to the Linus Tech Tips forums!

 

the Koolance 452x2 is one PITA to keep bled and silent. through three revisions

it still is having troubles keeping it from cavitating the primary pump and not

destroying the second pump with jets of air bubbles. although a keen idea, from

experiences with the 402 and 452, you'd be better off on the Monsoon D5 single

or using the Bitspower dual D5 top and localize the bay res, if necessary.

 

something to consider, a single 360x 60 in the roof will accommodate your system

needs if you are not overclocking to the moon and keep a low fan speed for noise.

 

even a 480x 60 in the floor can take all you got and still utilize the HDD cage (3HDD).

 

that is a lot of hardware with no real intent other than a multi-reservoir display

(one is sufficient).

 

not sure if the 250mm vertical will fit with the 7970 water blocked.

[Lone-Wolf Fram]

The first url that I dropped outlined all the problems people are having keeping the 452X2 bled and silent. This is one of the main reasons for the 250 vertical res, to keep the pump(s) primed and fill the dual bay reservoirs.

If it doesn't work out then I'm fine with keeping it sealed and relocating the pump(s). I want it for it's aesthetics.

 

There are no plans to put a water block on the 7970. one does not exist for this iteration of the card. :lol:  :wacko: Didn't know that when I bought it.

 

I'll upgrade to a R9 290X sooner or later but I want to build up my general skills before I go and mod GPU.

[airdeano]

The first url that I dropped outlined all the problems people are having keeping the 452X2 bled and silent. This is one of the main reasons for the 250 vertical res, to keep the pump(s) primed and fill the dual bay reservoirs.

If it doesn't work out then I'm fine with keeping it sealed and relocating the pump(s). I want it for it's aesthetics.

 

There are no plans to put a water block on the 7970. one does not exist for this iteration of the card. :lol:  :wacko: Didn't know that when I bought it.

 

I'll upgrade to a R9 290X sooner or later but I want to build up my general skills before I go and mod GPU.

 

the vertical reservoir will not prime the 452 pumps, too high and if any air is trapped

in the 250 reservoir it will lower the siphon effect (as you already know).

 

really too complicated for just a CPU loop. leak points out the wazoo. 

but keep us updated if you go through wit it in a build log.

[G9x001]

Ha Ha Ha very funny.

3 reservoirs. 2 D5's two rads. For one little piss ant cpu block.

Good one. 

[Lone-Wolf Fram]

Ha Ha Ha very funny.

3 reservoirs. 2 D5's two rads. For one little piss ant cpu block.

Good one. 

 

Thanks! I'm glad you can appreciate the humour!  B)

I guess I can add in the R9 290X that I plan on adding at some point down the road, still in the scope of this build. 

 

 

the vertical reservoir will not prime the 452 pumps, too high and if any air is trapped

in the 250 reservoir it will lower the siphon effect (as you already know).

 

really too complicated for just a CPU loop. leak points out the wazoo. 

but keep us updated if you go through wit it in a build log.

 

 

For that, I plan to have the 452X2 in a lower front bay to keep the level in the 250mm rad above the top of the 452X2 to have it gravity fed.

 

I appreciate all this feedback!

As I have no previous experience with this I especially appreciate the warning about the leak points. I guess I assumed that parts designed for watercooling would be more reliable than that off the bat.

[Bagmup]

Why the bay res? They look horrible, are noisy and leak prone, just use the tube res and put a D5 on the floor. Same with the flowmeter, pointless and a known leak point.

[Leonard]

To me this looks like money wasted. There is no need for the free standing reservoirs as the koolance is a pump/reservoir combo already. If however you just like the look of the freestanding reservoirs and want the redundancy of dual pumps i would go with two XSPC photon 270 and scrap the koolance pump/reservoir combo. Also, that case can accommodate long and thick radiators top and bottom, so i would try and put a thick 360mm or 420mm top and the reused 240 in front.

[Prokart2000]

Cracks chair out. I am ready for the awesomeness of this

here you go 

[Lone-Wolf Fram]

Why the bay res? They look horrible, are noisy and leak prone, just use the tube res and put a D5 on the floor. Same with the flowmeter, pointless and a known leak point.

I like the look of that particular bay res. I appreciate the info about the flow meter. As a novice, I hadn't thought about leak points

 

 

 

To me this looks like money wasted. There is no need for the free standing reservoirs as the koolance is a pump/reservoir combo already. If however you just like the look of the freestanding reservoirs and want the redundancy of dual pumps i would go with two XSPC photon 270 and scrap the koolance pump/reservoir combo. Also, that case can accommodate long and thick radiators top and bottom, so i would try and put a thick 360mm or 420mm top and the reused 240 in front.

 

The bottom rad will be 80mm thick, is that enough??? (pseudo-rhetorical question)

[Leonard]

The bottom rad will be 80mm thick, is that enough??? (rhetorical question)

(disrefarding the rhetorical question completely) Yes i believe it is!!!!

[Lone-Wolf Fram]

I've just purchased a D5 and the CPU block from Dazmode, along with some fittings and tubing.

The ball is rolling!