Help in building custom watercooling

[tomersap]

Hello everyone 

 

I would like to upgrade to custom water cooling my PC.

I have a few questions and i would be happy to get some help

I'm going to OC the CPU and the GPU as far as i can get.

 

my build is:

 

CPU: I7 4970K.

Motherboard: MSI Z97 Gamming 3.

Case: Fractal Design Define S.

GPU: 970 GTX WF3.

RAM: Corsair Vengence DDR3 16gb (I want to upgrade to dominator platinum in the future).

PSU: Seasonic S12ii - 620W.

 

I thought buying those watercooling components: (all form EKWB)

Radiators and fans:

1. 360mm XE Series for the front - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-coolstream-xe-360-triple?___store=default

2. 360mm SE Series for the top - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-coolstream-se-360-slim-triple

3. Vardar F4 - 120ER (6 of those) https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-vardar-f4-120er-2200rpm?___store=default

 

Pump: D5 - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-xtop-revo-d5-pwm-plexi-incl-pump

 

Reservoir: X3 250 - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-res-x3-250

 

CPU Block: Supremacy EVO Nickel - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-supremacy-evo-nickel?___store=default

 

GPU Block: also nickel - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc970-gtx-wf3-nickel

 

GPU Backplate: black backplate - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc970-gtx-wf3-backplate-black

 

Tubes: PETG Tubes (I thought about 12/16mm and to buy 5 pairs - total 10 tubes, you think i exaggerate? yet, its my first watercooling building) - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-hd-petg-tube-12-16mm-500mm-2pcs

 

Fitting:

1. 12 Regular fittings (HDC - Elox black) - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-hdc-fitting-16mm-g1-4-elox-black?___store=default

2. One spliter 3F or 4F I didn't decided yet) - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-af-x-splitter-4f-g1-4-black-qc2

3. One ball valve - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-af-ball-valve-10mm-g1-4-black

 

Coolants: EKWB new system advised me to take Pastel and to take two bottles - https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-ekoolant-pastel-blue-concentrate-250ml?___store=default

 

In total everything cost 1270 USD (include shipping and TAX)

 

 

My few questions:

1. Those watercooling components are good for my build?

2. I want to do the build with hard tube, since it's my first time ever I thought buying 5 pairs, you think it's too much or it's not enough?

3. Should I buy more fittings just in case one of them don't be good?

4. This pump is good enough for this build?, I don't need two right?

5. 12/16mm tubes is not too big for the case right?

6. I understand that the pastel coolant making problems (from JayzTwoCents YouTube Channel), should I take it anyway or there is other coolants (I want the color blue)?

7. Maybe the most important question hehe, there is way to make this watercooling build cheaper without to compromise?

 

 

 

Sorry for the long massage, I wanted to elaborate as much as possible to cover everything and save questions

[FloRolf]

are you sure you want to go full watercooling? I mean, for 1270USD you could get dual GTX1080s that would actually deliver a LOT more performance whereas watercooling gives you 0 performance increase.

[Moress]

Yeah I would say to pick up better parts long before you go with a full loop. Hell you could get a TitanXP (Or dual 1080s) for the cost of that full loop and get a much bigger boost. If you want to get a good OC on that 4790k a H110i will let it hit its stability limit.

[tomersap]

6 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

are you sure you want to go full watercooling? I mean, for 1270USD you could get dual GTX1080s that would actually deliver a LOT more performance whereas watercooling gives you 0 performance increase.

 

2 minutes ago, Moress said:

Yeah I would say to pick up better parts long before you go with a full loop. Hell you could get a TitanXP (Or dual 1080s) for the cost of that full loop and get a much bigger boost. If you want to get a good OC on that 4790k a H110i will let it hit its stability limit.

 

well I'm pretty happy with my system and i wanted a long time to pass to watercooling but didn't have the money to do so.

You are quite right in what you say but there always gonna be a better CPU or better GPU (I'm not even comparing my 970 to the 1080 don't get me wrong).

i wanted to upgrade my 970 to 980TI but I'm not sure if to do it or not (I found one in 360 USD).

 

If I'm going to cool only the CPU so i will just buy the D15, it's cheaper than the H110i.

[atomicus]

21 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

are you sure you want to go full watercooling? I mean, for 1270USD you could get dual GTX1080s that would actually deliver a LOT more performance whereas watercooling gives you 0 performance increase.

 0 performance... 100 coolness. 

 

Technically not true though if you can OC to the max and still have your CPU and GPU sitting back enjoying a cool breeze and hardly breaking a sweat during extreme gaming sessions. That's performance.

[FloRolf]

2 minutes ago, tomersap said:

 

If I'm going to cool only the CPU so i will just buy the D15, it's cheaper than the H110i.

This sentence is confusing. First you want to blow 1300USD on a loop and now the H110i is too expensive? lol

 

You know what i'd do in your case?

1. Get a somewhat decent CPU cooler. D15, H100i, whatever. Just something around 100USD or below

2. Get a GTX1080

3. Get a nice 1440p or 4k display at 27" or larger.

4. Enjoy your awesome setup

[tomersap]

3 hours ago, FloRolf said:

This sentence is confusing. First you want to blow 1300USD on a loop and now the H110i is too expensive? lol

 

You know what i'd do in your case?

1. Get a somewhat decent CPU cooler. D15, H100i, whatever. Just something around 100USD or below

2. Get a GTX1080

3. Get a nice 1440p or 4k display at 27" or larger.

4. Enjoy your awesome setup

I already bought last year 21:9 curved LG monitor so I wont buy new one 

Like atomicus said, I'm not upgrade only for performance, I want coolness too hehe, I'm gonna put my pc im my desk instead on the corner on my floor.

 

I'm playing at minimum high 50+ fps in any game right now so I don't see any reason to upgrade the GPU. 

Oh btw, the 1080 worth 1060 USD (for the Gigabyte G1) in my country so.....

[tomersap]

Anyone can help?

[Poetart]

I agree with the other guys in a way. Water-cooling a 970 (Even though it is still a great card) seems like a bit much. At the very least, I would get a 1070 or 1080 and then watercool. I have a 21:9 3440 LG monitor too and I went from a 970 to a 1080 FTW and would HIGHLY recommend it. Now I am working on watercooling it and I know I wont have to get another GPU & Waterblock for a while on that beast.