Biting the Bullet...

[TheDigitalRealm]

So, I posted a topic a little while ago asking about water-cooling with two AIO's (GPU+CPU). With the conclusion I drew from that post, I decided to try and find a Swiftech H320 and expand it...except they're sold out, everywhere. 

 

I've now decided to bite the bullet and go for a custom loop - As cheaply as possible without compromising on quality / performance too much.

 

I have an NZXT Switch 810 that I'd like to fill, and would like to use a tube reservoir if possible. They are my only prerequisites. Also I wont be water cooling my current GPU, as I'll be building this set up when Maxwell comes out. I may as well nail down as many of the components as I am able to now.  Here's the list of parts I've gathered so far, if you think there are better components I could get, please list them below.

 

CPU Block: EK Supremacy £48

GPU Block: -Unknown- £70-£80

Tubing: Black Primochill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT £10

360mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos XT45 £63

240mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos UT60 £60

Reservoir: Phobya Balancer 150 (or other suggestion) £22.50

Fittings: Swiftech chrome Lok-Seal 3/8" ID 1/2" OD Compression fittings £5 x 10 and 2 x Barb fittings £55

Pump: Alphacool VPP655  D5 Vario pump £80

Coolant: Ice Dragon Nanofluid. £25

Fans: (already have 4x) 3x Corsair SP120 Quiet edition fans £28

 

Total: £466

[Dragonzeanse]

If you can make a custom loop that cheap, please let me know. I will be genuinely impressed - especially if you get a GPU block. Frankly, you should cool the GPU before you cool the CPU; it yields better performance.

[Leonofhyjal]

So, I posted a topic a little while ago asking about water-cooling with two AIO's (GPU+CPU). With the conclusion I drew from that post, I decided to try and find a Swiftech H320 and expand it...except they're sold out, everywhere. 

 

I've now decided to bite the bullet and go for a custom loop - As cheaply as possible without compromising on quality / performance too much. 

 

I have an NZXT Switch 810 that I'd like to fill, and would like to use a tube reservoir if possible. They are my only prerequisites. Also I wont be water cooling my current GPU, as I'll be building this set up when Maxwell comes out. I may as well nail down as many of the components as I am able to now.  Here's the list of parts I've gathered so far, if you think I can create the same sized loop for less £, please post your suggestions.

 

CPU Block: Koolance 380i £70

GPU Block: -Unknown- 

Tubing: Black Primochill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT £10

360mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos XT45 £63

240mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos UT60 £60

Reservoir: Phobya Balancer 150 (or other suggestion) £22.50

Fittings: Swiftech chrome Lok-Seal 3/8" ID 1/2" OD Compression fittings £3.20 x 10 and 2 x Barb fittings

Pump: D5 Vario pump (looking for recommendations)

 

I'm looking to keep this loop at approximately £350 if possible.

I'd have to agree with Dragonzeanse on this one. Also the Koolance 380i is really overkill for a 3770k unless you're pushing mad volts through it. Something like a XSPC Raystorm is a lot better price/performance. ~half the price from what I see on performance-pcs.com. The D5 pump is really the only pump you ever want to think about buying. The Vario model has less then a 2% RMA rate. 

 

You can probably shave down the cost of a bit more if you go with different brand radiators too. Something like Phyobia or Swifttech would get you the same performance. IMHO I'd go with Phyobia though because there are bleed ports on all of their models.  

[TheDigitalRealm]

If you can make a custom loop that cheap, please let me know. I will be genuinely impressed - especially if you get a GPU block. Frankly, you should cool the GPU before you cool the CPU; it yields better performance.

I'll be doing this whenever Maxwell comes out all in one go. I don't want to build half of it now just for the CPU only to rip half of it out later to accommodate a GPU block.

Why is £350 unreasonable? If I can get a pump and GPU block for around £120 I won't be too far from my £350 goal.

Okay, so I looked at other CPU blocks and the EK Supremacy is £45-£50 depending on where you buy from, does anyone have experience with EK?

[airdeano]

I have an NZXT Switch 810 that I'd like to fill, and would like to use a tube reservoir if possible. They are my only prerequisites. Also I wont be water cooling my current GPU, as I'll be building this set up when Maxwell comes out. I may as well nail down as many of the components as I am able to now.  Here's the list of parts I've gathered so far, if you think I can create the same sized loop for less £, please post your suggestions.

 

CPU Block: Koolance 380i £70

GPU Block: -Unknown- 

Tubing: Black Primochill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT £10

360mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos XT45 £63

240mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos UT60 £60

Reservoir: Phobya Balancer 150 (or other suggestion) £22.50

Fittings: Swiftech chrome Lok-Seal 3/8" ID 1/2" OD Compression fittings £3.20 x 10 and 2 x Barb fittings

Pump: D5 Vario pump (looking for recommendations)

 

I'm looking to keep this loop at approximately £350 if possible.

 

for budget:

use all barbs and skip the compression fittings.

use a raystorm CPU block

skip the UT60 240 (SLI/CFX for later)

 

should easily make your budget and then when you add the SLI/CFX 240 radiator, then the compression fittings.

 

didn't see any fans?

[Prophet of Entropy]

buy one of the XSPC kits with as big a rad you can fit in your case and but a GPU block and 2 extra fittings. just get one with the parts you need. (some don't come with fans).

[TheDigitalRealm]

for budget:

use all barbs and skip the compression fittings.

use a raystorm CPU block

skip the UT60 240 (SLI/CFX for later)

 

should easily make your budget and then when you add the SLI/CFX 240 radiator, then the compression fittings.

 

didn't see any fans?

Would a single 360mm radiator give me better temperatures for my CPU than my H100i and low GPU temps while having fans running at 700rpm? I want to do this for silence as well as performance. I already have enough Corsair SP120 fans for my build. 

Also my case is windowed...barbs are pretty ugly looking from what I've seen, unless you have some recommendations?

[TheDigitalRealm]

for budget:

use all barbs and skip the compression fittings.

use a raystorm CPU block

skip the UT60 240 (SLI/CFX for later)

 

should easily make your budget and then when you add the SLI/CFX 240 radiator, then the compression fittings.

 

didn't see any fans?

Is this EK Supreme LTX a good deal? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-Supreme-LTX-Acetal-Nickel-CSQ-Intel-CPU-Waterblock-/331149673787?pt=UK_Computing_Water_Cooling&hash=item4d1a0f053b

I don't know too much about EK, are their water blocks of high quality?

[Anthony10]

@TheDigitalRealm Just save up some more money and you'll be able to make a much much better loop. I think £500-600 should get you a full loop (cpu + gpu).

[Lays]

Would a single 360mm radiator give me better temperatures for my CPU than my H100i and low GPU temps while having fans running at 700rpm? I want to do this for silence as well as performance. I already have enough Corsair SP120 fans for my build. 

Also my case is windowed...barbs are pretty ugly looking from what I've seen, unless you have some recommendations?

 

 

You only want to spend a small amount for a custom loop,  sacrifices will of course have to be made.  

 

a 360 would be just fine, you could run 700-1000 RPM just fine.

[TheDigitalRealm]

@TheDigitalRealm Just save up some more money and you'll be able to make a much much better loop. I think £500-600 should get you a full loop (cpu + gpu).

I'm not even sure it's possible to spend that much in my Switch 810. There isn't the radiator space. Okay, I'll remove the budget cap and propose a new loop, to see what you think.

[TheMuskr]

I'm not even sure it's possible to spend that much in my Switch 810. There isn't the radiator space. Okay, I'll remove the budget cap and propose a new loop, to see what you think.

Oh it is, easily. when you get into buying compression fittings and thick rads it is not hard to blow by the $600 mark.

[airdeano]

Would a single 360mm radiator give me better temperatures for my CPU than my H100i and low GPU temps while having fans running at 700rpm? I want to do this for silence as well as performance. I already have enough Corsair SP120 fans for my build. 

Also my case is windowed...barbs are pretty ugly looking from what I've seen, unless you have some recommendations?

 

yes, the 360 will give you a better delta temperature, longer duration till saturated

and will fit the 810 chassis. the RX-series can handle 700rpm fan speeds. but when

including the GPU, you might have to elevate the speed 200-300rpm.

i use 7/16" tubing on 1/2" barbs and they look just fine.

 

Is this EK Supreme LTX a good deal? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-Supreme-LTX-Acetal-Nickel-CSQ-Intel-CPU-Waterblock-/331149673787?pt=UK_Computing_Water_Cooling&hash=item4d1a0f053b

I don't know too much about EK, are their water blocks of high quality?

 

can't comment on that product line, but any major manufacturer of water cooling

products CPU water block is just fine. it mainly comes down to looks as their

performance are so close as within margin of error.

[TheDigitalRealm]

@TheDigitalRealm Just save up some more money and you'll be able to make a much much better loop. I think £500-600 should get you a full loop (cpu + gpu).

Well, you were right, it's very easy to spend that much.

 

CPU Block: EK Supremacy £48

GPU Block: -Unknown- £70-£80

Tubing: Black Primochill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT £10

360mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos XT45 £63

240mm Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos UT60 £60

Reservoir: Phobya Balancer 150 (or other suggestion) £22.50

Fittings: Swiftech chrome Lok-Seal 3/8" ID 1/2" OD Compression fittings £5 x 10 and 2 x Barb fittings £55

Pump: Alphacool VPP655  D5 Vario pump £80

Coolant: Ice Dragon Nanofluid. £25

Fans: (already have 4x) 3x Corsair SP120 Quiet edition fans £28

 

Total: £466

 

What do you think now?

[TheDigitalRealm]

Oh it is, easily. when you get into buying compression fittings and thick rads it is not hard to blow by the $600 mark.

Remember this isn't in Dollars, this is in Pounds. £466 is roughly $700

[Leonofhyjal]

buy one of the XSPC kits with as big a rad you can fit in your case and but a GPU block and 2 extra fittings. just get one with the parts you need. (some don't come with fans).

Just be careful if the kit you buy has the dual bay res/pump combo. The pump they put inside is total garbage. 

[TheDigitalRealm]

Just be careful if the kit you buy has the dual bay res/pump combo. The pump they put inside is total garbage. 

Not a big fan of Bay Reservoirs. I prefer the aesthetic of a tube reservoir . I'm probably going to go ahead with this custom loop. I have the money to.