Cheap "custom" cooling loop

[Trik'Stari]

I was wondering if it would be possible to use the pump and rad off of a closed loop cooler to make you're own "custom loop". Don't know about adding in a res, mainly just wondering about replacing the ugly black rubber tubes with either colored tubing or clear. I have seen this topic elsewhere but the only answer ever given is that it voids your warrant. Warranty aside, would this be possible? what would the drawbacks be compared to a completely custom set up with aftermarket pump, res, etc. Could you augment this with a custom pump and or res?

 

I would really appreciate any help on this as I want to make my rig look good, but don't want to spend a bunch of money on after market water block etc when I could paint my corsair h110's logo with uv paint, and just switch out the tubing and coolant.

[TheNinjaNextDor]

Yep, you could use something like the Corsair 240L Glacer, you don't even need to add a res (I think). It wouldn't be quite as good a a real custom loop, but pretty good.

[Trik'Stari]

Why would it be "not as good?" I'm just curious about this because I know a bit about thermal dissipation from my work in cars in college. I don't see how an open loop would be better other than having an overall larger amount of coolant to use, possibly leading to a lower overall average coolant temperature. I'm seriously considering trying this as soon as I find a trustworthy website to order tubing from, I need purple and orange uv reactive tubing for my color scheme . Hard to tell these days what websites are legit, been looking and frozencpu and xoxide, anyone know if they're legit?

[Trail Mixorz]

Why would it be "not as good?" I'm just curious about this because I know a bit about thermal dissipation from my work in cars in college. I don't see how an open loop would be better other than having an overall larger amount of coolant to use, possibly leading to a lower overall average coolant temperature. I'm seriously considering trying this as soon as I find a trustworthy website to order tubing from, I need purple and orange uv reactive tubing for my color scheme . Hard to tell these days what websites are legit, been looking and frozencpu and xoxide, anyone know if they're legit?

I know frozencpu is legit, I ordered a few Scythe GTs (@Lays) from there. Not sure about xoxide, never used it

[Trik'Stari]

Good to know. So far as I can tell from watching Linus' videos on water cooling loops, the only real issue would be the usual issue's with water cooling, which is generally making sure things are set up right, making sure the pump draws straight from the res. I do see a problem with filling the system which is bleeding air bubbles. I don't know how pumps work for custom water cooling loops (i.e. how they are powered/turned on) but these AIO systems just use a 3 pin fan header (at least that's what my h110 uses), I don't know how you would pulse this to fill the system the first time, although maybe you could mount the rad vertically, fill it, fill your hoses, fill the res, and then turn the system on long enough to get to the bios, then shut down and repeat? Also why do people use things like zip ties to secure their tubing when they could just use a standard hose clamp (either the compression type or screw type)? Just curious about all this because I used to work on cars, and it seems to me like the people designing a lot of things, have overlooked the cooling system on engines in cars, that is quite honestly very similar in its intent.

 

For instance, why use some fancy, expensive, after market coolant liquid, when you could just use standard green anti-freeze/water 50/50 mix. I know for a fact that this mix is A. sterile (already has biocide in it) and B. I know for a fact that its made to prevent reactions between metals, because a lot of cars out there with iron engine blocks have to worry about corrosion in the water jackets around the cylinders. Finally, if I remember correctly, standard anti-freeze does glow under a black light. Just an overall thought, not sure what the  viscosity difference between the standard anti-freeze mix, and these after market coolants. Oh and one more thing, I know that modern anti-freeze is chemically formulated to make water absorb "more" heat. I don't think this mix would be non conductive however, which is a massive problem if correct.

[crazythomas2007]

one of these would work a lot better and is made to work how you want to use it 

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14569/ex-wat-185/Swiftech_H20-220_EDGE_HD_Series_Liquid_Cooling_Kit_-_Black_CPU_Block_Universal_Mount.html?tl=g30c321
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/23377/ex-wat-298/XSPC_Raystorm_RX240_V3_Extreme_Universal_CPU_Water_Cooling_Kit_w_D5_Photon_and_Free_Dead-Water.html?tl=g30

 

but i know you want to use your h110 to save money so find out the diminutions of the barbs on the h110 then you can get some replacement tubing. now the hard part will be finding a res and barbs that will fit the tubing i'm guessing you might have to make a res and you might find some barbs that will work at a hardware store or automotive store. AND you will have to find out how the H110 flows witch is the inlet and witch one is the outlet because the res has to feed the pump.  

[Trik'Stari]

Yeah, I was thinking of just hooking the pump up on a bridged psu with tubes from each inlet running into the sink or something and seeing which tube sprays water everywhere lol. I would hope that corsair would set it up that when the logo on the pump is oriented vertically, that the top barb would be the outlet (because heat rises, would make the system slightly more efficient, in my mind at least). Of course this will all have to wait until my upcoming Intel switchover. That's the other thing about this idea, Gives you the option of using the water block on multiple types of sockets, not sure if this is true with purpose made custom loop water blocks. If I can figure out where to mount it on the Corsair 540 air case I'm using, I might do it anyways with a cheap res. and some cheap tubing. (eventually I would like to do rigid acrylic with one of these aio. systems)

[thelude]

http://www.ncix.com/detail/swiftech-h320-quiet-power-plug-and-play-b6-86340.htm

 

I also did not go full custom loop and instead expand on the AIO that I bought. Doing this is a little less expensive.

Went from this:

To this:

 

 

All with the swiftech H220.

 

[thelude]

According to Bryan(Swiftech Rep) the new H220x (with better pump & block) will be available next week.

[Lays]

I know frozencpu is legit, I ordered a few Scythe GTs (@Lays) from there. Not sure about xoxide, never used it

 

xoxide is fine yea, I used them once I believe.

[loccilucas]

Why would it be "not as good?" I'm just curious about this because I know a bit about thermal dissipation from my work in cars in college. I don't see how an open loop would be better other than having an overall larger amount of coolant to use, possibly leading to a lower overall average coolant temperature. I'm seriously considering trying this as soon as I find a trustworthy website to order tubing from, I need purple and orange uv reactive tubing for my color scheme . Hard to tell these days what websites are legit, been looking and frozencpu and xoxide, anyone know if they're legit?

It wouldn't be as good as the pumps on AIO's tend to be louder than "proper" pumps, also you can't really have alot of rad space (which means no ultra low RPM fans). Another draw back is that you cant really cool alot of components as the AIO pumps arn't powerful enough to pump a larger loop. However it you are willing to put up with those problems its a very cost effective way to have a custom cooling setup.

[Trik'Stari]

So the small pump on this cant handle multiple rads? Somehow I saw that coming. Either way. These AIO companies need to tack on maybe an extra 15 to 20 bucks and have their products come with different color tubing and or coolant. plain old black Is just fugly.

[Trik'Stari]

@ TheLude. Was that originally a setup like an h110 with just a rad and pump/water block? or was it an AIO kit? Was looking at the kits myself, seem nice, might definitely get one when I've switched from this crap amd board to an intel z87

[thelude]

@ TheLude. Was that originally a setup like an h110 with just a rad and pump/water block? or was it an AIO kit? Was looking at the kits myself, seem nice, might definitely get one when I've switched from this crap amd board to an intel z87

its is a swiftech h220 kit. Its basically a AIO but you can expand it. Other AIO like corsair you cannot expand. They use 3/8 ID and 5/8 OD for the tubes. This is what most people use. All I did was add more rads and blocks to the loop. It was very easy to do.

[Trik'Stari]

Ok, after reading a recent nightmare review of what happens when an AIO closed loop water cooler leaks, I have decided to go full bore and make my own loop, because I trust my own handiwork more than someone else. However I have 1 major issue.

 

I cannot find a water block for my motherboard. My build is as follows.

 

motherboard: ASUS f2 socket A85-V pro

cpu: AMD apu A10 5700 (soon to be upgrade to the 6800 black edition when I get my ssd)

Case: Corsair 540 air.

 

Specifically I need a water block that will fit the fm2 socket. If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it. I did have the idea to reuse the current water block from the AIO cooler I have now, but considering that's the part most often reported leaking, I'd rather not.

 

If any would say that it would be cheaper for me to just switch to an Intel motherboard, that's next year

[SSOB]

It's not worth it water cooling FM2.

 

Water cooling loop : 400-600 dollars

CPU : ~150 dollars.

 

Just get a CPU/GFX upgrade and get yourself that SSD.

[Cacao]

Oh god no...

 

just...

 

please...

 

no...

[SSOB]

BTW , that last scentence :

 

 

If any would say that it would be cheaper for me to just switch to an Intel motherboard, that's next year 

You understand AMD cpu's do not work on intel mobo's right?

You have a lot to learn my friend

[Prokart2000]

no no no no no no no!

[flibberdipper]

You can't watercool the FMxx platform.

[hawthorne]

Please no.

[techswede]

Wait until you switch to intel. Save your money for a proper loop for that.

 

FM2 isn't really worth watercooling.

[Pokahontas]

Buy D15 or something now, you dont need AIO.

Then next year upgrade to Skylake + some beefy maxwell card or something.

[Trik'Stari]

Thanks for the info, I'll definitely check that out, as I have now decided I don't feel confident in this water block that came with the corsair (read a REALLY bad review of it.)

 

Gonna go full liquid cooling, or maybe switch back to my 212 evo with noctua fans on it. This thing now feels sketchy to me knowing that it has slightly corrosive coolant in it. NOT A GOOD THING to ever have in any coolant system.

[Trik'Stari]

why cant you water cool FMxx?

 

and yes I know that intel and amd don't cross. Talking about a mobo and cpu switchover. But I'd have to buy another OS and don't have the money for that.

 

SSD ordered, waiting on fedex to take their sweet f***ing time. (ordered Wednesday, don't get it till next Thursday? wtf, its coming from PA to VA, less than a day's drive).

 

anyways, why cannot haz water cooled FMxx?