First Time Water cooling build

[ManOfGold93]

Hey guys, I have been looking as upgrading to water cooling for sometime now and can't decide whether I should custom pick parts or go with an AIO build where all I have to do is add piping and install. I was looking at this AIO (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/18964/ex-wat-249/EK_L240_Complete_Dual_120mm_Liquid_Cooling_Kit_EK-KIT_L240.html?tl=g30c83s137#blank)%C2'> but really like the stand alone tube reservoirs. Advice?

I would like for now just to do a cpu block with the ability to add a gpu in the future. 

 

Thanks alot!

MOG

[NInety]

I'd custom pick the parts.

If you need help installing, here's where I learned:

 

 

And Here:

 

[Enderman]

What is your budget? If you can afford to pay $500+ for a custom loop then that is obviously the best option. If you are on a budget, then go with an AiO and save up for a custom loop later. Custom watercooling loops are expensive and time consuming, and also require a lot of experience.

[AMICLG]

AIO are loud for the most part and most don't allow expansion as custom you can obviously do whatever setup you want and expaned but are much more expensive $500+ for good parts so IMO go custom or use air unless your wanting to cool a 290/X for cheap.

[NInety]

What is your budget? If you can afford to pay $500+ for a custom loop then that is obviously the best option. If you are on a budget, then go with an AiO and save up for a custom loop later. Custom watercooling loops are expensive and time consuming, and also require a lot of experience.

They actually don't take much experience. You put a res. to a pump. A tube from the pump to the block(CPU or GPU), then a tube from the block to a rad. and then from the rad to the res. I learned in about 4 hours. 

You can also go in pretty much any order, I was just giving an example.

And a single CPU loop would only be about $250-$300.

[Enderman]

They actually don't take much experience. You put a res. to a pump. A tube from the pump to the block(CPU or GPU), then a tube from the block to a rad. and then from the rad to the res. I learned in about 4 hours. 

You can also go in pretty much any order, I was just giving an example.

Picking parts, leak testing, fitting selection, tubing length, fitting/tubing size, res positioning and mounting, etc etc etc...

You need some PC experience to make a proper loop that will last a long time...

If you watch SingularityComputers on youtube, his watercooled builds take months to complete. He does do quite a bit of modding too, but thats still a long time.

[rjbarker]

Yeah you need a little PC building experience but it certainly ISNT rocket science...very basc plumbing really  and with the tons and tons of Youtube tutorials out there anyone with half a brain can figure it out ..... OP..dont let this statement deter you from "diving in"...I had 0 WC experience when I dove into the build in my Sig and put the Loop together in a matter of a few hrs once I had all the Parts.

 

the dude on Singularity is absolutely Anal and obviously has rampant OCD...he's also building for customers !!

 

The Youtube Tutorials "Master" posted above are a ccouple I also checked out...along with all of Daz Modes Videos...same thing here..taught myself in a few hrs of reading.WC Forums..googling  n watch youtube videos

 

Anyhow, honestly, if you're simply WC a CPU..go with an AIO...the real benefit of a Custom Loop is to WC your GPU's imho

[AnotherTechGuy]

.

[NInety]

Picking parts, leak testing, fitting selection, tubing length, fitting/tubing size, res positioning and mounting, etc etc etc...

You need some PC experience to make a proper loop that will last a long time...

If you watch SingularityComputers on youtube, his watercooled builds take months to complete. He does do quite a bit of modding too, but thats still a long time.

Part picking: Took me about an hour too pick all the parts for a clients build.

Leak testing: You just put paper towel under the places where the tubing connects to blocks/res.

Tubing length: Use a ruler and measure out your planned loop and then add about 5 ft of tubing for headroom.

Res positioning and mounting: Most custom loop water cooling people plan out their loops.

Yes, you do need some experience about PCs, but if you can build one, you can water cool one.