Low maintenance loop

[BatFan22]

Hey guys,

I am looking at building a Mini-ITX HTPC. I am going to watercool to help keep the noise down.

So I need some help with trying to make the water loop be able to not need ANY maintenance for at least 1 year.

I am planning on using copper rads/ copper heatsinks, along with silver coated fittings. I am also thinking about flushing all parts with DI water in a effort to really clean the system.

 

Any tips or tricks are appreciated,

Thanks

[Vacsol]

custom loop coolers are almost always going to need maintenance every several months just to check up on everything.

 

a closed loop cooler or air cooler with quiet fans is going to be a better option IMO

what case are you planning on using?

[patrickjp93]

Hey guys,

I am looking at building a Mini-ITX HTPC. I am going to watercool to help keep the noise down.

So I need some help with trying to make the water loop be able to not need ANY maintenance for at least 1 year.

I am planning on using copper rads/ copper heatsinks, along with silver coated fittings. I aslo thinking abot flusing all parts with DI water in a effort to really clean the system.

 

Any tips or tricks are appreciated,

Thanks

I thought silver and copper didn't act well together in a liquid loop. Maybe that was aluminum and copper? Slick has a particular brand of fittings he likes,

 

If you are going to have a reservoir, do NOT buy all-acrylic. They harden and become prone to cracking over time. To minimize maintenance, don't buy acrylic other than tubing.

 

Make sure your compression fittings or hose clamps (yeah I'm ghetto that way) are TIGHT. After a day or two you will need to increase tightness because of how acrylic tube works.

[BatFan22]

custom loop coolers are almost always going to need maintenance every several months just to check up on everything.

 

a closed loop cooler or air cooler with quiet fans is going to be a better option IMO

what case are you planning on using?

I need to cool the GPU as well so a closed loop wont work. I am using a NCASE M1, so lots of hard work ahead. 

I get that closed loop would normally be better, but I guess I figure that there should be a way to replicate the closed loop  longevity in a custom loop. 

[Jodomcfrodo]

I need to cool the GPU as well so a closed loop wont work. I am using a NCASE M1, so lots of hard work ahead. 

I get that closed loop would normally be better, but I guess I figure that there should be a way to replicate the closed loop  longevity in a custom loop.

Get an H220x and expand for the least mantinence.

[patrickjp93]

I need to cool the GPU as well so a closed loop wont work. I am using a NCASE M1, so lots of hard work ahead. 

I get that closed loop would normally be better, but I guess I figure that there should be a way to replicate the closed loop  longevity in a custom loop. 

If you're willing to spend the money and have it done right the first time, get the GPU block from EKWB. I've had bent Swiftech blocks and alphacool blocks more times than I have fingers. EKWB it's done right the first time and shipped correctly (even from Slovenia). As per radiators, I'm partial to the Black Ice GTX after seeing side-by-side comparisons with the other big player Alphacool's Monsta Nexxos, but you need exceptional pressure-optimized fans for that (Scythe Gentle Typhoon, Noctua, Noiseblocker E-Loop if you want quiet as well).

[BatFan22]

Get an H220x and expand for the least mantinence.

I have thought about that, but I'm not sure it will fit.

[BatFan22]

If you're willing to spend the money and have it done right the first time, get the GPU block from EKWB. I've had bent Swiftech blocks and alphacool blocks more times than I have fingers. EKWB it's done right the first time and shipped correctly (even from Slovenia). As per radiators, I'm partial to the Black Ice GTX after seeing side-by-side comparisons with the other big player Alphacool's Monsta Nexxos, but you need exceptional pressure-optimized fans for that (Scythe Gentle Typhoon, Noctua, Noiseblocker E-Loop if you want quiet as well).

Thanks, I had already been looking at EKWB for the GPU block, but needed help on the res.

[Shaqo_Wyn]

I need to cool the GPU as well so a closed loop wont work. I am using a NCASE M1, so lots of hard work ahead. 

I get that closed loop would normally be better, but I guess I figure that there should be a way to replicate the closed loop  longevity in a custom loop. 

If I'm not mistaken, all the NCASE M1 can handle is a thin 240mm rad. I'm not sure you can realistically expect to get crazy low temps (that you might be expecting from a custom loop) and low noise using a 240 rad to cool a CPU + GPU.

 

Your best bet is probably a high fpi 240 rad and say some good fans @1400> RPM.

 

Some good rads:

Swiftech MCR220-XP

XSPC EX240

Hardware Labs Black Ice GTS240

Alphacool 240 ST30 (low fpi)

 

Mayhems X1 is rated to stay in a system for up to a year with no problem. However Mayhems says themselves that it'll start staining your blocks and tubing after 9 months, so you should change it every 9 months. 

[BatFan22]

If I'm not mistaken, all the NCASE M1 can handle is a thin 240mm rad. I'm not sure you can realistically expect to get crazy low temps (that you might be expecting from a custom loop) and low noise using a 240 rad to cool a CPU + GPU.

 

Your best bet is probably a high fpi 240 rad and say some good fans @1400> RPM.

 

Some good rads:

Swiftech MCR220-XP

XSPC EX240

Hardware Labs Black Ice GTS240

Alphacool 240 ST30 (low fpi)

 

Mayhems X1 is rated to stay in a system for up to a year with no problem. However Mayhems says themselves that it'll start staining your blocks and tubing after 9 months, so you should change it every 9 months. 

Not expecting to get crazy low temps, just wanting a quiet cooling system. 

Thanks for the Rad list, I'll look into those. 

Why coolant vs water? The forums seem to indicate that overall water is less demanding than coolant. 

[Shaqo_Wyn]

Not expecting to get crazy low temps, just wanting a quiet cooling system. 

Thanks for the Rad list, I'll look into those. 

Why coolant vs water? The forums seem to indicate that overall water is less demanding than coolant. 

In that case the ST30 or MCR220-XP would be great with some good fans (E-loops, NF-F12's). Up to you of course.

 

Distilled water + a kill coil/silver res plug is what I'd initially recommend. Since you said you're going for at least a year w/ no maintenance, I figure there is no harm in taking good coolant that is rated to come near this mark. It's recommended you change you water every 6 months or less.

[patrickjp93]

In that case the ST30 or MCR220-XP would be great with some good fans (E-loops, NF-F12's). Up to you of course.

 

Distilled water + a kill coil/silver res plug is what I'd initially recommend. Since you said you're going for at least a year w/ no maintenance, I figure there is no harm in taking good coolant that is rated to come near this mark. It's recommended you change you water every 6 months or less.

I find using antifreeze requires less need to change the water, but maybe that's just me.