First time Water cooling Help!

[Mrcrysis2000]

Hi Guys simple question, my first ever time water-cooling a PC with pumps and such but I need to know some answers. first I’m after water cooling my graphics card and also a 6870 and an Intel core I5 in a Fractal Design R4 but I’m after as silent as possible, Would anyone know what to recommend also i have NO idea what to get :P. also I've looked at Linus’s videos about water cooling and it kind of just went straight through one ear to another any help would be great :)

Thanks In Advance

[Art Vandelay]

I have no idea what kind of radiator the R4 can house, so I'll just recommend the other parts in the loop.

For the pump, an MCP355 and 655 are both good pumps.

for the water block, get an XPSC raystorm or other CPU block of reasonable restriction.

For the tubing, go with Duralene or primochill advanced LRT.

Get any GPU block that will fit. Get a universal block, if you want to save some money.

[Silentknight]

Read the Watercooling 101 guide, has TONS of solid info for those starting and those advanced.

[YowZman]

what's your hard drive situation like? if you could put your hard drives in your 5.25 bays, then you could probably get a dual 120 in the top and another in the front. i don't know if a top rad would clear your mosfet coolers and ram, so perhaps a dual 120 in the front and a single at the rear.

either way, it should be possible to get some rads in there. for most graphics cards and cpus, you'll want a single 120 rad's worth of area per item as a BARE minimum unless you've got a REALLY thick rad and push pull fans. for a standard thickness rad for a gpu and a cpu i'd be looking 3 120s worth of rad space.

blocks wise, i've only ever used EK, they are great blocks, really nice looking, well made. i've heard good things about XSPC so that would be another option.

as for pumps MCP355 is a great shout, very quiet supposedly. i'm using a DCP 4.0 and its really noisy, so don't go for that.

I don't think tubing and resovoirs really matter that much, its just what you like the look of and can afford. although I would recommend compression fittings, yes they're pricy but the piece of mind is worth it in my opinion.

don't worry about loop order either, just make it neat. the only thing that matters is make sure your res is before your pump and NEVER run the pump dry.

happy cooling :)

[Whaler_99]

I will add... for your 6870 - there is only one vender left making full cover blocks. http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=30415 Sold out of course. I ended up using a Swiftech MCW82 universal block with their additional RAM cover. Works like a charm....

[Art Vandelay]

what's your hard drive situation like? if you could put your hard drives in your 5.25 bays, then you could probably get a dual 120 in the top and another in the front. i don't know if a top rad would clear your mosfet coolers and ram, so perhaps a dual 120 in the front and a single at the rear.

either way, it should be possible to get some rads in there. for most graphics cards and cpus, you'll want a single 120 rad's worth of area per item as a BARE minimum unless you've got a REALLY thick rad and push pull fans. for a standard thickness rad for a gpu and a cpu i'd be looking 3 120s worth of rad space.

blocks wise, i've only ever used EK, they are great blocks, really nice looking, well made. i've heard good things about XSPC so that would be another option.

as for pumps MCP355 is a great shout, very quiet supposedly. i'm using a DCP 4.0 and its really noisy, so don't go for that.

I don't think tubing and resovoirs really matter that much, its just what you like the look of and can afford. although I would recommend compression fittings, yes they're pricy but the piece of mind is worth it in my opinion.

don't worry about loop order either, just make it neat. the only thing that matters is make sure your res is before your pump and NEVER run the pump dry.

happy cooling :)

Compression fittings really aren't any more secure than barbs with clamps on them.

[YowZman]

what's your hard drive situation like? if you could put your hard drives in your 5.25 bays, then you could probably get a dual 120 in the top and another in the front. i don't know if a top rad would clear your mosfet coolers and ram, so perhaps a dual 120 in the front and a single at the rear.

either way, it should be possible to get some rads in there. for most graphics cards and cpus, you'll want a single 120 rad's worth of area per item as a BARE minimum unless you've got a REALLY thick rad and push pull fans. for a standard thickness rad for a gpu and a cpu i'd be looking 3 120s worth of rad space.

blocks wise, i've only ever used EK, they are great blocks, really nice looking, well made. i've heard good things about XSPC so that would be another option.

as for pumps MCP355 is a great shout, very quiet supposedly. i'm using a DCP 4.0 and its really noisy, so don't go for that.

I don't think tubing and resovoirs really matter that much, its just what you like the look of and can afford. although I would recommend compression fittings, yes they're pricy but the piece of mind is worth it in my opinion.

don't worry about loop order either, just make it neat. the only thing that matters is make sure your res is before your pump and NEVER run the pump dry.

happy cooling :)

I disagree. the clamp will not generate the kind of sealing pressure that a compression fitting can, otherwise you'd need HUUUGE pliers to open them. that pressure directly equates to a better seal. it might be unnecessary in a real world application, but they're a pretty sure fire way of getting a banging seal every time. and they're convenient.

[Mrcrysis2000]

Thanks alot for the help guys is all useful info :) and ill post pictures up when i do it :) may even put ya names on it :P

[VolkovBrad67]

what's your hard drive situation like? if you could put your hard drives in your 5.25 bays, then you could probably get a dual 120 in the top and another in the front. i don't know if a top rad would clear your mosfet coolers and ram, so perhaps a dual 120 in the front and a single at the rear.

either way, it should be possible to get some rads in there. for most graphics cards and cpus, you'll want a single 120 rad's worth of area per item as a BARE minimum unless you've got a REALLY thick rad and push pull fans. for a standard thickness rad for a gpu and a cpu i'd be looking 3 120s worth of rad space.

blocks wise, i've only ever used EK, they are great blocks, really nice looking, well made. i've heard good things about XSPC so that would be another option.

as for pumps MCP355 is a great shout, very quiet supposedly. i'm using a DCP 4.0 and its really noisy, so don't go for that.

I don't think tubing and resovoirs really matter that much, its just what you like the look of and can afford. although I would recommend compression fittings, yes they're pricy but the piece of mind is worth it in my opinion.

don't worry about loop order either, just make it neat. the only thing that matters is make sure your res is before your pump and NEVER run the pump dry.

happy cooling :)

I would agree with Art on the fact that compression fittings are not necessary more secure. You don't need extreme pressure to have a tight seal, actually applying too much pressure is probably more risky. I do prefer compressions though, mainly for the aesthetics, and also for the convenience and versatility.

[VolkovBrad67]

If it's your first water cooled rig, I'd say don't worry too much about performance, instead pick the parts that you like and that you are sure will work with your components / case. For example if you are worried that a thick radiator would not fit in your case, choose a slim one. In the end the temperature difference won't be that noticeable, and building something that works right off the bat will be more enjoyable than having to deal with multiple problems and not being able to use your computer for a while. Like YowZman said, don't worry about the order either, as long as your pump has water (not running dry) your system will work just fine, and will be at thermal equilibrium across the loop.

[Whaler_99]

The one thing I cannot stress enough - take your time and read! :) Learn everything you can. GMAC has posted a good intro here, there is Linus's videos and LOTS of info on the web about parts, building, setup, etc...

[airdeano]

if it is the first, don;t go overboard on looks, buy on functionality and performance.

once you got it under your belt, then bling it out.. simple would be to go the starter

kit from XSPC. a simple 240 kit will fit the R4. the Raystorm D5 EX240 would be

a great start for a beginning CPU loop. then upgrade the rad to a thicker RX. adding

a GPU, look to the front for a 240/280. the pump is awesome for dual rad/block installs.

airdeano

[YowZman]

what's your hard drive situation like? if you could put your hard drives in your 5.25 bays, then you could probably get a dual 120 in the top and another in the front. i don't know if a top rad would clear your mosfet coolers and ram, so perhaps a dual 120 in the front and a single at the rear.

either way, it should be possible to get some rads in there. for most graphics cards and cpus, you'll want a single 120 rad's worth of area per item as a BARE minimum unless you've got a REALLY thick rad and push pull fans. for a standard thickness rad for a gpu and a cpu i'd be looking 3 120s worth of rad space.

blocks wise, i've only ever used EK, they are great blocks, really nice looking, well made. i've heard good things about XSPC so that would be another option.

as for pumps MCP355 is a great shout, very quiet supposedly. i'm using a DCP 4.0 and its really noisy, so don't go for that.

I don't think tubing and resovoirs really matter that much, its just what you like the look of and can afford. although I would recommend compression fittings, yes they're pricy but the piece of mind is worth it in my opinion.

don't worry about loop order either, just make it neat. the only thing that matters is make sure your res is before your pump and NEVER run the pump dry.

happy cooling :)

The pressure to which a compressible gasket seal (tube in a compression fitting) will provide sealing is directly proportional to the clamping force.

It can be calculated using the equation P = ( -Fh + Fk x n) / (m x A)

Where P is the internal pressure, Fk is the clamping force, Fh is the force on the joint from the system pressure, m is the gasket factor, A is the gasket area, and n is the number of bolts.

If you are just looking at proportionality between P and Fk, we can cancel all other terms, and thus P is directly proportional to Fk. Untill you exceed your materials compression strength and start to plastically deform it.

I'm a design engineer guys, compression fittings are better, trust me ;)

[Mrcrysis2000]

Thank you guys so glad Linus started this forum up can finally get answers to my questions :)

[soupistasty5]

Not sure what mobo and RAM you've got, but its important when your doing H20 cooling in the R4. I also have one, and the clearance between the mobo/RAM can be an issue. Basically, you only get about 50mm to work with. As a result, most rads don't fit.

This is the reason I went with a 27mm thick rad, not a 38mm like I would have liked to. Also, I run GSkill Ares RAM, since its so low profile, but Corsair Vengence LP RAM would also be fine.

Hope this helps.

[sgieser6]

I have no idea what kind of radiator the R4 can house, so I'll just recommend the other parts in the loop.

For the pump, an MCP355 and 655 are both good pumps.

for the water block, get an XPSC raystorm or other CPU block of reasonable restriction.

For the tubing, go with Duralene or primochill advanced LRT.

Get any GPU block that will fit. Get a universal block, if you want to save some money.

where should i get this stuff

[YowZman]

what's your hard drive situation like? if you could put your hard drives in your 5.25 bays, then you could probably get a dual 120 in the top and another in the front. i don't know if a top rad would clear your mosfet coolers and ram, so perhaps a dual 120 in the front and a single at the rear.

either way, it should be possible to get some rads in there. for most graphics cards and cpus, you'll want a single 120 rad's worth of area per item as a BARE minimum unless you've got a REALLY thick rad and push pull fans. for a standard thickness rad for a gpu and a cpu i'd be looking 3 120s worth of rad space.

blocks wise, i've only ever used EK, they are great blocks, really nice looking, well made. i've heard good things about XSPC so that would be another option.

as for pumps MCP355 is a great shout, very quiet supposedly. i'm using a DCP 4.0 and its really noisy, so don't go for that.

I don't think tubing and resovoirs really matter that much, its just what you like the look of and can afford. although I would recommend compression fittings, yes they're pricy but the piece of mind is worth it in my opinion.

don't worry about loop order either, just make it neat. the only thing that matters is make sure your res is before your pump and NEVER run the pump dry.

happy cooling :)

7/16s on 1/2 barb trick achieves what a compression fitting already does by using the elastic tension in the hose to create sealing pressure.

I'm not saying that barbs will leak or anything like that, if you do it properly, they'll most likely be fine. just that in terms of raw maximum performance, a compression fitting greatly outperforms a barb.