Watercooling loop help.

[xHadrian]

I want to make a custom loop, for 400$. I want hard tubing, a 360 rad, and a medium-sized reservoir. I want to cool the CPU and the GPU. I'm worried that I will chose the wrong fittings or do something wrong, so can you guys help with choosing the parts, where the bends go, etc. Look at this sketch:

[C0LL0SS0S]

If its your first loop I recommend soft tube since it is way easier, otherwise make sure to buy hardtube fittings not compression ones

[xHadrian]

If its your first loop I recommend soft tube since it is way easier, otherwise make sure to buy hardtube fittings not compression ones

I don't like the look of soft tubing. Any help choosing the parts?

[Leonard]

Will any watercooling vendor be fine or do you want EK or someother?

[xHadrian]

Will any watercooling vendor be fine or do you want EK or someother?

Anything that performs well.

[C0LL0SS0S]

I don't like the look of soft tubing. Any help choosing the parts?

Well EK is the way to go but 400$ is hard for a hardline tube, maybe look into those premade EK sets but they are all soft AFAIK

[Leonard]

Well EK is the way to go but 400$ is hard for a hardline tube, maybe look into those premade EK sets but they are all soft AFAIK

Actually Monsoon sets the standard IMO.

[xHadrian]

It's okay with me as long as it doesn't go way more than 400 $ (etc. 600 $)

[C0LL0SS0S]

Actually Monsoon sets the standard IMO.

never heared of them before their website looks kinda funky 

[xHadrian]

Soooo, any help choosing the parts?

[Leonard]

never heared of them before their website looks kinda funky 

Another thing...well two things...

 

1. Do you have hard line bending and cutting tools? If not you can't do CPU and GPU with $400, you might get it with just CPU.
2. Can you get you hands on distilled water?

[C0LL0SS0S]

 

Another thing...well two things...

 

1. Do you have hard line bending and cutting tools? If not you can't do CPU and GPU with $400, you might get it with just CPU.
2. Can you get you hands on distilled water?

 

I am not the dude that wants the loop  

[Leonard]

I am not the dude that wants the loop

Sorry about that.

[Leonard]

Anything that performs well.

Another thing...well two things...

 

1. Do you have hard line bending and cutting tools? If not you can't do CPU and GPU with $400, you might get it with just CPU.
2. Can you get you hands on distilled water?

1x Pump/res combo = $150

1x CPU block = $55

1x Radiator = $63

1x PETG tube =$16

2x Hardline Fittings = $54

3x Fans = $39

 

Subtotal = $377 + shipping and any tax you may have to pay. This is a 5.5% off coupon code for performancepcs, OCN55.

 

Then you are left to get the GPU block.

Edited July 14, 2015 by Leonard

[Bazerka]

Soooo, any help choosing the parts?

So as someone who did hardline cooling as his first waterloop your gonna have to do a few things. #1 all your bending will have to be by hand cause with your $400 budget you wont be able to afford mandrels or a bending kit. #2 your gonna be shaving it reallllllly close to your budget because you ahve to buy the necessary equiment to cut and bend tube (saw, blade, heatgun, silicon insert, etc.). Other than that here are some recommended parts

 

CPU - XSPC, EK, and Bitspower all make good cpu blocks (XSPC - Raystorm, EK - Supremacy or Supremacy Evo, Bitspower Summit) most CPU blocks average $75 - $80

GPU - again those 3 companies make good GPU blocks, but EK is my preferred block maker, their blocks just look way better. GPU Blocks go for around $90-$150

Fittings - Primochill, Bitspower, and Monsoon are your main choices. MAKE SURE that they are Hardline fittings and that it fits your size tubing. I use Monsoon freecenter fittings. Average - $60-65 for a 6 pack

Tubing - You have two options: acrylic or PETG. I use PETG cause it doesnt crack as easily, but thats a personal choice. There are two sizes (3/8" x 1/2", or 1/2" x 5/8"). MAKE SURE you buy the correct size fittings for your tubing.

Radiator - Alphacool, XSPC, EK, etc. there are alot, look up the reviews, but for most systems running on a 360 rad with a single GPU you'll be fine. MAKE SURE that if you are using copper or Nickle metals in your cooling blocks that you dont have ANY aluminium in your radiator (most are copper, but doesnt hurt to check). Copper / Nickel mixed with Aluminium = corrosion

Pump - I personally love the MCP35x series, small but powerful, they get the job done - Average $45-50

Rez - Bitspower, XSPC, EK, Alphacool all make reserviors. These are hard to make and come in all shapes and sizes - Average from $20 - $150 depending on materials

Fluid - for your first build just use filtered distilled water, dont go fancy if you dont know what your doing

Kill coil - just get one and save yourself the hassle of dealing with algae - Silver kill coil - $3

 

Last note: This is going to be really hard man, without the tools etc, its going to be hard to stick to your $400 budget. My first hardline build was around $490 and that was because I had some of the tools already (heatgun etc). Id be happy to help with any questions you got if you wanna message me directly. Goodluck @xHadrian

[xHadrian]

Another thing...well two things...

 

1. Do you have hard line bending and cutting tools? If not you can't do CPU and GPU with $400, you might get it with just CPU.
2. Can you get you hands on distilled water?

1x Pump/res combo = $150

1x CPU block = $55

1x Radiator = $63

1x PETG tube =$16

2x Hardline Fittings = $54

3x Fans = $39

 

Subtotal = $377 + shipping and any tax you may have to pay. This is a 5.5% off coupon code for performancepcs, OCN55.

 

Then you are left to get the GPU block.

I could get over the 400$ budget, and my dad has all kinds of tools. Might as well see if he has the proper tools as he built a computer before.

[xHadrian]

So as someone who did hardline cooling as his first waterloop your gonna have to do a few things. #1 all your bending will have to be by hand cause with your $400 budget you wont be able to afford mandrels or a bending kit. #2 your gonna be shaving it reallllllly close to your budget because you ahve to buy the necessary equiment to cut and bend tube (saw, blade, heatgun, silicon insert, etc.). Other than that here are some recommended parts

 

CPU - XSPC, EK, and Bitspower all make good cpu blocks (XSPC - Raystorm, EK - Supremacy or Supremacy Evo, Bitspower Summit) most CPU blocks average $75 - $80

GPU - again those 3 companies make good GPU blocks, but EK is my preferred block maker, their blocks just look way better. GPU Blocks go for around $90-$150

Fittings - Primochill, Bitspower, and Monsoon are your main choices. MAKE SURE that they are Hardline fittings and that it fits your size tubing. I use Monsoon freecenter fittings. Average - $60-65 for a 6 pack

Tubing - You have two options: acrylic or PETG. I use PETG cause it doesnt crack as easily, but thats a personal choice. There are two sizes (3/8" x 1/2", or 1/2" x 5/8"). MAKE SURE you buy the correct size fittings for your tubing.

Radiator - Alphacool, XSPC, EK, etc. there are alot, look up the reviews, but for most systems running on a 360 rad with a single GPU you'll be fine. MAKE SURE that if you are using copper or Nickle metals in your cooling blocks that you dont have ANY aluminium in your radiator (most are copper, but doesnt hurt to check). Copper / Nickel mixed with Aluminium = corrosion

Pump - I personally love the MCP35x series, small but powerful, they get the job done - Average $45-50

Rez - Bitspower, XSPC, EK, Alphacool all make reserviors. These are hard to make and come in all shapes and sizes - Average from $20 - $150 depending on materials

Fluid - for your first build just use filtered distilled water, dont go fancy if you dont know what your doing

Kill coil - just get one and save yourself the hassle of dealing with algae - Silver kill coil - $3

 

Last note: This is going to be really hard man, without the tools etc, its going to be hard to stick to your $400 budget. My first hardline build was around $490 and that was because I had some of the tools already (heatgun etc). Id be happy to help with any questions you got if you wanna message me directly. Goodluck @xHadrian

Silver kill coil with copper/nickel causes corrosion. I pretty much know what I'm doing.

[xHadrian]

@Leonard 

 

I could get my hands on distilled water. How much do I need to get from these 4 fittings? 2 packs=8? Or more? Do I need snake fittings or other types of fittings?

[xHadrian]

I'm in the UAE, so shipping is 100 dollars...

[Leonard]

Silver kill coil with copper/nickel causes corrosion. I pretty much know what I'm doing.

You are correct about the corrosion.

 

@Leonard 

 

I could get my hands on distilled water. How much do I need to get from these 4 fittings? 2 packs=8? Or more? Do I need snake fittings or other types of fittings?

I put 2x the fittings, meaning 2 times the 4 which would give you 8 fittings and 8 is how much you will need for what i gave plus a GPU....let's count it....2 for the GPU...2 for the CPU, 2 for the pump/res combo, and 2 for the radiator.

 

You could add one of these to the loop to help with keeping the loop clean or you can use this biocide.

 

You don't need "snake fittings" as the tube is bent to get from inlet to outlet in the loop. JazTwoCents is one of the guys who do exceptional hardline builds.

 

Another thing you could consider is a drain port for the loop at the reservoir for easy cleaning of components or liquid change. For that you would need, or it would be wise to use soft tube as it can just tuck away some where and there you could use a regular barb fitting and a drain port plug <-----like that one.

 

I don't know if you checked for this or not but depending on the MOBO and other components use you will have to ensure there are no clearance issues for the radiator plus the fans. The radiator i chose is an excellent performer and is low profile and you can use the fans on say 1000 - 1100 rpm.

 

As this is your first time i believe it would be wise to get some extra hardline tubing and the bending process is very easy to mess up.

 

Have you studied how you plan to power the fans? I recommend this or this on your MOBO's CPU fan header and then the pump could go on another fan header. I have both splitters and they function the same but the Phobya is better built.

 

Major Tips....

1. You would need to assemble all your watercooling components in the case but leak test outside your case to prevent damaged components if you should get a leak. You can use one of these to start your PSU without it connected to the MOBO.

[xHadrian]

@Leonard

 

Does this work with the other components?

PrimoChilll 1/2in. Rigid PETG Tube 36in. - 4 Pack - Blood Red

[Leonard]

 

@Leonard

 

Does this work with the other components?

PrimoChilll 1/2in. Rigid PETG Tube 36in. - 4 Pack - Blood Red

 

No, because the fittings are 3/8" x 1/2" so you will need to get 3/8" x 1/2" tubing or change the fitting to 1/2" x what ever is the other dimension....you didn't link the blood red tubing for me to know. In most cases 1/2" tubing comes in either 1/2" x 5/8" or 3/4" . 

[Bazerka]

Silver kill coil with copper/nickel causes corrosion. I pretty much know what I'm doing.

Lol, Galvanic corrosion only occurs between aluminium and silver because of the electron shift between Ag and Al. Ni+ or Cu- don't react with Ag (silver) unless mixed with a highly acidic solution to facilitate electron transfer. Corrosion is simply a transfer or electrons and protons causing degradation of the alloy. Silver and Nickle, or Silver and Copper dont do this. #IdoknowhatI'mtalkingabout

[Bazerka]

Silver kill coil with copper/nickel causes corrosion. I pretty much know what I'm doing.

I hate to be that guy, but here you go:

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php/706196-Silver-Kill-Coil-and-Corrosion