First Time Water Cooler (custom loop)

[Primbrook]

Ok so I have reached the point where I want a custom water loop. 

I don't know too much about custom water loop. I just want help picking the pieces. 

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Specs: 

CPU i7 5820k

 

MOBO X99 Deluxe (going to exchange for a X99 Sabertooth Motherboard once the retailer I use is in stock)

 

GPU Diamond R9 290 ( Hopeing to upgrade to a GTX 980) 

 

Case Corsair Graphite Series 780T - Black 

 

RAM 8GB 2x4 DDR4

 

PSU EVGA SuperNOVA 750 750W Watt Bronze ATX 12V Power Supply

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I plan on water cooling the GPU but not until I get a GTX 980, and of course the cpu.

Would the two Front 140mm fans be enough to cool a gtx 980 and i7 5820k or would I need more than that? Would it be possible to water cool the cpu then add a gpu water block later, or would it be best to set it up all in one go? 

 

-edit

 

If the one rad in the front isn't enough I was thinking of putting a three fan rad on the top as an intake then setting the front to go out and the single fan in the back as an intake.

[Primbrook]

So for the rad I was thinking of using the EK-CoolStream XE 360 triple rad on the top.

For the cpu block I was thinking of using the EK-Supremacy EVO X99 - Full Nickel.

For the pump I was thinking of using the EK-XTOP D5 PWM - Plexi (Incl. Pump).

Then for the reservoir I was thinking of using the EK-RES X3 400.

 

Does anyone think I should use different parts? Is there something I missed? If you have any input that will help please post it! This is my first custom loop.

 

  

[SonoDanshi]

@SpiderWhale - First of all I'd suggest trying to get all of your hardware in place before building the loop otherwise you'll end up having to drain it to replace items and most likely have to cur new tubing etc as things get repositioned. It'll be a lot less effort just to do it all in one go.

 

I've heard a few people mention that the rule-of-thumb for radiator capacity in a PC is essentially 240mm for every loop and then 120mm for every component you want to cool. So as you want to cool a CPU and a single GPU you will want (as a minimum) 480mm of radiator space. So if you have the 280mm at the front and the 360mm you mentioned at the top you will be more than fine for cooling ability.

 

Pretty much any D5 PWM pump will be fine and EK make good ones. 400mm reservoirs are pretty big so make sure you plan the mounting points properly so you have enough space (should be fine in a full tower though).

 

Regarding other items, you'll need tubing and fittings as well (and if you go with PETG for example you'll need some extra tools to get the job done). If you stick with the easier flexible tuning then you may or may not want to consider a means of draining the loop (with flexible hosing you do always have an option of just cutting the tube open) - but if you go PETG then it's a must.

[Primbrook]

@SonoDanshi 

Alright, I already got the motherboard so I just have to wait the GPU. 

As for radiators here's what I have: 

The EK-CoolStream XE 360 (triple) on the top.     https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-coolstream-xe-360-triple

The EK-CoolStream XE 240 (double) in the front.     https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-coolstream-xe-240-double

So with those two rads that gives me 640mm of rad. space. 

 

Do you think that reservoir is too much? If so I was thinkning of going with the EK-Res X4 250.  https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-res-x3-250

 

I'll stick with the same pump as it seems like a good pump. 

 

I kinda of hit a bump though, if I go with a gtx 980ti amp from zotac, there don't seem to be any full water blocks for it. Only VGA universal blocks from EK.

On EK's website it say exsisting GTX Titan X water blocks are compatible with the GTX 980ti but I don't know if that includes the GTX 980ti amp zotac card. http://site.ekwb.com/news/600/19/Existing-EK-FC-Titan-X-compatible-with-the-latest-NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-980-Ti/

 

When I got to the config. tab and enter the GPU info no full blocks show up. I'll have to do more research on this.

I'll also go with flexible tubing just because it seems a lot easier. 

[SonoDanshi]

Do you think that reservoir is too much? If so I was thinking of going with the EK-Res X4 250.  https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-res-x3-250

 

I kinda of hit a bump though, if I go with a gtx 980ti amp from zotac, there don't seem to be any full water blocks for it. Only VGA universal blocks from EK.

On EK's website it say exsisting GTX Titan X water blocks are compatible with the GTX 980ti but I don't know if that includes the GTX 980ti amp zotac card. http://site.ekwb.com/news/600/19/Existing-EK-FC-Titan-X-compatible-with-the-latest-NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-980-Ti/

 

When I got to the config. tab and enter the GPU info no full blocks show up. I'll have to do more research on this.

I'll also go with flexible tubing just because it seems a lot easier. 

The reservoir choice is entirely up to you as the size of the reservoir doesn't impact the performance of the cooling loop at all. If you prefer a res that will run top to bottom in your case then go for the 400mm. If you prefer something a little less dominating then the 250 is a good size.

 

If you are looking for a full cover block for a 980Ti then right now all of the TitanX blocks will be compatible with reference designs only - so this is basically anything with a blower style fan on it or a very large proportion of EVGAs lineup (anything including and below their SC+ ACX2.0 cards.

 

There are a couple of EK representatives on these forums and they have been answering questions about blocks for other cards and it seems like the G1 Gaming will be getting a block in the next month or 2 and no real confirmation on anything beyond that. There have been a few vocal members asking for an AMP compatible block as it is shaping up to be an extremely popular card but I'd be surprised if EK make one as they aren't the largest company in the world and R&D costs money.