First-Time Water Cooling Help

[The Cool n00B]

Last night my dad threw out the idea of water cooling my system for Christmas. I like the idea of water cooling my system, because hopefully it'll be quieter and I'll also need a new case. I'm a little nervous about the idea of water cooling it, because I've never water cooled a system before. I've never used an AIO water cooler, and my dad wants to jump right in to custom water cooling.

 

The case I was thinking of getting was a Phanteks Enthoo Pro. I'd mount a radiator in the top and in the front. I'm not sure what size to put in the top, but minimum a 240 rad. I'm also not sure if I'll be able to get 2 SSDs and 2 HDDs in the case and still put a rad up front? Here's my list of unsure-ness:

1. What size rad in the top? I need a 5.25" slot for a DVD-ROM.
2. What size (if any) rad in the front?
3. What fans to use?
4. What res to use?
5. What pump to use? The pump would ideally mount directly under the res. They should both ideally be able the fit the res mount in the rear of the case.
6. Tubing?
7. Fittings? Compression fittings are ideal, please.
8. Is the case good? Other cases should be around $100 US.
9. CPU Waterblock? It should include hardware for both AMD and Intel, so future CPU upgrades are possible with the same block.
10. GPU Waterblock? I have the Sapphire R9 280. I'm not sure if it's a custom PCB. A universal block is ok.
11. I'm willing to use a Swiftech AIO and expand it to the GPU, as long as the pump had enough pressure.

 

EDIT: I'll probably repost this in the future, I just want to get a general idea.

[The Official Czex]

Last night my dad threw out the idea of water cooling my system for Christmas. I like the idea of water cooling my system, because hopefully it'll be quieter and I'll also need a new case. I'm a little nervous about the idea of water cooling it, because I've never water cooled a system before. I've never used an AIO water cooler, and my dad wants to jump right in to custom water cooling.

 

The case I was thinking of getting was a Phanteks Enthoo Pro. I'd mount a radiator in the top and in the front. I'm not sure what size to put in the top, but minimum a 240 rad. I'm also not sure if I'll be able to get 2 SSDs and 2 HDDs in the case and still put a rad up front? Here's my list of unsure-ness:

1. What size rad in the top? I need a 5.25" slot for a DVD-ROM.
2. What size (if any) rad in the front?
3. What fans to use?
4. What res to use?
5. What pump to use? The pump would ideally mount directly under the res. They should both ideally be able the fit the res mount in the rear of the case.
6. Tubing?
7. Fittings? Compression fittings are ideal, please.
8. Is the case good? Other cases should be around $100 US.
9. CPU Waterblock? It should include hardware for both AMD and Intel, so future CPU upgrades are possible with the same block.
10. GPU Waterblock? I have the Sapphire R9 280. I'm not sure if it's a custom PCB. A universal block is ok.
11. I'm willing to use a Swiftech AIO and expand it to the GPU, as long as the pump had enough pressure.

 

EDIT: I'll probably repost this in the future, I just want to get a general idea.

 

ThermalTake Core X9 is excellent for water cooling. EKWB offers great cooling options as well as oCool.

[SonoDanshi]

--snip--

1. The Phanteks Enthoo Pro can accommodate up to a 420mm rad at the top, but given the fact you want to retain an optical drive then you will have to keep it to either a 240 or 280mm rad;
2. 240mm is the best it can support according to the spec sheet (and I would suggest having 2 rads in the system rather than expecting a single 240mm to do the job to any satisfactory degree);
3. Any PWM static pressure fans would be suitable. Vardar and Noctua are very popular right now;
4. and 5.... Look at the EK pump/res combos - the EK-XRES D5 Vario is always a popular choice and you can swap out the res for a larger one or add a multiport top to suit your tubing needs;
5. see point 4;
6. You really need to decide if you want to go soft or hard tubing for your build. This will dictate a few other purchases - most specifically the compression fittings. I personally much prefer the hard pipe look as it is generally much cleaner and you have routing options you simply can't achieve with soft tubing. It does however require more tools and a lot more thought/planning/measuring and patience to achieve;
7. Decide on point 6 before discussing fittings;
8. Yes it is a popular case;
9. The EK supremacy Evo is a very popular choice and has fittings compati8ble with all popular socket types from teams green and red;
10. The EK Thermosphere should be compatible as a universal block;

Do you have any idea how much your dad is willing to spend on this project? I somehow feel that the money spent on this loop might be better spent on a CPU/Mobo/GPU upgrade instead.

[The Cool n00B]

-snip-

I want to use soft tubing as hard tubing is too much work for me (and it's pretty expensive). I just don't know where to get soft tubing.

 

Idk how much he's willing to spend, I would've suggested a CPU upgrade before water cooling but a 4690K with a mobo is kind of expensive and a quieter system is more important to me bc my current set up is fast enough. I'll probably overclock the CPU and GPU a bunch once I'm on water. I might upgrade the GPU next year and the CPU in two years or something like that, but ya.

 

ThermalTake Core X9 is excellent for water cooling. EKWB offers great cooling options as well as oCool.

The Core X9 is a little too expensive and I'd prefer a tower bc of space in my room.

 

Do either of you know the difference between EK's SE/XE/PE rads?

 

EDIT: Should I use silver or a liquid biocide? What metals shouldn't I mix?

[The Official Czex]

I want to use soft tubing as hard tubing is too much work for me (and it's pretty expensive). I just don't know where to get soft tubing.

 

Idk how much he's willing to spend, I would've suggested a CPU upgrade before water cooling but a 4690K with a mobo is kind of expensive and a quieter system is more important to me bc my current set up is fast enough. I'll probably overclock the CPU and GPU a bunch once I'm on water. I might upgrade the GPU next year and the CPU in two years or something like that, but ya.

 

The Core X9 is a little too expensive and I'd prefer a tower bc of space in my room.

 

Do either of you know the difference between EK's SE/XE/PE rads?

 

EDIT: Should I use silver or a liquid biocide? What metals shouldn't I mix?

 

XE is the higher end (higher cooling capabilities due to denser structure). Just don't use anything aluminum as a general rule of thumb.

[The Cool n00B]

This is what I've found so far. IDK if I missed anything.

 

I have a swiftech cart in the attachment. I found NF-F12 PWM fans on amazon. The case is gonna come from amazon also. I think I'm gonna get this GPU block, but the EK is better looking, so I might go for that. I don't know the hole distance on my GPU, that's the main reason for the RayStorm.

[The Official Czex]

This is what I've found so far. IDK if I missed anything.

 

I have a swiftech cart in the attachment. I found NF-F12 PWM fans on amazon. The case is gonna come from amazon also. I think I'm gonna get this GPU block, but the EK is better looking, so I might go for that. I don't know the hole distance on my GPU, that's the main reason for the RayStorm.

 

Noctua fans lack high static pressures. You're better off with some nice, high-pressure fans like the Scythe Gentle Typhoon AP15.

 

Pretty much go with whatever looks the best to you...

[The Cool n00B]

Noctua fans lack high static pressures. You're better off with some nice, high-pressure fans like the Scythe Gentle Typhoon AP15.

 

Pretty much go with whatever looks the best to you...

But most people praise noctua fans for being some of the best out there (despite being so damn ugly). I'm mostly interested in quietness.

[Rpkiller]

Last night my dad threw out the idea of water cooling my system for Christmas. I like the idea of water cooling my system, because hopefully it'll be quieter and I'll also need a new case. I'm a little nervous about the idea of water cooling it, because I've never water cooled a system before. I've never used an AIO water cooler, and my dad wants to jump right in to custom water cooling.

 

The case I was thinking of getting was a Phanteks Enthoo Pro. I'd mount a radiator in the top and in the front. I'm not sure what size to put in the top, but minimum a 240 rad. I'm also not sure if I'll be able to get 2 SSDs and 2 HDDs in the case and still put a rad up front? Here's my list of unsure-ness:

1. What size rad in the top? I need a 5.25" slot for a DVD-ROM.
2. What size (if any) rad in the front?
3. What fans to use?
4. What res to use?
5. What pump to use? The pump would ideally mount directly under the res. They should both ideally be able the fit the res mount in the rear of the case.
6. Tubing?
7. Fittings? Compression fittings are ideal, please.
8. Is the case good? Other cases should be around $100 US.
9. CPU Waterblock? It should include hardware for both AMD and Intel, so future CPU upgrades are possible with the same block.
10. GPU Waterblock? I have the Sapphire R9 280. I'm not sure if it's a custom PCB. A universal block is ok.
11. I'm willing to use a Swiftech AIO and expand it to the GPU, as long as the pump had enough pressure.

 

EDIT: I'll probably repost this in the future, I just want to get a general idea.

Best place to start as a newbie would be EK's Predator 240 which is completely customizable, so you change out every part on it. That one one feature makes it one of the best AIO's you can own, and also jay reviewed it on his channel and gave it a great review.  check it out; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67glAjdvwLc

 

Edit: you'll cringe from him drilling into his motherboard

[The Official Czex]

But most people praise noctua fans for being some of the best out there (despite being so damn ugly). I'm mostly interested in quietness.

 

They have a high CFM and low volume, but their static pressure isn't high enough for a rad.

[The Cool n00B]

They have a high CFM and low volume, but their static pressure isn't high enough for a rad.

Oh okay thanks