Water Cooling Loop Kit?

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

Hi, I want to switch from an AIO to a custom water cooling loop since my new processor runs a bit hot. I just want the best performance and I am not concerned about cost. The only issue is that I have never built a custom loop. After some digging I found that some companies sell water cooling loop kits. Would it be a good idea to start with a kit and if so which kit would be the best?

[Limecat86]

If costs don't matter I would recommend EK's Performance series. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/kits/performance-series

It features a D5 pump which is the best pump you could have for a water cooling loop. The Extreme series has a DDC pump which is not bad either but the D5 is better as it makes less noise and is actively cooled by the liquid passing through.

 

BUT, these kits all use soft tubing and if you want to go with hard tubing straight away it's better to get all part separately.

Hard tubing requires other fittings than soft tubing and if you want to switch later on you would have to buy new fittings to when going with a kit.

 

Basically you need a:

- Pump (Preferably a D5)

- CPU block

- GPU block (optional and you should check compatibility)

- Radiator(s) (for performance I would say at least 240mm per block)

- Fans for your radiators.

- Fittings (2 per component)

- Tubing (with hardline bends take a bit of practice so get double or triple the length you actually need)

- Hardtubing tools (Like this: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-hd-tube-d-i-y-kit-10and12mm)

- Pipe deburrer 

- ATX Bridge plug (https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-atx-bridging-plug-24-pin) for filling and bleeding while everything is powered off expect PSU and pump.

 

I would also advice to watch some tutorials at JayzTwoCents channel on youtube. And start with planning your loop by making drawings before buying and installing your loop.

[Damascus]

What case do you have?  EK is best for kits, the EK-mlc pheonix may be good if you want something super simple (it's basically a modular aio)

 

Best premade kits

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/kits/extreme (Weaker pump, better rad)

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/kits/performance-series (better pump, weaker rad)

 

Pheonix

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/aio/ek-mlc

[Mick Naughty]

I wouldn't do a kit myself. Most kits aren't enough for a whole system but they sell kits to expand aswell. 

As far as companies, some may have better performance but a few Celsius isn't gonna change my mind when they look crappy.

So I got for looks that way it can match, at least block wise. Fun to make your own setup then be left doing some kit.

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

1 hour ago, Damascus said:

What case do you have?  EK is best for kits, the EK-mlc pheonix may be good if you want something super simple (it's basically a modular aio)

 

Best premade kits

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/kits/extreme (Weaker pump, better rad)

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/kits/performance-series (better pump, weaker rad)

 

Pheonix

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/aio/ek-mlc

Thanks for replying . I have an inwin 303 currently but I plan on switching to a full tower. I also plan on learning more about custom loops so I would prefer to have at least a basic loop to start.

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

1 hour ago, Limecat86 said:

If costs don't matter I would recommend EK's Performance series. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/kits/performance-series

It features a D5 pump which is the best pump you could have for a water cooling loop. The Extreme series has a DDC pump which is not bad either but the D5 is better as it makes less noise and is actively cooled by the liquid passing through.

 

BUT, these kits all use soft tubing and if you want to go with hard tubing straight away it's better to get all part separately.

Hard tubing requires other fittings than soft tubing and if you want to switch later on you would have to buy new fittings to when going with a kit.

 

Basically you need a:

- Pump (Preferably a D5)

- CPU block

- GPU block (optional and you should check compatibility)

- Radiator(s) (for performance I would say at least 240mm per block)

- Fans for your radiators.

- Fittings (2 per component)

- Tubing (with hardline bends take a bit of practice so get double or triple the length you actually need)

- Hardtubing tools (Like this: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-hd-tube-d-i-y-kit-10and12mm)

- Pipe deburrer 

- ATX Bridge plug (https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-atx-bridging-plug-24-pin) for filling and bleeding while everything is powered off expect PSU and pump.

 

I would also advice to watch some tutorials at JayzTwoCents channel on youtube. And start with planning your loop by making drawings before buying and installing your loop.

Thanks for the reply  . I don't want to start with hard tubing because the increased difficulty. Noise does not bother me too much, would that make the DDC pump a better choice since I am looking for the best performance? Is non-conductive fluid worth it? I just checked out jay2cent's channel and that should help significantly. 

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

47 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

I wouldn't do a kit myself. Most kits aren't enough for a whole system but they sell kits to expand aswell. 

As far as companies, some may have better performance but a few Celsius isn't gonna change my mind when they look crappy.

So I got for looks that way it can match, at least block wise. Fun to make your own setup then be left doing some kit.

Thanks for the reply . If I make a loop and have all the parts needed is there anything to look out for to prevent a leak?

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

1 hour ago, Limecat86 said:

If costs don't matter I would recommend EK's Performance series. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/kits/performance-series

It features a D5 pump which is the best pump you could have for a water cooling loop. The Extreme series has a DDC pump which is not bad either but the D5 is better as it makes less noise and is actively cooled by the liquid passing through.

 

BUT, these kits all use soft tubing and if you want to go with hard tubing straight away it's better to get all part separately.

Hard tubing requires other fittings than soft tubing and if you want to switch later on you would have to buy new fittings to when going with a kit.

 

Basically you need a:

- Pump (Preferably a D5)

- CPU block

- GPU block (optional and you should check compatibility)

- Radiator(s) (for performance I would say at least 240mm per block)

- Fans for your radiators.

- Fittings (2 per component)

- Tubing (with hardline bends take a bit of practice so get double or triple the length you actually need)

- Hardtubing tools (Like this: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-hd-tube-d-i-y-kit-10and12mm)

- Pipe deburrer 

- ATX Bridge plug (https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-atx-bridging-plug-24-pin) for filling and bleeding while everything is powered off expect PSU and pump.

 

I would also advice to watch some tutorials at JayzTwoCents channel on youtube. And start with planning your loop by making drawings before buying and installing your loop.

Would it be much more difficult if I put a block on my graphics card and is it worth the trouble?

[Mick Naughty]

Straight compression fittings. Least amount of points of failure. 

 

I would do the card too. Custom loops for a CPU only is a waste. 

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

4 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

Straight compression fittings. Least amount of points if failure. 

 

I would do the card too. Custom loops for a CPU only is a waste. 

Yeah I heard that barbs are worse.Good point. I guess a CPU and Graphics card loop is the plan .

[Damascus]

1 hour ago, THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD said:

Thanks for replying . I have an inwin 303 currently but I plan on switching to a full tower. I also plan on learning more about custom loops so I would prefer to have at least a basic loop to start.

The performance kit is your best bet then, nab the 360 version and you can transfer it over to a new case pretty easily.

[Mick Naughty]

1 hour ago, THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD said:

Yeah I heard that barbs are worse.Good point. I guess a CPU and Graphics card loop is the plan .

I used barb for both of mine as they're cheap and I would risk it. But compression ones went on sale and converted one of mine. Didn't even bother to leak test, easy hassle free and look much better. 

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

1 hour ago, Damascus said:

The performance kit is your best bet then, nab the 360 version and you can transfer it over to a new case pretty easily.

Is there a noticeable performance difference between the performance kit and the extreme kit?

[Damascus]

Just now, THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD said:

Is there a noticeable performance difference between the performance kit and the extreme kit?

The extreme has a better radiator but worse pump, go for PE

[THEYKNOWHIMFORHISSEAFOOD]

Just now, Damascus said:

The extreme has a better radiator but worse pump, go for PE

Sounds like a good idea, thanks .