Cheap Custom Liquid Cooling Idea

[S.G.Rendel]

Hello there!

So I have a CM Seidon 120XL with a broken pump. I haven't been able to fix it but for lack of time and money I hadn't bought anything new. Thing is now I do have money and am investing more time into my rig, so I had an idea: I can use the radiator and fans of my Seidon (which used to work GREAT) and get a cheapo pump, reservoir and waterblock from ebay (along with some tubing and fittings).

Thing is, I remember Linus saying that one must never cheap out on the pump, though I don't really know what the drawbacks are (I'm experienced with pc's but this would be my first time doing a custom loop). Also, I think the radiator is made of aluminum, but the best waterblock I could find for cheap on ebay (link below), even though it looks made of aluminum, doesn't really say what it's made of.

And one final question: does the tubing and reservoir need to have any specification?

So this is what I've found:

Water block: https://www.ebay.com/itm/A091-CPU-Water-Block-Arylic-Liquid-Cooler-Inner-Channel-For-Intel-Supplies-Unive/123420852419?epid=16024493722&hash=item1cbc74c0c3:g:Ug8AAOSw831bwDyL

Reservoir: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Acrylic-Cylinder-Reservoir-Water-Cooling-Liquid-Tank-G1-4-PC-Computer-Radiato/142788173379?hash=item213ed69e43:m:mZ5ul5zQN9VcZH_RNHV4lPA

OR https://www.ebay.com/itm/G1-4-50x110mm-Cylinder-Reservoir-Water-Tank-PC-Computer-Liquid-Cooling-Radiator/323355215181?epid=20016475896&hash=item4b4979054d:g:XcYAAOSwdoJbTvV6

And about the pump I'm not sure yet, I thought about this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-G1-4-Thread-PWM-Silent-Water-Circulation-Pump-for-PC-Liquid-Cooling-System/323166707046?epid=7017135712&hash=item4b3e3c9d66:g:XywAAOSwo9ZatcWK:rk:37:pf:0

But I'm not sure yet and I need your advice.

THANKS A LOT

[Pixel5]

the reason why you should get a good pump is simply because your whole cooling system relies on the water moving.

 

If the pump fails everything fails.

[W-L]

2 hours ago, S.G.Rendel said:

-SNIP-

That wouldn't be a good idea since your would have a mixed metal loop and with such a small radiator also there would be very little benefit compare to just getting a 240mm or 280mm AIO.

[S.G.Rendel]

2 hours ago, W-L said:

That wouldn't be a good idea since your would have a mixed metal loop and with such a small radiator also there would be very little benefit compare to just getting a 240mm or 280mm AIO.

But it would be significantly cheaper than buying an AIO. Besides, the idea is to look for an aluminum waterblock if I can't verify that the one I found is actually made from aluminum.

[S.G.Rendel]

4 hours ago, Pixel5 said:

the reason why you should get a good pump is simply because your whole cooling system relies on the water moving.

 

If the pump fails everything fails.

Okay, I guessed it could be something along those lines, but is it worth it to spend over five times as much in a D5?

[W-L]

5 minutes ago, S.G.Rendel said:

But it would be significantly cheaper than buying an AIO. Besides, the idea is to look for an aluminum waterblock if I can't verify that the one I found is actually made from aluminum.

It wouldn't perform anywhere as good as a dual or larger rad AIO.  For this to work it would require both aluminum blocks and fittings, EKWB has options for those in their fluid gaming line but it's not that far off at that point to a regular AIO.

[S.G.Rendel]

35 minutes ago, W-L said:

It wouldn't perform anywhere as good as a dual or larger rad AIO.  For this to work it would require both aluminum blocks and fittings, EKWB has options for those in their fluid gaming line but it's not that far off at that point to a regular AIO.

Mmh ok I guess I'll have to think about it. Thanks!