[Mini-Review] Watercooling Setup!

[ra[g]e]

1. Introduction

Watercooling items were purchased from sabe @ http://www.edge2o.com

Why watercooling? For silence, aesthetics and cooling efficiency. My rig uses a single 360 radiator with 3x M speed Yate Loon fans with an FC. When the fans are set at 1000rpm the temps are acceptable for gaming yet absolutely silent - the noisy component in my case is the WD Black.

EK Supreme HF - Acetal+Nickel
EK-FC5870 - Acetal+Nickel
EK CoolStream RAD-XT 360
EK-BAY SPIN Reservoir - Acetal
Swiftech MCP655-B Pump
Feser F1 Cooling Fluid UV Blue
Yate Loon D12SM-12 x3
Scythe Kazemaster Ace


2. Pictures and More Pictures

Before

After

EK Supreme HF

EK-5870 Gfx Waterblock

 

[ra[g]e]

Compression Fittings

Swiftech MCP655-B Pump

EK CoolStream XT360

Swiftech MCB120 Rad Box

Adequate clearance at the back

Scythe Kazemaster Ace + EK-BAY SPIN Reservoir

The Kazemaster can handle two Yate Loon fans per channel and reflects accurate rpm readings if you remove the rpm wire from one of the two fan wires. The 4320 rpm reading is from the pump, the Kazemaster Ace has an alarm in case a fan or the pump stops functioning and registers 0 rpm - prefect in case of break downs...

 

[ra[g]e]

3. Temperature & OC Benchmarks (3x Yate Loon fans @ 1500 rpm)

Furmark @ stock frequencies

Temp at 42 degrees is quite ridiculous will be perfect for future OC!

100% Load OCCT @ 4GHz

59 degrees at 100% load - note the idle temp low of 32 degrees normally 35-36 degrees

LinX Stability test @ 4GHz

EIST automatically raises the vcore for linpack - temps ~70 degs due to high vcore


4. Water Cooling Guides & Resources

Good places to start reading:

Introduction + Guide
http://forums.vr-zone.com/overclockers-hideout/587730-watercooling-guide-work-progress.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/diy-water-cooling-101,1055.html
Reviews
http://skinneelabs.com/
Forums
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70
http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/

ra[g]e's Express Guide - I'm sort of a beginner so follow at your own risk

If you want to just dive in... Research on the loop you want to make - make sure the arrangement/layout is appropriate. Make sure you get the correct sized fittings for the tubes size you decide to get. Cut the tubes to the length you want using the special tool from edge2o, better than scissors imo. Read the manuals which come with the products very carefully and make sure you connected the correct tubes to the respective inlets and outlets (sometimes it does not matter, but sometimes it does). Make sure everything is very tight and sealed.

Put bunches of tissue around all the potential/possible leakage sites (just as a precaution, almost never occurs if you put the fittings correctly). Add coolant/distilled water to the reservoir. At least 3/4 full if not more - some liquid should have flowed into the pump area - pump should be at lowest point in the case. Use half of a paper clip bent into a U-shape to provide power to the pump without switching on the motherboard (Google for more info) to make the coolant rotate around the loop. Top up reservoir as required.

Viola, eventually there will be enough coolant in the loop to form a closed system, and you can seal the reservoir.

Note that power to the pump should not be left on when there is no coolant in the pump - it uses the coolant to cool itself, so there is a risk of overheating.

I recommend non-conductive coolant - these remain non-conductive at least initially, so any initial leaks or spills won't damage your components even if they are turned on (no guarantees of course).

Everything should take between half a day to a day - its hard work but really fun to do.


5. Pricing & Conclusion

Watercooling is not cheap. Without the gfx waterblock and with a cheaper reservoir my setup should be around ~$500. A budget setup would go for ~$400 or less. But with the gfx waterblock my total damage was around $700-$800+

No regrets though Love the looks and the silence... as opposed to one small and noisy gfx fan and another small and noisy processor fan, I get 3x 120mm fans which provide better cooling efficiency at a much lower noise level.

I highly recommend http://www.edge2o.com if you're interested in purchasing watercooling products. Sabe is a nice guy and he's very patient with your questions. His prices are also very competitive if you factor in the shipping costs from overseas locations. Oh, let him know that I recommended him and he may give you freebies + discounts

Thats all... this is my first review so please let me know how I could have done it better!

Cheers!


Teaser Update!

 

[sgAshton]

How much was the cost? Gratz man

 

[zelda1031]

looks damn cool !!!
i like blue theme xD

 

[ra[g]e]

How much was the cost? Gratz man

Lol so fast... updated in the 2nd post

 

[ra[g]e]

looks damn cool !!!
i like blue theme xD

Thanks! I like blue too

 

[Elijahonli]

nice setup u have there

 

[saiyan2005]

nice watercooling setup!!!

 

[zelda1031]

furmark @ 42C ??? omg @#%$@%@%@%@#%


my 4850 sonic ~ run furmark @ 65C >____<)
tonite toto i tio ~ i also make my 4850 run @ 42C -.-ll

 

[ra[g]e]

nice setup u have there

nice watercooling setup!!!

Thanks guys

 

[JimmyBoy007]

bro very well done

even if it is your first wc setup!

Very cool. EK products very high premium
Gfx full face block is very ex...down side cant change card for few yrs



Yeah wc is nearly silent - hear my friends setup too. And the temps is out of this world

 

[ra[g]e]

furmark @ 42C ??? omg @#%$@%@%@%@#%


my 4850 sonic ~ run furmark @ 65C >____<)
tonite toto i tio ~ i also make my 4850 run @ 42C -.-ll

Yah I was damn shocked also... on stock it was ~80 degs

 

[JimmyBoy007]

your temp is actually lower than 32c

cos your loop includes gfx which is hot.


remember to cool the gfx vrm (one row of chips) otherwise u will get artifacts...oops forgot u are using full face block

 

[ra[g]e]

bro very well done

even if it is your first wc setup!

Very cool. EK products very high premium

Thanks!

Gfx full face block is very ex...down side cant change card for few yrs

Yep... don't intend to anyway, going to start work soon

Can always add another 5870 for crossfire though

Yeah wc is nearly silent - hear my friends setup too. And the temps is out of this world

Yep agreed

 

[ra[g]e]

your temp is actually lower than 32c

cos your loop includes gfx which is hot.


remember to cool the gfx vrm (one row of chips) otherwise u will get artifacts...oops forgot u are using full face block

Yes, included in the gfx block box were thermal pads for the other things beside the main chip....

 

[Mythmaker]

This is poisonous

Anyway my air cooling cost around the same also hahaha. Maybe even more expensive... hmm

 

[ra[g]e]

This is poisonous

Anyway my air cooling cost around the same also hahaha. Maybe even more expensive... hmm

time for a change bro

 

[pa9797]

Good review. The last time I installed was 3 years back. I give up subsequently since I change hardware almost on a weekly basis.

But the satisfaction will be to see the low temps and have good acoustic expereience

 

[ra[g]e]

Good review. The last time I installed was 3 years back. I give up subsequently since I change hardware almost on a weekly basis.

But the satisfaction will be to see the low temps and have good acoustic expereience

Thanks for the compliment pat-bro

Yep low temps + good acoustic experience very satisfying indeed...