Watercooling and Me? The great debate.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat May 20, 2006 11:21 am

I'm picturing the cycle like this.

Pump>Radiator>CPU cooler>Resivor>Radiator>GPU cooler>back to pump

looks good.....
The Siftech kit uses a bracket to mount the rad outside the case.......if you got the kit with a dual rad it can still fit outside the case using the bracket.

The rad you linked to is a dual 80mm Rad!!!
You can add another Rad to the loop, but you need to be sure it will fit. for that rad to work you want a space in your case to support 2x standard 80mm fans!

What case are you using? Or can you post a pic?

I can't recommend any vendors as I'm in Ireland ;)
I'm sure others can help!

try
http://legitreviews.shopping.com/xPC-Sw ... _Kit_REV_3

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Sat May 20, 2006 12:08 pm

I did post a link to the case earlier. My second post. It's a Super Flower mid tower. It has two 80mm fans in front of the HD trays on the bottom and had two 80mm fans on the back side of the case blowing on the CPU heat sink. There's also another 80mm fan on the top of the case blowing out the top window.

You don't think I can fit the Swifttech radiator inside the case?

My Case:

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/201b.html

According to the specs:

Cooling Options: 2 x 8cm (at front) + 2 x 8cm (rear fan)+ 1 x 8cm top fan.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat May 20, 2006 12:49 pm

You won't get the Swiftech Rad inside that case

But the mounting bracket that comes with the swiftech kit is sturdy......when moving the pc it will be safe, just don't use too much hose lenght

With that case you could get an additional single 80mm Rad and mount it on the blowhole on the top of your case!
If your into modding, you might be able to dremel out a hole large enough for a single 120mm rad to fit that blow hole..........I done that with my old case.....then eventually bored that hole into one to fit a dual 120mm rad.....

You could also remove the lower HDD cage and place another single 80mm Rad there!

With a single 120mm rad and additional 80mm Rad you should be able to watercool your CPU and GFX without too much noise ;) --> add a second 80mm rad later on and everythings gravy

If it was me, I'd get the Swiftech kit now and buy another Rad in a month or two.......when you get the GFX waterblock.....
you never know, that kit might even be enough for both cpu and gfx with the single Rad

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:18 pm

I was thinking the same thing on the case front, mount a radiator down there by the HDD's. Either that or fabricate my own 120mm case front and built it into the 5 1/4" bays.

The problem I have is I LOVE my case. It has 3 windows, tooless access, and most importantly is annodized black through and through. All the other cases I've ever looked at, Koolance included, seemed to forget that when you have windows from the factory the inside has to look good to.

I've given thought to just getting a Koolance case and seeing if I could rip the case top off it and bolt it to mine. But I question my own modding skills on doing that. Wood, I'd be ok. Metal... we're getting into a grey area. :D

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:28 pm

I know what your talking about........I've yet to file down the edges of my old case......and I changed cases ~9mths ago ;)

Now I mount the single 120 rad outside my case just like the Swiftech kit but using zip ties........it won't fit inside because this expert board moved the top PCIe slot up too high, My dual rad is outside the case on the floor behind the case against the wall under my desk........This goes against all watercooling logic! Small pump, chipset/gfx/cpu block and long tubing lenghts......but I don't care...it works for me (the pc is never moved)

From the sounds of it, you like the case too much.....don't do any major mods! The lower HDD cage does look removable and there would still be space for plenty of HDD's!

Also you could, as you suggested, mount the 120mm rad into the 5 1/4" bays.......it should fit without much work! If you did that you could start off with the Swiftech kit and use their mounting system.....then after you watercool the GFX add another 120mm rad infront......

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:40 pm

Based on rough measurements the Koolance case top is 1/2" to short to be a direct bolt on replacement to my current case top. 1/2"!!!!

Thats so frustrating that it's beyond comprenesion because it would look so smooth, natural, and elegant as a direct replacement. I'll never get the finishes to match if it's not the same size.

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Sat May 20, 2006 3:30 pm

Ask and ye shall recieve.

http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_in ... cts_id/214

Think I could get that baby to fit in my case? I know it puts me WAY over budget but in terms of look and performance it seems to be the winner.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat May 20, 2006 4:01 pm

I personally wouldn't go for that setup..........As you said it isn't an exact match... 1/2" is alot IMO.....also I'd still say the swiftech kit is a better performer.......I also don't like "all-in-one" kits.....I prefer having more options......I like to "mix&match" parts, with the Koolance setup, the rad and the pump are contained. To me that's takes the fun and bragging rights away.....anyone can connect a couple of tubes. The Swiftech kit is just like a full DIY setup.....each part is top-notch....
But I can see how that setup would look damn nice

The Koolance kit would still perform v-well!

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Sun May 21, 2006 7:18 am

The one thing that has me leaning towards the Koolance gear over anything else is the fact it has both dual pumps and a self contained temperature monitor.

The unit I linked to is designed to fit directly into the top of a Koolance case. My case currently has a large, lexan window in the top. I know a guy who works in a metal fabrication facility and claims to have access to a CNC mill. I'm thinking I have him cut me a shroud out of aluminum stock and I just sandwich it between the Koolance unit and the case top.

I find it hard to believe the SwiftTech kit with only one pump and 120mm fan works better than the Koolance with it's two pumps and fans.

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:54 pm

the dual pumps and temp are worth far less than you think. The swiftech pump is far more reliable that both of the koolance ones combined and the temp gauge does not tell you either water tempreture or CPU tempreture as it is placed on the side of the waterblock in a very poor location.

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:30 pm

I'm very confused now. Legit Reviews stated in thier review that they thought the Koolance kit was the best thing since sliced bread and you're saying it's not.

I'm also confused as to how one pump can be more reliable than two pumps. I wonder what the MBF (Meantime Between Failure) is for each kit. Besides, that SwiftTech kit is not going to fit in the case.

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:04 pm

For an all in one system the koolance is very good... do i think its better than the swiftech? No. The swiftech uses higher quality parts, larger tubeing, and is designed for higher performance systems than the koolance.

The Koolance like i said is good i have a PC2 and a Exos, but when comparied to my swiftech blocks, pumps, and rads... its just not worth the $$. I recomend the koolance to beginers and people who want quiet operation without much of an overclock if any. For most people around here, i say build you own or buy the swiftech kit.

stev · Post by **stev** » Mon May 22, 2006 6:43 am

Skippman,

Just recently, the new Corsair Nautilus 500 went head-2-head with the Exos-AL. From ViperLair's results, the Nautilus pulled ahead. http://www.viperlair.com/reviews/coolin ... ndex.shtml

The big plus is, the Nautilus is about $150USD and comes with the CPU cold-block too.

There's nothing else to write home about the Nautilus. It's all about performance and no BLING. If you want to monitor your temps, you'll have to buy a drive bay monitor with all of the those functions and maybe some fan speed controls if needed.

This should give you another thing to look into.

Stev

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:20 am

I read the review. To be honest, the unit's ugly. And it's a seperate "piece". I'd be very concerned hauling that to a LAN party.

I'm beginnng to think I'm just going to have to get a whole new chasis/case. As much as I love my case it just doesn't look like I'm going to be able to intergrate an elegant water cooling solution.

Bio-Hazard · Post by **Bio-Hazard** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:51 am

You could always get one of these new TT Mozart TX cases...............

Room for 3 radiators 2 dual 120's and 1 triple 120). It's just a little on the large side to take along to a Lan.

http://mozarttx.ecrm.com.tw/

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:34 am

now that is a case!

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Mon May 22, 2006 10:25 am

That is a work of art! Over twice the height of my case. Don't think it would fit in the trunk of my car.

Here's my problem. My case design is in a word, elegent. The entire case is annodized black. From the outside to the inside. It has three lexan windows on it. The fans are placed perfectly. The finishing touches like the chromed case screws are fantastic. If I could find a somewhat larger case than mine that had those kinds of details, I'd likely buy it. I just don't want a black shell with gunmetal interior. No ghestalt there.

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:37 pm

I still look at that case and drool.

"Taxidermist gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him!"

That being said, it's way outside the scope of my project. And besides, I think I just found out how I'm going to save my beloved Super Flower case. Oh, so pretty.

I think I can fit this Asetek Black Ice Mirco II radiator in my case. It looks like a perfect match but I wonder at how well it would preform. I figure I could couple that with a SwiftTech MCRES-1000P resivour/pump assembly.

What do you think?

Skippman · Post by **Skippman** » Tue May 23, 2006 1:14 pm

Ok, I know many of you who are reading this are tired of my asking questions but the only way I'm going to get any better at this is to do so. Here's my idea for a water cooled setup. Give me your input PLEASE!

HWLabs Black Ice Micro II Radiator $24.99

HWLabs Black Ice Micro Radiator $14.99

Koolance VGA Water Block VID-200-L06 $69.99

Swiftech MCRES-1000P Reservoir/Pump assembly $99.00

All that I need now is to figure out what CPU waterblock to use. Here's how I picture my waterflow:

Reservoir/Pump 3/8" tubing to T connector > 3/8" tubing to CPU / 1/4" tubing GPU > GPU to Micro Rad / CPU to Micro Rad II > back to pump.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Tue May 23, 2006 1:15 pm

That Rad would perform about the same as a 120mm rad I'd guess.....
It would fit...!

If your going to just watercool the CPU then it would be perfect.....
If you include a block for the GFX card, then I'd suggest another dual or single 80mm rad......otherwise you will need to keep the fans on hi-speed.....and that negates one of the main advantages of H2O cooling.....

This could make for a compact, but powerfull cooling system

You should get the Swiftech APOGEE block, as it's prolly the best performing block you can get........the Storm is (a bit) better but more expensive, and the Alphacool block is prolly too hard to get and uses thinner tubing.....

Have you decided on a waterblock and are you planning on watercooling the GFX?