Water Cooling - Buyers Guide

Discussion in 'Die-hard Overclocking & Case Modifications' started by Preachergeek, Feb 7, 2007.

  1. Copey

    Copey Guest

    Messages:
    10,703
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    960 2GB
  2. RossCorp

    RossCorp Master Guru

    Messages:
    878
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    EVGA 570GTX SLI
    Perfect! Thanks for all the info, and your time, Preacher!!!

    I've got nothing left to upgrade (for the time being ;) ) except my graphics card, which will happen whenever AMDTI gets their a$$es moving, lol. After that I will be adding watercooling, as I need SOME sort of project for the summer! I will most definately be checking back for advice, thanks for some direction!
     
  3. alma

    alma Guest

    Messages:
    515
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    POV8800GT512MB/Dell U2410
    Unfortunately I don't know that much about these waterblocks, I used to read comments about them in italian forums and all users seem very happy about them. I'll try to collect as much infos as I can.

    Cheers!
     
  4. morbias

    morbias Don TazeMeBro

    Messages:
    13,444
    Likes Received:
    37
    GPU:
    -
    Nice guide, and helpful for those new to watercooling. There are a couple of things I'd like to add though;

    EK make an 8800 gts block too, and it's worth noting that EK blocks cost around 30-40% less than the Danger Den blocks.

    XSPC rads and blocks are generally ok, but steer well clear of their pumps (the 750 and the 1000). The impeller shaft is made from a poor quality plastic which wears down and will see your pump start eating itself within 4 months of use.

    Also, it might be worth mentioning the use of shrouds between fans and radiators, and how they minimise deadspots (ie. where the fan motor is) thus providing better cooling.

    Here are a few more places to buy WC kit in the UK, I've used them all in the past and I've had good experiences with all of them:

    http://www.coolercases.co.uk/
    http://www.chillblast.com/
    http://www.watercoolingshop.com/
    http://www.thecoolingshop.com/
    http://www.candccentral.co.uk/
    http://www.overclock.co.uk/
    http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/
    http://store.over-clock.com/
    http://www.leftclicks.co.uk/
    http://www.rigbits.co.uk/ currently down, maybe it will come back at some point, who knows

    [EDIT] PS. you spelled Zerex wrong :p
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2007

  5. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    Oh yeah. Those are all great additions Morbias and i'll add them asap. Thanks. :)

    btw i'm sure there are dozens of typos as i just touchtyped it without bothering to check spelling. I'm sure i've got their and there wrong at once in it as well. :p
     
  6. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    Just finished adding a few more high end user products such as Heatercores and a cpu TEC that's just been released.

    btw i'm very pleased with how much watercooling set up performed before my 8800gtx died. It had the cpu at 19C and although i couldn't test load (cos my gpu burned out during windows install, lol) i'm sure it's going to be under 30C, especially since the fans were on low power.
     
  7. Copey

    Copey Guest

    Messages:
    10,703
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    960 2GB
    ive been looking at the Swiftech H20-80 myself at the minute , form the reviews ive read its a great little cooler , the reckon you could add a gpu in to the mix aswell and would still be fine , even on a single fan rad , anyone had any experience witht this , i was hoping just to put my cpu under it as i dont want a full blown kit for my first go
     
  8. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    hmm. It's a great little kit, featuring a fantastic pump, and all great blocks and accessories. That 80mm radiator worries me though. I'm sure it'd do a nice job on your 6400, but i really wouldn't recommend adding a gpu or chipset onto it without adding in another radiator.
     
  9. Copey

    Copey Guest

    Messages:
    10,703
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    960 2GB
    thats what i thought a decent kit that only has a single fan rad dosent make sense but the reviews say its really good , im going to try read a few more before i make any purchases , the only problem i can see with it is that i might struggle to get it into my case , dont get me wrong its a mazing case for cooling just not that roomy


    EDIT: also it seems they updated the kit to the Swiftech H20-120 F which has a 120mm fan and a apogee cpu block , could be a winner
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2007
  10. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    Are you sure i can't tempt you into buying the whole Swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultra. It's only like £50 more than these kit's and features a double radiator that you could mount externally if you're tight for room.

    If not the 120F looks decent also. I assume you've seen the review comparing the 120F to h20-80.

    http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/1517_4.html

    edit: All the 120F kits i can find online feature the MCW6000 waterblock rather than the superior Apogee.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2007

  11. Copey

    Copey Guest

    Messages:
    10,703
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    960 2GB
    yeah sorry the 120F doesnt contain the apogee , well im looking at swiftech manily i wanted something compact and as cheap as possible you see , i dont really want anything too complicated to install as ive never done it before and thats why i said the H20-80 as its small and easy to fit supposedly

    cheers for the link
     
  12. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    Yeah i see where you're coming from. From that respect the H20-80 would've been a good bet, as it could have been easily upgraded in future with a dual radiator to attain a v top performing kit.

    But if they've stopped selling them i'm not sure what to suggest. Have you considered simply compiling a small custom kit yourself, with similiar parts to the h20-80?
     
  13. CRaSHDuMY

    CRaSHDuMY Active Member

    Messages:
    98
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    NVidia 7900GTO PCIE 650/1.48kmhz
    I think the Thermaltake stuff is worth a mention guys . For about £90 my big water setup with 3 120mm radiators was able to get my 6400 to over 3.9ghz on a P-5b deluxe wi fi (god rest its and its brothers souls) . A starting point anyway for the budding Extremme'er
     
  14. morbias

    morbias Don TazeMeBro

    Messages:
    13,444
    Likes Received:
    37
    GPU:
    -
    Actually, you may have a point there. Thermaltake WC kits really do suck, apart from maybe the Bigwater 745 kit, due to the 3x120mm rads.

    Compared to other 3x120mm setups it does still suck though (lol) but for about £80-£90 it doesn't cost that much
     
  15. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    I agree that for £90-100 it's a good performing kit, but i'm not going recommend it due to it's insanely large size/performance ratio, and it's tendancy for things to break within it. (ie leaks, pump failure ect...)

    Thanks for the suggestion though mate, and you did a fantastic job overclocking your e6400 to 3.9ghz.
     

  16. Copey

    Copey Guest

    Messages:
    10,703
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    960 2GB
    o.k ill have to have a look at what parts it consists of and then price it up

    also is the thermal grease that you put on cpu blocks the same as normal thermal greae , so could i put some arctic silver 5 on there?

    and how am i supposed to mount a 80mm radiator kit on a case that only has 3 x120mm fnas and 1 200mm fans lol??
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2007
  17. wombat778

    wombat778 New Member

    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    You might consider mentioning Petra's kits. These are really excellent kits and contain pretty much the best parts you recommended (other than the Thermochill rads). http://www.petrastechshop.com/wacoki.html
     
  18. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    Well yeah that's an issue, but you could always drill some new holes in your case. If the worst came to the worst you could just get a 120mm radiator. I doubt the difference in size would be enough to stop it from fitting and it would certainly be more simple to fit and would cool better.

    btw thanks for the link Wombat778. They all look like nice , customised all inclusive kits. That CoolKit GPU Elite kit looks especially impressive, and looks as though it will just about outperform the Swiftech Ultra+ kit. Do Petra retail worldwide or it is just America shipping only?
     
  19. Copey

    Copey Guest

    Messages:
    10,703
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    960 2GB
    seems like more money to me lol i dont think the kit would mount on the back of my case becuase of the way the fan grill is cut , watercooling gets more confusing by the day ill have to see if i can find out if the 80mm rad will mount onto a 120mm case fsn
     
  20. Preachergeek

    Preachergeek Guest

    Messages:
    1,647
    Likes Received:
    0
    GPU:
    MSI 8800gtx @ 655/950
    lol sorry i couldn't be of more help Copey. Anyways would it be at all possible for you to use one of these, only use it backwards...

    http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3721.html

    (Although i suggest you find a metal one, as that might bend under weight of radiator :p)
     

Share This Page