Seriously considering going to water cooling. Suggestions please.

JC316 · Sep 24, 2007

Ok, I am tired of the suck ass air cooling and I want to have a water cooler. I like the looks of kits, but I am not against building my own, but I need advice. My budget is $150, give or take a few bucks.

I only want to cool the CPU and MAYBE the northbridge. The video runs plenty cool already.

My picks:

Gigabyte Galaxy II

Zalman Reserator

corsair Nautilus

I want to see yours. I am SURE that d44ve will chime in.

PaulieG · Sep 24, 2007

I just got my Swiftech H20-120 Compact system up and running. Really easy to set up, and temps are awesome. Check it out....
http://www.swiftnets.com/

PaulieG · Sep 24, 2007

Oh, and Jab-tech has it for $159, and they ship pretty fast...

Wile E · Sep 24, 2007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835108075

That's my suggestion. I have it, and I can crank 1.6v thru my 6000+ all day long, no worries. I also cooled my NB with it (until I got the 2900, block no longer fits, 2900 in the way) by adding the Swiftech MCW30 chipset block.

If you absolutely don't want to go custom, there is nothing better for your money.

PaulieG · Sep 24, 2007

Wile, I struggled between the compact or the premium. I bought the compact version because I could put the rad/res into the case. The performance has been great so far.

JC316 · Sep 24, 2007

I was looking at that one too, but I didn't see it at the egg. The swiftech looks pretty sweet.

Wile E · Sep 24, 2007

Paulieg said:
Wile, I struggled between the compact or the premium. I bought the compact version because I could put the rad/res into the case. The performance has been great so far.

I put both in the case for my premium as well. But it might be tight in a smaller case. The rad will fit no probs, tho.

mello_newf · Sep 24, 2007

Get the swiftech kit I have the ultra+ kit and it's amazing.

Wile E · Sep 24, 2007

JC316 said:
I was looking at that one too, but I didn't see it at the egg. The swiftech looks pretty sweet.

Bummer. Looks like Swiftech discontinued the Premium. I really believe it's the way to go, imho.

t_ski · Sep 24, 2007

Yep, the Swiftech kit is a good start. However, if you're not opposed to building your own, try shopping around in the forums for some used hardware. here's some of the stuff I'd recommend:

Swiftech MCP655 or Danger Den D5 pump - $50-55 shipped used
Swiftech Apogee GT or Danger Den TDX - $35 shipped used
2 x 120mm Radiator (swiftech new $40 + shipping, Hardware Labs GT Stealth $50 new + shipping)
Five feet 1/2" ID vinyl tubing from your local hardware store/ Home Depot - $1 / ft
Misc fittings and clamps (at home depot) - $5

Wile E · Sep 24, 2007

t_ski said:
Yep, the Swiftech kit is a good start. However, if you're not opposed to building your own, try shopping around in the forums for some used hardware. here's some of the stuff I'd recommend:

Swiftech MCP655 or Danger Den D5 pump - $50-55 shipped used
Swiftech Apogee GT or Danger Den TDX - $35 shipped used
2 x 120mm Radiator (swiftech new $40 + shipping, Hardware Labs GT Stealth $50 new + shipping)
Five feet 1/2" ID vinyl tubing from your local hardware store/ Home Depot - $1 / ft
Misc fittings and clamps (at home depot) - $5

Honestly, I'd just go with 3/8" ID tubing. It's much easier to route.

I'd also rather have a Swiftech MCP-350 or 355 (Laing DDC-1 or DDC-2).

Not that what you listed is bad at all, because it isn't.

t_ski · Sep 24, 2007

True, the 350/355's are good, as they tend to heave pretty good head pressure and are fairly compact. I like the idea of volume and the flow rate is higher on the 655/D5 (IIRC) and the barbs are natively 1/2" OD.

freeboy · Nov 8, 2007

I have the basic Corsair N500, great EASY kit.. works far better than air..
What is your goal?
If you are serious about extream oc'ing, get a great more expensive kit.. or build your own.

I would sell you mine at a around 120.00, perfect condition, have not even used the fluid as I purchased another brand coolant! Also a second set of clip connectors to attach to the board as my last upgrad , lost them and the local retailer gave me an extra set and Corsair sent me ones... I would then take your money and start a scratch kit.. let me know if you are interested.... fyi, kit works GREAT, I am just trying to push the envelope! LOL

tkpenalty · Nov 8, 2007

Swiftec, by far the BEST brand. I would seriously consider going with them as they provide you with almost everything. Pretty good price as well only $400 AUD here, with the whole radiator, CPU, NB, SB, and GPU block! (except im sorta angry that they discontinued the premium kit...)

freeboy · Nov 8, 2007

but he is on a budget.. way less than 400.00
read some reviews, we have a geat database on this site!

t_ski · Nov 8, 2007

That 400 Austrailian dollers, which is rather inflated because of the cost to brings parts there.

I've managed to install the old loop in my new Intel setup, and temps are very good. I'm using a Storm Rev 2 (bought used for $40), a Danger Den D5 pump (bought used for $55), and a Swiftech MCR320-QP rad (bought new for ~$45). Add fans, tubing and clamps, and the system is running cooler than ever. Looking at idle temps around 23C and load temps around 37C at stock. When I OC to 3.6 GHz and up the voltage slightly I get 25C idle and 44C load.

If you know what you're doing, watercooling is so much better than air :pimp:

However, if you want to buy new, I'd go with a Swiftech basic kit, which will run about $130 for the loop, plus the cost of the chipset block if you decide to add that later.

DaMulta · Nov 8, 2007

Danger Den or that place dom shops

Wile E · Nov 9, 2007

DaMulta said:
Danger Den or that place dom shops

www.petrastechshop.com

Some great stuff in there for good prices.

erocker · Nov 9, 2007

I think I'm going to try the Swiftec compact system. There are a couple good reviews around. It's basically the premium kit with the pump on top of the heatsink.

Wile E · Nov 9, 2007

erocker said:
I think I'm going to try the Swiftec compact system. There are a couple good reviews around. It's basically the premium kit with the pump on top of the heatsink.

Yeah, and a res on the rad.

erocker · Nov 9, 2007

Wile E said:
www.petrastechshop.com

Some great stuff in there for good prices.

http://www.petrastechshop.com/scsunrekit.html

Do you think if I use this, I will be able to mount my Scythe Infinity the proper way? Right now it's positioned vertically, I would like it to be horizontal.

*OMG, they have MX-2 in stock!!!

Wile E · Nov 9, 2007

erocker said:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/scsunrekit.html

Do you think if I use this, I will be able to mount my Scythe Infinity the proper way? Right now it's positioned vertically, I would like it to be horizontal.

*OMG, they have MX-2 in stock!!!

I couldn't tell you. Sorry. The Infinity doesn't have a way for you to rotate the mounting brackets?

erocker · Nov 9, 2007

No. I would have to rotate my motherboard retainer. I went ahead and picked the universal mount, a few l.e.d.'s and some MX2! I also think I may buy one of thier w/c kits.

Wile E · Nov 9, 2007

What kit/kits are you considering?

erocker · Nov 9, 2007

I would probablly go with the lite kit. For $135.00, it's a good deal. I have to see how this retention kit works out first for my Infinity.

System Name	Budget Gaming
Processor	AMD FX6300
Motherboard	Gigabyte 880GMA-USB3
Cooling	Coolermaster Hyper 212+
Memory	8GB Ripjaws DDR3 1600
Video Card(s)	HD7850 1GB
Storage	1TB Sata2
Display(s)	Acer 24" LED
Case	Generic black
Audio Device(s)	Stock onboard
Power Supply	FSP Aurum Gold 650W
Software	Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Processor	5800x(2)/5700g/5600x/5600g/2700x/1700x/1700
Motherboard	MSI B550 Carbon (2)/ MSI z490 Unify/Asus Strix B550-F/MSI B450 Tomahawk (3)
Cooling	EK AIO 360 (2)/EK AIO 240, Arctic Cooling Freezer II 280/EVGA CLC 280/Noctua D15/Cryorig M9(2)
Memory	32 GB Ballistix Elite/32 GB TridentZ/16GB Mushkin Redline Black/16 GB Dominator
Video Card(s)	Asus Strix RTX3060/EVGA 970(2)/Asus 750 ti/Old Quadros
Storage	Samsung 970 EVO M.2 NVMe 500GB/WD Black M.2 NVMe 500GB/Adata 500gb NVMe
Display(s)	Acer 1080p 22"/ (3) Samsung 22" 1080p
Case	(2) Lian Li Lancool II Mesh/Corsair 4000D /Phanteks Eclipse 500a/Be Quiet Pure Base 500/Bones of HAF
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 850G(2)/EVGA Supernova GT 650w/Phantek Amps 750w/Seasonic Focus 750w
Mouse	Generic Black wireless (5)
Keyboard	Generic Black wireless (5)
Software	Win 10/Ubuntu

Processor	5800x(2)/5700g/5600x/5600g/2700x/1700x/1700
Motherboard	MSI B550 Carbon (2)/ MSI z490 Unify/Asus Strix B550-F/MSI B450 Tomahawk (3)
Cooling	EK AIO 360 (2)/EK AIO 240, Arctic Cooling Freezer II 280/EVGA CLC 280/Noctua D15/Cryorig M9(2)
Memory	32 GB Ballistix Elite/32 GB TridentZ/16GB Mushkin Redline Black/16 GB Dominator
Video Card(s)	Asus Strix RTX3060/EVGA 970(2)/Asus 750 ti/Old Quadros
Storage	Samsung 970 EVO M.2 NVMe 500GB/WD Black M.2 NVMe 500GB/Adata 500gb NVMe
Display(s)	Acer 1080p 22"/ (3) Samsung 22" 1080p
Case	(2) Lian Li Lancool II Mesh/Corsair 4000D /Phanteks Eclipse 500a/Be Quiet Pure Base 500/Bones of HAF
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 850G(2)/EVGA Supernova GT 650w/Phantek Amps 750w/Seasonic Focus 750w
Mouse	Generic Black wireless (5)
Keyboard	Generic Black wireless (5)
Software	Win 10/Ubuntu

System Name	The ClusterF**k
Processor	980X @ 4Ghz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 BIOS F12
Cooling	MCR-320, DDC-1 pump w/Bitspower res top (1/2" fittings), Koolance CPU-360
Memory	3x2GB Mushkin Redlines 1600Mhz 6-8-6-24 1T
Video Card(s)	Evga GTX 580
Storage	Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB, 2xSeagate 320GB RAID0; 2xSeagate 3TB; 2xSamsung 2TB; Samsung 1.5TB
Display(s)	HP LP2475w 24" 1920x1200 IPS
Case	Technofront Bench Station
Audio Device(s)	Auzentech X-Fi Forte into Onkyo SR606 and Polk TSi200's + RM6750
Power Supply	ENERMAX Galaxy EVO EGX1250EWT 1250W
Software	Win7 Ultimate N x64, OSX 10.8.4

Processor	5800x(2)/5700g/5600x/5600g/2700x/1700x/1700
Motherboard	MSI B550 Carbon (2)/ MSI z490 Unify/Asus Strix B550-F/MSI B450 Tomahawk (3)
Cooling	EK AIO 360 (2)/EK AIO 240, Arctic Cooling Freezer II 280/EVGA CLC 280/Noctua D15/Cryorig M9(2)
Memory	32 GB Ballistix Elite/32 GB TridentZ/16GB Mushkin Redline Black/16 GB Dominator
Video Card(s)	Asus Strix RTX3060/EVGA 970(2)/Asus 750 ti/Old Quadros
Storage	Samsung 970 EVO M.2 NVMe 500GB/WD Black M.2 NVMe 500GB/Adata 500gb NVMe
Display(s)	Acer 1080p 22"/ (3) Samsung 22" 1080p
Case	(2) Lian Li Lancool II Mesh/Corsair 4000D /Phanteks Eclipse 500a/Be Quiet Pure Base 500/Bones of HAF
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 850G(2)/EVGA Supernova GT 650w/Phantek Amps 750w/Seasonic Focus 750w
Mouse	Generic Black wireless (5)
Keyboard	Generic Black wireless (5)
Software	Win 10/Ubuntu

System Name	Dirty Bitch
Processor	Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core LGA1155 @ 4.6GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB
Motherboard	ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional-M "Micro-ATX"
Cooling	Raystorm & Evga Full Blocks, Single & Dual 120mm Radiator With Push/Pull Config, All Noctua fans
Memory	12GB G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 @1600 CL9-9-9-24
Video Card(s)	2X SLI EVGA GTX 480
Storage	PNY XLR8 PRO SSD 256GB - 1TB WD Black @7200RPM
Display(s)	LG 40" LED 1080p & ASUS VE278Q LCD Black 27"
Case	Lian Li PC-V354B Aluminum Mini Computer Case mATX
Audio Device(s)	Integrated out to Marantz Receiver 4.0 Klipsch Speaker Setup
Power Supply	OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate, G15 Keyboard, Cyborg R.A.T 7 Mouse, IceMat Mouse Pad

System Name	My i7 Beast
Processor	Intel Core i7 6800K
Motherboard	Asus X99-A II
Cooling	Nickel-plated EK Supremacy EVO, D5 with XSPC Bayres & BIX Quad Radiator
Memory	4 x 8GB EVGA SuperSC DDR4-3200
Video Card(s)	EVGA 1080 SuperClocked
Storage	Samsung 950 Pro 256GB m.2 SSD + 480GB Sandisk storage SSD
Display(s)	Three Asus 24" VW246H LCD's
Case	Silverstone TJ07
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair AX1200
Keyboard	Corsair K95
Software	Windows 10 x64 Pro

System Name	beastybuild
Processor	4670k
Motherboard	GigabyteZ87X-UD4H
Cooling	SR-1 360 and GTX 360 custom, Koolance 380Iblock, swiftech355 &xspc"restop"
Memory	2X4gig G Skill Ripjaw 2400
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte gtx660ti(OC) windforce
Storage	western Digi sata
Display(s)	Acer 24 LCD
Case	modmantasticca
Audio Device(s)	basic onboard
Power Supply	Sea Sonic G550m
Software	Win 7 Enterprise 64
Benchmark Scores	4.9 stable with mem at 1333 4.8 stable with mem at 2133

System Name	Work in progress
Processor	AMD 955---4Ghz
Motherboard	MSi GD70
Cooling	OcZ Phase/water
Memory	Crucial2GB kit (1GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-16000
Video Card(s)	CrossfireX 2 X HD 4890 1GB OCed to 1000Mhz
Storage	SSD 64GB
Display(s)	Envision 24'' 1920x1200
Case	Using the desk ATM
Audio Device(s)	Sucky onboard for now :(
Power Supply	1000W TruePower Quattro

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	ASUS TUF x670e
Cooling	EK AIO 360. Phantek T30 fans.
Memory	32GB G.Skill 6000Mhz
Video Card(s)	Asus RTX 4090
Storage	WD m.2
Display(s)	LG C2 Evo OLED 42"
Case	Lian Li PC 011 Dynamic Evo
Audio Device(s)	Topping E70 DAC, SMSL SP200 Headphone Amp.
Power Supply	FSP Hydro Ti PRO 1000W
Mouse	Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard	Tester84
Software	Windows 11

Seriously considering going to water cooling. Suggestions please.

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