made dumb move buying BigWater 735

[dajjhman]

I made a stupid mistake and bought a ThermalTake BigWater 735, without chance of return.

I am getting an i7-920 and plan to do some serious overclocking and I don't think this system can handle it. So I am trying to make the most out of my situation.

I plan on first replacing the thermaltake pump and reservoir with this: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8...K_Reservoir_and_Pumps_in_525_Bay_-_Black.html

Then, I am flushing the system and switching to a higher quality coolant and I don't need UV as the tubing already is UV (still a little iffy on which one, suggestions?)

then, there is the matter of the adequacy of the Radiator. I think I have three options: get a CoolIt unit for around $70 and use it for the i7 while the thermaltake handles things like the VGA and hard drives (can't use the coolit like that because it is a closed system).
I could install an Additional radiator (have the stock TT and then have it feed through to a second one in the front where there is room for a slim one, such as this maybe: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/4...ealth_120_Radiator_-_Black.html?tl=g30c95s159 )?
Or, I could try replacing the radiator with a better one, but I don't have too much room being a mid-tower (TT Armor A90). I could try to do a mod with a triple radiator on top but I loose one of my drive bays and it would cost a lot.

Suggestions anyone? I have plenty of time for this build, I may not even get the i7 until December (I'm getting for free from a friend who realized he has three of the exact same computer each having identical RAM and crossfire cards.. I think you can see where That's going lol)

-Jimmy

 

[gonzominium]

I like these guys they have parts for just about any need, so you don't have to mismatch brands. www.koolance.com

 

[trickson]

Well the pump/res is nice . The rad will give you no real room for OC . I would re think this maybe get 2 . I would go much bigger though , Me ? I would have a X2 or X3 120mm Rad set up much more room for heat to get taken and more room for Over clocking !

 

[dajjhman]

thank you for the Koolance link, it turns out they have the drive bay pump/reservoir for cheaper than the other place lol.

Anyways, I understand that I'll need two radiators. However, instead of using one 2X 120mm radiator could I use two good quality 1x 120mm radiators so that I can mount them at two different 120mm fan spaces? there is little room in my system for a dual fan rad, as it would either block the PCI slots, or require a lot of work on the top of the case. Having a rad freestanding from the case is not an option.

I've seen a lot of good reviews for an H50 and OCing of my processor to what I want, I thought about using that for the i7 and the current system for the VGA, hard drives, etc. I would rather go with one system but the radiators are what are going to kill me.

-Jimmy

 

[Chicken Patty]

I had this kit and the pump/res is ok for now. You can use the pump and res and then just get a better rad. I'm using the pump from that kit to cool my GTX 295 in my folding/crunching rig. The radiator I'm using is a HW Labs 140mm rad with a swiftech reservoir.

The card stays at 47ºc load overclocked. This is with only one fan on the rad. Therefore my point is the pump is ok for now. What you did need is a better radiator, def. nothing bigger than a 120.2. After that the pump will have to work really hard to flow through all the components.

 

[dajjhman]

I'm replacing the pump/reservoir anyways due to mounting and space issues, also with this unit I can put in some temperature monitoring.

I think I may be able to mount a dual 120mm rad after all, I found out that koolance makes a radiator mount for larger rads that attaches to the rear 120mm fan space and is adjustable in distance to the case - does this work well, and how much strain will be put on my case?

 

[trickson]

Well why the hell did you buy this thing in the first place ? Man talk about buyers remorse !

You are changing every thing , So really you are getting NEW water cooling .

 

[Chicken Patty]

I'm replacing the pump/reservoir anyways due to mounting and space issues, also with this unit I can put in some temperature monitoring.

I think I may be able to mount a dual 120mm rad after all, I found out that koolance makes a radiator mount for larger rads that attaches to the rear 120mm fan space and is adjustable in distance to the case - does this work well, and how much strain will be put on my case?

That works good, I've seen a few people using it and it works good. Here is a cheaper alternative, but not as fancy

http://www.swiftnets.com/products/MCB-120.asp

 

[dajjhman]

well, I kinda splurged without thinking - long story short I didn't look further into it than it is made by thermaltake : - P And I didn't consider mounting in the case because the case was advertised LCS ready, and it was also made by thermaltake. So, I wrongfully assumed that it had mounting points for the thermaltake pump and reservoir. Well, it doesn't so that is why I need a drive bay unit.

I think I may still be able to put it to use though. I am still considering two loops, one for the CPU and the other for things like my hard drives (will be running a raid with velociraptors if all goes well). I might get the H50 for the CPU and leave the current thermaltake rad for the HDDs etc temporarily until I can get a better rad.

did I get screwed doing this? pretty much. Will I try to make it work anyways at all costs? of course.

@Chicken Patty: thanks for the link to the cheaper alternative!

 

[douglatins]

BIG TIME shoulda gotten an arrow or D14

Oh sorry i though it was a question, not a statement, respect!

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Dump it on eBay and get a real setup.