Water Cooling Install Help

[suraswami]

Hi,

Last week I purchased the Thermaltake Water 3.0 Performer from Frys and I am ready to install it. But I have a question -
Pump 3 pin header - which fan slot on mobo should I plug it in?
1. Should I plug it into the CPU fan header and turn off PWM function
2. Any other 3 pin mobo fan header
3. Connect to the PSU directly?

If I don't plug into the CPU fan header, how will the mobo take care if there is a pump failure and shutdown the computer?

There is no software to monitor the pump, its only available with the Extreme edition.

This is the one I am installing now.

http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002063

And which fan header is best to plug in the fans on the radiator?

Mobo is ECS A970M-A (for now), then will be switched to main gaming rig (Gigabyte 970A-UD3 V1.2)

Thanks,

 

[suraswami]

Never mind, the fan screws were too tight, I gave little extra pressure when tightening the screws, the screw driver slipped and poke a hole into the radiator, water splash!! Luckily I haven't installed it into the machine. There goes my money for nothing lol!

 

[THE_EGG]

Never mind, the fan screws were too tight, I gave little extra pressure when tightening the screws, the screw driver slipped and poke a hole into the radiator, water splash!! Luckily I haven't installed it into the machine. There goes my money for nothing lol!

Damn man that sucks. Lucky it wasn't in the machine though!

 

[suraswami]

Damn man that sucks. Lucky it wasn't in the machine though!

Will TT give me a RMA?

If not may be I can do a mod and replace the 120mm radiator?

 

[THE_EGG]

Will TT give me a RMA?

If not may be I can do a mod and replace the 120mm radiator?

I doubt thermaltake will give you warrant an RMA as the problem was down to user error technically unfortunately. It might be worth a shot but yeh I doubt it. I'm pretty sure you would be able to mod the cooler though and replace the radiator, I've heard of people doing that before with their AIO coolers.

 

[SKBARON]

Could you post pictures of the damage done? Just curious , and maybe you could fix it somehow?

 

[THE_EGG]

I think mythbusters proved that if you put some raw egg in your leaky rad loop it can plug the hole. Practical solution assuming you don't mind a bad egg smell

 

[suraswami]

I think mythbusters proved that if you put some raw egg in your leaky rad loop it can plug the hole. Practical solution assuming you don't mind a bad egg smell

LOL, THE_EGG suggesting Raw egg

I think I am just going to sell to some brave person who wants to venture. Of course at a loss but very cheap tho.

 

[newtekie1]

Last week I purchased the Thermaltake Water 3.0 Performer from Frys and I am ready to install it. But I have a question - Pump 3 pin header - which fan slot on mobo should I plug it in? 1. Should I plug it into the CPU fan header and turn off PWM function 2. Any other 3 pin mobo fan header 3. Connect to the PSU directly? If I don't plug into the CPU fan header, how will the mobo take care if there is a pump failure and shutdown the computer?

Sorry to hear about the radiator damage.

Just for future reference, the 3-Pin pump connector plugs into any fan header as long as the header runs at full speed, or you can connect it directly to your PSU. The fan splitter cable, and hence the 2 fans, connect to the CPU fan header. Leave PWM turned on so that the fans are controlled by the PWM signal from the CPU Fan header.

In the event of a pump failure the thermal protection built into the CPU/Motherboard should shut the system down before any damage is done.

 

[suraswami]

I think I will have to live with 46C on core for a while with no more OC.

I didn't know these radiators are so flimsy.

 

[suraswami]

Is this a good one for a replacement?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0U00R17496

 

[Lopez0101]

"Aluminum heat exchanger can used for CPU ,CO2 Laser ,etc water cool system."

If it's good enough for laser system cooling, it's good enough for a puny computer!

 

[suraswami]

Here is the hole that I made on the radiator

 

[Tt Shannon]

Suraswami,

Drop me a PM and i will see what I can do for you!

 

[suraswami]

Suraswami,

Drop me a PM and i will see what I can do for you!

PM sent.

 

[Tt Shannon]

Cool will work on this next week with you.

Let see if we can figure something out for ya

Now have an awesome weekend! thanks to a select TPU member for bringing this to my attention (You know who you are)

 

[thebluebumblebee]

A radiator shop might be able to fix it...

 

[suraswami]

Cool will work on this next week with you.

Let see if we can figure something out for ya

Now have an awesome weekend! thanks to a select TPU member for bringing this to my attention (You know who you are)

Got the replacement. Wow! Awesome customer service. and thank you for taking care of me.

If I get time I will try to install this weekend.

 

[THE_EGG]

Got the replacement. Wow! Awesome customer service. and thank you for taking care of me.

If I get time I will try to install this weekend.

wow nice. I did not expect that outcome tbh.

 

[sneekypeet]

This is why having on site reps rox!!!!!!

 

[Tt Shannon]

This kind of outcome is not always possible but we also do understand that real world issues happen so we always try to help however we can

 

[suraswami]

I installed the cooler in one of my test PCs, works great. CPU is basic Athlon II X2 220. Idle is at 12C and full load at 19C lol.

Question - I do not keep my PCs running 24/7, I use S3 sleep after 20 min idle. Will the pump be ok for so many wake up, sleep, restart shutdown cycles?

I will be installing this on my main gaming PC this weekend.

Thanks for all your help.

Few Suggestions from my part: The fan install screws are a big long, without washers the screws does press the radiator and possibly damaging it. The package only has 4 washers which are supposed to be used on the case mount fan. The 4 washers works fine on the rear fan attached to the case. I used 8 washers (2 per screw) on the inside mount fan so it doesn't touch the radiator. Overall the fan install is bit tricky especially on the rear ones. Better would be screws attaching the fan to the radiator from inside and regular fan screw attaching the fan to the case.

This time I didn't use the manual screw driver, I used the drill with Phillips head driver, much easier.

About CPU block install - The back plate quality can be bit better and nickel pin which gets pushed into the plate would be better if it was like the nut on a regular AMD bracket, this way when the block screw is tightened the nut holds it properly. With the nickel push pin if you have one more turn it gets twisted and comes out of it grove on the back and screw keeps turning without stopping. I had to pull out the mobo again, push the pin from back and lock it. Of course this is with my test case, my gaming case has rear opening behind the motherboard, so it shouldn't be a problem. But this might be a design change to install the block better.

Hopefully this helps other noobs like me.

Yay finally I did get into water cooling after really getting myself wet!! I had bought 2 coolers before and never had the confidence to install, ended up selling both.

I will post some pics when I get home tonight.

 

[Sasqui]

I installed the cooler in one of my test PCs, works great. CPU is basic Athlon II X2 220. Idle is at 12C and full load at 19C lol.

Question - I do not keep my PCs running 24/7, I use S3 sleep after 20 min idle. Will the pump be ok for so many wake up, sleep, restart shutdown cycles?

I will be installing this on my main gaming PC this weekend.

Just read through this thread and what an awesome outcome To answer, shouldn't be an issue at all. I do the same with my system... the pump I have is completely solid state, the only moving part is the impeller. If your pump is the same way, not to worry. In fact, it means less wear and tear in the long run.

 

[suraswami]

Moved the WC to my main Gaming machine. With IBT stress testing WC seems to perform on par with my SilenX 4 pipe cooler with dual fan config (46C CPU and 48C Core). Now that the cooler is on a hot CPU the fan shows its true noise. When CPU revs up the fans revs up and seems like a jet plane is trying to take off lol.

Can I replace the TT fans with Cougar silent fans (already have one, need to purchase another)? Will the performance change?

 

[THE_EGG]

Moved the WC to my main Gaming machine. With IBT stress testing WC seems to perform on par with my SilenX 4 pipe cooler with dual fan config (46C CPU and 48C Core). Now that the cooler is on a hot CPU the fan shows its true noise. When CPU revs up the fans revs up and seems like a jet plane is trying to take off lol.

Can I replace the TT fans with Cougar silent fans (already have one, need to purchase another)? Will the performance change?

Yes, I've changed out the fans on my Antec AIO 620 because I thought the stock fan was noisy as hell. The Cougar Vortex HDB 120mm series has good pressure and air flow with low noise levels which is nice.

There is also PWM versions that have a higher max rpm (thus higher pressure and air flow) that would be better I think and it would change the speed automatically;
http://www.cougar-world.com/products/fans/vortex_pwm.html