I Need Help Planning watercooling for Cooler Master ATCS 840 Case/i7

[russb123]

I am planning a watercooling setup using a Coolermaster ATCS 840 Case, Asus P6T Deluxe, 920 i7 Processor, and a Asus 295 GTX and I need some help/advice. I should state that this will be my first use of watercooling and even though I have read that air is working very well for the new i7's I am determined to use water(if noting else to give myself experience setting them up.

Right now my plan is to just cool the CPU with water, but once good blocks come out for the 295 I may want to expand to cover that. There is also a chipset water cooling setup, but looking at it makes me think it may conflict with a large graphics card. I do not plan to any extreme overclocking(<4.0 on the 920), I just want a rock solid stable system and experience setting up water cooling.

Ok now for my specific questions:

1) Tom's hardware is a great place for hardware reviews and lotsa other stuff, but is there a forum more dedicated to watercooling out there I should be asking my questions?

2) Is installing radiators inside the case ok? The CM ATSC 840 has alot of room inside on the top and has the option to have 3 120mm fans installed. Could a radiator use the case fans? Perhaps push air with fans on the radiator and pull with the 3 case fans?

3) I found this kit: http://www.coolerguys.com/840556020998.html is this good for a beginner or should I just buy piece by piece instead of a kit (perhaps a triple radiator to use all 3 120mm fans)

4)Anyone have hardware advice?

Thanks everyone for your time.

 

[Conumdrum]

I'll steer you to some more technical links, please spend a few days (DAYS) reading posts, searching, learning. Don't forget to look for your case with WC. Google your case and the word water-cool or some combination of that. WC stuff is larger than you think, I know from experience. WC setups done right are awesome and almost silent.

Great place, not wayyy over the top with uber WC guys.
http://www.ocforums.com/index.php
Uber place, owned by one of the worlds winning OC guys in the world. Not a place to post or ask questions by noobs, but an awesome place to learn.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/
Another good place to learn
http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/
The best link to explain what parts you’ll need
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t282232.html

Great places to buy WC stuff
http://www.dangerden.com/index.php [...] e&Itemid=1
http://www.petrastechshop.com/
http://www.jab-tech.com/

The kit you linked is a great starter kit and will cool the CPU fine unless you got for silly overclocks and live in a hot area, meaning ambient room temps above 26C. The kit has the top CPU block and a good pump and rad. You can't add any more stuff due to the size of rad, but a great starter kit.

 

[ouch1]

LOL Conumdrum you are fast. I was just about to paste a quote of your message from another thread just to help out.

Russ please read the info that Conumdrum has put up here for you. He is one of the best people to help you with getting water cooling equipment picked out.

The only thing I can add is if at all possible try to refrain from building a loop using both aluminum and copper. The reason is you will get galvanic corrsion in the loop. And I even include blocks, rad, or res's that are powder coated, plated, or anodized. The reason is it will only take a single scratch to expose some aluminum to the coolant and viola you will get corrosion starting. And if not caught quickly it can ruin your blocks and rad, and it could even cause your loop to leak coolant onto your system. Please use all cooper parts in your loop as this will negate the possibility of galvanic corrosion.

-ouch1

 

[russb123]

Thanks for the reply, I have been searching and reading for a few days. I tried searching google and you tube for specifics regarding my case but have not found anything yet.

If I plan to expand should I just get a triple rad at the start?

 

[Conumdrum]

Depends on your budget. Buying a 320 rad, better pump, same CPU block, seperate res, better tubing, diff fans will give you room to easily add a GPU and NB block.

Take your time with all those links I gave ya. There are tons of WC build logs and info. That case will (should) hold an internal 220 rad easy. Dunno about a 320 sized rad. How are you in modz skillzs? Comfortable with a dremel, hole saw, pop rivet gun?

Again, take your time to find your case, you'll find tons of info, give it a few days of learning about installing, leak testing, maintenance etc. I'm Conumdrum on OC and XS, so you can ask me on OC Forums and get lots of active WC input from many folks.

Don't worry about mixed metals as long as you stick with quality, it's a NON-ISSUE with that kit you selected.

 

[russb123]

I found someone that used the same case I plan to use and I like his part list with the exception of the radiator: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1371848

Here is his list:
CPU Block: Swiftech GTZ
Radiator: Swiftech MCR320
Pump: Swiftech MCP355 with XPSC Reservoir Top
Tubing: Duralene 1/2"ID x 3/4" OD
Fittings: Bitspower G1/4" to 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD Compression Fittings
Fans: 3x Medium Yate Loons on the MCR320, 2x Scythe S-Flex Fans, one on the mobo exhaust, one on the bottom exhaust vent
Fan Controller: Silver Scythe Kaze 5.25 Bay Fan Controller

I would swap the radiator for a black ice stealth or GTX 360, because according to this review : http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/cases_cooling/cooler_master_atcs_840_aluminium_atx_case/3 swiftech radiators do not fit without mods on the very top of the case.

One big question in my mind right now is...if you top mount a radiator which way do you have the airflow go? Do you blow fresh air into the case from the top or blow the warm air from inside the case up through the radiator?

 

[rubix_1011]

I would pull fresh air into the radiator, but that is my choice. I have 2 MCR320's and like them a lot. I know you can get better, but for the cost, they work well. If you are going to drop that 295 into the loop, I would make sure you have at least a 320 rad...that dual GPU setup will put out a lot of heat.

 

[grieve]

Here is his list:
CPU Block: Swiftech GTZ
Radiator: Swiftech MCR320
Pump: Swiftech MCP355 with XPSC Reservoir Top
Tubing: Duralene 1/2"ID x 3/4" OD
Fittings: Bitspower G1/4" to 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD Compression Fittings
Fans: 3x Medium Yate Loons on the MCR320, 2x Scythe S-Flex Fans, one on the mobo exhaust, one on the bottom exhaust vent
Fan Controller: Silver Scythe Kaze 5.25 Bay Fan Controller

1) Change the Rad:
Feser One X-360 TFC Xchanger Triple 120MM
or
Thermochill Pa 120.3

MCR320 are good rads however the above two i listed are twice as good, also twice the price. You could easily add a vid card to a loop with these rads.

2) You should consider a Swiftech MCRES-MICRO REV2 instead of using a "T" line... this makes bleeding the system a million times faster and easier. (not necessary, a luxury)

3) Ditch the compression fittings.

***edit***
fixed my terrible spelling

 

[Conumdrum]

The TC and Feser rads are not twice as good. In Martins tests it's up to 12% better, as long as your using higher RPM fans.

1. TC and Feser and now XSPC have made quality rads that are better for low noise/fans. They are much thicker though.

2. The MCR is a winner because it's close to the other rads performance at less than 1/2 the price. It's also thinner somewhat. Needs a bit more air, but nothing silly.

3. The Black Ice Extreme is the best in pure heat removal. But it needs high RPM/pressure fans. Meaning LOUD.

No quality rad is better than another one. I said quality, which leaves many manufacturers in the cold, there are 5 who make my cut, all listed above. The 3 leading styles are all for diff purposes and budgets.

Compression fittings are great. Seals well and looks great. It's the cost that is prohibitive vs barbs and clamps.

Duralene isn't a very good hose brand. Cheap is it's strong point.

 

[russb123]

Thanks again for all the reply's, discussing all this now will help me so much when it comes time to actually order and then build.

as my post said I will not be using the swiftech Rad's, they will not fit easily in my case on the top without mods.

Conumdrum, what do you think as far as airflow? With a top of the case radiator mount should I blow air down into the case from the top?

 

[Conumdrum]

Down up, left right no matter. Cool air from outside the case into the rad.

 

[grieve]

The TC and Feser rads are not twice as good. In Martins tests it's up to 12% better, as long as your using higher RPM fans.

Do you have a link per chance?

All the research I have done suggested MCR are pretty much low end of the spectrum. Note: I have used a MCR320 (My last machine) and found its performance OK.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll262/Grieve666/001.jpg

To my understanding a Thermochill PA 120.3 will equal about an MCR320 + a 220, using the same fans.

 

[russb123]

I found this: http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/367809-radiator-thermals-radiator-calculators-martin.html#post4322080

perhaps the information you are asking about is in there somewhere.

 

[Conumdrum]

Yep, martin did very good unbiased truely solid testing. The WC god has left the stage, but Skinnee has pick up and was able to mirror Martins info before the domain dropped.

http://skinneelabs.com/

 

[grieve]

Links aren't too good. Oh well ill look around one day when im bored. Thanks for the effort though.