Need help with my first water cooling build? What parts to get?

[Revan654]

I'm going to build my first water cooling build. Need help with parts and basics.

1. What is the best brand of radiators to get( alpha cool, hardware labs, XSPC, etc...) and what fans should I use? I have a few noctua 140mm Pwm fans laying around.
2. What is a good water block for cpu. I was looking at XSPC water block is that any good?
3. What's best d5 pump and reservoir to get? Was look at XSPC for that too.
4. I have phanteks primo case. Which has a three pin fan controller. I can attach upto 11 fans to it. Should I use that or get another type of fan controller? Going have around 11 fans in my case.
5. What fittings are considered good or best to get?
6. What best tubing to get?
7. Lastly anything else I need to grab?

 

[C12Friedman]

What hardware are you looking to cool, just CPU or GPU and CPU or...?
I base all of my loops on kits since I've been unable to source the individual hardware for less, my current "go-to" kit is the XSPC Raystorm RX360 w/D5 Bay Reservoir or if not wanting a bay reservoir, the XSPC Raystorm RX360 w/D5 Photon Reservoir Thinner radiators are available if the RX is too thick. The kits come with all tubing, fittings and fans needed for a CPU only loop

For direct answers;
1) Radiators are similar enough in performance that size, thickness, material and fin-count are really the main considerations, the RX radiators by XSPC are 56MM thick including housing (35mm is considered "standard" thickness). This review page may help some http://www.xtremerigs.net/2015/02/11/radiator-round-2015/
2) The XSPC Raystorm is a high performing waterblock
3) I'm kind of partial to the XSPC D5 especially if cooling a graphics card also but since they come with the kits, I haven't compared brands. Bay and stand alone reservoir are available for the D5, it's really an aesthetics thing as to which you use
4) I've had issues with fan controllers in the past and have since gone to distribution headers like this Phobya 4-Pin Power Distribution PCB 6x 3-Pin Block (it's very small and unobtrusive).
5) Fittings really are a personal preference thing, one can go absolutely crazy there (those alone have the ability to break a budget depending how wild you get)
6) I've been using PrimoChill Primoflex Advanced LRT tubing when not using the kit's tubing, there is a good assortment of colors and sizes available, I've had no problems using it
7) if wanting to cool a graphics card also, you would need a waterblock for it and the fittings for the waterblock but that should be all

 

[JackNaylorPE]

1.a As always.... defining best requires parameters..... Best cooling, at least at the time of my last full loop build was Alphacool. What other parameters are you interested in ? Alphacool rads also have 7 ports (some competitors have just 2) and screw protectors (whiuch stop you from accidentally puncturing your rads when attaching fans) are issues i would consider important. The issue with Alphacoolk rads is that the residue left after manufacturing can interact with some engineered coolants. Mahems products for example often do not react well with this residue. All radiators should be thoroughly cleaned with both an acid and base solution before use. You can look at martinsliquidlab site for detailed test data and reviews.

https://martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/

You can find all of martins data tabulated in spreadsheets, along with sizing instructions, here:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1457426/radiator-size-estimator


1.b Today's rads are low fpi (fins per inch) so the old adage of getting high SP fans is no longer applicable. Phanteks are the best radiator fans on the market at present ... and fortunately, they give you a nice set of them in each of their cases. Their cases also come with a fan PCB which provides PWM control of 3 pin DCV fans... essentially a "best of both worlds" scenario..... lower cost and no low speed hum / clicking typically associated with fan motors at low speed. Here's the Phanteks beating the Noctuas by 3C while spinning 300 rpm slower

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/phenteks_f140/3.htm

Here's silentpcreview's rankings (Phanteks 1st place)
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1345-page7.html


2. Usually, to answer this question, I'd have to ask what CPU as the best block would historically be different fro a 1150 CPU versus an LGA 2011 for example. At this time however, the EK Supremacy Evo beats all comers in every category.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1505481/summer-water-block-round-up-2014

3. As for pumps, a D5 is basically a D5.... I always bought the custom modded ones from frozencpu but alas they are no longer active in the marketplace. I use the 35x2 double DDC pump ... If I have to choose a D5, I'd take the Swiftech adjustable speed pump. I would recommend against a pump / reservoir combo as pump vibration is transferred to the res .... and all your other stuff if using hard tubing.

4. The Phanteks PCB is superb, simply the best fan control device on the market. I am using 3 of them in my Primo to control 3 sets of fans independently. Swiftech and ModMyToys have long made PWM PCB devices....ModMyToys has long made DCV controlled PCBs ... Phanteks however is unique in that it can be used while being fed from a PWM or DCV header.

Channel 1
CPU Header => Pump No. 1
CPU_OPT Header => Pump No. 2

Channel 2
CHA_1 Header => Phanteks PCB => (6) radiator fans on 420 radiator

Channel 3
CHA_2 Header => Phanteks PCB => (4) radiator fans on 280 radiator

Channel 4
CHA_3 Header => Phanteks PCB => (6) case fans

Speed control is via the MoBos Windows based fan control utility which gives you 5 points to set up a fan curve for each of the 4 channels.

5. Bitspower is considered the "top of the line" but as was said above, you can easily spend $500 - 1000 on fittings

6. Hard or flexible tubing..... I prefer rigid acrylic tube.

7.a I'd suggest one of these:

AC to DC Adapter - 110V AC to 12V DC Converter w/ Standard 4 Pin (5000mA Max)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9106/bus-192/AC_to_DC_Adapter_-_110V_AC_to_12V_DC_Converter_w_Standard_4_Pin_5000mA_Max.html

Again w/ FCPU down, you can also find them on Amazon for about $14 .... it allows you to start the pump and fill / bleed / leak test the loop without putting any power to your system thereby not putting any of your components at risk.

7.b A fill tube for your reservoir might be in order..... I prefer a top fill / bottom draw arrangement and to do this you will need a 3 port replacement top

7.c EK GPU water blocks may not take 1st place for GPU cooling, losing tot he competition by 1-2C, but they destroy the competition in VRM and Memory cooling, leading by as much as 30C and 12C in VRM and memory cooling.

Here's our last Enthoo Primo build:

Alphacool XT45-420 on top
Alphacool XT60-280 on bottom
Swifttech 35X2 Pump
EK Res3-250
EK Full Cover GPU Water Blocks w/ backplate w/ Gelid Extreme YIM
EK Supremacy CPU Water Block w/ Shin Etsu 751 TIM
Phanteks F-140SP fans (16) ... pic was taken before pull fans installed.
Phanteks Fan Control PCBs (3)
Asus MoBo Water Block

Case fans shut off when temps are such that fan curve would be below 350 rpm and have 15 second ramp up and ramp down times.

Radiator fans operate between 325 and 850 rpm.... with 5 second ramp up and 45 second ramp down times.

When designing the loop:

a) Make sure to include a drain port, fill port and bleed ports. The drain you can see in the pic under the bottom rad, right side (quick disconnect). The fill port is accessed thru the top grille of the case. By positioning the rad a bit forward, you are able to have the top radiator ports accessible. A 40mm extension screwed into the rad makes this easy. There are two bleed ports, one next to the fill port and the other on top of the reservoir.

b) Provide some vibration isolation for the pump bu using a short section of flexible tube if usinga crylic rigid tubing for rest of build.

c) Your GFX cards must be 10.6" or shorter to use the included reservoir mount.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

1.a As always.... defining best requires parameters..... Best cooling, at least at the time of my last full loop build was Alphacool. What other parameters are you interested in ? Alphacool rads also have 7 ports (some competitors have just 2) and screw protectors (whiuch stop you from accidentally puncturing your rads when attaching fans) are issues i would consider important. The issue with Alphacoolk rads is that the residue left after manufacturing can interact with some engineered coolants. Mahems products for example often do not react well with this residue. All radiators should be thoroughly cleaned with both an acid and base solution before use. You can look at martinsliquidlab site for detailed test data and reviews.

https://martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/

You can find all of martins data tabulated in spreadsheets, along with sizing instructions, here:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1457426/radiator-size-estimator


1.b Today's rads are low fpi (fins per inch) so the old adage of getting high SP fans is no longer applicable. Phanteks are the best radiator fans on the market at present ... and fortunately, they give you a nice set of them in each of their cases. Their cases also come with a fan PCB which provides PWM control of 3 pin DCV fans... essentially a "best of both worlds" scenario..... lower cost and no low speed hum / clicking typically associated with fan motors at low speed. Here's the Phanteks beating the Noctuas by 3C while spinning 300 rpm slower

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/phenteks_f140/3.htm

Here's silentpcreview's rankings (Phanteks 1st place)
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1345-page7.html


2. Usually, to answer this question, I'd have to ask what CPU as the best block would historically be different fro a 1150 CPU versus an LGA 2011 for example. At this time however, the EK Supremacy Evo beats all comers in every category.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1505481/summer-water-block-round-up-2014

3. As for pumps, a D5 is basically a D5.... I always bought the custom modded ones from frozencpu but alas they are no longer active in the marketplace. I use the 35x2 double DDC pump ... If I have to choose a D5, I'd take the Swiftech adjustable speed pump. I would recommend against a pump / reservoir combo as pump vibration is transferred to the res .... and all your other stuff if using hard tubing.

4. The Phanteks PCB is superb, simply the best fan control device on the market. I am using 3 of them in my Primo to control 3 sets of fans independently. Swiftech and ModMyToys have long made PWM PCB devices....ModMyToys has long made DCV controlled PCBs ... Phanteks however is unique in that it can be used while being fed from a PWM or DCV header.

Channel 1
CPU Header => Pump No. 1
CPU_OPT Header => Pump No. 2

Channel 2
CHA_1 Header => Phanteks PCB => (6) radiator fans on 420 radiator

Channel 3
CHA_2 Header => Phanteks PCB => (4) radiator fans on 280 radiator

Channel 4
CHA_3 Header => Phanteks PCB => (6) case fans

Speed control is via the MoBos Windows based fan control utility which gives you 5 points to set up a fan curve for each of the 4 channels.

5. Bitspower is considered the "top of the line" but as was said above, you can easily spend $500 - 1000 on fittings

6. Hard or flexible tubing..... I prefer rigid acrylic tube.

7.a I'd suggest one of these:

AC to DC Adapter - 110V AC to 12V DC Converter w/ Standard 4 Pin (5000mA Max)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9106/bus-192/AC_to_DC_Adapter_-_110V_AC_to_12V_DC_Converter_w_Standard_4_Pin_5000mA_Max.html

Again w/ FCPU down, you can also find them on Amazon for about $14 .... it allows you to start the pump and fill / bleed / leak test the loop without putting any power to your system thereby not putting any of your components at risk.

7.b A fill tube for your reservoir might be in order..... I prefer a top fill / bottom draw arrangement and to do this you will need a 3 port replacement top

7.c EK GPU water blocks may not take 1st place for GPU cooling, losing tot he competition by 1-2C, but they destroy the competition in VRM and Memory cooling, leading by as much as 30C and 12C in VRM and memory cooling.

Here's our last Enthoo Primo build:

Alphacool XT45-420 on top
Alphacool XT60-280 on bottom
Swifttech 35X2 Pump
EK Res3-250
EK Full Cover GPU Water Blocks w/ backplate w/ Gelid Extreme YIM
EK Supremacy CPU Water Block w/ Shin Etsu 751 TIM
Phanteks F-140SP fans (16) ... pic was taken before pull fans installed.
Phanteks Fan Control PCBs (3)
Asus MoBo Water Block

Case fans shut off when temps are such that fan curve would be below 350 rpm and have 15 second ramp up and ramp down times.

Radiator fans operate between 325 and 850 rpm.... with 5 second ramp up and 45 second ramp down times.

When designing the loop:

a) Make sure to include a drain port, fill port and bleed ports. The drain you can see in the pic under the bottom rad, right side (quick disconnect). The fill port is accessed thru the top grille of the case. By positioning the rad a bit forward, you are able to have the top radiator ports accessible. A 40mm extension screwed into the rad makes this easy. There are two bleed ports, one next to the fill port and the other on top of the reservoir.

b) Provide some vibration isolation for the pump bu using a short section of flexible tube if usinga crylic rigid tubing for rest of build.

c) Your GFX cards must be 10.6" or shorter to use the included reservoir mount.