New to Watercooling, some q's

[okrox]

Hi all. I just pieced together a new pc and I'm looking to overclock it but I've never used water cooling before. I want to get started and I'm looking for some information on piecing this system together. I'll start off with my computer specs:

CPU: Intel I7 920 Nehalem 2.66ghz
Mobo: ASUS P6T Deluxe V2
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 285 2gb
RAM: Corsair Dominator 12gb ddr3 1600
HDD: Western Digital Caviar 640gb
PSU: Corsair TX750W
Case: XCLIO WTBK Advanced ATX full tower case w/ 1x 120mm rear fan, 1x 200mm top fan, 2x 250mm side fans

Since I've never done water cooling before I thought it'd be best if I overclocked and water cooled the cpu to start out to learn and add in gpu/northbridge water cooling later.

Here's what I've pieced together so far:

ThermoChill PA120.3 3x120mm High Performance Radiator - 15mm Spacin
Heatkiller CPU Rev3.0 775
Dtek dB-1 Compact 12v DC Pump w/Tach Sensor
EK Waterblocks EK-Multioption RES 250 rev.2

I think I'm supposed to go with Tygon tubing? I don't know the correct size tubing, I'm not 100% on what accessories/misc pieces I need (aside from clamps, which I guess I need the tube size first huh?) or if the parts I've been looking at are quality/compatible so I'd greatly appreciate some tips from the pros. Thanks guys.

 

[okrox]

Lol thx, anyone that sells Bawls is good in my book.

 

[Conumdrum]

More stores and some links to read.

Guides
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=282232 Pretty up to date info and buying guide
http://gilgameshreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:hokiealumnus&catid=40😱verclocking-and-cooling&Itemid=86 Another good guide
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=312743 What to do once all the stuff is in the door
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=223835 Many build logs on MANY cases, great learning tool.

My latest rig:
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=604016

Forums
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/index.php? Not a noob site, but great stickies
http://www.ocforums.com/ My fav, good peeps, know their stuff, less hardcore
http://www.over-clock.com/ivb/inde [...] opic=20277 A GREAT Europe site
http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/ Decent site

Tests on equipment, not reviews, truly scientific tests
http://translate.google.com/transl [...] n&ie=UTF-8 Info on rad testing
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=220593 More rad testing
http://skinneelabs.com/ Host for Martins lab and some newer tests
http://www.skinneelabs.com/MartinsLiquidLab/ Test results, very technical


Stores
http://www.dangerden.com
http://www.petrastechshop.com/
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/
http://www.jab-tech.com/
http://www.performance-pcs.com
http://www.frozencpu.com/

 

[IH8U]

I just wish I could order direct from Swiftech, aah well I can still get my order through Frozen. Look for DangerDen and Swiftech waterblocks (same with pumps).

 

[rubix_1011]

Try Petra's Tech Shop as well.

 

[jcknouse]

Hey Conundrum...real quick question...

Do you not drink? :lol:

If I built something that nice, I'd end up dumpin a whiskey and coke in the middle of it after tripping over my spare set of Dolby surround speakers :lol:

just my paranoia makes me put stuff in a case.

Cool rig tho...

 

[Conumdrum]

I do, and too much. I take it really slow and I have been at this a while. I'm still a noob in many ways for watercooling, you should see some of the pro rigs.

But been building/working with PC's since the Commodore 64 first came out, ohh 1983?

 

[rubix_1011]

Do you not drink?

I do, and too much.

LOL...that's awesome.

 

[Shadow703793]

^ :lol: No wonder he's a bit edgy some times.

Conumdrums Next build: Beer cooled PC :lol: 😀

 

[Conumdrum]

Guys guys. I moved past beer a long time ago. I have my 'Easy Button' just like on TV. Jack n Ice. Simple.

I'm able to build a basic overkill rig like that cuz I make good coin and my life experiances gave me plenty of ability. Repaired/taught electronics for years/ fixed a radar system that had 30,000 volts, 1000 PSI hydraulics to move the antenna, pressurized waveguides. And now I work on a newspaper press 275 ft long, 70 ft high, over 500 motors not counting cooling fans, all PC and specialized electronics everywhere. I lift 200 lb rollers, scrape up an ink spill wearing a paper suit sweating like a pig inside a printing unit, find a 3000 PSI hydraulic leak, replace a circuit card, and use a laptop to update the operator touchscreen software, and replace a bad sensor unit all in one day. Yea, that day really sucked. But that's my breadth of experiance.
Been playing with PC's since 1984.
So if I can't build a simple watercooled PC while relaxing with a drink or five, I don't know what to say.

 

[rubix_1011]

I am more a vodka man, myself. But I applaud the Jack.

 

[MU_Engineer]

Guys guys. I moved past beer a long time ago. I have my 'Easy Button' just like on TV. Jack n Ice. Simple.

I'm able to build a basic overkill rig like that cuz I make good coin and my life experiances gave me plenty of ability. Repaired/taught electronics for years/ fixed a radar system that had 30,000 volts, 1000 PSI hydraulics to move the antenna, pressurized waveguides. And now I work on a newspaper press 275 ft long, 70 ft high, over 500 motors not counting cooling fans, all PC and specialized electronics everywhere. I lift 200 lb rollers, scrape up an ink spill wearing a paper suit sweating like a pig inside a printing unit, find a 3000 PSI hydraulic leak, replace a circuit card, and use a laptop to update the operator touchscreen software, and replace a bad sensor unit all in one day. Yea, that day really sucked. But that's my breadth of experiance.
Been playing with PC's since 1984.
So if I can't build a simple watercooled PC while relaxing with a drink or five, I don't know what to say.

I don't know, you're certainly cutting the mustard at work, but I'm guessing you're doing that all sober. If not, then you must be really good or really lucky. A guy I know saw a person working on a sheeter in a carton plant (it takes a several-ton roll of paper and slices it into sheets about 4' by 5') while high on cocaine. The coke guy got his hand absolutely crushed by the huge hydraulic roller at the infeed for the sheeter that is under something like 30 tons of hydraulic force. Plus most places drug test and you'd likely land on your butt out on the curb sooner or later if you drank on the job. Jack and Coke isn't anywhere close to actual coke, but I'd still probably keep the number of glasses of Jack down to just a few before you get done closing the PC up- just saying. That being said, a Jack and ice or five is an excellent way to celebrate a successful build.

@Shadow: there are two problems with a beer-cooled PC. One is that you'd need to bleed out all of the bubbles and that would make the beer flat. The second is that the loop would heat up your beer and turn it from ice-cold to piss-warm. That's exactly what you don't want- nasty, flat, piss-warm beer. Well, unless you're some kind of goofy European or something 😀

 

[rubix_1011]

^^ I live in Lawrence. You have our mascot upside down...how dare you, Tigger.

 

[MU_Engineer]

^^ I live in Lawrence.

I'm sorry 😀

You have our mascot upside down...how dare you, Tigger.

It's what we call "flipping the bird." It's a bit classier than the shirts that have "f-u-c" on the front and "KU!" on the back. We have to find some way to be amused during the MU-KU basketball games as the game rarely goes in our favor.

 

[rubix_1011]

yeah, I'm aware...I work with 3 MU guys. They like to make fun of our 'imaginary' mascot.

Yep...imaginary bird...real championship trophies.