Recommended External Water Cooling for 4870x2

[muthaf]

I got fed up with noise of my 4870x2, and decided for water cooling. As I am complete newbie to watercooling, I'd like REALLY appreciate some help.
My requirements are:
1) support for 4870x2 (full cover as I understand it), obviously
2) my midi is kinda cramped, so it need to be external (ZALMAN Reserator like)
3) support for Q9550/X38 (Asus P5E3), I suspect that chipset WC is not really needed

4) all-in-one kit/easyness of instalation - not really requirement, but would be NICE

So far I really like the ZALMAN Reserator 2/XT but dont think that R2 supports 4870x2 and cant tell if I can mix Reserator XT with EK-FC4870 X2 CF(only 4870x2 WC I can buy/find).
Any suggestions most welcomed

 

[Conumdrum]

Look up a place called Danger Den. They make one of the better FC blocks and also sell all you need.

 

[muthaf]

Well, thanks but no thanks - thats what I've been doing whole day if it worked that great, I wouldn't DARE to post a topic... (also intnl. delivery can be problem as I live in small country)
Please try to read topic name - key word is 'Recommended' and 'requirements' from first post..
Well, I guess thanks for trying anyway..

 

[Conumdrum]

Okay. But don't buy what you recommended or think is good. In the experianced WC world, everyone thinks any Reserator parts are overpriced, prone to breakage, and unable to cool a hot setup, which you have.

The EK 4870 x2 blocks have spacing problems, more than a few ruined cards.

If you don't buy a kit made of quality parts seperately, your just going to fail. I sent you to DD because they have everything you need, and their FC block works just fine.

For that setup you need to cool, your looking at $450, if not more. And an external rad to boot, a Thermochill 120.3 would cool it. Add a GTX CPU cooler, the DD 4870x2 block, a MCP 355 pump with a XSPC top, Swiftech res, Tygon 1/2 tubing, clamps and liquid, your good.

Sure the Reserator is external, but the pump and rad are sub par and won't be able to cool your setup.

Your $$$, your cool or not cool setup.

 

[muthaf]

Thanks a lot, this is MUCH more helpful.
Can anbody please second/alternate this WC setup?
Took a look at it, got a question though:
I had a problem locating pump MCP 355 - I guess DD got different markings?
Alternatively, found DD12V-D5 Pump Variable Speed, would that do?

 

[Conumdrum]

Thats a very popular pump too, millions use the D5 Vario. They are made by Laing, and rebadged by a few diff companies.

Here is the 355, but works best with an aftermarket top.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/ladd1mcin12p.html

Tops were just reviewed here by another tester.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=206431

 

[muthaf]

Thanks again.
I got two more questions:
1) Is Koolance ATI HD4870X2 any match for DD 4870x2? (only one at local distributor)
2) Does reservoir volume matter? If so, whats recommended for my setup?

Funny, I thought one can design WC setup by calculating thermal heat excess for PC/components and then choose cooling by heat dissipation capacity. Well, I was wrong obviously - not surprising in least considering I havent even touched a WC yet

 

[Conumdrum]

The Koolance block does work. Koolance is known as crap in the real WC world. The 4870x2 block has issues, and thats having steel plugs, which rust and can destroy loops. They are also very restrictive, hurting loop flow. Look into the links I provided about flow rates and thermal capabilities.

A Swiftech mini res, or a EK cylinder res is fine, size doesn't do squat for heat dissipation, but helps in bleeding the loop. Even a T line is adequate.

I guess I forgot to give you this, please spend a while learning before even buying parts. And many places can help with better ways of international shipping.

Don't sell yourself short by buying crap to start. You'll just get frustrated and waste lots of money.

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 watercool 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.

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

Hope it helps, see ya in a few days, get edumacated!

Also, once you start looking around and get ideas, ask forum members from your country what they do to get the good stuff. XS is a VERY international place.

 

[muthaf]

Well, i'm back again, hopefully more educated
As far as I checked, most custom WC review confirmed your recommendations. Only issue was review dates, most of them were 1-2 years old, but I guess Moore's law doesn't apply to WC 😉
Seems like I actually CAN order straight from dangerdan, but there is still few outstanding issues:

1. fan(s)
I would choose Papst 4312L 120mm Fan (probably with Rheostat)
question: Is one enough?
2. chipset top
I really don't know if neccessary(I definitely do/done some OC), but guess better be prepared, if so is MPC-X38/X48 okey for Asus P5E3 or its WC on my chipset overkill?
3. Miscs
some practical advice like how many clamps, how many tubing packages

my current pre-config:
DD12V-D5 Pump Variable Speed(MCP-655)
DDC Acrylic Pump Top
DD-4870-X2 Water Block
Danger Den Single 5 1/4" Bay Reservoir
Thermochill PA120.3
MC-TDX for Intel 775 CPU/Boards

ATX Power Supply Bypass Adapter
Tygon 1/2 tubing, clamps, liquid additiv.

Well please let me know if i'm missing something, if the whole setup makes sense, and also -if possible- if its gonna be powerfull enough(pump/heat dissip. wise) and most importantly SILENT (like 30 and less Db)
P.S.: external radiator has no kind of cage/grid or am i missing something?
Thank again

 

[muthaf]

I just noticed with horror that my mainboard temp according to pc wizard is 49C basically idling... guess that can account for some glitches i had recently Strange anyway, considering big copper passive and all that efficiency features..
anyway, now i definitely DO need WC on my chipset

 

[Conumdrum]

Can you move this discussion over to OC Forums in the WC section? Lots more peeps there, more input.

Toms isn't the best place for specific info, and I'd like to get a few others input I work with there.

http://www.ocforums.com/index.php

 

[muthaf]

Done, was just in middle of posting a topic there, came here for my pre-specs and found your message, funny stuff happens 😀

 

[muthaf]

Oh, here's link http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=583775