Water Cooling Advice - New/First Build

[RedXIII]

Hello, I've nearly finalized my new gaming build and I am fairly comfortable with it; besides the water cooling. I would greatly appreciate it if somebody could look over my build and specifically answer my questions below.

■Are all of the water cooling components compatible?
■Size of the tubing? I imagine that 1/2in ID is fine, but what about the 5/8in OD?
■How much tubing will I need (ft)?
■Type and size of barbs fine?
■How many barbs do I need?
■If I use compression fittings, then horse clamps aren't needed; correct?
■Is a tube cutter worth buying, or is a utility knife good enough?
■Am I missing anything in regards to the water cooling? Even if it is something small and you assume that I just didn't bother mentioning.

CPU: Intel 2600K
Case: HAFX 942
Mobo: Gigabyte UD7
GPU: 560ti SLI
PSU: Coolermaster Silent Pro Gold 1000W SLI (Overkill I know, but I would like plenty of extra room)
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 1.5V
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache x2 (RAID 0 for OS and games - unhappy with SSD options)
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache 3.5IN x2 (Storage)

CPU Waterblock: Swiftech APOGEE XT LGA1366 CPU Water Block G1/4 Chrome HI-FLOW 1/2IN Eurostyle Barb Fittings
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14480AC5649&vpn=APOGEE%20XT&manufacture=SWIFTECH

Pump: Swiftech MCP655 12V Industrial Water Cooling Pump 1/2IN Barbs
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14480AC9207&vpn=MCP655&manufacture=SWIFTECH

Rad: Swiftech MCR320 Quiet Power Triple 120MM Water Cooling Radiator Black G1/4 Threaded
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14480AC5149&vpn=MCR320-QP-K&manufacture=SWIFTECH

Res: Swiftech MCRES-MICRO REV2 Clear HI-FLOW Water Cooling Reservoir 3/8IN & 1/2IN Barb Fittings
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14480AC6987&vpn=MCRES-Micro%20Rev2&manufacture=SWIFTECH

Tubes: Tygon R-3603 1/2" ID 5/8" OD Chemical Tubing (Quantity???)
http://www.jab-tech.com/Tygon-R-3603-1-2-ID-5-8-OD-Chemical-Tubing-pr-3873.html

Barbs: Dangerden Silver Compression Fitting - 1/2" to 5/8" (Quantity???)
http://www.jab-tech.com/Dangerden-Silver-Compression-Fitting-1-2-to-5-8-pr-4217.html

Coolant: Swiftech Hydrx Water Additive Coolant 2 oz Bottle
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14480AC2403&vpn=HYDRX2OZ&manufacture=SWIFTECH

Thermal Paste: ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020&Tpk=ARCTIC%20COOLING%20MX-2

Price: $2250~

Thanks!

 

[delluser1]

■Are all of the water cooling components compatible?
Yes■Size of the tubing? I imagine that 1/2in ID is fine, but what about the 5/8in OD?
Needs to match the compression fittings■How much tubing will I need (ft)?
Usually 5-8 feet, buy a couple of extra■Type and size of barbs fine?
You list compression fittings■How many barbs do I need?
A total of 8 fittings, comp. or barb■If I use compression fittings, then horse clamps aren't needed; correct?
Correct■Is a tube cutter worth buying, or is a utility knife good enough?
If you're comfortable with the knife it works fine■Am I missing anything in regards to the water cooling? Even if it is something small and you assume that I just didn't bother mentioning.
Other than fans, doesn't look like it.

I 'd skip the Hydrx and just use a silver coil.

Keep in mind that thin wall tubing tends to kink easier.
Be sure to drop by the Watercooling section of the forum and let us know how it goes.

 

[RedXIII]

Other than fans, doesn't look like it.

Ah, fans; I actually forgot about those.

How does these look? The rad says that it is designed for low-medium fans, which I'm guessing is anything below 70~CFM?
Scythe Slip Stream Kaze Jyuni 120MM Fan 1200RPM 68.5CFM 24DBA
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC7800&vpn=SY1225SL12M&manufacture=SCYTHE

I 'd skip the Hydrx and just use a silver coil.

Agreed. Is there an ideal amount to use? Should 1 8in strip do the trick? Any idea if it is better to just drop it in the reservoir instead the tubing?

Without any additives, will I have to worry about corrosion at all?

Keep in mind that thin wall tubing tends to kink easier.

I think I'll switch to;
PrimoFlex Pro LRT UV Green Tubing - 1/2in. ID X 3/4in. OD



Thanks

 

[delluser1]

Personally never impressed by the Scythe fans but they should work, I'd go with the 1600 RPM model.
An 8 inch strip would be plenty, and yes, it's easier to just drop it in the res.
I use the same tubing in clear.

 

[RedXIII]

Personally never impressed by the Scythe fans but they should work, I'd go with the 1600 RPM model.
An 8 inch strip would be plenty, and yes, it's easier to just drop it in the res.
I use the same tubing in clear.

A few more questions.

■My radiator says it has 1/4in threaded hubs. Will 1/2in ID and 3/4in OD compression fittings work fine?

■I went with Scythe because DirectCanada only carries decent supply of them. Out of those below, which would you recommend? If you feel strongly against them, what would you recommend getting? (From http://www.jab-tech.com/120mm-Fans-c-81.html or http://www.directcanada.com )
Thermalright Stealth Silent 120MM FDB Case Fan 1600RPM 63.7CFM 28.0DBA
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14650AC1692&vpn=TR-FDB-12-1600&manufacture=THERMALRIGHT

Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120MM Cooling Fan 1600RPM 28.0DBA 63.7CFM FDB
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC5567&vpn=SFF21F&manufacture=SCYTHE

Scythe Kama Flex PWM 120MM Fluid Dynamic Bearing Cooling Fan 300-1600RPM 27.50DBA 63.4CFM by Sony
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950AC2230&vpn=SA1225FDB12H-P&manufacture=Others

YATE LOON 120x120x20mm Case Fan - D12SM-12C Medium Speed
http://www.jab-tech.com/YATE-LOON-120x120x20mm-Case-Fan-D12SM-12C-Medium-Speed-pr-3826.html

■Is a shroud worth getting? Gaskets?
Thermochill PS120.3 Shroud for Triple 120MM Fan
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=23080AC6706&vpn=PS120.3&manufacture=Thermochill

120mm Anti-Vibration Fan Gasket - Black
http://www.jab-tech.com/120mm-Anti-Vibration-Fan-Gasket-Black-pr-3268.html

Thanks!

 

[delluser1]

1- 1/4 is the thread size, 1/2 x 3/4 is the ID and OD of the tubing, will work perfectly
http://www.jab-tech.com/Enzotechnology-Compression-Fitting-1-2-3-4-Silver-pr-4678.html
2- I'd grab the Yates
3- Shroud worth it ? Might be, but only minimal gains
Gaskets ? Mine are still in the box, never tried them ( look down ).
I have my fans in a box that acts as a shroud when I choose to put it on the rad.

Something that hasn't been mentioned, do you intend to internally mount the rad ?
If so , what case ?

 

[RedXIII]

1- 1/4 is the thread size, 1/2 x 3/4 is the ID and OD of the tubing, will work perfectly
http://www.jab-tech.com/Enzotechnology-Compression-Fitting-1-2-3-4-Silver-pr-4678.html
2- I'd grab the Yates
3- Shroud worth it ? Might be, but only minimal gains
Gaskets ? Mine are still in the box, never tried them ( look down ).
I have my fans in a box that acts as a shroud when I choose to put it on the rad.

Something that hasn't been mentioned, do you intend to internally mount the rad ?
If so , what case ?

HAF X 942
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225&cm_re=haf_x_942-_-11-119-225-_-Product
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11130AC7104&vpn=RC-942-KKN1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/32554-cooler-master-haf-x-full-tower-case-video-review.html

I haven't decided where I plan to mount it yet; probably on the top, internally. Once it arrives I'll have a better idea.

Here is a list of all of my components.
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/407/pcbuild.jpg

 

[joelmartinez]

don't buy jab-tech yates they suck the real yates are at petra's tech shop (not sure if they ship to canada)

 

[RedXIII]

don't buy jab-tech yates they suck the real yates are at petra's tech shop (not sure if they ship to canada)

They do, but it costs $22, rather than the $8 from Jab-Tech.

If you had to choose one from one of the retailers below, what would you choose? If they are all bad, I may go for Petra.
http://www.jab-tech.com/120mm-Fans-c-81.html
http://www.directcanada.com/category/?minorcatid=1495

Thanks

 

[joelmartinez]

If you have the cash go for GT AP 15s or 14s they are out of stock i think at the places you listed but i think aquatuning has them in stock right now or will get them in stock very soon

 

[delluser1]

JabTech Yates are real Yates, just lower quality, but when looking at fan under $4 you have to expect that.
If you want the GT's Aqua does say they have them in stock
http://www.aquatuning.us/product_info.php/info/p6624

 

[joelmartinez]

if you buy yates jab-techs aren't the ones because they aren't good quality seriously pay like $2 extra per fan and get a 4-pack at petra's for $20

 

[RedXIII]

Best answer selected by RedXIII.