Watercooling upgrade - currently running Koolance Exos-AL!

[P-Trix]

I'm toying with the idea of upgrading my watercooling system but i am struck for ideas. I have thought of a few ideas, as listed below :

I was thinking of using a XSPC Set-Up, using the following -

XSPC X20 Waterblock
XSPC Chipset Waterblock
Two XSPC R120-S Radiators

Now i have not really come up with any ideas for the pump and reservoirs. XSPC produce a water pump and resevoir is one unit, but would i be better using seperate pumps and resevoir!? As i want to use 2 x 120mm Radiators (mainly so i don't have to mod my case), would i need or be recommended to use two pumps!?

Any help would be appriciated!

 

[phreejak]

Well, from the looks of things, you plan on upgrading the whole cooling setup - I say this because the pump that the EXOS system uses is rather weakish and some of the components that you are planning on adding will definitely increase the overall flow resistance characteristics of your loop (that, coupled iwth the 1/4 ID or 3/8 ID tubing of your present system).

If you could, I'd recommend going up to 1/2 ID tubing and a pump like this one:

Swiftech MCP655 Inline Pump £43.01 ex. VAT (£50.53 inc. VAT)
http://www.chillblast.com/product.php?productid=17593&cat=123&page=1

It's not that you should planon having the pump and reservoir as being seperate but, those combos don't, typically, have a very strong pump to begin with. You definitely do not need two pumps, just a very good single pump like the one I suggested - it pumps out 317gph and has decent head pressure. It is a native 1/2 ID pump as well. Look at my sig below. I've got two dual 120mm rads (both are external) with a CPU waterblock AND a GPU waterblock along with a seperate reservoir and I power that loop with the Swiftech MCP655 water pump.

I guess what remains to be seen before anything further is discussed is whether or not you are open to 1/2 ID or wish to stay at a lower diameter loop.

 

[P-Trix]

Thanks for the advice!

I did plan on using 1/2ID tubing with my new set up, i really like the idea of this pump too as the specs look brilliant!

Do you think i would be better off using two single 120mm radiators or one dual 120mm radiator!? My case is still yet to arrive, maybe i need to asses space issues when it comes and take it from there... also is it much of an advantage to use the radiator outside of the case!?

 

[Amiteriver]

Always if you can put the rad outside the case do . your rad will only cool as much as the air temps no matter how big a rad. your either cooling the rad with hot case air or dumping the hot rad air into your case.

 

[P-Trix]

Always if you can put the rad outside the case do . your rad will only cool as much as the air temps no matter how big a rad. your either cooling the rad with hot case air or dumping the hot rad air into your case.

I totally see your point, very logical really 😛 I'm not quite with it at the moment, have not long been out of hospital from a serious car crash and still on lots of medication!

 

[phreejak]

Let me get some questions out of the way before I comment on anything...

Exactly what do you plan on water cooling?
Do you over clock anything? Depending on if you OC will determine what I might have to say about cooling the NB Chipset. If you don't over clock then you wouldn't really need to use a water block on it - in this case, a good HSF would do.

What you plan on water cooling would also influece whether you would benefit more from 2 single 120mm rads as apposed to 1 dual 120mm rad. There are also mounting considerations for both types of rads that may also influece what you do.

As for mounting rads externally. The goal of any air or water cooling setup is to help the water blocks attain as close to ambient (enviromental) temperature as possible. It's actually impossible to do this (using these two methods of cooling) but water cooling will get so much closer than convection (air) cooling since water (liquid) is a better medium for tranporting heat than air. Since your components will always be warmer than ambient temps that gives you something to think about. The temps om a case wll be warmer than the surrounding enviroment.

To make it simple. It's going to be warmer inside your case than outside. Externally mounted rads have the benefit of using outside air (which will be cooler - even if slightly). Given that, the air inside a case will be warmer from the heat radiated by a computers various components. Rads also give off heat - that is their purpose of course. Externally mounted rads will give you more space, internally, for other things and will not add to the overall system temp. Externally mounted rads will always displace heat in the cooling loop with better results than internal ones.

 

[P-Trix]

I'm currently running a Pentium D805, which i running at 3.3GHz! I can't seem to go any higher, but i have drawn this down to my cheap PSU (new one arrives tomorrow) and also my memory, which i will upgrade asap!

I plan to upgrade to the Conroe, and again overclock as much as i can!

The reason i have chosen to use a chipset waterblock is because i have been recomended to use it, as overlclocking the PD805 extremly, will make the chipset raise in heat quite a bit... so i have been told!

Idealy i would like to hit at least 3.8GHz with the Pentium D 805!

 

[chuckshissle]

If you are only cooling the cpu, you should check out Swiftech Apex kit. Good price for $250, and good performance as well. It's 1/2" tubing for better flow, it also comes with one of the best dc pumps, the MCP655 from Laing. It has a good reservoir and a solid cpu block the Apogee and a dual 120mm radiator. http://www.swiftnets.com/products/H20-220-APEX.asp

 

[P-Trix]

I think i will buy seperatly, but i have definatly decided i will be buying a MCP655 Pump - i am very impressed with what i have read/heard!

I will be cooling more than just the CPU! Eventually i would like to cool the GPU as well as the CPU and Chipset, i just have not decided on what graphics card i am going to use in my final build, i might stick with the EN6600 i have no and test its overclocking abilitys!

Idealy though, i would like to stick with XSPC waterblocks, as i already have two and they are very good! The radiator i don't have yet but again i think i will stick with XSPC - they seem to be very well built and excellent value for money!

Thanks again for the help guys! Muchly appricated, i'm starting to finalize my ideas to what i will be buying!

 

[P-Trix]

What you guys think about this resivoir, an XSPC Passive 150mm - link here.

 

[phreejak]

Reservoirs are personal preferences. I like drivebay reservoirs since I can see the turbulence and water level myself.

If you are going to use XSPC rads get this one: XSPC R120-D (V)
as it is a dual pass and that is ideal for the pump you will be getting. The other two dual 120mm rads they offer are single pass (crossflow).

 

[P-Trix]

Right i think i have come to a final idea of what to buy!

Thanks very much everyone for all the help and time you have taken to advise me

 

[phreejak]

Glad to help.

Let us know how it works out