Best CPU/GPU loop under $230?

I wanna get one of those i3 2500k's

i know nothing about watercooling, sorry for bumping your thread

If you want somewhere to start, get the XSPC kit. Comes with most of the stuff you need to start watercooling and then you can move to Custom loop.

But I think my loop was under $250 tho. (CPU Only)

I have the XSPC rasa 360 kit. Works pretty well and comes with what you need to cool CPU. Need to add some parts /block for a GPU if you wish to do that as well.

would be sufficient to cool both.

I'd certainly look at it as a low cost starter kit.

I don't think you can cool both your cpu and gpu for 230. The cheapest way to cool your gpu is to use a universal gpu and add heat sinks to the Vregs and Vram. The universal gpu will run you around 50 plus the heat sink cost. However, you still need to buy extra barbs for the gpu block and more tubing. Likewise, cooling both the cpu and gpu will require a larger rad or more rads, which incur a higher cost to purchase a radiator or radiators. You also need a place to mount the radiator and if your case is too small you need to mount it externally with a external mod kit.

The absolute cheapest way to cool your cpu and gpu is to use a rasa 750 RX360 kit, which cost 189.99, but doesn't include shipping. Once shipping cost factor in your looking at around 200 plus you still need to buy barbs, new tubing, universal gpu block, and heat sinks for vram and vregs plus shipping. Undoubtedly, the kit's weakest items are the tubing, pump, and fans. The fans can perform, but don't give you very good noise to performance compared to gently typhoons or even yate loon fans. The pump isn't as reliable or as silent like ddc or swiftech 655 mainstream pumps. As for the tubing, you need to plan out replace the tubing that comes with the kit. It's not very good.

Going custom allows you to bypass those problems, but will cost more.


Frankly, I don't think it's possible to cool your gpu and cpu for 230 or less using new parts only. If you can find used parts you might make it work. The cheapest cost for adding a gpu came around 260-270 using a rasa rx360 kit and didn't including new tubing, barbs, or shipping. The actually cost is closer to 290-300. Those numbers are vaguely what I remember when I was trying to figure out cost for my water cooling rig, before I got a boost to my budged from $260-$300 to $400-$450. If you decided to water cool your cpu or gpu be aware that some times things don't workout the way you plan and your forced to spend more. This especially true for custom water cooling until you have a lot more experience.

The point I'm making it's a good idea to have some reserve money in case you need to buy some extra items for whatever reason. If you spend all your money and run into a problem you might not be able to finish your water cooling system. It's also takes a lot more time to build your system especially if you plan to cool your gpu too, which require your to remove your gpu stock cooler. I knew it was a lot more work, but you really don't know how much more work until your actually doing the work or how long it would take to set up your wc computer. It's been at least two weeks since I physically started building my water cooling system, but ran into problems so I had to return items or order new parts.
Edited by Bekster - 7/30/12 at 4:16am

I agree with Bekster about the RASA kit fans. They do perform but are noisier than I would like. The tubing is lower quality and discolours after a couple months.

I don't agree about the pump though. I haven't found the pump to be noisy at all and is proving to be reliable, Have run it 6 months non stop with no issues.

The CPU block and RX360 Rads are very good.

i tried, but failed miserably
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Intricate09: That's a really tall order, $230 for watercooling a GPU and CPU is going to be damn near impossible... unless you decide to go used on your parts. Otherwise, you're looking at $240 without ****ting to get the EX360 kit from XSPC, and that covers your GPU only. You'd need to buy 2 more fittings, and a GPU block on top of that to water cool that as well.

I'd recommend scouring the Marketplace here on OCN, or up the budget. Watercooling is an awesome thing to get into, however you wanna do it right or not do it at all. Once you get that itch to water cool you'll be disappointed if you short change yourself, and you'll spend more money in the long run.