[ADVICE NEEDED] Second hand Watercooling

Hi,

I'm seriously looking into second hand watercooling at the moment as I realize how "cheap" it was (compared to 300€). So far I've got the following options and I wanted to know if you guys could evaluate them for me :

FIRST OPTION:
- an EK-CoolStream RAD XTC (280)
+ a Laing DDC pump with a plexi top (he said it wasn't the DDC-3.25 TP 12 Volts but the version 2)
+ a EK Supreme HF Full Copper
+ 4 NF P14 FLX Noctua fans (for free)
All for 120€, 80€ if I don't take the WB (but then I'd be getting a EK Supremacy Acetal brand new for 60€)
Those components are about 2 years old (the rad is only a year old) and are in the following rig at the moment:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Seller claims it's all as new (probably needs some cleaning though which is a non issue)


SECOND OPTION:
- 2 or 4 NB Blacksilent XL1 rev.3 120mm (5€ for two) apparently some corners are chipped off or something but the fans work great.
+ a 46mm thick 240mm rad (http://www.docmicro.com/pieces/DocMicro-Radiateur-DOC-eXTreme-240_5835.html) for 15€, apparently some fins are bent.
I'm sure I could have him through in the two extra fans at no cost, so Total for the Rad and 4 Fans would be 20€.
Here are a couple photos (doesn't look like any of that has been use gently, wouldn't surprise me if it all stopped working within no time)
http://nsa29.casimages.com/img/2012/06/10/120610073558850420.jpg
http://nsa29.casimages.com/img/2012/06/10/120610073038381150.jpg
After seeing those I'm thinking that for 20 more € getting a thicker and bigger rad with better fans and nothing broken is a way better idea (not to mention the 280 is EK whereas the cheap won isn't anything)

With the second option I could either look for the rest or get the first guy's Pump+Top and maybe WB.


So, what do you guys think ? What would you recommend ?

Thanks a lot .

The fans are gifted so I'll be taking all four btw .
I'll try and see if he can throw in the fittings (he might want an extra 5 or ten € but that's no big deal). And yeah, Tubing+Liquid and a reservoir . But I'll be getting those at full cost from any retailer.

So the noctuas will cool the rad good enough ? I was hearing about people using high speed yate loons or gentles so I thought that the noctuas might not do the job well .

Thanks, that was what I was thinking too . Thick rad needs more air coming through and I just had the feeling that although the noctuas were grate fans (atleast from what I hear, never seen that model in person) they just couldn't deliver that kind of flow. On the other hand, having four of them in push pull would probably be good enough.

To be totally honest here, I'd looked up watercooling like way back, probably half a year if not a year. And even back then I hadn't realized there were several option on that level (barbs+clamps or compression fittings). As for the hose, I haven't yet even looked at my options. And I'm not only talking about size-wise here, I really haven't even decided whether I wanted clear tubing with blue coolant, blue tubing or even white. But those are tastes and so it's something I'll have to figure out myself .

Is there any place where I can catch up on the basics you'd recommend ? I mean, I know what I need and all (pump+res+wb+rad+fans+hose+whatever is best to fix the hose in place) but I'd really need to know my options and not just like "yeah, well, xxx size is the best and use xxx to fix it in place because that's what I'd do". Don't get me wrong on that, I'd appreciate those but I'd really have to learn at least the basics about those stuff so I can make my own opinion even if I end up going with somebody's suggestion .

Cheers.

Looked up SkinneeLabs, lots of information over there, was glad to know that the WB wouldn't have any fitting issues. But overall it's for those who seek perfection and want / can afford the best components (because quite frankly, in the WB tests they only see 1 to 2° difference and in that case I don't see the point in getting the best, the prettiest or cheapest sounds more obvious to me).

Thanks for the info on comps and barbs. I'll check the cost of angled ones compared to regular ones to see if they're worth it .

Now how about tubing ? Why is it that there are even different sizes and does it make a difference which I take ?

EDIT: Here are some photos the dude just sent me (I'm definitely going to pass on the res and look elsewhere now): Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
He even cleaned all the stuff . That's less work for me I guess.
Edited by steelkevin - 8/11/12 at 12:14pm