Some water cooling questions

Well, I just recently did my first loop but I'll help how I can.

1- I found performance-pcs.com too have almost as good of selection but routinely a bit cheaper. That and they replied back within hours on any questions I had.

2- I went 3/8 Id, 1/2 od solely based on I liked the size in my build.

3- I believe just any plasticizer free tubing

4- Compression fitting look a bit nicer and are a bit more secure / less likely to leak.

5- No clue on reservoir, I didn't like bay reservoirs so went the other route. Will say I can just open my res and pour water right in.

6- I'd check martin's liquid lab and skinnee's sites for specific brands.


7- Everything should come with o-rings pre installed and usually everything coomes with barbs.

If you buy barbs you only get the fitting. compression fittings are just a different kind of fitting. I don't think either one is better then the other. I use 1/2 ID by 3/4 OD Tygon 3603 tubing. the OD only really matters if you use compression fittings. If you use barbs the ID is your only concern.

if it is the first, id suggest a XSPC kit.. has all the necessary components and you can add
from there different items (fittings, tubing, blocks, etc..) really no need in trying to go custom
until you understand how the compents work together.

airdeano

For me..barbs + double zipties are secure..I use Frozencpu and Xoxide..
Home Depot tubing..
..but I run a bong cooler..It gets better temps than rad coolers
My res is a 48-qt Coleman cooler and my rad is a $2 showerhead spraying down 5 1/2' of 4" sewer pipe
I have a nice little intake filter ..run tap water.
Edited by Schmuckley - 9/21/12 at 4:21pm

I just put together the XSPC kit. It went really well but make sure you have two free 5-1/4 bays. Also, if you put the radiator in the top with the barbs pointing down, bleeding the air out is difficult. Took me 4 1/2 hour sessions trying to get all the bubbles out. If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with a d5 pump top with one of the cylindrical reservoirs.

Compression fittings are really nice.

1) I've had really good luck with FrozenCPU in the past, but when I just rebuilt my system for a socket 1155 ivy bridge setup, i had almost everything purchased through performance-pcs(dot)com.
2) 3/8" or 1/2" ID i think are the two most common.. probably because the hoses are affordable and there isn't a huge difference in flow rate between the two
3) I use generic 3/8"ID 9/16" OD clear plastic tubing that can be found in home depot.
4) I've never had any leaks just using barbs with some zip ties on the outside..again, cost effective. a bit more annoying if you want to replace the tube or something later since you have to cut the zip ties off..but oh well, they're 100 for $1 or something
5) I've used both.. there's no difference as long as the reservoir is above the pump and letting gravity do the work of getting the water to the pump. I just put in a reservoir-top for my mcp355 pump, it looks cool and it saves space, too. I also have an EK-DDC X-RES 100 brand new in the box that i'm not using if you decide to go that route (depending on your pump), let me know
6) XSPC, Swiftech, EK..all good stuff.
7) 15 feet is a huge amount of tubing.. i think in my loop I have under 5 feet of tubing, and that's high-balling it.. Fittings, if you want compression, go for it, but you don't really "need" them.. some good long barbs with the G1/4 thread and the correct ID size will work just fine. Pump, can't go wrong with a MCP355 or something..mine's been running strong for about 4 years now. Reservoir, if you get the MCP350/355/35x or any DDC laing pump, PM me about a reservoir. Radiator..how big is your case? i haven't had any issues using a 2x120mm radiator... Fans for the radiator.. any generic fan will work, CFM rate is your call. And yes and yes for the blocks.. so many out there, it's your choice. I have the XSPC Raystorm CPU block and a Heatkiller X3 GPU block on my GTX670ftw. Orings..again..you can get them at a local hardware store for a lot cheaper. But almost every barb/accessory I've bought has come with o-rings already installed..

good luck