Introduction
After seeing other guides for the H50 mod, I wanted to try it for myself. However, most other guides are pretty bare and leave a lot of the procedure up to common sense and guessing. While sufficient for people who have worked with water cooling before, they lack information that a first-time water cooler needs. For these people, I bring them: The Ultimate H50 Mod Guide for Noobs
Step-by-step directions, plenty of pictures, and a troubleshooting section should answer all of your questions. In this guide, I'll be showing you how to replace the stock radiator and fan with a bigger radiator, reservoir, and upgraded fans. To goal or reason for doing this is to achieve better cooling and thus lower cpu temps.
_______________
Update 6/15: Minor spelling and layout fixes
Update 6/17: Added FAQs and reworded a few steps
Update 6/27: Added "Pump Status" clock, Terminology section, Index, and updated titles.
_______________
Index
Introduction............................................... Post #1, top
Parts and Materials.................................... Post #1, middle to bottom
Procedure.................................................. Post #2, all
Getting Ready........................................... very top
Barbs............................................. ......... top
Fans.............................................. ......... 1/4 down
Disassembling..................................... ..... middle
Assembling........................................ ...... bottom
Leak Testing and Bleeding.......................... very bottom
Temperature Results................................. Post #3, middle
Terminology............................................... Post #3, bottom
Troubleshooting and FAQs......................... Post #3, bottom
_______________
Parts and Materials:
In addition to the list of materials below, this guide assumes you have some common tools, like a cresent wrench or socket set, pliers, philips-head screwdriver, flat-head screwdriver, a funnel, and a sharp blade, such as a box knife or razor blade... and a Corsair H50 unit, of course
- x4 1/4" barbs with G 1/4 BSPP threading (or just 2 if using a fillport)
http://www.dangerden.com/store/dange...-fittings.html
- x1 "double" (240mm) radiator (or a second "single" radiator in addition to the stock Corsair one)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo2x.html
- x2 120mm fans (or 4 if you want a push/pull setup)*
http://www.dangerden.com/store/yate-...-d12sh-12.html
- x1 reservoir or fillport (reservoir is recommended, especially for first-time water coolers)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcmire2re.html
- x10 feet of 1/4" ID tubing (you probably won't need more than 6, but it's cheap and good to have extra)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/dupvctu1id3o.html
- x8 1 1/4" screws (longer screws will require washers)
Fans and rads usually come with some. Local hardware store if you don't have enough.
- x1 liter of distilled water (Or more... it's only a few bucks for a gallon)
Local grocery store.
- Some of your favorite algee/bacterial additive (PT Nuke, iodine, Silver KillCoil, etc)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/peptpcobi1.html
Optional items:
- x8 or more washers or rubber spacers. Necessary if using longer screws or to combat fan vibration.
- Any pre-mixed coolant or water dyes if you desire.**
- If using the stock Corsair rad and another "single" rad (instead of one "double"), you'll need an additive/coolant to combat galvanic corrosion.***
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/febafbcobl.html
- metal worm-drive clamps, zip ties, plastic snap clamps, etc to help secure tubing to barbs.
I put this under optional because it's not easy to find hose clamps small enough for 1/4" tubing.
- Fan shrouds if you desire.
* The fans I linked to are rated at 40dBa. This means they are not considered quiet by most people (but they aren't loud either). If you want fans with similar performance but quieter, I suggest Scythe Gental Typhoons.
** Most regular and UV-reactive water dyes usually leave a "residue" or "film" on everything it touches. This can lead to reduced performance and pump life.
*** While the pump and most aftermarket radiators are made of copper, the stock Corsair radiator is made of aluminum. If using the Corsair rad and another "single" rad together, you will need an additive or coolant to prevent the corrosion. Google "galvanic corrosion" or "Mixed-metal corrosion" to learn more.
Edited by MrLinky - 6/27/10 at 6:01pm
After seeing other guides for the H50 mod, I wanted to try it for myself. However, most other guides are pretty bare and leave a lot of the procedure up to common sense and guessing. While sufficient for people who have worked with water cooling before, they lack information that a first-time water cooler needs. For these people, I bring them: The Ultimate H50 Mod Guide for Noobs

Step-by-step directions, plenty of pictures, and a troubleshooting section should answer all of your questions. In this guide, I'll be showing you how to replace the stock radiator and fan with a bigger radiator, reservoir, and upgraded fans. To goal or reason for doing this is to achieve better cooling and thus lower cpu temps.
_______________
Update 6/15: Minor spelling and layout fixes
Update 6/17: Added FAQs and reworded a few steps
Update 6/27: Added "Pump Status" clock, Terminology section, Index, and updated titles.
_______________
Index
Introduction............................................... Post #1, top
Parts and Materials.................................... Post #1, middle to bottom
Procedure.................................................. Post #2, all
Getting Ready........................................... very top
Barbs............................................. ......... top
Fans.............................................. ......... 1/4 down
Disassembling..................................... ..... middle
Assembling........................................ ...... bottom
Leak Testing and Bleeding.......................... very bottom
Temperature Results................................. Post #3, middle
Terminology............................................... Post #3, bottom
Troubleshooting and FAQs......................... Post #3, bottom
_______________
Parts and Materials:
In addition to the list of materials below, this guide assumes you have some common tools, like a cresent wrench or socket set, pliers, philips-head screwdriver, flat-head screwdriver, a funnel, and a sharp blade, such as a box knife or razor blade... and a Corsair H50 unit, of course

- x4 1/4" barbs with G 1/4 BSPP threading (or just 2 if using a fillport)
http://www.dangerden.com/store/dange...-fittings.html
- x1 "double" (240mm) radiator (or a second "single" radiator in addition to the stock Corsair one)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo2x.html
- x2 120mm fans (or 4 if you want a push/pull setup)*
http://www.dangerden.com/store/yate-...-d12sh-12.html
- x1 reservoir or fillport (reservoir is recommended, especially for first-time water coolers)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcmire2re.html
- x10 feet of 1/4" ID tubing (you probably won't need more than 6, but it's cheap and good to have extra)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/dupvctu1id3o.html
- x8 1 1/4" screws (longer screws will require washers)
Fans and rads usually come with some. Local hardware store if you don't have enough.
- x1 liter of distilled water (Or more... it's only a few bucks for a gallon)
Local grocery store.
- Some of your favorite algee/bacterial additive (PT Nuke, iodine, Silver KillCoil, etc)
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/peptpcobi1.html
Optional items:
- x8 or more washers or rubber spacers. Necessary if using longer screws or to combat fan vibration.
- Any pre-mixed coolant or water dyes if you desire.**
- If using the stock Corsair rad and another "single" rad (instead of one "double"), you'll need an additive/coolant to combat galvanic corrosion.***
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/febafbcobl.html
- metal worm-drive clamps, zip ties, plastic snap clamps, etc to help secure tubing to barbs.
I put this under optional because it's not easy to find hose clamps small enough for 1/4" tubing.
- Fan shrouds if you desire.
* The fans I linked to are rated at 40dBa. This means they are not considered quiet by most people (but they aren't loud either). If you want fans with similar performance but quieter, I suggest Scythe Gental Typhoons.
** Most regular and UV-reactive water dyes usually leave a "residue" or "film" on everything it touches. This can lead to reduced performance and pump life.
*** While the pump and most aftermarket radiators are made of copper, the stock Corsair radiator is made of aluminum. If using the Corsair rad and another "single" rad together, you will need an additive or coolant to prevent the corrosion. Google "galvanic corrosion" or "Mixed-metal corrosion" to learn more.
Edited by MrLinky - 6/27/10 at 6:01pm




























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