DavidNJ

I was going to start with a Thermochill 120.3, D-tek Fusion, and XSPC res cap DDC 3.2. However, i am progcrastinating.

The Switech kit is very simple. Its cost is not much more than the Thermochill. The pump on the cpu waterblock makes mounting simple. The Res is at the top of the rad, so filling is simple, especially with the rad hanging off the back. I could always add more fans, a rad upgrade, the pump and D-tek Fuzion later.

The Swiftech sight says it should be ok, but also says it will have temps in the high 60s with an overclock. The only review I found indicated those will be in the 50s, not the 60s.

What do you think? The install should only take a few hours.

TonyL222

Personally, I'd only consider one of the Swiftech Compact kits if I were severely space limited in my case. Then you'd save the space of having to place the res and separate pump. However, you'd give up lots of flexibility on future upgrades.

If you must go for a kit, I'd look at the Swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultra, or Petra'sTech CoolKit Basic - Rev.2. Good individual components so that when you DO decide to upgrade, you only replace a specific component and not a combined component.

Either of these 220 kits would perfrom very well in a cpu only loop. You'd get at best "good" results in a cpu and GPU loop. I would recommend a 360 for a cpu/gpu loop. For SLI you'd definitely need to upgrade to a 360/480 rad or go to two loops.

ErBall

the 220 isn't going to do a great job cooling an overclocked b3. Best to just part together a simple good setup.

Your planned loop looks good.

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dr4gon

The original setup you had in mind will cool a lot better and is worht the money. You will be ok temp wise but it could be a lot better with the first setup.

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DavidNJ

Yes...however as you can see in other threads I am not fully comfortable with the plumbing, although maybe a t-line would solve that.

I like the first one also. however, there are issues if the big thermochill will fit well, maybe is should use my old Lian Lia v2000. However, then a 4 fan top mounted radiator, like a Koolance seems easiest. Coupled with the same pump and water block.

That case has no air though, and would need a GPU cooler.

Doing the first doesn't preclude doing the other...however, I can do do it a few pieces at a time, rather than all at once.

TonyL222

I failed to say that I also think your first component list is the better of the solutions, rather an any of those kits. If you were to get a kit, I wouldn't get the Compact unless I had too.

Trust me that installing a WC setup is not hard. If you've built your own system - or even just replaced a HSF - you have most of the basics down for installing a WC system. Just read the available FAQs and come here to ask questions as you move along. IF I can do it, anyone can.

biftek

if your limited on space (or money), go for the compact, if not, than get your original set up.

As long as your only cooling the CPU, it'll be fine.
And look at Club OC, for a good review with a quad.

DavidNJ

Space is not an issue, other than a triple would be nearly the height of the PC, and be sucking some air from the power supply exhaust. The Thermochill PA160 is close to a the MCP220 in the kit. With three fans, the PA120.3 should have significantly more capacity.

A fill port, tee'd at the radiator exit, should nicely fill to the top. Apparently, the Thermochills have a bleed screw on the top.

The pump would mount flat on the bottom of the 5 1/4 inch bays. I think on a velcro mount, which should also provide some noise insulation.

The board has the Gigabyte heat pipe between the northbridge and top mosfets. The Arctic Cooling Accelero with 120 keeps the 8800GT G92 GPU at 7 degrees above ambient (38C now) and 6C higher under peak loads in 3DMark06. Doubt water cooling would help much. And it won't take over 720Mhz anyway.

So...a CPU only loop seems to make the most sense. Without the CPU dumping heat in the case, temps should probably go down a few degrees, lowering the GPU temps.

The three fans on the big rad with the effective block at 2-2.5gal/min should cool rather well I would think. With a possible low water temp, extra fans may help.

Now the bad part. The Fuzion/XSPC Restop/Thermochill triple project will be $400-450 or so, depending on how carried away I get with the details. The main parts are an unavoidable $350 or so. The other kit is $140 at Newegg, maybe $170 elsewhere. And since the parts are in the kit, I won't be buying $60 of compression fittings, etc.

And no single vendor carries all the parts. Only 2 US vendors for XSPC. And many vendors, even distributors, are out of stock on this piece or that. So procurement will be its own problem.

DavidNJ

Ok...NewEgg got the Swiftech kit in at $140. I priced out what I wanted at $610. According the Martin's calculator, the PA120.3 (or PA120.2), Fuzion, XSPC Restop would flow around 2.1 gal/min, the kit does around 1.1 gal/min. The MCP220 rad can dissipate 200-250w at 10°C spread at that flow, the 120.2 around 250-350w and 120.3 350-500w at their flows.

I can upgrade in steps...changing to the 120.2 would increase be a 20% increase in efficiency. Or change the block and pump.

The pump should be able to be reused with the res top, and the radbox would be needed anyway. They would cost over $80. So it really is only around $60 extra.

This will get me started and set a benchmark to improve on.

RonindeBeatrice

You're exactly right that you would be able to use the pump from the kit if you pick up a replacement top... That never occurred to me.

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