cheap wc for my 7800GT? - Overclock.net

*soloz2* · 03-22-06

I was hoping someone could help me put together the cheapest possible way to water cool my gfx card. Right now my evga 7800GT just has the stock cooler (it's got a copper heatsink w/ a 7800GTX fan... so it gets loud) and I was looking at the different zalman and arctic cooling solutions, but I thought... instead of paying $50 for the new zalman cooler, lets see if I could water cool it for about the same price (a bit more might be acceptable)

I've never water cooled before, but I understand the basics... I just don't have the knowledge about what works best. I know that you can get cheap pumps from a pet store but I don't know what ones would work well. I imagine that a little 80mm rad would cool my card wouldn't it? any help or tips would be appreciated.

I would like to eventually wc my cpu, but I don't have money for that at the moment... so the wc config for my gfx card could either stay separate, or be joined in the loop for a larger one at a later time... not sure if that would make a difference or not.

Jazino · 03-22-06

well the gpu block is about $40 new. i put together a gpu, cpu water cooled system for $175 and that was very cheap. your best bet would be to buy parts on here/ebay as you can and plan a whole build. Im not sure if it will fit but my old polarflo gpu bloxk is for sale by steveo i think for about $25 and i have a 120mm rad and fan that i am selling at a good price.

there just isnt much you can do for $50 though.

either just go with air or start peicing together a wc system.

pauldovi · 03-22-06

Cheapest possible way to watercool you VGA:
http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-ti...-cl-w0052.html

*soloz2* · 03-22-06

well I know people have said that they've gotten cheap $15-25 dollar pumps from pet stores, and I've been looking for rads and waterblocks on ebay... but even if I spent 25 on a pump, 40 on a waterblock and another 20 on a rad then just a few dollars misc for tubing it would cost basically the same and I think I should be able to find things cheaper... can't I?

jazno, how much is your rad? and do you have a link for that waterblock so I can take a look for it?

DrDeville · 03-22-06

Hey Soloz2,

That's a little more challenging that most newbie requests--most preconfigured setups include CPU cooling. I agree with Pauldovi's rec of that kit as the cheapest WC setup that's worthwhile.

Here are some of my thoughts:

I can't think of anything decent for $50, unless you can find something used on ebay.
I'd suggest living with the noise until you can afford entry level watercooling--say about $200, and then get something to cool both CPU and GPU. That way you'll get rid of more noise, and get much more bang for your buck.
GPUs put out a lot of heat--I think yours is on the order of an Athlon--so don't try to get by with an 80mm radiator. I'd suggest a single 120mm radiator *minimum* for GPU-only use, and a double sized rad *minimum* for CPU+GPU cooling. The more rad you have, the less noise at any given temp.
Whatever you get, make sure it exhausts the hot air *out* of your case--either blowing out of your case, or an external unit. I'm not a fan of drive-bay rads.

I hope this helps you to get your bearings. I'm glad to answer any more questions.

The_Jester · 03-22-06

i like pauldovi's idea - ive seen some companies ship their cards with those as standard coolers (some of the sapphire range have them fitted).

*soloz2* · 03-22-06

alright, well a bit more than 50 would be acceptable. I've been looking on ebay and am watching some rads and waterblocks. can anyone suggest a cheap pump? I think I'm just going to have to peice together a kit... maybe if I get it a little at a time it wouldn't be so bad.

DrDeville · 03-22-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2

alright, well a bit more than 50 would be acceptable. I've been looking on ebay and am watching some rads and waterblocks. can anyone suggest a cheap pump? I think I'm just going to have to peice together a kit... maybe if I get it a little at a time it wouldn't be so bad.

Piecing together is a fine way to go, IMO.

One caution on cheap pumps that many overlook--many cheap pumps are relatively inefficient, and create more waste heat than better units. Care to guess where that heat goes? Yup, right into the water. That's great for an aquarium, but not so good for a computer.

I have no specific recommendations of cheap pumps that are good, put out low heat, etc--perhaps others can suggest, and in the meantime, look at their power consumption; the lower the better. The best relatively cheap pump I know is DangerDen's CSP-MAG . It's $49, has good performance, and only uses 8W.

Jazino · 03-22-06

i had the danger den csp mag pump and it worked just fine for a moderate oc, id recommend it as well for $50. for less the via aqua is supposed to be decent, fstfreddy may have some or can at least let you know how to mod them so they are more quiet(about $20 on ebay). here is a pic of steveo's gpu block, make sure it fits before you buy but it works nice and is a good price. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN

rad and fan:http://www.overclock.net/sale/72596-...120mm-fan.html

there is a link to a pic of the rad in the post.

GatorLCA · 03-22-06

For a pump

http://cgi.ebay.com/Via-Aqua-2300-60...QQcmdZViewItem

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/Via-Aqua-2600-74...QQcmdZViewItem

I've seen people with them on the site around here and I might go with one of them since they are fairly cheap.

I'm actually pricing out a WC set-up for myself ($275 ATM, everything minus the solution) and will probably do it once I get my taxee's check back from the gov't. I'm looking to spend around $300, I might just do the GPU since I care more about that staying cool, but I might jump and go with the TEC Blocks DD sells

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cheap wc for my 7800GT?

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