Help with first loop and is Bykski any good?

Lexi is Dumb · May 19, 2021

So Im looking at building my first loop but 1. product options are very limited locally and importing is prohibitively expensive 2. my budget is probably not ideal..
Anyway the crux is.. im looking at this bykski AM4 block and radiator, both of which are substantially cheaper than the next cheapest options.. are they going to be of reasonable enough quality or should I avoid them?

AM4 block

360 rad

Basically I've put together two loops here.. one I can buy everything locally for about $410 AUD total and have within a couple days.. the other would cost me $100 to import and take 1-2 months. I'd just like some opinions on either one, which is a better choice and whatever.
The hope here is to have something I can expand with a second rad and gpu block eventually.

$410 from local stores would get me this and would give me room to get some angled fittings or hell just buy a second rad now

Edit: Nvm after looking deeper it seems the alphacool D5 knockoff is a bit of a lemon so I've removed the list of imported parts.
What that leaves is two options, the above list as is or replacing that thermaltake DDC pump with an EK D5 pump for about $100 AUD more.

rickof06 · May 19, 2021

I have a intel Bykski block thats been on a 7700k and a 9900k. Looking at the link you sent it has similar fin density to the intel counterpart. It works about as well as the EK Supremacy mx block I had before it, although it needs high pump speed to perform its best. My EK block gave good temps even at 50-60% pump speed where the Bykski needs full speed to shine. Hope this helps some.

Butanding1987 · May 19, 2021

I have a Bykski CPU block, flow meter and temp sensor, distro plate+DDC pump, 40mm radiators, acrylic tubes and all sorts of fittings. I bought these from Aliexpress and it’s the only brand that’s easily accessible in our part of the world.

I have since changed my CPU block to a TechN — though I haven’t tested it yet. The other thing in my loop that’s not a Bykski is my AlphaCool Aurora GPU block. The Bykski rads are fine. The tubes are OK, as well as the fittings, which some reviewers have praised for their redundancy in terms of o-ring count.

My delta T is about 2 degrees Celsius when idle and 4-6 degrees Celsius under load. I‘m also using a Bykski concentrate for my coolant.

skline00 · May 19, 2021

I doubt you will see much improvement from your present cooler in your sig.

Lexi is Dumb · May 19, 2021

It's not about cooling improvement for the CPU, first I just want to build a loop because i'm interested in trying(hobbyist forum remember). Second.. this AIO already once replaced again has a pump that likes to randomly shut off (even wound up directly powering it via sata.. still a problem). 3rdly.. I want the ability to watercool my GPU in the future.

ciarlatano · May 19, 2021

Lexi is Dumb said:
So Im looking at building my first loop but 1. product options are very limited locally and importing is prohibitively expensive 2. my budget is probably not ideal..
Anyway the crux is.. im looking at this bykski AM4 block and radiator, both of which are substantially cheaper than the next cheapest options.. are they going to be of reasonable enough quality or should I avoid them?

AM4 block

360 rad

Basically I've put together two loops here.. one I can buy everything locally for about $410 AUD total and have within a couple days.. the other would cost me $100 to import and take 1-2 months. I'd just like some opinions on either one, which is a better choice and whatever.
The hope here is to have something I can expand with a second rad and gpu block eventually.

$410 from local stores would get me this and would give me room to get some angled fittings or hell just buy a second rad now
View attachment 2511469
View attachment 2511467

Edit: Nvm after looking deeper it seems the alphacool D5 knockoff is a bit of a lemon so I've removed the list of imported parts.
What that leaves is two options, the above list as is or replacing that thermaltake DDC pump with an EK D5 pump for about $100 AUD more.

The Bykski blocks seem to be fine, posters here have always had good things to say.

BUT, the Cryofuel? Stay away from the stuff. Issue after issue reported here and across the web. Save yourself the headache.

Lexi is Dumb · May 19, 2021

ciarlatano said:
The Bykski blocks seem to be fine, posters here have always had good things to say.

BUT, the Cryofuel? Stay away from the stuff. Issue after issue reported here and across the web. Save yourself the headache.

Sure, any suggestions? Is it even worth adding anything to the distilled water? What about mayhems biocide?

Edit: So i've updated my current list of parts

EK Quantum Kinetic TBE D5 pump/res (This is the cheapest proper D5 pump I can find from aus retailers)
Bykski block
Bykski 360 rad
Bykski fittings
TT PVC soft tubing
And Mayhems XT-1 Nuke clear premix coolant

braincracking · May 19, 2021

ciarlatano said:
The Bykski blocks seem to be fine, posters here have always had good things to say.

BUT, the Cryofuel? Stay away from the stuff. Issue after issue reported here and across the web. Save yourself the headache.

Just chiming in as well Bykski and Barrow are both fine. For me the EK cryofuel or any of their premixes has never been a problem and I've had many custom loops for at least the past decade.

Section31 · May 19, 2021

Look at heatkiller new inter rad.

Watercool Heatkiller Rad 360-L Review

Watercool makes a much awaited debut with the release of the all-new Heatkiller radiators. We take a look at the Heatkiller Rad 360-L published alongside the thinner Heatkiller Rad 360-S. It comes in multiple color finishes and excellent build quality, and thermal performance is great, too!

www.techpowerup.com

That 30mm is very interesting with near gts performance but with half of the flow resistance. Very well priced

ciarlatano · May 19, 2021

Lexi is Dumb said:
Sure, any suggestions? Is it even worth adding anything to the distilled water? What about mayhems biocide?

Edit: So i've updated my current list of parts

EK Quantum Kinetic TBE D5 pump/res (This is the cheapest proper D5 pump I can find from aus retailers)
Bykski block
Bykski 360 rad
Bykski fittings
TT PVC soft tubing
And Mayhems XT-1 Nuke clear premix coolant

XT-1 Nuke would have been one of my recommendations.

skline00 · May 19, 2021

I'm hardly an EK "shrill" as I have used cooling products from a variety of vendors including Byski, Alphacool, Optimus etc.

I have never been paid a dime from any of them. My comment about much difference in temp is not a slap at the type of cpu block but more the reality that modern AIOs do a pretty good job for the money involved.

Custom water cooling can get VERY expensive quickly,

I find that your computer case size is really an overlooked feature when you get into custom watercooling.

Make sure it is big enough to house two 360mm rads if you want to cool both the cpu and gpu while running fairly silent.

Avacado · May 19, 2021

Lexi is Dumb said:
Sure, any suggestions? Is it even worth adding anything to the distilled water? What about mayhems biocide?

Edit: So i've updated my current list of parts

EK Quantum Kinetic TBE D5 pump/res (This is the cheapest proper D5 pump I can find from aus retailers)
Bykski block
Bykski 360 rad
Bykski fittings
TT PVC soft tubing
And Mayhems XT-1 Nuke clear premix coolant

Go with this, save 100$

Aquacomputer ULTITUBE D5 150 Reservoir with D5 PWM Pump : Amazon.com.au: Computers

www.amazon.com.au

ciarlatano · May 19, 2021

skline00 said:
I find that your computer case size is really an overlooked feature when you get into custom watercooling.

In addition to size, airflow is another overlooked necessity. There are far too many cases out there that were designed only with aesthetics in mind that are nothing but glass hotboxes. You can't have quiet and effective cooling without airflow for the rads and components.

skline00 · May 19, 2021

Totally agree with you ciarlatano. I try to set my fans as intake pulling cool air in through the rad/rads and have a powerful exhaust fan to balance out the intake.

My comment concerning case size was based upon my experience of years when I wished I had bought a larger case to have enough room for more rads/ better pump etc.

geriatricpollywog · May 19, 2021

I’d recommend black rubber tubing like EPDM. Looks more sleek and professional than clear and doesn’t leach plasticizer. You could add some Mayhems Nuke XT-1 and let it go a very long time without maintenance.

Insidious Supra · May 19, 2021

I have a titan X block on my 1080ti and if functions flawlessly, very nice finish, fit, and seems to be direct copy of the EK block (which is no longer available)

Block

My gpu hits 44C max with cheap ali express all copper 120mm rads, and cheap 800lph freezemod pump

Lexi is Dumb · May 20, 2021

Avacado said:
Go with this, save 100$

Aquacomputer ULTITUBE D5 150 Reservoir with D5 PWM Pump : Amazon.com.au: Computers

Aquacomputer ULTITUBE D5 150 Reservoir with D5 PWM Pump : Amazon.com.au: Computers

www.amazon.com.au

It doesn't save me $100, that's $240 AUD.. but it does have free shipping and saves me $30 against the EK one so brilliant. Thanks.
Seriously, its been the one thing bothering me.. I want to stay as far away from EK as I possibly can after my experience with their AIOs but struggling to find alternatives that I can actually buy here or wont cost more than the product itself to ship.

Also to skline and ciarlatano.. my case is an O11 clone, itll fit multiple rads. airflow probably isnt great though.
The idea would be to eventually have one slim 360 rad on bottom with 3 intake fans pulling through and one on top with 3 exhaust fans also in pull.
Idk how well that would work but I have the side mounting point, so I can just experiment with different configs in the future.
The thing is I'd rather not change out the case.. I have it situated like this to use with my TV and any bigger or deeper case would just be a PITA.

Anyway as it stands it now looks like this
Aquacomputer Ultitube 150 pump/res
Byksi rad
one of the Bykski blocks suggested by Jura below this
some byksi fittings, and a ball valve and the other bits I need for a drain port.
im still looking for some black tubing
XT-1 nuke coolant

With the plan to add a better rad for the second and a gpu block in the future

jura11 · May 20, 2021

Hi there

I'm using Bykski waterblocks on my two RTX 3090 GamingPro's and I'm very happy with performance of waterblocks

Regarding the CPU waterblock, this one should be better

Bykski A-RYZEN-TECH-V2-X CPU Water Cooling Block w/ Temp Digital Display - Silver w/ A-RGB (AM3 / AM4 / TR4)

Or this one

Bykski CPU-RYZEN-X-MC CPU Water Cooling Block - Black w/ 5v Addressable RGB (RBW) (AM3 / AM3+ / AM4)

Second one I have used on my friend loop, he is using that block on his 5950X, temperatures are quite okay, I would say they're perfect for his radiator space

Agree with above guys, get EPDM tubing 16/10mm and usually Bykski fittings works beautifully with EK ZMT fittings as well

For coolant get X1 or XT-1 if you can, using now X1 and very happy

For reservoir and pump, you can try go route of Bykski or Barrow, used both pumps and reservoirs on several occasions and no issues

Hope this helps

Thanks, Jura

derlarbz · May 20, 2021

No problems in performance or leaks so far. I've got rads, fittings, block (gpu and cpu) all bykski for a radeon vii and a 3900x and they have been great for around two years. Just the pump is not bykski.

Shawnb99 · May 20, 2021

Lexi is Dumb said:
Anyway as it stands it now looks like this
Aquacomputer Ultitube 150 pump/res
Byksi rad
one of the Bykski blocks suggested by Jura below this
some byksi fittings, and a ball valve and the other bits I need for a drain port.
im still looking for some black tubing
XT-1 nuke coolant

Tygon A-60-G is the tubing you want.

Very nice pump/res am rocking two myself.

Help with first loop and is Bykski any good?

Lexi is Dumb

rickof06

Butanding1987

skline00

Lexi is Dumb

ciarlatano

Lexi is Dumb

braincracking

Section31

Watercool Heatkiller Rad 360-L Review

ciarlatano

skline00

Avacado

Aquacomputer ULTITUBE D5 150 Reservoir with D5 PWM Pump : Amazon.com.au: Computers

ciarlatano

skline00

geriatricpollywog

Insidious Supra

Lexi is Dumb

Aquacomputer ULTITUBE D5 150 Reservoir with D5 PWM Pump : Amazon.com.au: Computers

jura11

derlarbz

Shawnb99

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