[ForFriedRice]

So I'm new to the whole water cooling aspect of computer builds and I just wanted to get some input of the parts I'm looking at buying. I'm only doing a CPU loop so nothing to fancy I think. I feel relatively good about everything but the CPU block. I'm not on a ridiculous budget but I'm not looking to spend a crazy amount of money seen as how this is my first build. Thank you in advance for all the help!

Pump
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2128/ex-pmp-27/Swiftech_MCP655-B_12v_Water_Pump_w_38_Conversion_Kit_317_GPH.html?tl=g30c107s1802#blank

Radiator
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12702/ex-rad-227/Magicool_Extreme_Dual_120mm_Radiator_-_Slim_Profile_LC-RADI240.html?tl=g30c95s160

Reservoir
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2184/ex-res-104/XSPC_525_Bay_Reservoir_-_Clear_Silver_Black.html?tl=g30c97s168

CPU Block (this is the one I'm thinking of buying but not sure about)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11762/ex-blc-814/MagiCool_Black_Butterfly_CPU_Liquid_Cooling_Copper_Block_-_Universal_Socket_MC-BLOCK-CPU_II.html?tl=g30c85s139

CPU Block (this is the other one I'm thinking of but only if the first one isn't a good one)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16395/ex-blc-1153/Alphacool_NexXxos_XP_Light_CPU_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_Acetal_Edition_-_Intel_AMD_12153.html?tl=g30c85s139

Tubing (I think I read somewhere that 10 feet would be good because I'll have to replace some when I do maintenance but again I'm open to what you guys think I should do)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10691/ex-tub-663/Tygon_2475_Ultra_Chemical_Resistant_Plasticizer_Free_Tubing_-_38_ID_12_OD_-_Clear_ACG00027.html?tl=g30c99s171

Liquid (I also don't know how much of this I should buy)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/22949/ex-liq-374/Aquacomputer_Double_Protect_Ultra_1_Anti-Corrosion_Fluid_-_Blue_-_1L_53114.html?tl=g30c337#blank

Fittings
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8442/ex-tub-447/EK_G14_Thread_High_Flow_Barb_-_10mm_38.html

Again thank you all for the input your knowledge is much greater than mine so I appreciate anything you can pass on to me.

 

[rts2468]

My advise would try to stick to the simple, you do not need to buy from different brands, I would suggest
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_202_972&products_id=38685
or
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_202_972&products_id=39024

Those are the cheapest xspc has, but goes much higher. that is CPU only. here is what it can start. I have 4 other blocks.

 

[ForFriedRice]

Can you expand off this kit?

 

[andyv]

Those kits can be expanded on. No issues there. However when I was looking into mine I was told to stay away from that pump/res. especially because I was looking at putting my GPU into the loop eventually. I got a D5 pump to save a bit of money in the long run. Due to the pump being loud the res leaking. I will see if I can find the info to back it up. Also people generally recommend to replace the tubing that comes with it.

Can't comment on the CPU blocks bit have you looked into the XSPC one? They are cheap here (Australia, $59 if I remember correctly) and perform really well for the price.

Also you will need clamps for the barbs. Compression fittings are great to use but a little more expensive. Again XSPC have cheap ones that are about $4.50 here.

Also the coolant can be substituted for silver coil and distiller water if it's cheaper. For a CPU only loop you will probably need about 1-1.5l of coolant.

 

[rts2468]

yes, the 750 pump inside the reservior works great, if you pay $250 for the D5 version you get a D5 Vario Pump which can support upto 3-4 blocks.
Also, you DO NOT need 10 feet of tubing, 4-5 feet MAX. and use either clear, white, or light color coolant, or use colored tube with clear coolant.

 

[ForFriedRice]

Just for my own information are the fittings all individual priced or do they come in a packet?

 

[rts2468]

That is something you will have to buy on your own, I recommend Bitspower Fittings, Compression. or EK or XSPC

 

[ForFriedRice]

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2296/ex-tub-38/Bitspower_G14_Thread_38_ID_x_12_OD_Compression_Fitting_-_Silver_BP-CPF-CC2.html

These are the ones you guys are talking about correct? And again do they come in a set or are they all individual?

 

[maximus7651000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForFriedRice

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2296/ex-tub-38/Bitspower_G14_Thread_38_ID_x_12_OD_Compression_Fitting_-_Silver_BP-CPF-CC2.html

These are the ones you guys are talking about correct? And again do they come in a set or are they all individual?

I use these fittings and this one is the price for individual fittings. Usually the alphacool kits come with 6 3/8 x 1/2 compression fittings like one of mine did.

 

[ForFriedRice]

So one would need fittings for
res out
pump in
pump out
rad in
rad out
cpu in
cpu out
res in

 

[maximus7651000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForFriedRice

So one would need fittings for
res out
pump in
pump out
rad in
rad out
cpu in
cpu out
res in

That depends on if the pump is attached directly to the res or separate. Kits from XSPC and Alphacool only use 6 fittings because the pump is attached to the res. You'll need 8 fittings if it's separate.

 

[maximus7651000]

An all in one kit will have

pump in
pump out
rad in
rad out
cpu block in
cpu block out

 

[rts2468]

Each Item for the Water cooled equipment require min 2 fittings, some require more if you are using a T-Line as a drain/fill port. I personally like the 1/2" x 3/4" tubing and compression fittings. when it comes to Black, or Silver, try to accent the MB, not the case.
If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[PepeLapiu]

I recommend Moonsoon Free Center compression fittings.
Good price and much easier on the fingers.
And best tubing is Primochil Advanced LRT.

 

[pc-illiterate]

so ffrice, are you in the states or out of country? http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php has good prices on parts.

 

[rts2468]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc-illiterate

so ffrice, are you in the states or out of country? http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php has good prices on parts.

I work at Performance-PCs in Palm Bay, Florida. If you have any questions. call up the store and ask for Duke. and I have a lot of friends and acquiescence's that build custom loops all the time. I will be more then happy to Help a fellow PC enthusiast.

RULE 1. Take your time.
RULE 2. Get an Anti-Static Bracelet and/or both the Bracelet and the grounding mat.
RULE 3. Non-Conductive doesn't mean it wont short out, it mean it will take time to become Conductive.
RULE 4. It is fine if you spill liquid on your PC/Motherboard/GPU/CPU, just make sure when you are filling your loop, have paper towels all over that PC, inside and out. Another on standby just in case.
As long as your PC is grounded and there is no electricity running through your system, Just get a blow dryer and Moisture Grabbers that come in a little packet throw about 10 in there, and the next day it will work.
RULE 5. Contrary to what most people say about having to have the Reservoir go straight into the pump, It is good for new comers to put the reservoir on top or right next to it. What is more important that just having the reservoir on top of the pump, you basically just want the Reservoir at the Highest Spot in your case. It will make bleeding and removing Air bubbles so much easier.
If you do not have the reservoir at the top of the loop, then whatever is at the top will take a long time(2-3; maybe up to a week depending on how many blocks, radiators, and Head Pressure.
RULE 6. DO NOT USE RED COOLANT OF ANY KIND!!!! I learned the hard way. All the blocks will start to get clogged and even with sliver coil and anti-microbes it still gummed up my whole system and was forced to clean all of it. You have been warned.
Here are some pictures of the evolution of my latest Gaming PC.












The Red Machine was called Bloodlust Megatron. The 2014 revision renamed it Deceptitran. A computer transformer.

 

[ForFriedRice]

Is an AM3 socket the same as an AM3+? I have seen AM2 and AM2+ but no AM3+ under the socket part of compatibility

 

[ForFriedRice]

So I think I have everything I need. I will post everything that I'm feeling pretty good about buying below and if you guys find anything that doesn't match up or that you don't really like please give me some input. I switched up the compression fittings but I think I'm going to stick with the 3/8 1/2 tubing. Some of the things off FrozenCPU offer you to buy different barbs, and I was wondering what that was all about. But here are the parts. Also the loop will go Bay res => Pump => CPU => Rad => Bay res.

CPU Block
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14191/ex-blc-972/XSPC_RayStorm_High_Performance_Acetal_CPU_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_AMD_Sockets_AM2_AM2_AM3_FM1.html

Pump
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2128/ex-pmp-27/Swiftech_MCP655-B_12v_Water_Pump_w_38_Conversion_Kit_317_GPH.html

Rad
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12702/ex-rad-227/Magicool_Extreme_Dual_120mm_Radiator_-_Slim_Profile_LC-RADI240.html

Res
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2184/ex-res-104/XSPC_525_Bay_Reservoir_-_Clear_Silver_Black.html

Fittings (They come with 4 so I'm thinking I need 2 sets for all my stuff)
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21364/ex-tub-2062/Monsoon_Chain_Gun_Compression_Fitting_-_38ID_x_12OD_-_4_Pack_Chrome_CGF-3812-4P-CH.html

Tubing
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17866/ex-tub-1599/PrimoChill_PrimoFlex_Advanced_LRT_Tubing_38ID_x_12_OD_-_Brilliant_UV_Blue_PFLEXA-12-B.html

Coolant
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Distilled-Water-1-Gal/10315382

Additive
I was going to use Antifreeze (I read it somewhere on this site that it works) because I work on my car a lot and have it on hand. Only problem is I don't know how much I would need to use.

I'm looking at my case and I'm trying to figure out where I'm going to put things. A lot of the pictures and builds I've seen have the rad up on the top of the case and I've seen a couple where it's at the bottom. I have a bay res so I know where that is going I was just wondering if you all had some input on where you think it should go. RTS I know you were saying you want your res at the highest point in your loop so does that mean I don't want my rad at the top of my case? Also should I put my bay res in the highest bay port? Thank you again for all your input guys

 

[andyv]

Ignore the 'rule' about having the res at the highest point. I have my res/pump probably at the lowest point in my case and it took about 1hr to bleed all the big bubbles and another 6hrs to get 90% of the micro bubbles out. No issues. Place it where it fits. The only guideline (not rule) is to have the res feeding the pump. You can really place any component anywhere in the loop, it is just that you NEVER want to let the pump run dry. This is why it is said to have the res directly feed the pump.

The other thing to remember is either a biocide (mayhems or similar) or silver coil, don't just run plain distilled.

Plan the loop and see if you need any 90/45deg fittings, I thought I wouldn't need them but turns out it made it much easier. Also if you are going to put the fans the same side as the fittings on the radiator it might be worth looking into 2 25mm extenders if space is tight. This way it will save your fingers.

 

[PepeLapiu]

Well, no it's not a rule of course.
You can place your res wherever you want.
But placing it at the topmost position will allow you to fill 90% of your loop without even starting your pump.
And the pump at the lowest point is not a rule either.
But if the pump is that the lowest point, it is less likely run dry.

In fact, the pump right after the rest is not a rule either.
It just makes it less likely, to again, run dry. And it makes filling easier.

The only hard and fast rule is that each and everyone of those who read this sends me 5$.