my first system - a few simple questions

[babysnake]

hi

thanks for answering my recent additives question everyone ;)

i'm up for putting my first proper W/C system together and i've got a few noob queries about the configuration

1
where in the cooling loop does the reservoir need to go? immediately before the pump? does the reservoir need to be physically higher than the pump inside the case? (pump will be on the floor - natch :lol: )

2
the case (akasa eclipse 62) has 2x 120mm fan holes -front intake and rear exhaust. i'm planning to put the rad on the rear exhaust. does it really matter if the fan is pulling air through or pushing air out the rad? i've read somewhere it does, but i can't see why?

3
with air in the front and exhausted via the rad at the back, do i need to think about additional blowholes?

4
do i need PTFE tape on all the 1/4" BST screw threads in the waterblock, pump etc?


thanks in advance

antec neopower 480w
msi k8n mobo
amd64 3200+
nVidia 6800GT
1GB PC3200 Dual Channel
160GB Samsung Spinpoint SATA HDD

[fillip]

OK...

1) The reservoir doesn't have to be right before the pump but it should never be infront of the pump. In essence any of the following are fine:
Pump -> Radiator -> Waterblocks -> Reservoir
Pump -> Waterblocks -> Radiator -> Reservoir
Pump -> Waterblocks -> Reservoir -> Radiator
The res' doesn't have to be higher than the pump either but the maximum head of the pump, (the max. height it can pump to, usually around 1.5metres but varies) is measured from the height of the res'. So if your case is taller than 1.5metres the floor isn't ideal, any case smaller you shouldn't have problems

2) Push vs. Pull is an ongoing debate but realistically we're talking a 1-2 degree difference. Most people say 'pull' works best though.

3) You shouldn't need any additional blow holes, but it depends how paranoid about temps you are. 2 x 120mm should do the trick though. Personally I'd have the radiator at the front of the case because it will get the coolest air from outside the case, whereas at the back it gets air from inside that has been warmed up.

4) It's better to be safe than sorry so yeah.

Hope that helps you out

[ỒĊBłůē]

Hi babysnake and welcome to WizD.

Why not get yourself along to the Hellos and introductions thread (http://www.wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51) and introduce yourself.

I'm in the process of putting together my first watercooling setup, but can give you answers as far as I've picked up;

1. The reservoir is generally placed directly before the pump, as I think (amongst other reasons) this helps prevent air from being pumped around the loop.

2. Pulling air through the rad seems to be the better setup, and a spacer between the rad and fans helps to eliminate any deadspots. (Areas of poor airflow, caused by the motor mounted in the middle)

3. Unless you're going to watercool everything (see Pug's Hexadragon ;)) the rest of your components will still need airflow to keep them cool.

4. If you're using tapered fittings then yes, you'll need PTFE/Teflon tape, if you're using parallel fittings with o-rings then you won't.

I hope this helps, I'm sure others will elaborate/flame my answers as necessary. :lol:

[Edit - Your post wasn't there when I started Fillip!]

[babysnake]

:D WOW! :D


not only does that help out tremendously, but that's probably the fastest forum response i've ever seen !!! :lol:

thanks muchly !

[fillip]

[Edit - Your post wasn't there when I started Fillip!] Gotta be quick around here when I've got uni' coursework to do! http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/tongue.gif

http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/laugh.gif

@ Babysnake - you're welcome, and welcome to WizD!
Come and say hello to the rest of the crew - Intro's thread (http://wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51&page=40&pp=10)

[babysnake]

:D WOW! :D


not only does that help out tremendously, but that's probably the fastest forum response i've ever seen !!! :lol:

thanks muchly !
my bad - i should have said responseS, plural !! :o)

i'll get along and do an intro now too

thanks again

[Fibbles]

You guys rock!!!

Flame? Why would anyone flame you? :unsure: Err, we really don't do stuff liek that here, really!!! ^_^

on OC's #4, I saw some guy on another forum so absolutely freaked out that any water cooling company would include removable fittings (push fits, compressions, barbs etc). He didn't seem to understand that the O-Ring will keep the water in and seal any leaky idea brewing up by the water... So, he decided to silcone EVERYTHING! That's not needed, at all. I have been using my compressions and push-fits on blocks with O Rings, and nothing leaks! B) As of right now, I've been using my small bore stuff (my biggest thread is G1/4") for exactly 1 year and 20 days. The only leak I have encountered was due to my not pushing the tube into the push fit all the way. In a leak test, my video card got soaked, so I let it dry and it worked again, it worked so well until I pulled off a ram chip (completely unrelated).

[EDIT] On Fillips #3, he says the rad should go infront, to suck in the coolest air. Well, you can put it on top, and have it suck air form outside in. I know that goes against many people's ideas of having a top blowhole, but that's what I do, and it gives much better temps than I would have if I exhasuted the inside case air thru the rad. I had it like that once - it was bad, very bad!

[dutchcedar]

Danged slackers. Only two quick responses to a question... both outside of our five minute maximum response time... bannage to both of you if ya don't straighten up!!! :unsure: <_< :wacko: :lol:

[ỒĊBłůē]

Sorry Dutch, we won't let it happen again... lol :lol:

[fivecheebs]

Sorry Dutch, we won't let it happen again... lol :lol:
You forgot to call him sir!! :rant: :p

The only thing i'd add is that i prefer the pump to be imideately after the res. You can also have a larger bore tube between the res and the pump for best performance if you like. Pumps dont like to be limited on the intake, especially powerful ones.

[fillip]

Danged slackers. Only two quick responses to a question... both outside of our five minute maximum response time... bannage to both of you if ya don't straighten up!!! :unsure: <_< :wacko: :lol: Awwww c'mon, it is only outside the 5 min response time 'cos it took so damn long to write! http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/sleep.gif

lol.

[babysnake]

dr fibbles

sir...^_^

i did think about putting a blowhole on top and sucking nice cool air in, but in my inexperience i was concerned about messing with general airflow through the case :unsure: what with hot air rising and all that

i could, i guess, put the rad up top sucking cool air in. and exhaust through the rear 120mm hole, whilst still drawing air in through the front intake

but then i would have 2x120mm in, 1x120mm + PSU + VGA out - somehow that didn't feel right to me; can't say why really :unsure:

maybe i was just looking for excuses not to have to drill big scary holes in my nice new case :eek:

decisions, decisions !!!!!!

[Fibbles]

Wierd, I posted a reply, but it's not here...

Ok, so here goes again...

I used to have a Lian Li PC75 (fulltower case). I removed the HDD thing in the lower front and cut the dual 80mm fan holes to fit a single 120. I placed my single Airplex EVO there, pulling cool air in. That cooled my Cuplex EVO excellently. Then, I wanted to add a GPU block, so I bought an Alphacool GPX, and a dual radiator. I placed the radiator on top, pushing hot air out from inside, and with 2 blocks in the loop, my temps were terrible! It almost felt as if the single rad infront would have been better. So, after some fiddling around, I reversed the fans, and my temps dropped quite a bit. I was pretty surprised on how much they dropped, and now there's cool air entering the computer. I'm not sure how cool it is, but it's much nicer than how hot the air felt when I was pushing it out the top :o

The subject of where to place fans usually follows the 1 infront, 1 in side, out the top, out the rear formula. I read a post where a guy decided to see how the computer's temps would react if he changed it to have all the fans exhausting. From what I remember, he got pretty good results with his complete negative pressure scheme. I have also read user reviews of getting better results with the side fan exhausting than being an intake.

I know that with water cooling, it's a hassle to change everything around to find the sweet spot, but if possible you could try it with fans only, and then follow your results.

[babysnake]

when the kit comes next week i'll fiddle around with various setups to see what i can get

thanks for the advice ^_^