Watercooling Kits

Alright, I am thinking about trying out some watercooling on my 2500 Barton I bought. I want the easiest watercooling kit I can find. But don't read easy as cheap. I don't mind spending $$ on quality goods but I am a rookie at this stuff so make it easy too work with. Not looking too spend over $250USD on the goods, and please don't suggest individual parts as I would just assume not worrying about getting compatible parts.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

I think dangerden do a maze 4/rbx kit which would be very about the highest quality kit available.

Failing that a waterchill kit is probably alright.

Or sure some fellow WCer in the us could pic out componets that would work great together from a US store

Check this out.

Yeah those are the ones i meant, much cheaper than here in the uk to.

The second would be better if you planned to upgrade later one due to the more powerful pump

Thanks for the link NBD. I am going too check those out. How hard is it too set these up? Am I going too need a huge case too fit all the pieces in or what?

Depends on how handy you are. The radiator is usually the hardest thing to figure out where to mount.
Some locations:
If you have 120mm fan already in your case then this is a great spot. You don't have to cut anything.
I've seen some people use thos brass standoffs to mount it to the top or back of the case.
I've seen people mount them in/instead of blowhole positions at the top of their case.
Personally I mounted my harddrives in 5.25" bays. My HDD rack is removable, so I removed it, and cut the case front to accept the rad. Works best for me. It gets fresh air first instead of hot case air.

Koolance has an Exodus water cooling box that just sits on top of your case. [H]ardOCP has been using one for quite a while and love it. Here is their reveiw of it:

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=Mzc2

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...155-989-05.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...155-989-04.JPG

This is a link to NewEgg for the system for $195:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...155-989&depa=0

I don't think it comes with the water block, but NewEgg has one listed for $41 here:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...155-991&depa=0

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...155-991-04.JPG

They also have a VGE/chipset water block for $31 here:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...127-001&depa=0

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...127-001-06.JPG

And a hard drive cooler for $33 here:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...999-988&depa=0

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...999-988-02.JPG

The basic kit is priced OK, but the blocks are a bit price. It is VERY easy to install and all the reveiws I have read state that and that it performs very well. It also looks cool and has an LCD readout on the front. It is also supposed to be VERY quiet.

Now for the other two I've seen.

NewEgg has the Crosair Xtreme Water Cooling System for $211 and it includes the waterblock:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...181-001&depa=1

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...181-001-01.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...181-001-04.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...181-001-06.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...181-001-03.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...181-001-02.JPG

It looks like this contains everything including the fluid. From the reveiws I've seen they say the Koolance system is smaller, a little quieter, and performs a bit better, plus it has more options (other blocks and even a tie-down stap if you take it to LAN parties). This one is cheaper though by about $30 because it comes with the block.

The last is the cheapest and I have not heard too much about it. It fits inside the case and fits over one of the rear case fan spots. It is a complete system though and looks pretty simple to set up. NewEgg has the Thermaltake AquariusII Liquid Cooling System for $99 here:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...106-022&depa=1

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...106-022-02.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...106-022-03.JPG

The small radiator and fan will likely hold the cooling back quite a bit and will have trouble competing with the higher end air cooling like the SLK-900.

Yeah both thermaltake kits are pretty poor, and less benefical than high end air coolers.

What case do you have woodman?

P.s Good call on your films recently, bought supertroopers the other day after seeing it in your sig and what can i say but :D

And as mentioned above, Danger Den has some of the BEST part out there. They do need a bit more assembly, but they do sell complete kits and offer other blocks. They have 2 kits here:

http://www.dangerden.com/mall/Kits/kits_retail.asp

The first is $175 and the second is $199. The second one adds a stronger pump so you can add the extra water blocks for VGA, chipset, hard drives... This is what the kits come with:


Maze4 Water Block
http://www.dangerden.com/images/MAZE..._AMD_large.jpg

Black Ice Pro
http://www.dangerden.com/images/bice...vo_WhiteBG.jpg

Hydor L30 320GPH (1200 l/h) Pump
http://www.dangerden.com/images/hydor/Hydor_thumb.jpg

Sunon KD1212PTB1-6AF 120mm Fan
http://www.dangerden.com/images/fans/sunon.jpg

Water Wetter
http://www.dangerden.com/images/misc...ater_thumb.jpg

Resivour (they have a bay one too)
http://www.dangerden.com/images/rese...snew_large.jpg

It also includes the fittings, tubing, hose clamps an connectors.

Todd a, thanks a bunch man. The pictures, links and everything, you must have had alittle free time this morning huh?:D

It looks like the Danger Den is a good choice, but I do like the idea of the Koolance and the Corsair kits being outside the case. I am not going to be moving it around that much, so size and weight aren't really an issue. The Koolance looks more promising because of the VGA Cooler which would be pretty nic on my 9500pro.

Marv, it will be going into a Lian-Li PC-65. I hope there will be enough room in there. I don't want too have too do much in the way of modding.

There are so many damn choices out there and you guys have done a great job of narrowing it down too a select few.

One last question before I get to the buying: I am using an NF7-S board, but it is only revision 1. WOuld it be worth it too upgrade too say an Ultra-400 type board like the DFI board or a revision 2.0 NF7-S?

Would depend on your cpu, a very overclockable chip would respeond to a better board better.

I'm thinking of doing a similar thing as i also only have a rev 1.1 board.

I think the pc65 is similar size to the chieftec style case and if you look at my "operation water" thread it all fits in there nicely. Though you will probably have to mod the front to fit the 120mm fan/rad

If you have not gotten the case, then Danger Den also has water cooled cases. I'm not sure how "assembled" they are, but they are pretty cool looking and you can pick all the colors and parts you want:

http://www.dangerden.com/mall/cases/vexx.asp

http://www.dangerden.com/images/Case...C/IMG_0001.JPG

http://www.dangerden.com/images/Case...C/IMG_0021.JPG

and

http://www.dangerden.com/mall/cases/verge.asp

http://www.dangerden.com/images/Case...e/IMG_0064.JPG

http://www.dangerden.com/images/Case...e/IMG_0096.JPG

You can even get power supplies, cold cathodes, LED fans, fan controllers, LCD readouts, extra water blocks, and if you really got the dough, they will sleeve all your wires.

im thinking about getting watercooling after ive got my monitor, but im wanting a kit that i can upgrade pump, radiator and water blocks etc as i go along.