Water cooling... it is really starting to spike my interest-

[Redeemed]

Okay, so it seems like everybody and their brother now has a rig with a watercooled Core2 in it. And from what I'm hearing water cooling is no longer a major hassle if you educate your self about it before using it. As such, I'm wanting to educate my self.

But I'm finding it difficult to convince myself to spend the extra $$$ and time that a water cooling solution would require. So, I was hoping I could find an "All-in-one" solution that would be maintenance and hassle free, sort of like the FreeZone.

As such I started browsing FrozenCPU.com and found this:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2407/ex-wat-99/Evercool_Silver_Knight_CPU_Water_Cooler_EC-WC-601.html?tl=g30c85s141

What are your guys' opinions about that cooler? Would you prefer it over the FreeZone or vise-versa? Any comments or suggestions about that cooler?

My hope is that if I got this cooler (or one like it) I would see a significant drop in temps compared to what I'm getting with air. Thus I could achieve a greater OC, and thus I would then successfully convince myself to go full-blow custom water cooling setup.

So, what do you guys think? The rig I'll more than likely use this on would be running an Athlon64 X2 6000 with an ASUS CrossHair mobo and 2GB of Corsair Dominator DDR2800 ram. Would this cooler do much for the A64 X2 6000?

Thanks for your guys' feedback! :D

-Edit-

After some more browsing I came upon this:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2029/ex-blc-239/Thermaltake_Volcano_4005_Heat_Exchanger_-_Copper_Heatpipe_Universal_CPU_Water_Block_-_38_and_14_CL-W0037.html?tl=g30c85s140

That looks like a stand alone cooler to me, with the option to pump water through it! :p I'd smack a beast of a fan on there as well. Okay, anyhow, is that a good water block for the A64 x2 6000? To me, it looks like it'd be the best block on the market, but that just might be my inexperience speaking. What are your takes on it?

[Xion X2]

I really don't get why you're so into these 3rd party hybrid coolers. They're all going to be about as effective/less effective as a good air cooler like the Tuniq Tower when it comes down to it, and probably more trouble/less reliable.

If you want to go water, then do it the right way. If you don't want to customize the entire setup because it seems like such a headache, then just go with a good kit like this one:

http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-Apex-Ultra-H20-220-With-Apogee-GT-pr-3198.html

That right there is a kickass little watercooling kit that will give you much better performance than any of these hybrid coolers you keep looking at, and for a good price. If you're going to go water, then do it right. The kit even has an Apogee GT in it, which is a fantastic block for quad-cores since it provides so much coverage over the heat spreader. It'd be a great upgrade if you plan on going quad some day; these hybrid coolers you're finding just aren't strong enough and would get eaten up by the heat a quad-core will put out.

It's really not that difficult to assemble if you have any hardware sense about you. You just need to do some research beforehand and be very methodical and careful with the installation. And maintenance? Pssh. I haven't even touched mine in the last 5 months except to fill the res a little. That took about 10 minutes. There's little to no maintenance required as long as you use a good anti-corrosive and biocide upon installation so you don't get plants growing in your tubing. :p And I guarantee you that if you take your time and install it right that you'll be thrilled with the temps you'll see. Air or any of these hybrid coolers just can't compare.

If you do a cursory read through the stickied topics at this link then you will learn most of what you need to know:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70

What you don't get from those links, watercoolers like myself, LORD, or a # of others here would be willing to help you with. But my advice to you would be to stick to air-cooling if you don't want a real water-cooling kit.

[DiscipleDOC]

For the rig that you're planning on, I would recommend the Freezone. I know that a lot of ppl have had problems with it, but I am one of the few that still have it running strong. I have no complaints about it.

[Zelda_fan]

I hate to pimp my own stuff, but I'm selling a Koolance Exos Al + CPU block

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=88878

very easy to install kit for someone who is new to watercooling.

[vandalous]

After I move and get settled down, I think I'm going to convert the rig in my sig into my non-traveling gaming rig and incorporate water cooling into it. I'll build a new rig for LAN parties and what not. I'll probably use a e6750 I've got laying around as the basis for my LAN rig.

Thanks for the links Xion.

Question for those who watercool and bring their rigs to lan parties: how does your rig handle traveling? Is there anything special you need to do?

[Xion X2]

The rig handles traveling very well. I've taken it on 3 trips recently. The only problem with mine is that it weighs about 80-90 lbs and is as big as a house. :)

But no clamps loosen or leak or anything like that from riding around in a car. The steel worm-drive clamps I use feel like they're cemented to the tubing/barb.

I used to worry about the same things before I actually built my first water-cooled PC, but when you get hands-on with this stuff you realize how safe it can be. I never worry about mine leaking. Water-cooling is like riding a bicycle. Sure you're scared the first time, but before long it's second-nature to you.

[Redeemed]

Hmm... I do intend to get a full on custom water cooling solution some day... I guess sooner is better than never.

Thanks for those links Xion, now just to decide if I'm really wanting to go through with this or not... :p

[buffbiff21]

http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-Apex-Ultra-H20-220-With-Apogee-GT-pr-3198.html

That right there is a kickass little watercooling kit that will give you much better performance than any of these hybrid coolers you keep looking at, and for a good price.
QFT. Dont even thinkabout a freezone. great 200 dollar kit vs marginal 300 dollar freezone.

Xion, youre also forgetting that now matter how easy it is for us now, we still had to pour a considerable amount of time into reseaerching all the equipment! :lol:

It is like riding a bicycle once you have done it, but then everything is.

[Redeemed]

I knew you guys would tell me to forget going with that generic all-in-one cooler. :p

So, I guess if I do this then custom it'll be. All the way and for the mo-fetchin' win! :p

Now I just need to start researching I guess... :p

[buffbiff21]

Yeah. Dont be afraid to ask questions either. Were here to help :cool:

I was an h2o n00b just a few months ago.

flash forware a month from then: my knowledge had ascended.
flash forward another month...
...Right when I powered on i feld a stream of 1337ness course through my veins. :D

Lord knows how I will feel when I leap to phase.

[Redeemed]

Buff, I know this is off topic- but for the life of me I cannot figure out what your avatar is and now it is bugging me. Everytime you post something I spend atleast a minute just staring at your avatar yet I still can't figure out what it is! So... what is it???

[buffbiff21]

Buff, I know this is off topic- but for the life of me I cannot figure out what your avatar is and now it is bugging me. Everytime you post something I spend atleast a minute just staring at your avatar yet I still can't figure out what it is! So... what is it???

Take a screencapture of my avatar, go to MS Paint,and click invertcolors.

What you will see then is a picture of Grahf's gear (Grahf is a badass villain in Xenogears for PSone that calls himself the Seeker of Power and goes around giving other villains power to kick the pansy ass hero's ass.) If you have not played the game, do so.

[buffbiff21]

here is a pic

http://guardian.leamonde.net/chars/pics/orweltall.jpg

[Redeemed]

Ah, lol- thanks. Suddenly I feel as if a wieght has been lifted off my shoulders. :lol:

I never did get into that stuff, and never played that game- probably why I didn't recognize it. :p

Back on topic- I've noticed that many of the water blocks at Frozen CPU have three outlets/inlets/whatever you call 'em. Like this one:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5409/ex-blc-334/Danger_Den_RBX_M2_CPU_Water_Block_-_AM2_Compatible.html?tl=g30c85s139

Don't you just need an inlet for the water to be fed to the block, and an outlet for the water to be carried away from the block? Why is there three?

[buffbiff21]

Back on topic- I've noticed that many of the water blocks at Frozen CPU have three outlets/inlets/whatever you call 'em. Like this one:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5409/ex-blc-334/Danger_Den_RBX_M2_CPU_Water_Block_-_AM2_Compatible.html?tl=g30c85s139
Dont buy the DD RBX. For a quad core, get Apogee GTX Dtek Fuzion, or Aquaextreme MC-05 pro.

Don't you just need an inlet for the water to be fed to the block, and an outlet for the water to be carried away from the block? Why is there three?
Right. They are called 'barbs' or 'fittings' and they must match the threadding of the block itself. You must have the same tubing ID throughout your loop, and each barb must match the threadding of each item in your loop. (threadding for each block/res/rad differs)

[Redeemed]

Thanks- but why are there three "barbs" on most blocks? Don't you just need two? If so what is the third one for? Extra? For whatever reason?

Okay, also- what do you think of this waterblock:

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Liguid/Upgrade/cl-w0043/cl-w0043.asp

Notice that is JUST a water-block, not an "all-in-one" solution. According to their site I should be able to hook it up to any pump and radiator. Would that be overkill? Unnecessary?

[buffbiff21]

Thanks- but why are there three "barbs" on most blocks? Don't you just need two? If so what is the third one for? Extra? For whatever reason?
most blocks actually have 2 barbs. go to www.petrastechshop.com and get all of your stuff there.

er. the other fitting on some of them you are supposed to block with a flow stopper. I think it just gives you more options in configuring the tubing
http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Liguid/Upgrade/cl-w0043/cl-w0043.asp

Notice that is JUST a water-block, not an "all-in-one" solution. According to their site I should be able to hook it up to any pump and radiator. Would that be overkill? Unnecessary?
looks cheap and shoddy to me. how much are you looking to spend? it really all boils down to price limit.

[Xion X2]

Another Xenogears fan in the house. That game was so badass. :cool:

Okay, back on topic. I wish I had felt "l33tn3ss" the first time I hit the power switch on my 1st watercooled build. The only thing I felt was scared sh!tless. I kept imagining a geyser going off inside my case.

Redeemed:

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6418/19strokkurgeysergo5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


:D

Just kidding, my man. Just kidding.

[Xion X2]

Okay, also- what do you think of this waterblock:

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Liguid/Upgrade/cl-w0043/cl-w0043.asp

Notice that is JUST a water-block, not an "all-in-one" solution. According to their site I should be able to hook it up to any pump and radiator. Would that be overkill? Unnecessary?

When it comes to watercooling, there are 3 rules to live by:

1) Plan on overclocking like a mutha#*@(!()!!
2) Invest in plenty of towels (kidding)
3) Never, ever, EVER buy Thermaltake anything (unless you want to take #2 seriously)


The blocks you want to look at are the Swiftech Apogee GT, D-tek Fuzion, or that one block Ben's mentioned before (MP-05)? I'd advise the Storm, but it's not as good for quad-cores. Thermaltake waterblocks are known to crack left and right. They're crap--just like most of their watercooling supplies are.

Xion, youre also forgetting that now matter how easy it is for us now, we still had to pour a considerable amount of time into reseaerching all the equipment!

Ohhhh I haven't forgotten that. But he has it a little easier than you and I did. We both went extreme w/ custom parts and had to learn about barb sizes/thread sizes, corrosive properties of metals, anti-corrosive coolants, biocides, pump strength/flow restriction, tubing size, etc etc .. and a kit makes all that decision-making and assembly a lot easier. Not research-free, but easier.

I gave him the links. He knows what he needs to do now. ;)

[buffbiff21]

Another Xenogears fan in the house. That game was so badass. :cool:

F*ck yeah dude! My only complaint in that game is how much of a pussy Fei is. (and this applies to all j-anime/manga Mech heroes i.e. gundam, n.g.e., zone of enders, etc..)

I mean, if you have a huge ass kicking robot (especially one as bad ass as Weltall: http://guardian.leamonde.net/chars/pics/weltall.jpg) that responds to your mental waves, how could you not want to kick some ass with it? :POKE:



anyways...

I tried to do a bit of research on the triple barbed blocks, but found nuthin. My first thought is that it allows flow to go to two different components, but then where would the other inlet on the Res be? :POKE:

[Xion X2]

Ben, have you seen this guy's rig over on XS? I really love the way he did this:

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8595/cimg1835gb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3327/cimg1840yq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5248/cimg1916ty5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Check out that 480 he has in the bottom and the dual-pumps in the drive bay.

My next rig will most definitely be dual-loops.

[Xion X2]

F*ck yeah dude! My only complaint in that game is how much of a pussy Fei is. (and this applies to all j-anime/manga Mech heroes i.e. gundam, n.g.e., zone of enders, etc..)

*LOL* Every lead character in those is a *****. Fei, Cloud, Squall, Claude (Star Ocean 2), etc.

What about Id, tho.. he was cool. Id kicked ass. So I guess Fei wasn't a total loser.

[buffbiff21]

I posted in that thread dude! :p


I said nice build! :beer:

[buffbiff21]

*LOL* Every lead character in those is a *****. Fei, Cloud, Squall, Claude (Star Ocean 2), etc.

What about Id, tho.. he was cool. Id kicked ass. So I guess Fei wasn't a total loser.
Yeah ID kicked ass. Especially in Weltall-ID.

have you plyed the Saga for PS2? There is a battle in XS3 in which you fight a gear VERY similar to Weltall ID, called Omega Universitas ID. (but its not sposed to be the same cuz they cancelled the series; they dont connect)

and... dont even get me started with squall. cloud was aight, claude - he was better than ratix and a godly mile ahead of fayt. GOD i hated SO3 so much its not even funny. (with the exception of the battle system)
just read the list of names from SO3 and you will crap yourself. (throwpc)

[Xion X2]

I hadn't been there for a while and just saw it today. I'll be spending more time over there in the coming days scraping some of the cobwebs out of my brain, but for now I'm off to play Stalker for a while and then crash.