Taking the plunge into water cooling and looking for advice

[Lord Odin]

After discovering my rig had potential for tweaking beyond what I've already done, I've finally decided to go with water cooling because my temps are just too high for air cooling anymore. At just 4.8ghz under max load, my CPU is running almost 88C with some massive air cooling in place: unacceptable. I know I can break into 5ghz through manual tweaking but I don't want to burn up my rig in the process.


For now, the plan is to cool the CPU but later I plan on cooling the GPU as well. So I'd like to keep that option open. All-in-one kits (such at the Corsair Hydro series) are not up my alley.


Since this is my first time, I thought I should ask the experts on opinions/ideas. I've looked into some basic guides and determined that I'll need the following:


1. CPU water block
2. Radiator
3. Reservoir
4. Tubing
5. Connectors
6. Coolant
7. Fans


Anything missing from the list or recommendations for parts?

[boondocks]

Depending on how deep you want to go, you could opt for one of the kits from XSPC. What size radiator is going to depend highly on your case. The HAF 922 will fit a 240mm length radiator, and how thick will depend on your motherboard. I have a RX240 radiator in my HAF 922 (thick radiator). The XSPC kits include everything you need pretty much including a bay reservoir, water block, tubing, barb connectors, fans but no coolant. My advice on coolant is to just use distilled water and a silver kill coil.
My Switch 810 has a RX360 and a EX240 radiator as well as 2 D5 pumps and is fully custom. So it all depends on how far you want to go and how much money you want to spend.

[profJim]

Check out:

• Help Choosing a Water loop
• XSPC Rasa vs Raystorm cpu water blocks
• EKWB EK-Supremacy CPU Water Block and Custom Kit Review

[chad_sebring]

Swiftech makes a couple of kits that did really well when I tested them as well.

[harleyman]

One word for me... DangerDen...... it costs, but both my loops have been running 5 plus years now problem free...

[chad_sebring]

Isn't danger den out of business now?

[harleyman]

Oh ..They did go under... I was not aware... Hmmm.. Funny.. Well..I guess then you best disreguard my last post on this matter...that really bites too.. I like their water blocks and rads...