General Watercooling Questions

croc_croc_ New
edited November 2003 in Hardware
I am thinking of watercooling. I have some general questions that will help out everyone who is interested in watercooling.

Just how much more heat does it dissipate?
What does that relate to in more overclocking potential?
How much does having 2 blocks (cpu/gpu, or 2x cpu) decrease the cooling potential?

Say I use an slk900u w/ sunon 92mm, Blizzard 360 case (3x 120mm fans, 2x92mm fans. This will be my setup as of Nov. 21st when I get the case.)

I upgrade to watercooling, using these parts:

DangerDen MAZE4 P4 Water Block? (or something better that can use larger tubing?)
High power pump (externally powered. do they plug into a duplex?)
Custom External Radiator w/ 2x120mm fans.
Largest tubing that is compatable with the above listed.

How much more cooling potential is that? Is it worth the time/money? What does it mean for my P4-3.2c vs. the air setup listed? (also what do you think my MHZ limit is on the AIR cooling?)

I know this is alot to ask, and I don't expect anyone to have ALLL the answers (well ok maybe a few ppl on here .... wont mention any names, you know who you are *wink wink*) but any input is GREATLY appreciated!!! I am like a little kid, I like information, I am curious and ask ALOT of questions, even when sometimes I already know the answers. Aren't I annoying? :P

Comments

  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    The most important of all is the radiator or radiators. It's them who does the real cooling to be honest. Get one that can have 2X120mm and you should be ok. A friend of mine got me some Eheim tubing which is the best quality i have seen next to Tygon tubing but Eheim is MUCH cheaper.

    I have 3 different cpublocks that i have tried for a while. A cpu plex, A Maze 2 from Danger Den and right now i have Swiftech's newest series of blocks installed. Since i have used the same radiator on all 3 sets, i haven't notice that big of difference to be honest.

    The good part wot hwc is that you get the best from 2 worlds, overclocking and a silent Computer. I dont have any casefans at all. my 2 fans on the radiator also serves as an air intake at the same time as it cools the radiator. I'm still testing this Barton 2500 so i am not sure how much voltage it really needs yet but it's looking good so far. I can say i am annoyed by the sound of my harddrives which probably tells you how quiet things are.

    This is at full F@H load and remember this is bios 10 which shows 8-10c to much on the cpu.
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited November 2003
    Ok, well if you haven't seen the case yet it looks like this: <a href="http://www.frozencpu.com/images/products/detail/cas-01.jpg">click me, oh baby.</a>

    I was thinking maybe I can get the radiator on the top-inside with an extra 120 hole cut there (giving me 2 120 intake on the side, 2 120 exhaust through the radiator, giving airflow to the non-watercooled parts. I am using y-s tech 120x38mm fans and plan on getting a baybus for speed control.

    So for the cpu block, its basically what fits the desired tubing, and whatever you think looks best? What size tubing? Is 1/2" ID too big? I like big. err ... yeah ....

    What radiators can accomodate 2 120mm fans?

    Actually .... do you have a link to a good watercooling site? (product sales and/or articles/discussion/forums)
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Well, going with names such as Danger Den, Swiftech, White Water and all those will never be wrong. I have had my personal fights with Danger Den and i have swored to the Fanthom´s grand-grand father that i won't even buy from them again.

    For the looks AND workz, i'd say Swiftech as i have never seen better building quality of blocks in my life. They are also widely available all over the world which is also a plus.

    I like bigger tubing (1/2 ID) cause it's tougher to kink if you have good quality tubing and it also fits most of the pumps without having to use adapters.

    There are several guides on the net if you do a google, but i dont have any reference points though. Just use common sense and pickup some good advice from different forums and you should be ok.
  • madmatmadmat
    edited November 2003
    Look on www.overclockers.com under articles and they have a prett extensive watercooling how to section from the easy to the absurd as well as keeping a compilation of waterblock performance ratings.
    I use a Koolance Exos and I'm happier with it than I was with aircooling by a longshot...it's quiet, it's easy to use and it doesn't screw up my case or take away any of my drive bays and if I wanted to I could use it on more than one computer by buying all the parts inside the case again and sticking them in another case although it would mean I couldn't run both systems at the same time.
    Maybe someday I'll go with a big dedicated high flow setup but right now I'm content with my Koolance.
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited November 2003
    Yeah, if I go w/c I'mma go full throttle. I have a decent size case, and not alot of stuff in it. I don't mind modding it, since I got it for 49.99 (good job frozencpu for listing it wrong, now its 79.99 shhhhh).
  • t1rhinot1rhino Toronto
    edited November 2003
    Unless you have a huge friggin case, it's going to be hard to fit a dual rad in there. Oh, I don't suggest mounting the rad to the door either. ;)

    Use 1/2" ID unless you plan on making a homemade rad and wb with larger fittings. :D
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited November 2003
    I was thinking kinda embed it into the top panel, so that its kinda ... protruding from the case, but keeping airflow through it, ya kno?
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