Do It Yourself! Custom Water Cooling
#1
Posted 09 October 2017 - 10:04 PM
So... im looking into DIY loops. Ive done some heavy research and came down to two manufacturers. EKWB and Alphacool. Im heavily leaning with EKWB atm. I want to use hard tubing as i want to "bend" it to my specifications inside my case. Nothing fancy but im very handy and i think i can be creative.
So i guess the real question is how difficult is this? On the EKWB website, they have a tool to help you build your loop. After selecting all the hardware it gave me a list of parts. I could go ahead and buy the kit but i was selecting other parts to use instead such as a larger reservoir.
Another question that has me wondering, can i use other parts from different manufacturers too? Say for example, i wanna use pump X manufacturer with CPU block Y manufacturer along with Compression Fittings Z.
They all seem pretty basic to me.
Here's the current part list/build im working on
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/tv6fwV
Anyone here with DIY experience?
#2
Posted 10 October 2017 - 04:41 AM
#3
Posted 10 October 2017 - 05:07 AM
Otherwise, if you're ready to jump in, yeah, go with EK. I'm a big fan of their stuff, they make some of the best. I'm sure Bill would agree.
#4
Posted 10 October 2017 - 04:35 PM
If you want to do hard lines, you will need a decent heat gun with several temp settings. You will need a tube bending kit, these often come with a tube cutter. You will need to practice to get the bends to come out right, trust me. Buy extra tubes, I would double what you think you need the first time around. Soft lines are much easier to work with..... fittings cost about the same for both hard and soft....but do some research, not all hard lines work with different fittings, and some hard line fittings are junk, and will leak. Make sure you get the right size ID, and OD tubes and fittings. Research!!! All and all I am very happy with my new build and going to hard lines over soft like I did with my last two loops, but some of the bends did not come out completely smooth.
Take your time regardless of either way you go..... and always do a leak test with another mother board hooked up, and connect the psu from the other computer to the pump and let it run for at least 12 hours, check for leaks. Do not plug in your main build with the water cooling to the psu, or have any power going to it till you know you are good with no leaks. Water cooling isn't rocket science, it just takes an eye for detail.
Edited by Bill Lumbar, 10 October 2017 - 04:36 PM.
#5
Posted 10 October 2017 - 04:40 PM
NARC BAIT, on 10 October 2017 - 04:41 AM, said:
Mix and matching is ok between brands, but make sure you do not use different metals...... they will mess your loop up and you will end up with corrosion. Other than that.... different brand rads, blocks, pumps are all fine. Just don't cheep out, and do lots of research! Copper is the way to go..... aluminum isn't. But what ever you do, go with one or the other, or metals that don't cause corrosion when used with each other.
Edited by Bill Lumbar, 10 October 2017 - 04:42 PM.
#6
Posted 10 October 2017 - 09:26 PM
What about the Rad? I been looking at some and there was one, i think from Primochill? Slim 360/480 powder coated blue, i have a thing for blue parts, and was wondering, will the thickness of the Rad matter? I am contemplating on using 2 Rads in the build.
https://www.newegg.c...71705-_-Product
https://www.newegg.c...71677-_-Product
Kinda wondering if i would be able to use this with EKWB parts only
#7
Posted 11 October 2017 - 03:18 PM
For hard to find to parts, I used to use Frozen CPU....but they are now scam artist, owner went on a drug binge is the story. Don't use them! Danger Den is a great source for hard to find water cooling loops, and so is Mountain mods...... both I trust. Never had issues with either. I tried to get some hard to find parts from Frozen Cpu..... and I had to do a credit card stop payment.... worst experience ever!!!
And on another note, I still haven't got my $30 rebate on the MSI Seahawk 1070 card..... Its been since MAY! wtf??? lol.
The Rad you looked at looks ok.... copper and brass..... but it doesn't have 4 ports on it like the one I picked out. The one I showed here and went with has 4 ports out vs only 2, so if you want more options, like a drain port, or installing more things to your loop besides a GPU and CPU block, you need to think it through. The one I went with is on sale right now for only $110, I gave like $140 for it. It is thicker though.... not a slim one. I have never used that brand, but it looks like it would do the trick. Pick the right fans for it, they make ones for slim rads for better air flow, and ones for thicker rads..... research this!. lol
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Edited by Bill Lumbar, 11 October 2017 - 06:49 PM.
#8
Posted 14 November 2017 - 03:56 PM
Edited by Internal Obedience XIII-omega, 14 November 2017 - 03:58 PM.
#9
Posted 14 November 2017 - 04:05 PM
#10
Posted 02 December 2017 - 03:52 PM
#11
Posted 02 December 2017 - 03:53 PM
If you went with hard lines, there will be a tool included with the fitting.
Edited by Bill Lumbar, 02 December 2017 - 03:54 PM.
#12
Posted 02 December 2017 - 03:57 PM
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