So you wanna get into watercooling

Okay, so you've taken the first step into watercooling !!! GRATZ

First Step

First step into doing your watercooling system, is RESEARCH, look into other peoples builds / loops, do research on what gear you need, for the case you have, theres lots of people that have many diff cases, you might be lucky and have someone that has done a w/c build with your case before !!

http://forums.overcl...isplay.php?f=24 ; this website will give you pretty much everything you need to start out with getting into watercooling.

; this is a youtube link by user juggolo, its pretty much a step by step guide on how to install a watercooling loop. it has by memory 4 - 5 parts.

Second Step

Okay so you've done your research, now its time to pick and choose your watercooling items.

Heres a list of websites that you will most likely buy your parts from, there are others but these 3 are the main ones that most peeps go to.

http://thekoolroom.com/
https://www.gammods.com.au/store/
http://pccasegear.com/

Pumps​

Theres a few options to go for and lots of diff brands, but basically you can have either a D5 or a DDC pump version; now personally I would go with the D5 pump, their a bit bigger and have more power, DDC pumps are smaller and more manageable in cases, just not as powerful.

Tip - Try to go for a pump that has a variable speed, so you can change speed of how fast the pump will go.

D5 - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=205

DDC - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=207

Now if you have the money, and want a Good pump, id suggest getting this, http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=203 ; Aquacomputer Aquastream Pump Ultra - its a great pump and has a good design, it also has some nice addons that you can attach to it, and has a program to run the pump.

Also if you are going to go with a tube res / bay res that doesnt involve installing the pump into the res, then get a pump top they make your build look nicer and they make the pumps easier to use. http://thekoolroom.c...id_product=1043 - D5 pump top // http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=220 - DDC pump top

Reservoir

Now there are plenty of options for reservoir's, but mainly there are 2 options, 1 is a Tube Reservoir the other is a Bay Reservoir. For the easiest option get a Res that you can install the pump into. Makes life a lot easier.

Tip - go for a res your attracted too, some ppl may say a bay res are lame, some say tube res are bad. but just try to choose something that you like, at the end your the one that will be admiring your own work and looking at it more than others.

Take note, for Tube Res, dont over tighten them as they will crack; Bay Res are harder to bleed, but not impossible !!

D5 Res - http://thekoolroom.c...id_product=1126

DDC Res - http://thekoolroom.c...id_product=1127

Personally I would choose an Aquacomputer branded Res, either the Tube; http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=125 or bay res; http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=122

Radiator

Okay there's HEAPS and HEAPS of rads that you can choose and go for; this is a general rule. 120.2 ( 120mm x2 fan ) for cpu block and then 120.1 ( 120mm x 1 fan ) for every other block after that. Now there's a simple rule, MORE RAD = MORE HEAT transfer, so basically more rad means more cooler temps.

Tips - High FPI rads needs HIGH RPM fans, Low FPI fans needs LOW RPM fans, usually go for Low FPI rads, you can use HIGH / LOW rpm fans but for a quite system work with Low rpm fans try Thermalright brand fans, their quite enough and they suck / blow enough air for cooling.

Now there are also Thick / Thin Rads, they mostly do the same thing, just one is thicker than the other which means the ones that are thicker can hold more water / coolant in them which then makes them more cooler through heat transfer, if you dont have space in your case, obviously thinner rad widths would be easier to install in smaller cases, for large cases try to use the thicker width rads.

120.3 Rad ( 360 = 120mm x 3 ) - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=152

There's plenty of Radiator options just remember the rule of thumb, 120.2 for cpu block and every 120.1 for each waterblock. go for brands that are recommended on a mass scale, i.e. Hardware Labs rads are ones that most w/c peeps are using, you can also go with Aquacomputer branded rads, they're new and cool and well.... aquacomputer know how to engineer some quality products.

Tubing

Tubing is simple, 1/2" OD is thick tubing - very rigid and less prone to kinking // 3/8" OD is thin tubing - thin not as rigid, easier to install on more acute angle, but more prone to kinking.

personally I would go with thicker tubing, but thats just me. Choose what you like there isnt really any benefit from thick or thin.

try to go with Primoflex branded tubing, they have a good track record.

1/2" OD tubing - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=247

3/8" OD tubing - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=248

Now if you want colour you can do that too, there are UV coloured tubing, which look quite good, and there are Full colour tubing as well, but they come in either White or Black.

Tips - dont be sparring with the amount of tubing you get, try to get more than what you really need if you have just cpu block invovled than something like 3 - 4 metres is more than enough for more get something like 6 metres. its better to have excess tubing leftover than having not enough to finish your build !!!

Coolant / Fluid

I prefer using Distilled water + silver coil ( to kill the germs ) or you can go with coolant - http://thekoolroom.c...id_product=1042

Tip - Coolant is all in one, has germ killing additives in it, BUT, there have been issues with coolant, the coloured ones have been known to clog your waterblocks and burn through some tubing and such. some chemicals inside some coolants will slowly chew apart perplex / tubing items.

Distilled water + silver coil have issues also some are known to be kill copper / nickel in some blocks.... but its not as common and are usually isolated incidents using shitty branded products.

Distilled water + silver coil are cheaper and much much easier to use.

Silver coil - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=402 - simple to use, just put it into your res and have it just sitting there.

Barbs / Compression Fittings

Theres plenty of fittings out there, 1/2" ID or 3/8" ID just make sure you use the right threadings that go with your waterblocks.

Tips - Compression fittings are kool looking, but are known to tear and wear tubing, their hard to use at times, but do make your loop look better. I personally use barb / clamp.... easier to install and the look of it isnt that bad.

Try to get yourself enough fittings that you need for your loop, know what sort youll need as well, angles or straight ones, if not sure, just get half of each, better to have more than to have none at all !!!

Compression Fittings 3/4 OD - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=321

Compression Fittings 1/2 OD - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_product=325

Barbs - http://thekoolroom.c...?id_category=37 - Go for enzotech barbs, theres plenty there, just match the specs to your tubing specs, if your confused, you can always email thekoolroom reps, they are very very friendly and love to help.

CPU BLOCK

Get a good branded block, steer clear of EK products at the current time, they arnt doing too well for now. Aquacomputer is bang for buck product, try to go with them, if not just do some research and OCAU peeps can help lead you as well.

INTEL BLOCK - http://thekoolroom.c...id_product=1130

AMD BLOCK - http://thekoolroom.c...id_product=1166

GPU BLOCK

Same goes with GPU blocks, steer clear of EK products at the current time, go with brands like Aquacomputer, they are well designed.

Third Step

Okay now you have ordered your products, to install your watercooling loops its quite simple just like building a computer.

Tips -

1. try to setup your whole w/c system outside the comp first, install all the parts and tube them up, put in distilled water and get it powered up, this is to ensure there are no leakages and no suprises when you put it into the computer

2. take your time, the worst thing you can do is rush it and forget something and have coolant / distilled water all over your motherboard !!!

3. when you first boot up the loop with the computer in place, use paper towles and put them under where the tubes insert into the barbs, that way if there is a leak it will hit the paper towel mostly instead of computer parts.

4. if you do have leakages, dry out those parts before booting up the system again..... the last thing you want is excess water around and you end up frying something. A hair dryer can do that but for best results use Sunshine

5. quiteness is the key for watercooling, your pump will make noise when you first put it through its pumping out all those air bubbles, so after a few hours it will go quite, get some good fans low rpm high cfm fans.... like i suggested the thermalright ones are perfect, their quite and do enough for cooling.

6. dont be lazy, always maintain your loop, every about 6months or so, drain your loop ( bleeding ) and put in same coolant or new ones. if using distilled water, just put in new distilled water.

7. if you start to see colour fading from tubing / coolant or water looking a bit murky..... bleed your system straight away, and take apart your blocks checking for dye clogging or algae growth, if this is the case, its as simple as running them under water cleaning it up, and then soak them in distilled water, drain it dry it up and they should be as good as gold to use again.

8. take pics, post them up, show your e-peen off !!!!!

I hope this helps those that want to get into watercooling and if so...... WELCOME TO THE CLUB, DONT FORGET TO POST YOUR BUILDS ON OCAU FORUMS, AND BUILD LOGS, PEEPS LOVE IT AND THEY CAN ALWAYS ALWAYS HELP YOU OUT. surprisingly enough they arnt dicks !!!