Basic Introduction to Watercooling
Watercooling Basics
This is a basic guide to the setting up of a watercooling rig.
Components:
Waterblock
Pump
Heat-exchanger
Hoses
Reservoir (Optional)
Simple explanation:
The pump pumps water from the reservoir to the waterblock on the processor. The block absorbs heat from processor and dumps into the water going through it. The water that is heated-up then travels to the heat exchanger which absorbs the heat from the water, cooling the water in the process. The cooled water returns to the reservoir.
Waterblock
Advisable to go for copper makes.
Fittings: 3/8" or above for enough flow rate. ½" recommended
Recommended mounting method: 4-bolts through motherboard holes + springs method.
Heat-exchanger:
Mainly radiators or evaporative coolers.
Recommended: Radiators, since evaporative coolers take up more space and require
more maintenance.
Fittings: Go with fittings you have on waterblock.
3 main types of radiators:
a) Round winding single pipe with fins (Eg. Aquacoil/ DangerDen cooling/super
cubes)
b) Flat winding Single pipe with fins
c) Parallel-running flat pipes with fins (commonly known as heatcores)
Recommended: Flat pipes with fins.
Pump:
Submersible/ inline (submersible cannot use without being submersed in water)
Recommended: Inline, Eheim brand pumps. Get a 1200L/hr or bigger pump.
Hoses:
Recommend good hoses like the green Eheim ones available in aquarium shops (They are PVC hoses but higher quality ones) Spiral wraps around hoses to prevent kinks and reduce pressure on blocks recommended.
Reservoir:
Basically any container, a must if using submersible pumps.
Inline pumps can run without reservoir if short on space. Fill the rig with
water thru an extension of hose connected to T connector that connects to your
water cooling loop. Extension of hose must be at highest point when filling
the rig and capped water-tight after filling.
Recommendation for reservoirless system: T-tube extension
Filling method:
When filling, pull the tube upwards so that it is at highest point and with funnel in the tube, slowly pour water in. When the water reaches the pump, turn on the pump for a while so that the water travels around, continue holding the tube high. Turn it off then pour somemore. Repeat until there are no more bubbles and the water is inside the radiator and block. Then cap it up tight. You can slot the fill-tube into the 5 1/4" bay.
Coolant:
Recommended:
Tap water + motor-car coolant/water wetter (Glycol mixture). It is not really
necessary to use distilled water as Singapore's tap water is quite ok. Just
mix in auto-mobile coolant which is available at petrol kiosks to prevent corrosion
and growth, especially when you use a copper block with an Aluminum radiator.
Watercooling products available locally from:
http://www.nextbyte.com.sg/portal/
BozoXP From http://forums.natriumtech.com
For more indepth information on watercooling, especially the DIY sutff, please refer to this article.