Watercooled gaming rig under £2000

[Main]

Just remember that part of the unpredictability means that you could easily end up replacing a £300 part with one that's much faster but costs a lot less further down the line, so even saying 'would rather upgrade a £50 part than a £300 one' can get a bit iffy

The upside to all this is that if you really want to do water cooling setup as you described, the only part that is going to be truely effected by obselesence due to new developments is the cheapest major part - the block!

Radiator design hasn't changed much in decades sinec it's all taken from cars and neither have pumps because they're well, pumps, while competition between block makers is fierce, even though they're all pretty close anyway since they all rely on the same principles - get a more powerful pump than one in a review setup and you'll probably get better results.

So yeah, the only thing I can say for sure is, if you're going to buy water cooling kit, buy good water cooling kit, cos it's the least likely part to go out of date anytime soon!

[Robscure]

So yeah, the only thing I can say for sure is, if you're going to buy water cooling kit, buy good water cooling kit, cos it's the least likely part to go out of date anytime soon!

I believe I already have.

thanks

[Webby]

I will post quickly now and again in the morning when I am more coherent

Water cooling can't say a bad thing about it I will however spec you up a system (using most of the same parts but making it work a bit better and adding a few things which make life that bit easier. My major concern for you was that you are buying 1/2" barns and 8mm tubing far from compatible! Anyway like I say tired now will post again in the morning.

[Robscure]

I will post quickly now and again in the morning when I am more coherent

Water cooling can't say a bad thing about it I will however spec you up a system (using most of the same parts but making it work a bit better and adding a few things which make life that bit easier. My major concern for you was that you are buying 1/2" barns and 8mm tubing far from compatible! Anyway like I say tired now will post again in the morning.

Thanks, I'm making a lot of changes as I type!

Look forwards to your coherent post!

[Webby]

Okay first question now I am more awake are you tied to buying from any one place or are you putting it together yourself? From your pricing I guess you are buying it from Scan, unless they are building the whole system for you and installing the watercooling then I can save you a fortune buy pointing you to other suppliers. If Scan are putting it all together for you then let me know so we can spec things from Scan!

If self building then this is what I would do,

Start with this kit from Chilled PC

http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/prod...roducts_id=400

If you want the XSPC res top rather than a separate res then email them and have that changed, same with the fans if you would prefer Syches then swap them.

I would then add the following

Assuming your sticking with a GTX260 then change the brand to EVGA if you can this will allow you to remove the cooler without voiding the warranty, if you don't care about the warranty then get whichever brand you like Then buy a full cover water block for it like this http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/prod...roducts_id=956 or http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...cat=578&page=3 or alternatively you could get get a GPU only block like the EK VGA Supreme and a mounting bracket for the 260 you will then also need cooling for the memory and other hot chips. The final alternative is to buy a pre watercooled 260 like this http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/7748470/BFG-GeForce-GTX-260-H2OC-Maxcore-896MB-PCI-Express-2-0-Graphics-Card/Product.html?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-PC-_-Components-_-BFG%2BGeForce%2BGTX%2B260%2BH2OC%2BMaxcore%2B%2F%2B896MB%2B%2F%2BPCI%2BExpress%2B2.0%2B%2F%2BGraphic s%2BCard&source=5066&engine=froogle_pc&keyword=BFG+GeForce+GTX+260+H2OC+Maxcore+%2F+896MB+%2F+PCI+Ex press+2.0+%2F+Graphics+Card no need to worry about warranty then

In other tweaks I would suggest you get a Y or T and a ball valve to act as a drain point so that you can easily empty the system when required. I would also suggest you get a mount for the pump this one in fact http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/prod...roducts_id=969 it will reduce vibration and make it easier to mount the pump as well.

Hopefully that all made some sort of sense...

Basically if you do not want to water cool your GPU then add the drain valve stuff and pump mount to the kit from chilled PC and you will be good to go, you may also want to consider adding a northbridge block but with the motherboard you have picked you will need to add cooling to the mosfets as the NB and mosfets are linked via heatpipes. To replace them you could either get water blocks or Thermalright HR-09 Type 2 coolers one of each the U and S types (available from scan for £10 each). If you want a NB block the the swiftech MCW30 is plenty good enough and cheap too

Hmmm just realised I never posted this, its been sat in the quick post box since lunch time

[Robscure]

lol Webby, thanks a lot.

Yes, I plan to buy everything from Scan.

[MAJOR EDIT: I removed everything I said because, I "just don't make no sense!" lol]

[edit: if you know of a really good watercooling setup that I can get entirely from scan, then please let me know, but I think the selection is rather limited]

[Webby]

Hmmm well having had a really good look through Scan's water cooling selection it is lacking to say the least.

If money is no object then get this,

CPU Block: Swiftech GTZ £51.10
NB Block: None Available - consider the Aquacomputer Twinplex XT £30.03 (need to check if it has any aluminium in)
GPU Block: EK FC-280 £66.99 (says it is compatible with the 280 and 260)
Pump: DDC 3.2 with XPSC Res top 18w £75.19
Radiator: TFC Triple XChanger £74.01
Barbs: TFC 3/8" Compression fittings £3.40 each (need 8 or 10 depending on NB block)
Tubing: TFC Clear tube 3/8" ID 1/2" OD £3.51 (2m length will probably need 2 lengths)
Fluid: TFC Feser One Acid green £7.04 (colour you picked, 1 will probably be enough, but having a spare is no bad idea)
Fans: 3x Scythe S-Flex 1600rpm £11.71 each
Fan Controller: Scythe Kaze Master 5.25" £34.06
MOSFET coolers: Thermalright HR09 Tyoe 2 1xU 1xS £9.98 each

Complete Total: £441.57

Cost for central parts: £253.09 - Everything that is not related directly to using a water block.
Cost to add CPU:£57.90
Cost to add NB: £56.79
Cost to add GPU: £73.79

If you decide that money is slightly more important and you would like to get a system that will cool your CPU perfectly well and not cool anything else then I would probably go for the following

CPU Block: XSPC Delta v3 £30.54
Fittings: TFC 1/2" Compression Fittings £3.51 each (6 required - Total £21.06)
Pump: DDC 3.1 10W with XSPC Res top: £62.26
Radiator: XSPC RS360 £29.36
Tubing: TFC Clear UV 1/2" ID 3/4" OD 2m length £9.39
Fluid: TFC Feser One Acid Green £7.04
Fans: 3x Scythe S-Flex 1600 rpm £35.13
Fan Controller: Scythe Kaze Master 5.25" £34.06

Total Cost: £228.84 (add £20 to get the GTZ instead)

Hope that helps, in addition I might add this (to either build) http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Laing...on-Damping-Kit for mounting the pump to reduce vibrations.

[Robscure]

Hmmm well having had a really good look through Scan's water cooling selection it is lacking to say the least.

If money is no object then get this,

CPU Block: Swiftech GTZ £51.10
NB Block: None Available - consider the Aquacomputer Twinplex XT £30.03 (need to check if it has any aluminium in)
GPU Block: EK FC-280 £66.99 (says it is compatible with the 280 and 260)
Pump: DDC 3.2 with XPSC Res top 18w £75.19
Radiator: TFC Triple XChanger £74.01
Barbs: TFC 3/8" Compression fittings £3.40 each (need 8 or 10 depending on NB block)
Tubing: TFC Clear tube 3/8" ID 1/2" OD £3.51 (2m length will probably need 2 lengths)
Fluid: TFC Feser One Acid green £7.04 (colour you picked, 1 will probably be enough, but having a spare is no bad idea)
Fans: 3x Scythe S-Flex 1600rpm £11.71 each
Fan Controller: Scythe Kaze Master 5.25" £34.06
MOSFET coolers: Thermalright HR09 Tyoe 2 1xU 1xS £9.98 each

Complete Total: £441.57

Cost for central parts: £253.09 - Everything that is not related directly to using a water block.
Cost to add CPU:£57.90
Cost to add NB: £56.79
Cost to add GPU: £73.79

If you decide that money is slightly more important and you would like to get a system that will cool your CPU perfectly well and not cool anything else then I would probably go for the following

CPU Block: XSPC Delta v3 £30.54
Fittings: TFC 1/2" Compression Fittings £3.51 each (6 required - Total £21.06)
Pump: DDC 3.1 10W with XSPC Res top: £62.26
Radiator: XSPC RS360 £29.36
Tubing: TFC Clear UV 1/2" ID 3/4" OD 2m length £9.39
Fluid: TFC Feser One Acid Green £7.04
Fans: 3x Scythe S-Flex 1600 rpm £35.13
Fan Controller: Scythe Kaze Master 5.25" £34.06

Total Cost: £228.84 (add £20 to get the GTZ instead)

Hope that helps, in addition I might add this (to either build) http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Laing...on-Damping-Kit for mounting the pump to reduce vibrations.

Do you think this is worth getting or should I wait?

As of right now, I'm as happy as I've ever been with my build. I upgraded my hardware and went with aircooling instead of water, for now... But I got myself the beast: TJ07B and plan to upgrade it to watercooling in a year's time.

Only the watercooling I upgrade to will be top-of-the-line from a specializer.

£500? £1000? I don't care how much the watercooling will cost because that and my case will last me for many, many years.

Thanks so much for the help Webby... Take a look at my aircooling setup here and tell me what you think.

[Webby]

Hey no problem Yeah getting it from a specialist is a much better option for a start they can offer better advice if you have a question or problem and they also stock a much wider range of components which make getting the system you want easier

I have bought water cooling gear from Specialtech and ChilledPC both have been very good although I have not needed any help as everything arrived as it should and has worked perfectly

[Robscure]

Hey no problem Yeah getting it from a specialist is a much better option for a start they can offer better advice if you have a question or problem and they also stock a much wider range of components which make getting the system you want easier

I have bought water cooling gear from Specialtech and ChilledPC both have been very good although I have not needed any help as everything arrived as it should and has worked perfectly

Wonderful. I will look around to find the best place... You mention those two, so I'll certainly check them out in the future.

Add me to msn if you have it, got2nesa@hotmail.com

If you're a gamer, we can play together

Even if you're not, you can help me with my water questions, if you don't mind