Some questions on watercooling

[Hicks12]

Well i wrote up a big post on my phone on sat but it didnt post cause of a security error so gave up , So im rewriting in less detail this time .


Basically ive always wanted to have a watercooled system but the price is always the factor and most of the time more money =better performance so thought never to bother as id get pitiful performance. However ive always had some thoughts about potential cost saving and would like this ask if this is possible...

Using a rad from a motorbike/car? I can get it either on the cheap/free so this would cut a bit of the overall cost.

Using a different pump? The pumps are like £60 and i swear i remember reading about using a pump from a fish tank or something like that, is there a chance of this? This is the major budget killer .

Ideally im gunna pump £100 into WC eventually, i am selling my cm690 so should pay for part of it and for my birthday will be getting cash towards it.

If this is or isnt possible then any chance of suggestions? I want it future proofed as it doesnt change unless your case does (bar blocks) so it will last me i think. What size rad is best to get for a complete system loop ( gpu/cpu) ?.

Any replies are appreciated .

[piggin23]

What you suggest is possible but will not be very aesthetically pleasing.
You also have the problems of using equipment that is not designed for the job.
If you used a car rad for the cooling what fan will you fit?
Also if it is second hand, cross contamination will be very bad.
As for fish pond pumps, yes they can be used but they are 240v and not 12v, so will have to be run separately.
All of this is very possible but you have to know what you are doing to make it work.

[Hicks12]

Ta for the reply .

Aesthetics arent really a major point to me so not much to worry about there.
True it wouldnt be designed for the same job but i can nab a watercooling system off a bike which is designed for high temperature dissipation so should perform pretty well.
Ill probs try and find some wierd way to mount 120mm fans on them or a big 220mm fan.
Cross contamination cant be too bad if i flush it a lot before hand could it?
I dont mind having a seperate power cable for it, you do for most pumps anyway iirc? Ill have to do my research but have a free day tomorrow so will do it then .

edit: Also, what speeds should i be looking for in terms of pumps? GPH/LPH? Dont know what values are good but ill have a check myself, however i appreciate replies from you guys are its less likely to be wrong .

[Englander]

edit: Also, what speeds should i be looking for in terms of pumps? GPH/LPH? Dont know what values are good but ill have a check myself, however i appreciate replies from you guys are its less likely to be wrong .

Just for reference, the pump I just got is 600L/h and if you backpedal a page and look at the specs of the rest of the pumps, you'll get an idea of what the rest will do. It may also be worth noting that I intend to run a CPU block, GPU block and Thermochill PA120.3 with that pump I linked to.

[Pob255]

Mmmm gheto mod

Some tupperware to form the reservoir, a length of garden hose cut up for pipes.

Blocks will be the hard part.

In all seriousness, I've seen people make blocks from copper blocks and thick sections of acrylic, but that does require a CNC mill, although a router and press drill would work.

[Hicks12]

Im expecting to buy the blocks, to much effort and ill cock it up i know it .

Its mainly looking at cuting out the huge costs of the pump and the smaller cost of rads. So far little luck in terms of finding a suitable pump, all have a head of like 1.6meters and looking at specific computer cooling ones they have heads of 3m+ so im guessing they too low.

[scaryjim]

... all have a head of like 1.6meters and looking at specific computer cooling ones they have heads of 3m+ so im guessing they too low.

As I understand it, the head is simply the largest vertical column of water the pump can shift. If I'm right, that would mean with careful planning of the loop you might get away with a low head (as it were!). However, I didn't do much fluid mechanics at school, so I could be wrong with that...

[Pob255]

I'd be careful of the block cost as well they can easily run to £50 each.

[Pob255]

Don't know if this is any use but how about this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dual-CPU-Water...item2558ab9bce

[Hicks12]

Ta for that Pob, ive emailed the seller about specs on the pump and age but for the rad alone thats well worth it IMO so ill probs bid on it near ending.

[piggin23]

As Pob has linked, have a look on the bay. Its a very good place to find equipment.
Lots of people put items on there and are sold for very little money.
I just sold a ThermoChill 120.2 rad for £15
When I purchased it, they were £50+.
If you have the time, you can have a full kit for not a lot.
As for the gheto rig, I would not bother with it.

[Hicks12]

alright ill have a look at the bay but any suggestions as to what i should be lookin for? is that kit useful for me? should i just look for items seperatrly or all in a bundle?.
chers so far guys

[Clockedtohell]

Have you considered using an Oil Cooler as the rad, generally these are smaller and look reasonable, not sure on cost though but I'd assume a cheapy was possible on eBay.

[Hicks12]

I did just check and they are really small arent they . Im hoping the one pob links to gets back to me in regards to pump but eitherway im gunna bid on it on last day cause that rad is huge!

[Hicks12]

Just saw this pump on the bay and wondered if it would be any good? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1750-LTR-INLIN...item5ad6fc571b Now its Like £22 delivered but it sounds really good bar the medium head.
Worth it or nah?

edit: found the next pump up from aretailer, http://www.first4fish.co.uk/product_search.asp worth the extra?

[scaryjim]

Interesting selection of pumps, but are you really willing to risk several hundred pouinds worth of PC to a £20 fish tank pump?!

I mean, they'll certainly pump water, and the flow rate is massive, but I'd be concerned about the pressure, head and noise. For instance a 10W DDC watercooling pump shifts 564l/h, while the ones you were looking at are talking about thousands of l/h. That extra flow rate has to come at the expense of something else. And if it doesn't work very well a) you risk damaging your components, and b) there's not many other use you can put a fish tank pump to