I've never watercooled but I've looked into it many time so I'm not completely ignorant on the subject. My girls is getting me a watercooling setup for my Bday and I need to be sent on the right path.

I want to cool my CPU and maybe my GPU but I'm planning on upgrading my 8800gts soon so I don't want to waist the money on a waterblock that won't be used in 2 months and it's not a selling point. I have 1 120mm 1 80mm exhaust fans. I'd like a radiator on each. I want 1/2 inch tubing. I don't know anything about waterblocks or pumps. I have 2 free 5.25in. bays for a reservoir. Don't know much about them either.

If anyone could point me in the right direction. My budget is $200 MAX! The fact that she is letting me fill my computer with water took enough convincing, I can't go over budget.

id look into just doing the cpu at the moment, that eill cost 150 for a nice setup...

I shal refer you to Dangerden, they have some steups.

http://www.dangerden.com/store/

What pc case do you have? I just want to make sure you have enough room to fit water cooling. It may just seem like a few parts, but getting them all inside and routing the tubing takes more space than you think.

 

Also, do you plan to fit everything inside? If you can't, there are radboxes (Swiftech sells them) which lets you mount the radiator on the outside of the case on 1 120mm fan mount. This is great because you can stick a 240mm radiator on the outside.

http://www.swiftnets.com/products/MCB-120-r2.asp

 

I have a X-Dreamer case. I have been checking stuff out I'm getting a d-tek fusion v2 and a swiftech 320mm rad. Not sure about the pump yet. I have measured and it will all fit! I'm thinking of getting a NB cooler to because my nb runs hot even with the cpu cooler blowing on it. I'm not sure if I'll get a aftermarket cooler or adding it to my water loop yet.

Ok so I think I have everything picked out. Its not final but here is the list.

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=4155">D-tek Fuzion v2-$63.95

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3320">Swiftech MCR320-QP-K Triple 120mm Radiator-$53.95

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3803">Swiftech MCP655-B-$69.95

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3524">Primochill Tubing - Red 1/2 - 3/4-$1.25 per foot/ 7 feet $8.75

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=1478">120mm Quad LED fan - RED-$7.99 each / 3 for $23.97

Total-$220.57

I don't have a res yet and I might go with a t-line. But I've held really close to my budget. Didn't expect the pump to be so much. That's the last thing I want to skimp on though. I still am not sure about the northbridge cooling ether

You could wait a little and get Danmaics Liquid Metal cooler, its better than Watercooling, and no additional stuff except the heatsink.

Read it up here. http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/danamics-debuts-liquid-metal-based-lm10-cpu-cooler/

bob_on_the_cob:

Ok so I think I have everything picked out. Its not final but here is the list.

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=4155">D-tek Fuzion v2-$63.95

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3320">Swiftech MCR320-QP-K Triple 120mm Radiator-$53.95

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3803">Swiftech MCP655-B-$69.95

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3524">Primochill Tubing - Red 1/2 - 3/4-$1.25 per foot/ 7 feet $8.75

https://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=1478">120mm Quad LED fan - RED-$7.99 each / 3 for $23.97

Total-$220.57

I don't have a res yet and I might go with a t-line. But I've held really close to my budget. Didn't expect the pump to be so much. That's the last thing I want to skimp on though. I still am not sure about the northbridge cooling ether

 

Setup seems good to me except that you are a bit over the budget. Hope your wife isn't mad about going over by $20.

 

One slight concern though. Where are you going to mount a triple 120mm radiator? Are you going to mount it outside on the back 120mm fan mount using a rad box, with the middle of the rad connecting to the rad box? If so, just made sure the radiator doesn't block things like the DVI connector to your video card or any other connectors to other expansion cards.

 

I'm going to mount it at the bottom of my case. I've measured everything already. She doesn't care about the $20. I'm planning to scourer a few for sale forums before I order anyway.

Looking good man... Post some pics up when its all done or as a WIP

 I shall add my input. First I would ditch the waterblock you picked out and go with either a DD or a EK block. ONly 2 brands I trust for my waterblocks. AS for the triple rad, if your just going to cool your cpu then it is probally overkill. As far as fitting it in your case, I hope you have taken acount for depth of the rad and the fans together. Where are you plannning on mounting your HD's if you put the 360 rad in the bottom of your case? Also are you doing a push or pull set up. If your doing a push then the bottom may not be the best place to put your rads unless you still have plenty of other fans to get rid of the how air in the top of your case. It would also mean you need to get more air into your case also. Just some things you may want to think about.

I was going to go with a DD TDX but the Fusion seems to be a much better block. Everyone in the Extreme Systems forums seems to love them. The triple rad is overkill but I'm planning to cool my gpu and northbridge in the future and that will save me from having to get a new rad. As for the push pull I moved last month and I lost the side to my case in the move so I'm just pushing the air out into the room. I want to get a good case and mod it myself soon though. I wish I had the money for a moutainmods case. I will be moving my harddrives to the floppy drives slots. I will be taking shots of the process and posting them up here along with my temps and overclocks!

 most of those guys over at XS know what they are talking about so if you get alot of good feedback about that block from several people over there then you can't go wrong. Everything sounds like your set then. You gonna use a t-line since I didn't see a res in your list?

 It might be a bit hard to start with water cooling on that tight of a budget. You might want to look into getting a sealed system like the-- Cool-It Freezone system. They have a high end version and a medium version and I believe they start at 179. Water cooling is fun but just be warned that things can go wrong so just try to be prepared as you can.  Always test the system outside of the pc before installing.

 True there are risks but honestly the best thing to use is distilled water which if it leaks some shouldn't hurt anything. I am not a fan of all in 1 kits but if your on a tight budget that may be the way to go.

how soon you getting this. I will have some parts for sale soon. Like my pump which is the DD version of what you picked out. I also have black ice 120 rads I will be selling 1 of which is for sale now.

@FlyinBrian I am not to hard up on the budget. If I go over so be it. Its kinda just set for me so I don't go crazy. I want to build a system that I can upgrade later. Its an investment! I think of all cooling as an investment. If I buy a $150 cpu and a $200 cooling system then I should get the performance of a $350 cpu, otherwise It's not worth it. @nelsoncp21 I'm going to use distilled water I have planned everything out. I'm not planning on getting everything until mid way next month so let me know what you have. I understand the risks and I have planned for them! Thanks for looking out guys.

Just ordered my set up. I'm now tapped out for money for a long time but I got the Dtek fusion cpu block, DD stealth red 320mm rad, swifttech 355 pump, DD rez, and clamps, red hoses, red antialgee. I'll post picks when it comes!

That ought to serve ya well for some time to come bob

Thanks. I got the 320mm rad so I could just pop a northbridge or gpu block in and not have to to a complete upgrade. My girl told me to get her a list tonight and I got everything into a wishlist and she looks at it and hands me her credit card. My birthday is not till the 27th so early bday for Bob!

Well thats one heck of a b-day present if ya ask me

 Heck yeah. I need to get your girl and my wife to hang out so maybe she'll rub off on her! Whenever I talk about hardware I want my wife just rolls her eyes.