ok so im just about ready to jump on the wc'ing bandwagon now and i want to make sure ive got all the right stuff to get going. The reason im setting up wc for my rig is that my house gets very warm and even with air cooling the temps are extremely high. Im not a big overclocker yet mostly becuase of the heat issue but i would like to pretty soon. Polarflo TT Waterblock (Blue) Aqua Computer Aquastream 12v Pump Cape X2 chipset/gpu waterblock I dont have the parts yet but i may with a possible trade and if it doesnt work out then i may go with diff. parts but what im going to need is a res and a rad. Im going to have this go in an Antec Plusview case and it will be cooling an AMD XP 3000+ Barton and a DFI NF2 rev.b board NB. I dont really need to cool my gfx card as of yet since i may be getting a new one of those when i make the switch to 64bit. Can you see anything missing or anything i should know about? thanks!!
nothing wrong w/ the PolarFlo TT block, upgradeable (if it ever happens), universal and looks great! the AC Aquastream is also a VERY nice pump, i would get it w/ the new AC plexi reservoir that mounts onto the pump if i had the money. if not, i would go w/ either the AquaExtreme 50z T (removable barbs), MAG, D5, or DDC. as far as chipset block, you don't NEED them but they look nice. if you're going to get a rad, if no one is going to see it, i say get a heatercore and put a shroud around the whole thing, if not, get a BIX. as far as reservoirs, get a HDPE res. they're less prone to leaking and breaking.
The polarflo TT block doesn't work with Socket A/462 (ie, athlon XP) And the aquastream is meant for a lower-flow small-bore Aqua Computer system. The TT block needs high flow and big tubing to perform well. You either want a Cuplex Pro waterblock or similar, or a high-flow pump, such as the CSP-MAG, Laing D4/D5 or Laing DDC (or some rebranded variant). I'd never use a pump powered by the mains, because 12v pumps have a huge convenience factor to them. You're better with a graphics block than a chipset block, since all the chipset blocks really let you do generally is take a fan out of the computer. However a graphics block should increase your overclock on the card by a good margin. A radiator might help...
hmm the site i had referenced to for the polarflo block said it was universal and would work for athlon XP's.... maybe i should check again..... I know a rad would be nice thats why i was asking for recommendations... EDIT: Upon looking at the specs for the cpu block you may be right firehead. It is universal to all sockets EXCEPT 462... nice.... well would: Aqua Computer Evo Waterblock Rev 1.1 Be any better of a choice for a cpu block. I read i would need a anti-crusher spacer for this block. SHouldnt be a problem if i can find one of those. sorry firehead but i feel like you didnt even read all my post? I dont plan on doing any oc'ing with my gfx card really, but since my NB runs hot I would like to have that on the loop unless its just plain a bad idea.. Do you have some links to some high flow pumps and maybe some nice rads that would compliment my system? Sorry if i sound like an ass. Today is my first day live taking customer service calls for a hotel chain and its not fun getting yelled at every call you take.
Any Aqua Computer block will be extremely well suited to the Aquastream pump. You'd only need a high flow pump if you were to use a Polarflo, Dangerden, Swiftech or similar block. Most of the European stuff (notably German, a la Aqua Computer, Alphacool, Innovatek) is lower-flow stuff. I'd recommend the Aqua Computer Airplex Evo 120 or 240 depending on the space you have, if you go with AC waterblocks/pumps. Yes, there's nothing wrong with a NB block, I was just pointing out that a graphics card block is more functional. If you're looking to simply reduce noise, by all means go for it. The lower temperature of the NB won't really be too beneficial. That said, I have a NB block. Just most people consider that all NB blocks are good for is adding heat to loops. I disagree, I just generally think a graphics card block would be higher priority. It's really preference, especially if you're not planning to overclock. I've got a Polarflo TT next to me. It works with 478, 754, 939, 940, 603 and 604 (P4-478, A64, Xeon). A seperate mounting screen is available for LGA775, but there is no official support for Socket A/462 (the very large base interferes with the socket CAM box, so the block won't sit level) If you go with Aqua Computer, I'd say: Aquastream 12v pump Cuplex Pro, Evo or XT (choice really, pro is best performance for the money, XT is best performance, and Evo is best looks in most people's eyes with good performance but worst of the three) Twinplex chipset Airplex Evo 120 or 240 rad, depending on space and budget (120 can certainly handle the heat of those components) Aquatube reservoir w/ Aquajet, LED mod and mounting bracket (or a simple AquaInlet if you prefer, I don't like the looks as much) several feet of tubing - Plug and Cool is standard for AC (8mmOD 6mmID) but other options are available, just make sure your fittings match up. Also, make sure either a) your mobo has socket mounting holes for the waterblock or b) you order a block that uses the 3-lug hold down method. I couldn't really tell from the pic on the DFI site, but as it's touted as an overclocker board I'd imagine it does have them.
from looking at my board i dont see the 4 mounting holes i thought i would most certainly have as well so i will be getting the socket adaptor to hold it down. for the rad, i might try and go with the 120 as i didnt find much stock of the 240 in at the moment but it will be till the end of the month till i can get those parts. Once those all come in ill be starting my project log and all that fun jazz. For the reservoir I will get going with the AquaTube Revision 1.1 and an appropriate mounting plate for that. Now i do have a question. The pump that i will be getting; Aquastream 12v pump is basicly a modified eheim pump. Now since that is the case.. or so i read, will i need to be getting a full metal jacket for that or should i be fine with out it. I see that they are sold for the aquastream pumps so there must be a demand of some sort for it. Thanks again for the help.
No it's not! Alphacool is more of a high flow outfit, Innovatek is low flow, and Aqua Computer is both. What do they all have in common? Small tubing, that's it, small tubing. Most of the people I know that use Alphacool pumps run at 700-1500 litres an hour, which is more than a company that uses an Eheim 1046 as their main pump, and even though a 1046 is being used, they still make blocks more suited to a high flow enviornment - Cuplex Pro and XT. Innovatek is low flow since their blocks don't use many of the other 'features' associated with higher flowing blocks (cups/jets and pin grids), and the blocks can still run effeciently with a very low LPM. All German/Euopean means is that the companies and users feel comfortable enough with 6 or 8mm ID (maybe even 3/8" ID max) lines, and that's it really. You don't need an FMJ for the pump. They don't put out enough anything to make anyone worry. I run my Innovatek varient (the HPPS - an Eheim 1046 with 12v and lots of head pressure - more than an Eheim 1048) rignt next to my hard drives, and have been for the past 1.5 years with no problems.
so im confused now. If i get all aqua computer gear aka: pump, waterblocks, rad and res will i be fine or do i need to mix and match to make sure i get the proper flow rated parts?!
It doesn't really matter, just go all Aqua Computer, or mix and match if you want. If you were to get a high output pump, then you would want a block like the NexXxos XP, Aqua Computer XT, Aqua Computer Cuplex Pro etc (blocks with pins and jets/cups), If you went for a low output pump (like the Aquastream or an Eheim 1046), then you would want simpler designed parts, like any of Innovatek's blocks, Aqua Computer's Cuplex EVO/Cuplex 1.3 or the Cape X2 Pro, for example. Even if you were to get an Aquastream and a Cuplex XT you would still be fine. All I mean was that not all German outfits are 'low flow' simply because they're German.
