Looking for guidance on selecting parts for your initial custom water cooling setup?
Looking for guidance on selecting parts for your initial custom water cooling setup?
Hi,
My AIO (cryorig a80) stopped working. I’m considering purchasing the parts for a custom water loop. Since I’m new to this, I’d appreciate your advice.
I need to cool my CPU now and possibly integrate the graphics card into the loop later, as I plan to buy a new GPU next year. I want the cooling system to be quiet, especially since the Cryorig a80 is very noisy during study sessions or when the computer is on.
Because the case is small, I’m worried about fitting the liquid reservoir, but I have the specifications listed.
I found two suitable options: EKWB Slim 240 or EKWB gaming 240.
What are your thoughts on these models? Could you recommend which components to purchase?
Here are my specs:
Case: Corsair Carbide 400C
CPU: Ryzen 1700 3.9Ghz
GPU: RX 480 8GB (possibly RX 2080 or GTX 1080 Ti next summer)
RAM: 2x8GB Flare X 4200MHz
PSU: Seasonic Focus+ 650W
HDD: Western Digital Blue 1TB
SSD: Samsung Evo 850 500GB
SSHD: Seagate Firecuda 1TB
NZXT Hue+ for LED lighting
I would be very grateful if you could assist me.
Looking forward to your response.
Best regards,
WaterKnight
Before we start offering guidance and solutions, let's explore the factors influencing the two available options for the EK slim 240 and the liquid gaming 240.
Slim 240 features a DDC pump, Supremacy MX block, and Coolstream SE 240 radiator, all built with copper or brass for the main structure.
For the liquid gaming 240, the setup includes a DDC pump, Supremacy AX block, and Alustream SE240 radiator, constructed entirely from aluminum.
Before proceeding with any cooling loop project, it's essential to thoroughly understand the implications of galvanic corrosion.
Consider these points:
1) What led you to choose one kit over the other?
2) Are you solely looking for a ready-made kit?
3) Would it be better to purchase individual components that suit your preferences instead?
4) Have you reviewed the watercooling guide? (or any similar resource?)
5) What do you anticipate your CPU and combined CPU+GPU loop TDP will be?
Please refer to my radiator estimation worksheet.
6) What is your budget?
7)
If this applies to your situation, you can achieve a reasonable radiator surface area within the kits provided. However, if you aim to cool both the CPU and GPU effectively, you’ll likely need more than what’s included. This raises the question of whether it’s best to stick with the current configuration or upgrade to a different case.
Once you finalize your CPU+GPU loop TDP values, you’ll need to adjust accordingly using an appropriate radiator size.
Just a note, when seeking advice on watercooling setups, details about your RAM, storage drives, and power supply are usually not crucial. You can mention them, but they don’t significantly impact the cooling design decisions.
rubix_1011 :
Before we begin giving you some advice and answers, let's discuss some of the reasons behind the 2 choices in the EK slim 240 and the liquid gaming 240.
Slim 240 -DDC pump, Supremacy MX block and Coolstream SE 240 rad. Copper/brass primary construction for all.
Fluid gaming 240 - DDC pump, Supremacy AX block and Alustream SE240 rad. Aluminum construction throughout.
Before going further with any liquid cooling loop build, please, please, PLEASE read and study on the effects of galvanic corrosion. This is an important concept that needs to be understood.
1) Why is your initial decision between these 2 kits?
2) Are you only interested in a 'kit'?
3) Why not buy components separately that you like for the features they offer?
4) Have you read the watercooling sticky? (or any watercooling sticky?)
5) What do you expect your CPU and CPU+GPU loop TDP total to be?
Link to my radiator estimate worksheet
6) What is your budget?
7)
Assuming this is also your case
you can get some decent radiator surface area in there, but if you're really wanting to cool both CPU and GPU, you're going to need more than the 240 you have in the kits above. This begs the question around staying with this case and packing everything inside, or changing to a different case? When you get to the point of determining your CPU+GPU loop TDP totals, you'll need to then account for that with a correct radiator size.
Just as an FYI, when asking for help on watercooling builds, knowing what RAM, HDD/SSD, PSU you are running is not very important. You can list them, but they are far less tangible to the cooling build and really are not being considered as far as changing one recommendation to another.
I have been reading about galvanic corrosion and I understood that the key is not mixing differents metals. And I thoutgh that these two kits didn't mix metals because I heard JayzTwoCents said that in a video of EKWB Gaming.
My answers to your questions are:
1) My initial decision were these two kits owing to the fact that I didn't know which components should I buy and heard in a Telegram group that these two kits were good options.
2) No, I am not interested only in kits.
3) I agree with you but I would need your help for that.
4) I hadnt read it before I made this disccussion. Howevere, I have read it now.
5) My total TDP with 1700 and its OC plus RTX 2080 that I am going to get nexct summer is 291 and withouth GPU just 100. RTX 2080 TDP is higher than my actual rx 480 8gb, however i don't wanna water cool my GPu now because I am going to change it next summer.
6) My budget is 250-280.
7) I prefer to stay with these case owing to the fact that is new.
I posted rgam, and hdds because some people suggest me removing HDD bays for sitting the pump and reservoir in my case.
In addition, I would like the water loop to be silent owing to the fact that Cryorig a80 is noisy.
This provides a solid starting point.
1) I suggest comparing the slim and fluid setups mainly because, if you ever add more components, aluminum would be necessary for the fluid configuration. EK offers a kit with an aluminum GPU block, but it would depend on your card compatibility. Still, if you can afford the slim or similar options, there are alternatives that might work better.
2) A good offer. It significantly expands the available choices.
3) This also supports further considerations.
4) The design is solid; minor adjustments and refinements will be needed, but the ideas remain valid.
5) Knowing the TDP increase in the loop is essential for understanding the rest.
6) It will be challenging, but achievable.
7) We can adapt to that solution.
OK, this provides a solid starting point.
1) I suggest going with the slim model over the fluid version mainly because, if you ever need to upgrade, it would require an aluminum GPU if you opt for the fluid setup. EK does offer a kit with an aluminum GPU block, but we should check compatibility with your card. Still, if you can afford the slim or a bit more, there are alternatives that might suit you better.
2) That works well. It opens up the options considerably.
3) This also helps clarify things.
4) The design is solid; it likely needs some refinement and finishing touches, but the ideas remain valid.
5) Knowing what TDP will add to the loop is essential for understanding the rest.
6) This will make things more challenging, but still achievable.
7) Got it, we can adjust accordingly.
I’ll consider your ideas carefully so I can deliver the best value at this price. Also, I won’t be upgrading my GPU just yet—this might help with my budget.
Here are some images to illustrate my thoughts about reservoir placement.
https://imgur.com/a/aR94Dfl
EDIT: My budget is in euros. Thanks for noting that I’m based in Europe.
I recommend organizing your build around the GPU as if you were integrating it directly into the loop. This approach will likely reduce overall costs. If you skip it, all your connections will be limited, tubing will be incorrect, and you’ll probably need to completely redesign the loop just to add a GPU block and a radiator. You might manage to reuse soft pipe in certain areas, but if you’re moving toward solid pipe, it would be a major issue.
You’ll have to spend money on another radiator anyway—this is expected given your TDPs and the GPU’s extra TDP. It makes sense to postpone any actual purchases until you can do more detailed research into fitments, clearances, and even consider brands like AlphaCool or Thermaltake for assistance. Make sure to get precise dimensions for the radiators; check if they’ll fit with the fans and whether they can clear the motherboard at 140mm or not.
Fitting a loop within a budget is one challenge, but finding the right loop that performs well while staying affordable is another completely different problem.
This provides a solid starting point.
1) I suggest going with the slim model over the fluid setup just because you might need extra components later; if you opt for the fluid version, an aluminum GPU block would be ideal. EK does offer a kit with an aluminum GPU, but you should check compatibility with your card. If you can afford it, other options could perform better.
2) That works well and expands the possibilities.
3) It also helps clarify the situation.
4) The design is solid; just some refinements and polishing are needed, but the ideas remain valid.
5) Knowing the TDP increase in the loop is crucial for understanding the rest.
6) This will definitely complicate things, but it's achievable.
7) Got it, we can adjust accordingly.
What are your thoughts on Alphacool Eisbaer(Solo) as my cpublock+reservoir+pump? I’m unsure about the reservoir placement in my ACSE due to its small size—I think it wouldn’t fit.