ComputerBB

I've been considering putting a non-conventional cooling system in my computer, and water/liquid cooling is much closer to my budget than the nVENTIV system.

I have real concerns about putting water and a $2,500 box of electrical parts in the same place. I mean, I am a family man, who likes to play games. I have 5 children (2 are mine, and 3 are my wifes from prior marriage).. So money doesn't grow on trees, contrary to what teenagers think.


My system is slightly overclocked, but not to the point that is demands an alternate method of cooling. I just wanna tinker with it, and have a system that my 15yr old sons think is PHAT .. and also puts all the other Dads comps to shame

• Have any of you actual put a water cooling system in a case before?
• What brand do you recommend?
• I have a Gainward FX5900.. do I wanna mess with the chipset cooler for it too? (has a huge heatsink on it, and runs at 47*c.. Gainward answered an email saying the critical temp is 105*c)
• If I were to add a liquid cooling system how much farther (safely) could I overclock?
• Do any of ya know a decent divorce lawyer.. I might need one if I actual take part in this.

Any constructive input would be greatly appreciated

I have never installed a water cooling kit before. As far as what companies I recomend, I think Swiftech is one of the better ones. If you want to cool more than your CPU, you will need more waterblocks (1 for each thing you want to cool). Remember, each thing you have the water cool before the processor will decrease the amount you will be able to cool the processor.

You will be able to overclock your system more with water cooling compared to air cooling. How much more, I don't know because I've never done it.

Usually, people water cool their CPU, GPU, and chipset.

The four basic components of water cooling are:
Pump-> make sure you get one that is magnetically driven and generates a good current/flow
Waterblock->I would either recomend Swiftech or Dagger Den, those are the only ones that I can remember right now.
Radiator-> This is where the actual cooling of the water cooling process takes place, some people get a huge radiator so they don't have to put any fans on it, other people put one or two quiet 120mm fans on it.
Tubes-> I would recomend getting 3/4 inch tubes, at least before you splice them off to different waterblocks.

Well now that Cooler Master is out of the question (Aquagate), I would recommend the Thermaltake Aquarius III (even if it is external and not front panel ). But that is just for cooling your CPU. The reason why I would recommend it is beause of all the controls and the temp. monitor. If you don't need that, go with Swifttech. They just recently got a new CPU water block.

I have no reservations about cooling the chipset and cpu.. but I am extremely nervous about removing the heatsink from my $250 video card. It is a monster of a heatsink, and doesn't look like it would be an easy project.

Here, take a look for yourselves.. Doesn't look like it will be as cut-and-dry as my Ti 4200 was to swap heatsinks on.

Have you tried removing the 5 screws around the hs?

Nope, haven't done anything with it other than install it and enjoy it's wickedness.. cuz I'm skeerd too.. lol

Whats life without taking chances...? I would remove the 5 screws around the heatsink