Very recently I have convinced myself to install a custom loop into my PC. The only thing I need to know is what is the best water cooling kit for around $200. I will only be cooling the CPU. If its any good to know, the case I am using is a NZXT Phantom, the original. Thanks.
I also want to do a custom loop in my original phantom, just cpu, but I want to devise a way to fit a tripple radiator in there for room to expand my loop later on.
I have been lurking around frozencpu.com and im looking into one of the XSPC Kits
Even if you're just doing the CPU loop your budget seems to be a little low, unless you want to use car parts. Cheapest if probably around 300$, at least a loop I would trust pushing water around my hardware. Some good budget companies you can check out are EK and XSPC, both cheaper and great parts. If you can up your budget to about 300 you should be able to get away with some decent XSPC parts and some Enzotech fittings at frozencpu.com. Make sure all your threads match and all fittings match the ID of the tubes. Buy all your big parts first such as pump, res, rad, water blocks, and your tubes, this is so you can lay it out and see what kind of fittings you may need in the system. Just a few little tips, feel free to ask any and all questions!
A Swiftech Apogee HD is already going to run you about $75usd which leaves $125 for tubing, fittings, reso, rad, and pump.... probably not going to happen.
Better off just buying a Corsair H100i and calling it a day since you're only going to do your CPU.
You Can Browse the sight for 1x 120 Kits ect... http://www.aquatuning.us/product_info.php/info/p13669_Alphacool-NexXxoS-Cool-Answer-240-LT-ST---kit.html it coms to 180 with tax, and you can add a second pump in the res if you want to expand the loop to say a gpu waterblock and a 120mm rad in the rear.
I'm doing a custom loop for an NZXT Phantom as well, the overall loop - mostly using XSPC and Alphacool parts - cost around $400 bucks. I'd reconsider a custom loop if you've got a low budget, or you'll find yourself skimping out and getting cheap parts.
Agreed^
I didn't know that it would be that much I just thought that 200 would be enough. I have no problem uping the budget. I was looking at some EK products on preformancepc.com and I have heard that they have some of the higher quaility products out of the companies that sell water cooling gear. Like I said I can work with a higher budget so any suggestions for a couple hundred dollars more would be great as well as some general do's and don't with custom cooling.
The best thing to do when starting a watercooling rig is to spend a considerable amount of time just setting up the loop. That's the best way to gauge what you need. I spent about three hours just staring at drawings and pictures of the NZXT Phantom, since I don't actually own it yet, and just decieded what would go where.
It's even better if you've actually got the case first, since you can gauge how much space you've got for specific components.
Next I would try and plot out the loop itself, what diameter tube you'll be using, how many fittings you'll need, or if and how many angled fittings you'll need. I also spent a considerable amount of time just working out the aesthetics of the rig, making sure everything actually looks right.
Afterwards, I'd then look at individual parts - and try to find the best of the bunch. I wouldn't skimp out on anything, even fittings - they're preventing water from spilling all over the bloody place, after all. >:)
That doesn't mean that you can't get great parts for the price, lots of websites have high quality stuff (EK, XSPC) for great prices.
I'd check out Frozencpu.com for watercooling - they've got great stuff.
Hope this helps!
Frozen cpu has the most available stock but they are the most expensive almost always. When I have a PC I will give you a more in depth thought. (On my phone)
Alrighty. So for purchasing within Canada really the only two places worth buying from are dazmode.com, and Aquatuning.us. The US has a bit better selection, but these are generally the cheaper places then frozencpu.com.
Performance-pc.com, usually low on available stock, but prices are pretty good.
Jab-tech.com, has good sales here and there, but also is low stock.
Petrastechshop.com, small company. Good people work there, but also up and down with stock. Pricing is average.
Aquatuning.us, carries lots of great stuff, site is in german sometimes... decent prices, but for aquacomputer stuff its the place to go. They have pretty good stock, but there prices are generally lower then frozencpu but shipping is more usually. This is my personal favorite place.