Hello people,
 
I am new to water cooling, hence why for starters I chose XSPC RASA 750 RX240 kit. for now it will have to do, in future some parts would get upgraded (pump upgrade as I read is a must), maybe a better cpu block (e.g. Raystorm or Koolance) and maybe loop extension and adding another rad and gpu blocks? you tell me if another rad would be needed (and a stronger pump I think) for adding 2 gpus into the loop. possibilities are endless, however for now my wallet has the last word and the poor guy looks thin nowadays ... anyways I have just ordered this kit, so it will be a few days before it arrives.
 
The RASA RX240 kit comes with (main components):
-res+pump together X20 750
-RASA Black (acetal) CPU block
-RX240 rad with some 2x 1700rpm push fans (plus I add my 2x Scythe S-Flex 1900rpm for pull)
-2m/6ft of clear 7/16'' tubing and 6 barbs G1/4'' 1/2'' OD
 
I made an initial drawing of how my water cooling idea looks alike as visualized in my Thermaltake Armor (VA8000) case, I marked all components so you have a better idea why I picked such component locations and not other.
I prefer not to use rear/outside mounted rad for now (maybe a second one would go there) and keep everything in case.
 

My main question is what else could I add to the loop while keeping the same stock X20 750 pump and RX240 rad that come with the kit, without sacrificing the performance badly? MB chipset and bridge and nothing else?
 
Also, can I use the Koolance Inline Drain on the rad inlet tube without any side effects? I mean this part (brass):
http://www.koolance.com/i...uct&product_id=739
 
Planning to use the system with stock clear tubing (7/16'' on 1/2'' barbs) with distilled water and silver anti-bacterial additive. I am not going for looks now, it just has to do its job efficiently (cooling the 2600k CPU for now, eventually an IVB CPU).
 
Thanks for ideas and opinions! I really appreciate any input.

The pump can go with 1-2 more devices, but I really wouldnt trry to add any more in with only a 240 RAD, ESPECIALLY if you plan to overclock.
Would it heat to the point of worrying about damage, no, but you will overload the system and not have the capacity to cool it as well as you want.

EVGATech_DaveB


The pump can go with 1-2 more devices, but I really wouldnt trry to add any more in with only a 240 RAD, ESPECIALLY if you plan to overclock.
Would it heat to the point of worrying about damage, no, but you will overload the system and not have the capacity to cool it as well as you want.

 
OK, I see thank you. yes I do plan on overclocking the CPU heavily, not for daily use, but rather for fun. as for daily OC I want to settle at 4.8GHz.
 
so basically I could use it with let's say a chipset+bridge block (1-2 extra components) and that's it in current setup.
if I wanted more (e.g. adding 2x 570 gpus to the loop) I would need to upgrade the pump and probably add another 240 high density rad (e.g. at the back of case, outside), correct?
 
what pump could handle the load of such upgraded setup? I read that Swiftech MCP355 (maybe with 655 top) can fit the XSPC res, am I correct or I misread?
 
can anybody list pumps (with tops if possible) that fit the dual bay XSPC reservoir? I'd like to keep such info for future reference. pump upgrade would the first to go, probably in 6 months, when I drain it for the first time.

if you can afford it
http://www.frozencpu.com/...ill_Coil_Hot_item.html
 
or the 240 rad version
http://www.frozencpu.com/...ill_Coil_Hot_item.html

Thanks for suggestions hatchetrunner. I looked at those products and they seem great I agree.
However I wanted to keep it under $200 so I went with rasa rx240. I'm planning to upgrade the pump and buy new blocks for cpu and perhaps gpus somewhere down the road when I have more money. Then I could also buy ex240 rad as secondary if its that good.

For now, the rx240 parts are coming in by weekend, but I won't be able to touch it until the next one. Thanks for chiming in.

The 360 kit would be a better way to go, a 240 for 4 components is just too light, frankly, I think that thee 360 might give you temps a bit higher than you would likely want but better than air.  Overall should be a good setup.

It is best to go 120mm for every component to get the best cooling.

loveha


It is best to go 120mm for every component to get the best cooling.

EVGATech_DaveB


The 360 kit would be a better way to go, a 240 for 4 components is just too light, frankly, I think that thee 360 might give you temps a bit higher than you would likely want but better than air.  Overall should be a good setup.

 
Thank you!
 
so I should be good to go because I am planning to ADD a secondary 240 rad (EX240 type if its better than RX240) on the back of case in future WHILE keeping the RX240 rad inside the case as it is (well, will be soon). that would give me a total heat dissipation area of 480, 120 for each it is, 1x cpu, 2x gpu and a block for MB chipset+bridge
I had an idea of placing second 240 rad AFTER the cpu block and MB block and BEFORE the gpu blocks. what pump (which fits the XSPC dual bay res) would I need to utilize efficiently such a loop?
 
when (or rather IF for now) I get down that road, hopefully I will, would like to very much, but money is tight. for now it will be a CPU loop only with 240 rad though
 
in future (only on the drawing board for now), it might look like that:

 
I just don't know if there should be a secondary pump in the loop if I want to add a second rad in series or one stronger pump could serve 4 blocks and 2 rads on a single loop just fine. perhaps it should be made as dual loop setup after all, I don't know... it's just an idea anyways, not a real plan for future... any input welcome!

updated above post with new diagram (future project, not for now) showing 2 rads and 4 blocks in a single loop. Of course the pump would be different a that point even though diagram says it would run the stock 750lph pump, I just forgot to change it.
 
I was thinking about upgrading my stock pump down the road to Alphacool VPP655 (rated at 1500lph vs stock pump 750lph), it should fit the XSPC dual bay res as I see those 2 products installed together, e.g. here:
http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/xspc-vpp655.html
 

How is this priced cmpared to the swiftech kit?

Swiftech 240 or 360 radiator combo block, res and pump will save you fittings, hose, take up less space and is totally expandable, think it comes with the newest apogee hd cpu block too.

Later down the road you could upgrade pump to 35x or add another radiator to the loop or gpu blocks.

jh4db536


How is this priced cmpared to the swiftech kit?

Swiftech 240 or 360 radiator combo block, res and pump will save you fittings, hose, take up less space and is totally expandable, think it comes with the newest apogee hd cpu block too.

Later down the road you could upgrade pump to 35x or add another radiator to the loop or gpu blocks.

 
for the initial setup with RASA cpu block, thick RX240 rad and cheapo 750 pump (includes hoses and fittings too) I paid a total of $174 including Fedex shipping to NJ.
I added a Koolance Inline Drain Valve with matching fittings for a total price of $24 shipped (separately).
 
I don't want to use 360 rads, because they are very long and even though it would fit still inside my case (intake area offers max 360 space when I loose the DVD-RW from there) I would have a problem with reservoir placement, would need to go with Swiftech Micro probably and mount it on the side, not to mention another problem with external pump placement somewhere.

I read that thick RX rads are actually pretty good and I can easily stuff it in the intake area along with dual bay pump+reservoir, rad thickness doesn't matter much over there.
 
same limitation (240 max) goes for the rear mounted rad, 360 would simply stand out very very high from the mounting point above main case exhaust. I also do not want to place the rad horizontally on top of case, because my cat tends to walk over my computer like it was a step on his way towards the open window nearby
When I reach the moment of expanding the loop with a second rad, I'd lean towards using a slimmer EX240 rad in the rear, the RX240 might be too bulky over there ...

Wow.  That's a similar setup to what I have, but instead of having the cpu go straight into the reservior/pump like yours, I have it going back to my pump instead.  My reservior is connected to my pump, but they don't act as one entity, or housed in the same case.  There's a 3 foot extention of tube going upwards to my reservior with Fesser Pure Water in it.  I tried to keep the two seperate so the reservior would be closer to ambient temperature (23 to 27 deg c in Hawaii on a normal day).

thank you! My room ambients are pretty high as for NJ ... in Summer 27-28C is rather normal in my apartment, even with AC on during the day ...
 
I discovered one problem though ... it seems that XSPC RASA CPU backplate will NOT fit the Z68 motherboard ... need to contact FrozenCPU, maybe I will be able to swap this block (paying the difference and shipping only) with Raystorm block which has 100x better backplate ...
 
RASA block backplate, no way it fits Z68:

 
Raystorm block backplate, should fit easily, opening in center is huge:

 
back of EVGA z68 ftw board (not my pic):

feniks


thank you! My room ambients are pretty high as for NJ ... in Summer 27-28C is rather normal in my apartment, even with AC on during the day ...

I discovered one problem though ... it seems that XSPC RASA CPU backplate will NOT fit the Z68 motherboard ... need to contact FrozenCPU, maybe I will be able to swap this block (paying the difference and shipping only) with Raystorm block which has 100x better backplate ...

RASA block backplate, no way it fits Z68:


Raystorm block backplate, should fit easily, opening in center is huge:


back of EVGA z68 ftw board (not my pic):

I don't see what the issue is. The back plate normally lays on the CPU Socket retention plate. Unless there is something else I am missing.

loveha


I don't see what the issue is. The back plate normally lays on the CPU Socket retention plate. Unless there is something else I am missing.

 
there are 2 screws in top part of that retention socket and it seems they will be where the "arms" of backplate should be in top portion. the Rasa block backplate has no cutouts for such screws.
on OCN I read that many people could not get this installed on different Z68 boards, because of this backplate problem issue. some resolved it by using Corsair H50 backplate (if they had it) ... some others used dremel to widen the backplate opening (kinda hardcore way to fix it LOL!):
http://www.overclock.net/...240-360-kit-club/11220
 
I actually am working with FrozenCPU on the swap, seems I will be going with Raystorm CPU block after all (while keeping other components same) even though I now have to cover shipping both ways. Raystorm is getting better reviews, anyways, so it might be worth it regardless
 
EDIT:
after I ship Rasa block back to FrozenCPU it will come down to $13 for the cpu block upgrade (vs Raystorm Acetal) plus around another $13 for shipping both ways. Excellent customer service in FrozenCPU!

OK, received the kit today. apparently the RASA block mounting backplate in above picture is not for 1155/1156 ... the one shown above is for 775! hence why it wouldn't fit
 
here is a picture of all 3 intel backplates for the RASA block (from left to right actual block, 775 plate, 1366 plate and 1155/1156 plate on right, on top is AMD hardware kit):

 
also I've gotten royally played and FrozenCPU refused to take back the RASA block now since it came in a small brown box (as part of the kit) instead of retail sealed box "as it used to be" ... I partially understand they wouldn't be able to sell it separately as retail block now ... well maybe ... but ok then ... lesson learned I guess.
 
so I have the RASA kit with potentially fitting correctly 1155 backplate (not sure if XSPC changed it versus the initial version or not but it seems the screw cutouts matching Z68 cpu tention plate are there and also the backplate is different from the one in pictures of installation instructions sheet) ... and another cpu block (raystorm) in transit now ...
 
I think I will install it with raystorm (once I get it) and just offer the rasa block with mounting hardware for both intel and amd up for sales in EVGA Marketplace ...

Need more pics.  Go go!

hehe , not yet, I am still waiting for Koolance Inline Drain Valve and the Raystorm block I ordered. installation will have to wait until next weekend when I gather all parts and 2 days of peaceful spare time

Good luck with the build! I recently went with the XSPC 360 kit and I'm very happy cooling a 2600K and dual 680's. The ray storm is a great CPU block.

^Thank you!   That's the opinion on XSPC I like!
 
I can't wait for the install honestly hehe it bothers me a little that I will have to wait a few days until I at least get the drain valve ... but I think i will get the valve along with raystorm around the same time ... maybe I will start working on it during the week in evenings so I have a ready system by next weekend
 
I only wish my case allowed me to easily accommodate 360 rad, but it's too much of a hassle in my case - would need to loose the DVD-RW to fit the dual bay res+pump or maybe even then I wouldn't fit it there in intake area. for now the RX240 with push-pull will have to do.

MVanden, that tube going straight down from your GPU's, what is that connected to, if anything?

That's just a drain I installed. Instead of using quick disconnects or a T line I figured this was easy and looked good too without complicating my loop too much.

Ahhh ok cool, thanks for the clarification.

luckily all parts arrived today - thanks USPS for Satruday deliveries!
 
possible that I will start the install tonight

some pics
 
PIC1 system assembled before first fill, only pump connected to psu

 
pic2 rx240 rad mounted in intake area. it's held by foam on left right and bottom sides. on top it's held in place tight by an hdd bay insert (single slot)
 

 
pic3 raystorm water block (I know I am missing 2 zip ties)

 
pic4 res slid out for initial fill and bleeding:

 
pic5 all that's left, about a foot of 7/16'' hose (out of 6ft/2m) and 2 too small zip ties I ordered with Koolance drain valve:

 
took me from 9:30pm to roughly 1:00am to get to this point, now bleeding ever since.

quick question about tilting when bleeding. can I actually put my system on its right side or rather the pump would suck air? res is almost full, but I see the pump sends some air bubbles downstream once I tilt it right too much.
I am trying to bleed the rad right, not easy, since fitting are  at bottom ...

one more question.
 
I ordered 2 extra tube clamps, 1/2'' OD, but of course I took too small ones as I see now. according to some compatibility chart (linked from frozencpu.com) I should have taken 3/4'' OD, is that right?

 
I'd like to pick them up locally in Microcenter tomorrow.
 
my tubing is 7/16'' ID and barbs are G1/4'' to 1/2''.

eeek, spent 20 minutes in microcenter and seems that someone before came in and took literally all possible primochill hose clamps (zip ties I needed) ... their system showed 1x 3/4'' in stock but no one could find it ... will try again after they re-stock the inventory. for now running the system without the zip ties around CPU block tubes/barbs ...
 
too bad that this local microcenter seems to be the only store in NJ actually selling liquid cooling stuff ... dang.
 
anyways, 2 more pics with system fully operational now

 
my 2600K at 4.5GHz (1.32v vcore) idles now around 25C (ambient around 20C) and under LinX load it runs around 55C (+/-3C depending on core), pretty sweet
with EVGA SC cooler it was hitting 76-78C already under Linx load.
with Corsair H80 it was hitting around 70-72C
 
.. now if I only could sell the Rasa cpu block to someone in need ... I need money hehe ... who doesn't, right? LOL!

2 night shots
 

Nice!