r/watercooling • u/_cags_ • Mar 17 '18

Build Complete Five-year-old system gets a loop refresh

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68 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

3

u/_cags_ Mar 17 '18 edited Mar 26 '18

I built this system in August 2012. It's my third overall PC build, but was my first dive (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞ into water cooling. I recently did a complete teardown to freshen up the loop and fix some rookie mistakes I was never really happy with:

  • Replaced old Danger Den Dreamflex tubing with Primochill Advanced LRT

  • Replaced old EK Res 150 Basic reservoir with Bitspower Water Tank

  • Added Swiftech pump top to make a res/pump combo and a cleaner look

  • Took apart and cleaned CPU and GPU blocks

  • Flushed radiators

  • Installed proper fill and drain lines

  • Replaced or added new fittings and adapters as necessary

 

More pics: https://imgur.com/a/nlYGt

Original loop for comparison: https://imgur.com/9kZ0yOT

 

Current Hardware Specs:

  • Intel i5 3570K @ 4.0 GHz

  • Asus P8Z77-V Motherboard

  • 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3

  • EVGA 560 Ti 1 GB @ 950/2100 MHz

  • 128 GB Crucial M4 (OS)

  • 500 GB WD Black (Storage)

  • Corsair AX650 PSU w/ blue sleeved cable kit

  • Corsair Obsidian 650D w/ minor modifications for airflow and aesthetics

 

notbad.jpg for five years ago, but paltry by today's standards. It still runs as well as it did on day one, and I don't play any high-demand titles (mostly Counter-Strike and City Skylines). With the current GPU/RAM pricing I can't justify a new build just yet, no matter how bad the itch gets. (ಥ﹏ಥ)

 

Water Cooling Parts:

  • Swiftech Apogee HD CPU block

  • Danger Den GPU block

  • Hardware Labs Black Ice radiators (240 and 120)

  • Noiseblocker XLP 120mm fans

  • Primochill Advanced LRT UV Blue 1/2" ID, 3/4" OD Tubing

  • Swiftech Lok-Seal compression fittings

  • Alphacool angle and extension fittings where necessary

  • Bitspower Ice Blue 150 Water Tank

  • Swiftech MCP-655 pump w/ pump top

2

u/spicy_indian Mar 17 '18

I'll stick with my 3770k for the foreseeable future, because 32 GB of DDR3 RAM is so much cheaper than it's DDR4 equivalent. I may delid in the future, although I do not really need to just yet.

Although I just built a system with an 8700k for a friend, and there are definitely performance improvements.

Have you tried to OC your 3570k? You should net a decent performance boost at 4.5 GHz .

1

u/crazymonkeyfish Mar 17 '18

Just upgraded because i broke my motherboard from a 3770k @4.7 to an 8700k @ 5.1. Its a pretty big jump, noticable improvement in pubg, about 20 to 30% higher fps. Also newer motherboards look bad ass and we get to use m.2 drives. If its not urgent though try and wait for 9th gen

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2

u/image_linker_bot Mar 17 '18

notbad.jpg

Feedback welcome at r/image_linker_bot | Disable with "ignore me" via reply or PM

2

u/BadCowz Mar 18 '18

Those changes are impressive, nice work.

Nice short runs too. You make my planned build look like a theme park.

11

u/OnceSavedGaming Mar 17 '18

Awesome to see people running builds that get the job done and not feel the need to upgrade every 7 months.

1

u/BadCowz Mar 18 '18

Watercooling a 6700k and 980ti atm. Seems like the next logical step

-8

u/IatemyPetRock Mar 17 '18

Aww you salty that your friends all have 8700ks and you bought a 7700k?

it is VITAL to the universe that EVERYONE upgrades immediately. Duhh

1

u/spraykay_cs Mar 17 '18

you’re making assumptions, don’t be a dick sheesh

this is coming from someone with an 8700k, I really don’t feel the need to rip on someone with say an FX chip like my friend when I know they would obviously want something better, but don’t have the urge to spend like I do

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2

u/specialedge Mar 17 '18

Looking good!

2

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '18

Looking good!

2

u/solarwinggx Mar 17 '18

VERY. GOOD.

1

u/Gurkenkoenighd Mar 19 '18

Its blue, dabi da dabi du.