February 2, 201313 yr Hi guys, I'm just tinkering around planing rough budgets etc for my next full upgrade/build, probably when Haswell comes out or maybe Broadwell. Anyway I want to go down the custom watercooling track and have been doing some reading up. I know that parts can be sourced from various different sources and you can mix and match radiators from one brand with pumps from another etc, but in my travels I came across these two kits: http://www.xs-pc.com/products/watercooling-kits/d5-kits/raystorm-d5-rx360-watercooling-kit/ - $309AUD from http://www.pccasegear.com http://www.xs-pc.com/products/watercooling-kits/d5-kits/raystorm-d5-ex360-watercooling-kit/ - $279AUD from http://www.pccasegear.com If I got one of these I may just grab some different color tubing instead of the clear. Now what I'm looking for is an opinion on these kits and whether you think they would be a good way to go (seems it may work out a little cheaper buying as a kit), or is it better off to go fully custom and mix/match parts? Initially I'd just be looking at having the CPU in the loop, but who knows I may want to include the GPU down the track. Cheers -Anthony Young- "For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci
February 3, 201313 yr The XSPC kits are great. People on the hardware forums refer to them as the gateway drug of custom water cooling. You can always add parts to a kit, so you get the best of both worlds - good price for most of what you need, and the ability to add on. I started with one of the Raystorm 240 kits, then was persuaded to upgrade to the D5 pump. I also added some tubing and fittings so I could add my video card to the loop. Parts quality throughout is very good and the instructions are also very nicely done - good for a newcomer. I couldn't be happier with the way mine is performing. The only thing you'll want to check on is whether your case will be able to hold a 360 radiator. They're big, and some cases need custom modifications to be able to hold them. I'm doing fine with the 240, which is easier to fit and should be plenty for a CPU and GPU. Most important advice that I got - read a lot first and plan out your loop ahead of time, keeping in mind how everything will fit in the case. Again, the XSPC instructions are very good on that topic. Good luck with it and keep us posted. Alan Ampolsk"Ah, Paula, they are firing at me!"-- Saint-Exupery
February 3, 201313 yr I honestly would stay away from kits and buy the best from each brand and combine. XSPC is considered "best bang for the buck" type of block, EK makes the best CPU blocks followed by a whole bunch of brands. Once you go with the top 5 brands (and XSPC is one of them), there is very little difference in price between them, top 1 and 5 will vary about $20-30. For radiators, black Ice SR1 is pretty much the king when it comes to high fpi and performance combination. There are 2 main pump brands (and every water cooling manufacturer uses them underneath), so you cant really go wrong in any brand, as long as they have the features you need (RPM monitor is important especially if you are going to have 1 pump). I'd get the best compression fittings you can find, they can be as expensive as 35$ here in the U.S or for as cheap as 15$ for a set, you do not want to go cheap on these. Mehmet Yatan
February 3, 201313 yr Author <br />The only thing you'll want to check on is whether your case will be able to hold a 360 radiator.<br /> That's what I'm just reading up on now. It seems there's a number of cases that can fit a 360 rad, but the RX360 kit I linked to above has a very thick rad and so push/pull could be difficult to achieve. <br />I honestly would stay away from kits and buy the best from each brand and combine.<br /> DerStig, if you have time, what sort of config of parts would you suggest to achieve a similar type of setup as the kits I linked? -Anthony Young- "For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci
February 3, 201313 yr That's what I'm just reading up on now. It seems there's a number of cases that can fit a 360 rad, but the RX360 kit I linked to above has a very thick rad and so push/pull could be difficult to achieve. Use a Swiftech Radbox to mount any R360 with full push/pull to any small computer case! HLJAMES
February 3, 201313 yr Author Thanks HLJames, looked into that. Internal mounting would be preferable though. -Anthony Young- "For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci
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