Water Cooling Club

[Sir Beregond]

6 hours ago, Avacado said:

1.  

Here to help any way I can with hardline.

 

What size? 12mm 16mm?

What material PETG, Acrylic, metal?

 

HIGHLY recommend these fittings from Bykski. They are well made, but most importantly have a HUGE O-ring. This is important because it is very forgiving with tension. I think it can handle 10KG of pressure. 

 

https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/fittings-connectors/bykski-anti-off-rigid-16mm-od-fitting-gray-b-fthtj-l16-gry-b-fthtj-l16-gry.html

 

1. Recommend PETG to start, it is the easiest in my experience to learn on (Acrylic requires a saw to cut). Make sure you get PLENTY of extra tubing. If your build requires 3000MM, get 6000-9000MM of tubing (Especially for your first build).  Recommend this tubing by BP

 

https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/water-tubing-soft-hard/rigid-hard-tubing/bitspower-none-chamfer-petg-16mm-od-tube-length-1000mm-bp-ncplt16-l1000.html

 

2. This bending kit is the one I use, it's well made and a great kit, they make a 12mm variant. Comes with everything you need: silicone insert, deburr tool, tube cutter and mandrels of all angles. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Pacific-Cooling-Bending-CL-W093-AL00BL/dp/B01BX3EZUI

 

3. Will need a heat gun, any old one will do, ones that can stand on their own are beneficial. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-HG1300-Dual-Temperature/dp/B004NDX7O6/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=heat+gun&qid=1615540929&refinements=p_72%3A1248909011&rnid=1248907011&s=hi&sr=1-8

 

4. Need thin heat resistant gloves. Don't really need to be heat resistant, but you will need gloves, I promise. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/DEX-FIT-Nitrile-Comfort-Washable/dp/B074X3DPW5/ref=sr_1_14?crid=A17JW80SNWAI&dchild=1&keywords=heat%2Bresistant%2Bgloves&qid=1615540986&s=hi&sprefix=heat%2Bresi%2Ctools%2C164&sr=1-14&th=1

 

5. Fast tube cutter, though should only use this for splitting long tubes or after a LONG time when you become experienced.

 

https://www.amazon.com/RIDGID-23488-PC-1250-Single-Plastic/dp/B0019MLSLS/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=tube+cutter&qid=1615540608&sr=8-13

 

6. Unscented soap. for coating the silicone insert. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Life-Natural-Unscented-2424L/dp/B01GPWPJTS/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=non+scented+soap&qid=1615541112&sr=8-5

 

7. Tape ruler. I have gotten to the point that I eyeball measure everything, you may not feel comfortable wasting that much tubing, but it works for me. Very rare that I make a measurement. ALWAYS cut and bend your longest run first, that way if you mess it up, you can use it for a shorter run. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Measuring-Measurements-Retractable-60-inch/dp/B07SXFFLMQ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=tape+ruler&qid=1615541181&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQjhYRTJJNjZMN0RWJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTQ1NDQwM0FMTlRVT0hCUzNPWiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzc0NTk0MVBTQ0sxMlVNSE9VOSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

8. Make sure you have plenty of 90 degree rotaries to help line up runs that aren't 100% straight, you WILL need a few. Also, a few 45 degree and hard 90s. 

 

https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/fittings-connectors/bitspower-g-1-4-matte-black-dual-rotary-90-degree-ig-1-4-adapter-bp-mb90r2.html

 

https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/fittings-connectors/bitspower-g-1-4-matte-black-rotary-90-degree-ig-1-4-adapter-bp-mb90r.html

 

https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/fittings-connectors/bitspower-g-1-4-rotary-45-degree-ig-1-4-adapter-black-matte-finish-bp-mb45r.html

 

9. Leak Tester. Hardline is not as forgiving as soft tubing. If there is an issue with your run, you will know immediately when you pressurize. I use the leak tester by EK. and I use a bike pump to not have to masturbate the tiny pump 500 times. 2 pumps on the bike pump and it's pressurized. 

 

https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/accessories-misc/ek-leak-tester-ek-leak-tester.html

 

https://www.amazon.com/TOOLITIN-Bicycle-Pressure-Compatible-Schrader/dp/B087TCWCPX/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=bike+pump&qid=1615542165&sr=8-6

 

Once you get everything decided, let me know, I'll make some youtube videos for you to start. Hardline can seem very intimidating to start, but is VERY easy with enough practice and if you stick to simple 90 degree bends for your first run. Multiple bends gets more complicated. 

 

Wow, this is incredibly helpful, thank you.

 

I was thinking PETG to start out with as well, being a noob to hardline. Not really sure on size. Is there any advantages/disadvantages to the different options, or is it just looks?

 

I do have a heatgun I bought from Harbor Freight years ago when I was trying my hand at sleeving. Also have a bicycle pump. This toolkit list is extremely helpful, thank you.

 

Thanks for the fittings recommendation. Wish their gold fittings were a bit of a different shade (less orange), but that's ok. I'm all about forgiving o-rings this first go around.

Edited March 12, 2021 by Sir Beregond

[Avacado]

7 minutes ago, Sir Beregond said:

 

Wow, this is incredibly helpful, thank you.

 

I was thinking PETG to start out with as well, being a noob to hardline. Not really sure on size. Is there any advantages/disadvantages to the different options, or is it just looks?

 

I do have a heatgun I bought from Harbor Freight years ago when I was trying my hand at sleeving. Also have a bicycle pump. This toolkit list is extremely helpful, thank you.

 

Thanks for the fittings recommendation. Wish their gold fittings were a bit of a different shade (less orange), but that's ok. I'm all about forgiving o-rings this first go around.

No disadvantages per-se. 16mm just adds to the aesthetics of your build (Can make it feel more filled out), there is NO benefit to flow between 12 and 16mm, they are all regulated by the G1/4 threads anyway. There are some blocks (CPU) where 2 16mm fittings will rub and not allow for them to attach, though this is rare. 

 

 

[Sir Beregond]

12 minutes ago, Avacado said:

No disadvantages per-se. 16mm just adds to the aesthetics of your build (Can make it feel more filled out), there is NO benefit to flow between 12 and 16mm, they are all regulated by the G1/4 threads anyway. There are some blocks (CPU) where 2 16mm fittings will rub and not allow for them to attach, though this is rare. 

 

 

 

Cool I tend to air on the side of the bigger tubing then.

[J7SC_Orion]

...all the parts trickled in (some quicker than others) and I started the prep work for the dual-loop (3950X, Strix 3090 OC)...everything cleaned and flushed; allen head srews and fittings checked and tightened, initial leak tests done...much left to do though

 

 

 

[Avacado]

47 minutes ago, J7SC_Orion said:

...all the parts trickled in (some quicker than others) and I started the prep work for the dual-loop (3950X, Strix 3090 OC)...everything cleaned and flushed; allen head srews and fittings checked and tightened, initial leak tests done...much left to do though

 

 

 

Looking good, keep it coming. 

[Sir Beregond]

1 hour ago, J7SC_Orion said:

...all the parts trickled in (some quicker than others) and I started the prep work for the dual-loop (3950X, Strix 3090 OC)...everything cleaned and flushed; allen head srews and fittings checked and tightened, initial leak tests done...much left to do though

 

 

 

 

Looks great! Definitely looking forward to seeing the rest.

 

I've only owned two EK blocks over my decade of watercooling and on both the plating failed spectacularly. Was using distilled water + biocide/inhibitor or distilled water + liquid utopia that came with my tubing during most of its life. It's kinda steered me away from EK. Have you ever had any issues?

 

  

On 3/12/2021 at 9:21 AM, Avacado said:

No disadvantages per-se. 16mm just adds to the aesthetics of your build (Can make it feel more filled out), there is NO benefit to flow between 12 and 16mm, they are all regulated by the G1/4 threads anyway. There are some blocks (CPU) where 2 16mm fittings will rub and not allow for them to attach, though this is rare. 

 

 

 

Noticed I'll have to be careful. Thought I found some of the Bitspower PETG locally at my Micro Center as it was 16mm OD, but then noticed it was 13mm ID whereas what you linked was 12mm ID. 

Edited March 13, 2021 by Sir Beregond

[J7SC_Orion]

2 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

 

Looks great! Definitely looking forward to seeing the rest.

 

I've only owned two EK blocks over my decade of watercooling and on both the plating failed spectacularly. Was using distilled water + biocide/inhibitor or distilled water + liquid utopia that came with my tubing during most of its life. It's kinda steered me away from EK. Have you ever had any issues?

(...)

 

I have several EK GPU and CPU blocks (for years). Most are copper though, but the few that are Nickel-plated are 'so far, so good...'. That doesn't mean EK is my fav water-cooling vendor (Watercool Heatkiller is) and I inspected this new EK Strix block very carefully. No Heatkiller block for the Strix...and Aquacomputer's site was also sold out and non-committal about new stock dates...

 

...then I was going to get a Bykski GPU Strix block, but there's someone at a 3090 forum who had some Nickel flaking issues after just a few months...Alphacool - couldn't find one, and the there's @ENTERPRISE 's recent delivery experience. Basically, it is a crap shoot right now...custom GPU blocks are as hard to get as Ampere cards themselves, and the overarching theme of Covid-19 and its impact on supply chains (never mind the human tragedies) has disrupted a lot of processes.

[Avacado]

4 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

 

Looks great! Definitely looking forward to seeing the rest.

 

I've only owned two EK blocks over my decade of watercooling and on both the plating failed spectacularly. Was using distilled water + biocide/inhibitor or distilled water + liquid utopia that came with my tubing during most of its life. It's kinda steered me away from EK. Have you ever had any issues?

 

  

 

Noticed I'll have to be careful. Thought I found some of the Bitspower PETG locally at my Micro Center as it was 16mm OD, but then noticed it was 13mm ID whereas what you linked was 12mm ID. 

It's TOTALLY FINE. ID doesn't matter, it's the OD that matters. You should buy it. 

[J7SC_Orion]

On to the fans...the two smaller Hardwarelabs BlackIce GTX M160 pack quite a punch (thick, w/20 fpi)...I had them for eons but they're getting 8x Arctic P8 pwm (up to 2000 rpm) in push/pull...these are the revised P8 and are the counterpart to the P12s destined for the two big 480 rads in push/pull. 

 

It's fun using older but proven w-cooling peripherals and rejuvenating them.

  

[Sir Beregond]

40 minutes ago, Avacado said:

It's TOTALLY FINE. ID doesn't matter, it's the OD that matters. You should buy it. 

 

Does ID not matter for the fittings like they do with soft tubing?

 

This is what I saw. Noticed it was the same non-champher you had mentioned, just different ID: https://www.microcenter.com/product/486954/bitspower-1-2-(13-mm)-x-5-8-(16-mm)-non-champher-crystal-link-rigid-tubing-20-in---clear

Edited March 14, 2021 by Sir Beregond

[J7SC_Orion]

...is this your first rigid-tubing project ? I've done copper tubing before, but never a build with the tubing you linked above...

 

...one of these days 

[Sir Beregond]

4 minutes ago, J7SC_Orion said:

...is this your first rigid-tubing project ? I've done copper tubing before, but never a build with the tubing you linked above...

 

...one of these days 

 

Yes. I've only ever used soft tubing up till now. Hard tubing is very new to me so it seems I have much to learn. I looked up some fittings and see they don't need barbs like soft tubing, which I guess makes sense. So I guess that answers that question on ID.

 

What are your thoughts on these fittings @Avacado? Still the Bykski, but does it not use the same o-ring? This is more the color I was looking for. https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/fittings-connectors/bykski-rigid-16mm-od-fitting-v2-gold-b-htjv2-l16-b-htjv2-l16-g.html

 

Where-as the gold on those others look more orange. https://www.performance-pcs.com/water-cooling/fittings-connectors/bykski-anti-off-rigid-16mm-od-fitting-gold-b-fthtj-l16-g.html

 

This is my current rig (pic is missing some fans)for reference on color:

 

Edited March 14, 2021 by Sir Beregond

[Avacado]

Side note, these Phanteks fittings have to be the NICEST presentation I have ever seen for a fitting. Effing felt ffs.

[Avacado]

38 minutes ago, Sir Beregond said:

 

Does ID not matter for the fittings like they do with soft tubing?

 

This is what I saw. Noticed it was the same non-champher you had mentioned, just different ID: https://www.microcenter.com/product/486954/bitspower-1-2-(13-mm)-x-5-8-(16-mm)-non-champher-crystal-link-rigid-tubing-20-in---clear

That tubing you linked is in fact "Crystal Link" and is acrylic. It is extremely hard to work with compared to PETG. Steer clear of it until you have a saw and are very experienced with bending.  

 

And no, ID does not matter when it refers to Hardline the way it does for soft tube. There is no Barb that has to conform to the ID of the tubing, just the O-ring that has to seal the OD. 

Edited March 14, 2021 by Avacado

[Sir Beregond]

12 minutes ago, Avacado said:

That tubing you linked is in fact "Crystal Link" and is acrylic. It is extremely hard to work with compared to PETG. Steer clear of it until you have a saw and are very experienced with bending.  

 

And no, ID does not matter when it refers to Hardline the way it does for soft tube. There is no Barb that has to conform to the ID of the tubing, just the O-ring that has to seal the OD. 

Oh, good call. I thought it was PETG, so I am a dummy. I will just order from that PPCs link...

[J7SC_Orion]

13 minutes ago, Avacado said:

Side note, these Phanteks fittings have to be the NICEST presentation I have ever seen for a fitting. Effing felt ffs.

 

Yeah, Phanteks does seem to do a good job with presentation - the AM4 block I just got was packed and presented very well

[Avacado]

1 minute ago, Sir Beregond said:

Oh, good call. I thought it was PETG, so I am a dummy. I will just order from that PPCs link...

No worries, let me know when you are ready for a bending tutorial. I only have a cell phone for recording so it might be a bit weird. 

[Bastiaan_NL]

9 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

This is my current rig (pic is missing some fans)for reference on color:

I really like the color combination! 
Is that a drain port under the GPU?

 

9 hours ago, Avacado said:

Side note, these Phanteks fittings have to be the NICEST presentation I have ever seen for a fitting. Effing felt ffs.

That's a pretty nice box for a fitting indeed!

[Sir Beregond]

6 hours ago, Bastiaan_NL said:

I really like the color combination! 
Is that a drain port under the GPU?

 

Thanks, and yes. I ran out of special fittings to put it where I really wanted it. We'll see if it actually works as a drain there. 

 

This was a transfer into this case from a smaller case (hence the small rads).

[J7SC_Orion]

4 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

 

Thanks, and yes. I ran out of special fittings to put it where I really wanted it. We'll see if it actually works as a drain there. 

 

This was a transfer into this case from a smaller case (hence the small rads).

  

As I already shared before, that colour combo you currently have 'just works'  ...is your update / new build with the rigid tubing along similar colour theme lines ?

 

...it's Sunday, so just doing mostly fun bits on my new project...didn't even make a mess with the thermal paste (which I've been known to do) - but the GPU block presents another opportunity for that tomorrow 

 

 

[Sir Beregond]

19 minutes ago, J7SC_Orion said:

  

As I already shared before, that colour combo you currently have 'just works'  ...is your update / new build with the rigid tubing along similar colour theme lines ?

 

Yes, that is the plan. Am planning to use gold fittings, and I am contemplating grabbing some of that new Mayhems XTR in white.

 

As for fans, not sure if there is anything that matches the gold theme or not that are also good radiator fans. Worst case I'll look for some fan "covers" that add some gold to it.

 

That Phanteks block actually looks pretty nice. I got some of that Kryonaut stashed in my TIM drawer. Was very happy with its performance when I repasted my 980, and did some maintenance work on a small form factor PC that was having overheating issues. Slapped a slightly different cooler on it and used that paste and all was much better. My Optimus block came with a little thing of Kingpin KPx.

Edited March 14, 2021 by Sir Beregond

[J7SC_Orion]

5 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

 

Yes, that is the plan. Am planning to use gold fittings, and I am contemplating grabbing some of that new Mayhems XTR in white.

 

As for fans, not sure if there is anything that matches the gold theme or not that are also good radiator fans. Worst case I'll look for some fan "covers" that add some gold to it.

 

That Phanteks block actually looks pretty nice. I got some of that Kryonaut stashed in my TIM drawer. Was very happy with its performance when I repasted my 980, and did some maintenance work on a small form factor PC that was having overheating issues. Slapped a slightly different cooler on it and used that paste and all was much better. My Optimus block came with a little thing of Kingpin KPx.

 

...looking forward to your pics !

 

Yeah, the Phanteks CPU block seems nice and the few reviews I could find about it were quite positive re. quality and temps...main thing is that the metal part covers the whole IHS. I did check Optimus but they had no stock, also I'm not sure about their delivery logistics to Canada, with all that is going on these days...

 

EDIT: ....finished soaking and cleaning 25 or so previously-used  compression fittings, now on to the 2x Swiftech rev2 mini-rez_s

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by J7SC_Orion

[ENTERPRISE]

Just finished adding my EK block and backplate to my EVGA 3090 FTW Ultra Gaming.

 

 

Yes...my PC is Borg.

[Sir Beregond]

1 hour ago, ENTERPRISE said:

Yes...my PC is Borg.

[J7SC_Orion]

1 hour ago, ENTERPRISE said:

Just finished adding my EK block and backplate to my EVGA 3090 FTW Ultra Gaming.

 

 

Yes...my PC is Borg.

 

 

...Congrats ! I get to do the EK GPU block for the Strix later today ...btw, didn't you have an Alphacool block (broken stand-off on arrival) for this GPU/build ? If so, will you switch GPU blocks later ? Or did the EK Cube transmit 'resistance is futile' ?