14 replies to this topic

[RaptoR]

As per the topic, the flow in my loop seems rather low. I'm rather new to water cooling so wondering if I've done something wrong...

When I initially put it all together the pump absolutely blasted water though (just tested in with a tube going right back into the res) but when I have the full loop assembled its only a slow trickle.

All the gear is older stuff from XSPC - Delta waterblock, Unamed model pump/res combo and a 240mm double thick rad.

Any suggestions for increasing the flow?

Pic for the folks that havent seen my setup before:

[Righthooks]

Perhaps dye buildup in the jet-plate on the CPU block, which is normally the case. Or the pump may be on its way out, which I wouldn’t suspect before the previously mentioned. The majority of flow constriction doesn’t come from the lack of pressure the pump produces; it comes from the fluid volume the jet-plates allows to pass, and at what rate based on openings. Dye, over time alters the viscosity of the fluid, which in turn changes the dynamics of how soluble the fluid is to its own nature, and that is where most buildup begins. I believe this to be the culprit.


Solution:

Completely drain the loop.

Clean components as I have done further down the page that is linked below. Lemon juice works wonders for restoring openings and removing buildup from dyes which are naturally produced in most systems that utilize such fluids.

Alternatively you can drain and purge the system with a distilled water/lemon juice mix, which I HGIHLY protest against, regardless of the naysayers who claim it won’t damage anything. The acidic properties of lemon juice when not used in moderation or supervision can deteriorate the walls of the tubing and even damage vital O-rings used in fittings and pump housings. This exaggerates issues rather than negate them.

The following link transfers to my cleaning methodology used for water-block maintenance. http://forums.nvidia...9 Ignore portions that are unrelated. Basically, clean with a toothbrush and lemon juice, rinse with distilled water (let it soak), dry with dust-off or air compressor.

-Hooks

[RaptoR]

Cheers for the suggestion.

You are probably right, I have no idea how long QaZaX used all the gear before passing it along and I didn't clean anything before assembly.

I may just go ahead and get a new block instead of playing around with this old Delta.

Also, is there any advantage to compression fittings over barbs?

[jfrydom]

RaptoR, on 21 January 2012 - 10:35 PM, said:

Cheers for the suggestion.

You are probably right, I have no idea how long QaZaX used all the gear before passing it along and I didn't clean anything before assembly.

I may just go ahead and get a new block instead of playing around with this old Delta.

Also, is there any advantage to compression fittings over barbs?

They short out your components much easier :D.

[ExtremeGrandpa]

jfrydom, on 22 January 2012 - 10:01 PM, said:

They short out your components much easier :D.

Thats not a very descriptive explination of your position as to why Barb type are better in your opinion.

@ Raptor, I have used both and because I did quite a bit of swapping parts i used the compression type for the most part. Now I found the compression are more prone to leaks if one doesnt get the correct tubing (some places sell by ID and some by OD, but not all places sell tubing with the same wall thickness) But for a good system that is as leak proof as you can get, go for the barb type fittings. But i have had both leak due to mistakes I made when laying out a system. Trying for a clean look several times I ended up not making runs long enough.

[RaptoR]

ExtremeGrandpa, on 23 January 2012 - 12:27 AM, said:

Thats not a very descriptive explination of your position as to why Barb type are better in your opinion.

@ Raptor, I have used both and because I did quite a bit of swapping parts i used the compression type for the most part. Now I found the compression are more prone to leaks if one doesnt get the correct tubing (some places sell by ID and some by OD, but not all places sell tubing with the same wall thickness) But for a good system that is as leak proof as you can get, go for the barb type fittings. But i have had both leak due to mistakes I made when laying out a system. Trying for a clean look several times I ended up not making runs long enough.

Cheers for that. I currently have Barbs of course, Compression does look a lot nicer though...

Has anyone got any experience with the EK block referenced above? I don't have much choise in block selection, but it seems like a good choice from what I have seen.

[Righthooks]

RaptoR, on 23 January 2012 - 12:33 AM, said:

Cheers for that. I currently have Barbs of course, Compression does look a lot nicer though...

Has anyone got any experience with the EK block referenced above? I don't have much choise in block selection, but it seems like a good choice from what I have seen.

That block is fine Raptor, and quite good at cooling. The only thing I can recommend is to be extra careful with the threading for the G ¼” on the block as it may strip or crack given the material.

I personally prefer compression fittings for many reasons, and they are all I use in my builds. The extra security around the tubing is nice, they are aesthetically pleasing, and they come in so many variations now you can negotiate almost anything you can think up.

Make sure you leak test that specific block outside of your tower for a good twenty minutes prior to fixing it to the CPU. I have heard they can be a little touchy where they fit to the contact plate. Difficult to see a micro-fracture in that top portion of the block.

-Hooks

[RaptoR]

Righthooks, on 23 January 2012 - 12:45 AM, said:

That block is fine Raptor, and quite good at cooling. The only thing I can recommend is to be extra careful with the threading for the G ¼” on the block as it may strip or crack given the material.

I personally prefer compression fittings for many reasons, and they are all I use in my builds. The extra security around the tubing is nice, they are aesthetically pleasing, and they come in so many variations now you can negotiate almost anything you can think up.

Make sure you leak test that specific block outside of your tower for a good twenty minutes prior to fixing it to the CPU. I have heard they can be a little touchy where they fit to the contact plate. Difficult to see a micro-fracture in that top portion of the block.

-Hooks

Cheers. Still kinda tossing up on the compression vs barbs... hah. Compression looks so nice its very temping. It would be this type I would be getting (one again limited in choice - there are no other readily stocked W/C stores in NZ....)

Oh and leak testing is fine with me. Made sure to give my entire current a large amount of time before installing the rest of the components. Havn't had a leak yet (only had the odd mistake knocking over a bottle of coolant which got all over my desk...)

[RaptoR]

Well, new block on the way. Hopefully it arrives tomorrow, which is also my birthday...

[Righthooks]

RaptoR, on 23 January 2012 - 02:40 AM, said:

Cheers. Still kinda tossing up on the compression vs barbs... hah. Compression looks so nice its very temping. It would be this type I would be getting (one again limited in choice - there are no other readily stocked W/C stores in NZ....)

Oh and leak testing is fine with me. Made sure to give my entire current a large amount of time before installing the rest of the components. Havn't had a leak yet (only had the odd mistake knocking over a bottle of coolant which got all over my desk...)

RaptoR, on 23 January 2012 - 07:13 AM, said:

Well, new block on the way. Hopefully it arrives tomorrow, which is also my birthday...

Happy Birthday!

Bitspower makes hands down the best fittings IMO. The Matte Black would be a very good fit with your system.

Oh, and I recommend AS5 or comparable thermal compound with EK blocks, they have a thinner contact plate and work great with dense TIM applied in an ultra-thin layer.

-Hooks

[RaptoR]

Thanks.

I got the bitspower compression fittings too... The zip-ties on my tubes are starting to get to me. Plenty of AS5 sitting around. Its been the best of the TIM i've tried so far.

[Righthooks]

RaptoR, on 23 January 2012 - 07:07 PM, said:

Thanks.

I got the bitspower compression fittings too... The zip-ties on my tubes are starting to get to me. Plenty of AS5 sitting around. Its been the best of the TIM i've tried so far.

Good man.

-Hooks

[RaptoR]

You know how sometimes you buy things and then massively regret it?

This was not the case at all!

Temps used to get into the high 70s and low 80s (on warm days) under the old Delta

[Righthooks]

Glad it all worked out, and those are good looking temps.

-Hooks

[RaptoR]

Yeah I'm very happy. Looks much better and performs better.

No leaks in the loop at all which was great. Got coolant everywhere during the draining and filling/bleeding though. Used half a roll of paper towels mopping everything up. Luckily the red dye doesn't stain.

I'll had that it is VERY helpful having he plexi block - I likely would not have noticed a pesky air bubble in the CPU block had I not gotten it.