Need watercooling advice

[GIBSON]

Well, as the title says, I need some advice.
I've been using my Corsair Cool for well over a year now and I recently had a 'lil problem. When I came back from our trip to Djerba this summer (~2 months ago), I fired my rig up and the fluid didn't start to flow. Powered down and tried again, at that moment it did start flowing but it was like as if it had hardened, really freaky. It seemed like it began to mix and all seemed well again. About a week ago however I come in my room and I look through my side window (which I normally never do, funny how i did then) and it seemed like the thing wasn't flowing any more. Sure enough, I check my temps, ~53°C (the thing had been folding away all day). I powered down, waited a few minutes (damn, those hoses were hot when i touched them :lol:) powered up again, and well, the same thing happened like when I got back this summer. It was like it was clogged and started to move again. Any of you guys ever heard about this before?
Anyhow, I think it seems like a good idea to flush the thing and do a refill (what do you guys think?). This also seems like an excellent opportunity to add a GPU block I think. (can any of you recommend any for my 6800 ultra?)

[markkleb]

If the fluid is antifreeze and water it should never harden. I dont know if i would trust the system.
( I have antifreeze in bottles several years old and its just as liquid now as it was years ago)

And as to adding a GPU cooler, will the Corsair work as well with extra demands on it? (dosent a GPU create more heat than a CPU?)

Is the Corsair 3/8" line? mabye you could look at one of the Alphacool GPU coolers.
http://www.xoxide.com/alphacool-nexxxos-nvxp-3-nv.html
(that cooler could be used on a 7900 also if you get one later)

I have been using the Coolermaster version and its OK but I wouldnt go nutts OCing or adding extra blocks (1/4 line seems too small to me)

[Bio-Hazard]

The start-up problem that you're having has happen in the past to a older version of the original DDC pump that comes in the COOL. If the problem continues, REPLACE the pump, but instead of the standard DDC pump, get the DDC 2 instead. The original (yours) is rated at 9w and the new one is rated at 18w and has much better performance.

http://www.lainginc.com/dc_pumps.htm

http://www.lainginc.com/DDC-1.htm

http://www.lainginc.com/DDC-2.htm

Swiftech, Danger Den as well as others sell the improved pump.

Seeing as you've been running the system over a year, it's a good idea to drain and flush it. Just completely drain it and refill with a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and white vinigar and then run it of a hour or so. Then drain and refill with straight distilled water and let run again, after that drain and refill with distilled water and additive of your choice. The additive that comes with the Corsair units is just a low tox anti-freeze (Propylene Glycol) and should be fairly easy to find just about anywhere. But just about any anti-freeze will work just fine, the VW type is very popular and has a sweet blue coloring to it and should be real cheap over in Europe........;)

As for adding a GPU block to your loop, it will raise your overall temps a little (single radiator, 2-3c maybe). Just pick a quality 3/8" barb block like Swifteck, Danger Den.......:) I wouldn't waste my money on any of the full coverage blocks for your card, as they "WILL NOT" fit the newer 7900 series and newer cards if you're planning on up grading anytime soon. Just get a single GPU block like the Swiftech MCW60 or DD Maze4, lots cheaper and easier to install as well.

[BigD]

i got a basicly new maze 4 ill sell you :wink:

and yeah get a new pump, maybe a duel rad? if you can mount it/ pay for it:mrgreen:

[Llanerion]

It'd be very unlikely for your coolant to gel, but you may well need to look into getting a new pump as sbrehm suggests. If you're planning on adding a GPU block, you'll definately want to go sniffing up some new radiators to add into the loop before that block as well.

[GIBSON]

I can't quite see how the problem can be related to the pump (it just looked like the coolant had hardened) but anyhow, if you say so I believe you. Shouldn't I be getting some ramsinks if I only use a gpu block that covers the GPU core itself? A new rad, all good and well, but I wouldn't know where to place it ?!

[XJnine]

What were you using for coolant?

[GIBSON]

What were you using for coolant?
The stuff that came with my corsair cool, topped it off with distilled water.

[Bio-Hazard]

Like I said, the Corsir stuff is just low tox anti-freeze and shouldn't thicken or the like. Drain and flush the system and refill with the correct % mixture that the manual says. If the pump keeps acting up after that, you may have one of the faulty ones and it should be replaced.
If you get just a GPU block the most that you'll need on the ram is standard ram sinks and a little air flow......:)
Or you could go all out and get the Swiftech VGA ram water blocks that just came out. They are supposed to fit all reff nvidia memory from the 6800 on up. I just got a review sample today...........:)

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/3861/dsc00114ob7.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1567/dsc00115qw9.jpg

[GIBSON]

Damn that's looking nice, looks pricey too though.
So uhm, I shouldn't replace the pump just yet, only if I keep on getting trouble?

[Bio-Hazard]

You got it, drain and flush first, then if the problem keeps up, get a new pump.

[XJnine]

And post pics of your coolant if it's all gooey!

[pc_man_iac]

Somewhat off topic, ontopic question, how do you drain the fluid, like how are the re-usable barbs removed without cutting the tubing?

[Bio-Hazard]

Depending on your tubing, it can be somewhat hard to get the tubing off the bards. Try gently wiggling and pulling at the same time, warming the tubing with a hair dryer to soften the tubing also works sometimes. It's best to remove the block and remove the tubing if it's really on tight so you don't damage anything on your MoBo. As a last resort, you may have to cut the tubing off the barb, I've had to do this only one time in the past, but that was when I used 7/16" tubing on 1/2" barbs. Just take your time and be careful and the tubing will come off.