I'm not an expert on all the Aquacomputer kit as I'm just using monitoring kit (AQ5, in-line temp sensors and flow meters) and pumps, but if you're cooling a single GPU and CPU you'll probably want at least a triple radiator and a pump with a reasonable flow rate.

Simplest way to connect your pump to the AQ5 is to use an Aquabus pump which leaves you with the choice of the Aquastream XT or the D5.

The inline internal/external G 1/4" temp sensors are fantastic and you can just connect them between the block and connector and hook them up to your AQ5, same with a flow sensor (there are Aquabus variants available too but I'm not really sure if there is a big advantage to use these when you can connect to the AQ5 regardless).

Personally wouldn't bother water cooling a passively cooled motherboard, they don't really generate much heat and it will reduce the cooling efficiency of your loop on the more important parts.

You are looking for a basic, simple little system, or a basic simple system with good parts that can grow into a monster system in the future? The Aquaero 5 XT is a little over kill, but the good news is that you can keep it for a long time and just move it with you into a newer more powerful computer some time in the future.



The "plug and Cool" fittings Aquacmputer sells work just fine. They are a liitle small for a high power rig, 8mm od and 6mm id, but with a good pump you get plenty of flow which is what matters. Just make sure you get the PUR hose. No barbs or compression fittings with plug and cool, just cut the hose and push it in firmly. Done. If it leaks, just push harder and the pull out again a little bit and it stops.



If you can, get one of the Aqualis resiviours with nano coating. With a micro motherboard and a 600 case there should be room for it. And I would get the D5 pump for it with level sensor built in. The pump is way more than you really need, but it will be ready when you add more powerful computer parts. Also, that 6000 pump Aquacomputer sells with the Aqualis is plenty of pump for your application, and a bit less expensive. I just dont have any personal experiance with it. It does not really matter what kind of resiviour you get, anything that looks good in your opinion will be just fine. But the Aqualis is built so that a level sensor can be included, and that is worth a lot in my opinion.



The cooling blocks for the CPU and Graphics cards are very important, but just get ones that look good and are priced right for you. You are not running the most high powered chips out there, and you did not say you are over clocking, so you do not need the absolute best blocks, just ones that work. Aquacomputer makes very good ones if a bit flow restrictive, but they are just fine with a good strong pump.



inline water temperature sensors are almost a must have. I suggest three, one on the CPU outlet, one on the graphics card outlet and one on the radiator outlet. Also a flow meter is a really good idea. The mps 100 will be just fine, because a flow between 5. and 1.3 l/min will keep your stuff cool. Or go with the mps 200, if you want to to watch the Aqualis waterfall effect.



I agree a 3x120 radiator is a good idea. You can probably just use a smaller 2x120, but the fan noise will be a bit louder, the bigger the radiator, the slower the fans can run, and the less noise you get.