Installation (Cont’d)
Cut and install tubingWith the two waterblocks securely mounted the next step is to cut pieces of tubing to length and plumb up the system. The outlet of the CPU waterblock should be connected to the inlet fitting on the VGA waterblock. All tubing connections should be secured with the provided tube clamps.
(Courtesy Zalman USA)
A PCI slot bracket comes with the Reserator XT kit for passing the tubes and DC power cable thru the back of the PC enclosure. Take care to route the tubes neatly, making sure to avoid sharp bends, which could result in kinks in the tubing.
Hint: Once the pieces of tubing are cut to the desired length soak the ends for a few seconds in hot water to soften the plastic. This makes it easier to install the tubing onto the barb fittings!
Locate the Reserator XT external cooling unit
The Reserator XT external cooling unit is designed to sit beside or on top of your PC. Zalman strongly recommends against placing the Reserator XT on the floor when the PC is up on a table or desk (or visa versa).
Fill the system with coolant and establish flow
Prior to making the final tubing connections, the Resrator XT must be filled with coolant and purged of air. Zalman includes a short section of tubing (degassing tube) with two male quick-disconnect fittings installed that is used to establish flow in the main cooling unit and to purge air out of the system.
Note: You should establish flow within the main cooling unit and purge out all the trapped air before connecting the tubes going to the PC and waterblocks.
Connect the short piece degassing tube to the quick-disconnect fittings on the back of the Reserator XT.
Prior to filling the reservoir, mix the bottle of G300 coolant with one liter (~1 quart) of distilled water. (Here in the USA, you can find distilled water at most any grocery store.) This will result in a 1:4 ratio mix, which is what Zalman recommends. Remove the reservoir cap and fill the reservoir with the coolant/water mixture.
To start the Reserator XT for the first time, you can use the PC’s power supply by carefully following the directions in the User’s Manual or do as I did and use a spare external power supply to get things started. Once the system starts and air is purged out of the lines you will have to add more coolant mixture to top off the reservoir.
When you have established constant flow in the main unit, you can turn off the system and connect the main tubes going to the PC. You must remove the quick-disconnect fittings from the degassing tube and install them into the main coolant lines. This can become a bit of a pain if you have to switch back and forth a time or two, before all the air gets worked out and flow becomes constant. Zalman should include an extra set of fittings to eliminate this hassle.
The following diagram from the Zalman website illustrates how the basic components are connected.
(Courtesy Zalman USA)
• Connect the tube going to the CPU waterblock inlet to the fitting on the back of the Reserator XT marked OUT.
• Connect the tube coming from the outlet of the VGA waterblock to the fitting on the back of the Reserator marked IN.
• Plug the 4-pin Molex connector on the end of the DC power cable coming from the Reserator XT into a spare 4-pin Molex drive connector inside the PC
Here is another diagram from the Zalman website that shows the water flow path thru the Reserator XT system. (Note optional waterblocks are shown.)
(Courtesy Zalman USA)
