Fittings

The fittings connect the pipes to the blocks, radiators, pump, and reservoir and determine how organized and reliable the water loop will be. Here you will find compression fittings for soft and hard pipes, angled and rotary adapters of 45° and 90°, extensions, offset adapters, splitters, plugs, and drain valves. The right fitting saves unnecessary bends in the pipes and makes installation easier.

How to choose

• Type of pipe. Fittings for soft pipes clamp the pipe from the outside with a cap. Fittings for hard pipes seal with O-rings and are chosen based on the outer diameter of the pipe.
• Size. For soft pipes, look at the inner and outer diameter, for example, 10/16 mm or 12/16 mm. For hard pipes – the outer diameter, for example, 12, 14, or 16 mm. The size of the fitting must match exactly.
• Angles. Angled adapters of 45° and 90° allow the pipe to bend in tight spaces. Rotary ones rotate after installation and facilitate arrangement.
• Extensions and offsets. They shift the connection point to bypass an obstacle or align two connections.
• Drain valve. Placed at the lowest point of the loop, it makes fluid replacement clean and easy.
• Color and finish. Nickel, black, white, gold, and titanium allow the fittings to match the overall look of the assembly.

What to watch out for

• Hand-tighten the fittings – tools can damage the seals and threads.
• Each angled adapter slightly reduces flow – don't overdo it with them.
• Check if the O-ring is in place before screwing.
• Plugs for unused ports are also fittings – don't forget them.
• Perform a leak test after any changes in the loop.

Compatibility

Almost all water cooling parts use the standard G1/4 thread, so fittings from different brands work with blocks, radiators, and reservoirs from other manufacturers. The most important thing is that the size of the fitting matches the pipes. If you plan to use hard pipes, you will also need tools for cutting and bending. You can find the entire range for the loop in water cooling.