What's the best way to improve setup ?

[Mixman]

My current setup is a Swiftech H20-Premium kit....
Apogee Cpu block
MCR-120 Rad
MCP350 Pump
3/8 tubing

I want to stay single rad for a while. So what else can I improve that will give me the most improvement....1/2 tubing, better single rad better pump or CPU block ?

[metloaf]

Doesn't sound like a bad kit, but I would have gone with the 1/2". As far as using 1/2" lines, I don't think you are going to get any real performance improvements due to that probably all your parts in that kit are 3/8" inlets/outlets so that is still the limiting factor. Have you assembled and used it yet?

[nicklgs]

Hey,

I just got into water cooling and it came with 1/4(I think) inlets and outlets and it was around 34c idle and 51c full load so i changed the tubing over to 3/8 , it changed my temps to 29c idle and 42c full load, In your case it would be 3/4 to 1/2 if you think it will help then give it a try. For everything else souled be fine the flow rate shouldn't be a problem or the CPU block.

[voigts]

changing the tubing would give you negligible if any difference. Your pump is very good so there is no need to change there. The best thing you could do is to get a higher CFM fan on your rad and/or have two fans in push/pull.

[Herr Rogers]

I say get a fan with higher CFM. Anything you do though, won't give you /that/ big of a difference. Have you tried tightening your waterblock down harder? I went from 38 to 22 just by tightening my waterblock really hard.

[Mixman]

Seems like there is but so much you can tighten down the Apogee. It is making contact because I can feel the tubing getting warm as temps rise. Right now my temps are 38 idle and 62 load on a Pentium 820 D @ 3.8 and 1.425V. That is about 10 degress lower that on my XP120 w/Panaflo HBIX.

I am using a Silverstone FM121 that put out about 112CFM, so I doubt I could get much more CFM without it sounding like a 747 is in my room. I am using a damaged rad that I had to weld back so that may be the problem. I ordered a CoolRad 120 that will be here soon, but I am still searching for the best single rad that will fit in my V1100.

Would a PA120 lower my temps by more than 5 degrees ?

[thorilan]

to op . if you change pump you might as well change tube size with it to match.
a 655 with 1/2 inch is good. if you are staying single rad then that is your best bet unless you want to change your noise level

[Mixman]

Would a new pump perform better ? Is a 655 a lot better than a 350 ? How about mounting two single rads in the case ?

[bryan_d]

If that were my setup, I would go for a BIX with the deepest Shroud I could get ( I do not mind noise too much). I would also move to 1/2" fittings using 7/16" ID tubing. Then I would move to doing the flow mod to the MCP350:
http://www.systemcooling.com/mcp350_mod-01.html

But that's just me,
Bryan d

[thorilan]

the head characteristics of the 655 are better meaning more flow meaning more cooling to your block. the EASYEST and cost efficient way is to increase the power of your fans

( also the noisiest)

[Mixman]

Gotta admit I like the quiet of the MCP350. Is the 655 a lot more noisy ?

Also, what is the difference, in temps of going from a single rad to a double or triple rad ?

[Otter]

It sounds like you've taken airflow as far as you want to. If there isn't a big blob of JB weld blocking flow through your radiator, the MCP350 should be giving you enough coolant flow, and once you reach 1gpm, more won't do much for an apogee. I think it's unlikely improvments in the pump will get you more than .001c/w. If you do want more coolant flow, though, and you have access to a drill press or have a dremel and very steady hands, you can modify it to outperform the 655 in most situations.
http://systemcooling.com/mcp350_mod-01.html

IMO, the weak points in your current system are the apogee and the single rad. If it were me, I'd do at least a crude check of the coolant temperature before buying anything, but my guess would be a second or larger rad will do more for you than any other single upgrade. You're getting another radiator anyway, so when you get your new rad, try running both and see what happens.

Edit: If you have just the two fans, use one on each rad. Hang one rad out the side of your case for now if you have to, but do not stack them so that warm air from one goes through the other. /Edit

Temp difference for a larger rad depends on how maxed out the smaller rad was to begin with. The 655 is probably quiet enough for most folks (I've never been around one.), but is shunned by most silence freaks.

[thorilan]

asking the diference in temps is a waste of time. temps mean absolutely nothing in your situation.

the only measure of success for you is are you satisfied with the noise level and the overclocking ability at full stability

[Mixman]

Thanks Otter, I guess I'll have to get a split tube to route the water to both rads. But I will give that a try.

Thorilan - temps are a measure of the ability to OC. I know for instance if I can get the chip X degrees lower I might be able to OC even more and even if no more OC is available because of chip limits, I will have a cooler more stable chip at whatever speed.

[thorilan]

Thorilan - temps are a measure of the ability to OC

WRONG

[Mixman]

WRONG


How would I communicate to anyone the difference in my setup unless I say this setup has higher temps than X setup ?

[thorilan]

you comunicate with results. your overclock at rock stable

using temps has the problem of being meaningless if it does not help your OC and if its to loud for you using your fans then you didnt get everything you desired.

you cant say 1c= xx overclock but you can say with xx setup im using i got xx better oc than before.