best loop design?

[jamescardenas07]

what would provide the best possible temps.

pump > cpu > rad > res > pump

or

pump > rad > cpu > res > pump

[Cathar]

The 2nd config.

pump > rad > cpu > res > pump

[thideras]

Loop order does not make as much of an effect as shorter tubing route. Just make the route as short and as clean as possible and you will have lower temps than if you changed the order.

[synthetic_fenix]

I have a T-line going Pump > CPU > Video > Rad > Pump and its been working great for me.

[MrLarkins]

I am also ready to make my setup...this is my plan for shortest tubing route

pump -> rad -> gpu -> cpu -> res -> pump

[Otter]

In light of Cathar's recent sticky about the minimal impact of tubing size on performance,
I'm not at all sure that a shorter loop will always give better temps than putting the cpu right after the rad. However, I doubt either order or an extra foot of tubing is going to make a significant difference as long as your tubing doesn't kink. These are both very minor factors in a typical loop.

[treatmentx]

i vote pump->rad->cpu->res->pump

how big of an impact, i don't have the time/energy to really find out lol

but in my mind, i'm going with the easiest answer... in that the theory goes as the air is coolest just coming out of the rad. Soon as water is traveling to something else... block (or reservoir/pump), it's going to gain some heat (i think people have debated that, but i just think pump is powered and is spinning, reservoir is plasticy and is affected by ambient temps of the immediate surrounding, the computer and not of the room)...

course i'm fairly new to the scene, but it's some physics involved and i'm familiar with the physics

[thideras]

in that the theory goes as the air is coolest just coming out of the radWhat kind of water do you have?:eh?:

[voigts]

The key is that you asked what the lowest possible temp routing is, which is what Cathar mentioned. However, not going that exact route makes such a minimal difference so as to be very, very minor. In other words, you aren't going to notice the difference in temps by changing the order from the pump-rad-blocks order to whatever. It makes the most sense to simply route tubing in the simplest, easiest order regardless of what that order is. I always route my tubing so that the water flows in a generally circular path from top the bottom and back, which also makes bleeding a lot easier. Some people want to go up and down and back up and down with their tubing flow just to get some specific order.

[Otter]

i vote pump->rad->cpu->res->pump

how big of an impact, i don't have the time/energy to really find out lol

You can use this simple formula to make a good estimate:
c=.0038*watts/gpm

Hence if you've got a 20watt pump pushing a very conservative 1gpm, the coolant will be .076c warmer at the outlet than at the inlet. If you have a ridiculously restrictive block and use a lot of antifreeze, you might see a one tenth degree rise. Go ahead and choose your route based on ease of installation and bleeding, the order isn't going to affect your load temps enough that you'd notice.

[Cathar]

Go ahead and choose your route based on ease of installation and bleeding, the order isn't going to affect your load temps enough that you'd notice.

Yep, I'd agree to that.

I didn't clarify. If you want the absolutely lowest temperatures, route as I suggested, as short and as neatly as possible.

If you can't route it neatly while maintaining that loop order, then it's better to just route it however works neatest, and forget about that you might be missing out on 0.05C or so.