New Build questions?

Updated!, Now w/PICS TT Armor Case, New Build questions?

My water cooling gear:

DD (Danger Den) TDX CPU block (going to use fro AMD 5000 Black Ed. CPU)
DD 8800GTS water block
DD D-5 12v pump
Rads:
Black Ice GTX120 (1x120) in case
Black Ice GTS360 stealth (3x120) top of case

Reservoir is Swiftech Micro drilled and tapped for a Thermaltake temp sensor and LCD readout.

Coolant is 95% distilled H2O and 5% Zerex super coolant (plus 2 drops of copperIIsulfate (biocide)

Case is Thermaltake Armor Full tower.



My question is that how should I run my loop?

My initial plan was this:

Pump—CPU—GTX120—GPU—GTS360—Res—back to pump.

Then I read that I could have too much pressure drop across 2 rads with the D5 pump.

The GTX120 was expensive for a single 120 rad so I kind of wanted to keep in the loop but the cheaper GTS360 will most likely remove a lot more heat so should I just keep that and sell the GTX120. My main goal is cooling but I do not want to add a 2nd pump. My opinion on putting the GTX120 after the cpu is that I could lower the temp of the H2O before it hit the GPU. With a greater delta T on the GPU I could get more cooling out of the GPU block for a higher overclock.

What are your opinions on this! I might run both setups (one rad/2rads) and run some temp bench marks. I will post some pics once I finish my build which will hopefully be this weekend.


UPDATE! I went with just the one RAD! Here are the pics! Love it!

Id start with this:

Res > Pump > little rad > CPU > GPU > large rad > back to Res

I say that because it seems that it would be easiest for routing the tubing, and while you might not need all of those radiators, if you cant get enough flow to the blocks, just add a bigger pump.

Loop order doesnt matter as the delta between places will be less than 1C, the loop eventually reaches equilibrium in water temps.

I'd just sell the GTX120, remove the restriction from the loop. A tripple rad should be able to handle CPU and GPU just fine.

If you really wanted to keep the GTX120 in the loop, the D5 would be able to handle it, without much fuss.

I'd be interested in seeing the Micro Res mod with the thermal readout

Besides the loop components there are two things that contribute to loop restriction:

1. every foot of tubing you use adds restriction
2. any curve where R < 10x ID increases restriction and the tighter the curve the more restriction you get

Since your components are fixed factors only the tubing and component placement to reduce tubing restriction can be "optimized".



IF you can put the rads (or at least one rad) in between the pump and CPU then all the better, if not it's no big deal.

The MCP655 can handle the double rads without problems though the TDX might suffer a little from reduced flow/pressure ...

I'm putting a 120.1 and a 120.2 dual rad system in a TT armor, very similar setup to yours.

Your pump will handle the loop no problem. Although honestly, I'd ditch the 120.1 rad and just use the 120.3 if I were you. Only reason I'm going dual rad is I didn't want to mod the case at all for a 120.3, and I personally hate mounting rads on the top of cases.

update with pics. 1st post

looks great!

Looks good! Good positioning of parts, no tight curves - good job ...