My first liquid cooling loop, help needed :)

[healingwave]

Hello guys,

It is my first time to use liquid cooling and need some help as I am not sure if I need one big loop with two pumps, or two loops, thanks in advance!

My PC:

Intel QX9770
EVGA 790i Ultra
Dual EVGA 9800GX2 SSC Edition
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 4x2G
Seagate 1TB HDD x 3
WD Raptor X 150GB HDD x 2
Thermaltake Mozart TX Case
Thermaltake 1200W
LG Super Multi Blue Drive
Sound Blaster X-Fi Champion Sound Card

Liquid Cooling Stuff I have bought so far:


1/2" ID Typhon tubes
Fluid XP Shadow CPU Block
Fluid XP Extreme Liquid
XSPC 250mm Passive Reservoir
Aquastream XT Ultra eheim Pump
Dual Feser X-changer 240mm radiator
Koolance CHC-125 for North Bridge
Dual Koolance MVR-40 with heat plates for Mosfet
Thermaltake Spirit II for South Bridge(on air)
3x Koolance HD-57 for Hard drives.
Also Dual Koolance VID-398GX2 for my Dual 9800GX2 to be added later

the set up I have in mind: Pump-Northbridge-CPU-Mosfets-Radiator one-Dual 9800GX2-3x HD blocks-radiator two-reservoir-Pump

So yeah, lots of stuff going on lol. While I am still waiting for my 9800GX2 blocks, I am wondering if my single Aquastream XT ultra pump can handle all those stuff, or I will need to put a second pump somewhere in the loop. While I was in the store someone told me I am better off with two loops for all those stuff. And I wont be surprised if someone tells me the set up I have is wrong, hehe. As it is my first liquid cooling system, any option is greatly appreciated, many thanks folks, rock on!

[Springbok]

Eh I wouldn't recommend going with a Koolance loop. I've used their 1/4" parts and I wasn't very impressed. That said, I don't think you need the HDD blocks in there, they're pretty much a waste of money.

I would recommend products from Swiftech (http://www.swiftnets.com/) and Danger Den (http://www.dangerden.com/store/), also EK if you can get your hands on it. I'd get this (http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=336&cat=48&page=1) Danger Den 9800GX2 block, and the Swiftech Ultra kit for your CPU with a chipset cooler (http://www.swiftnets.com/products/mcw30.asp). You can get a second pump & radiator when you add your GPU cooling since you have that huge case. You could even get the quad radiator (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5945/ex-rad-122/MagiCool_XTREME_Quad_480_Radiator.html?tl=g30c95s6 67) :drool:

[lokitexas]

Eh I wouldn't recommend going with a Koolance loop. I've used their 1/4" parts and I wasn't very impressed. That said, I don't think you need the HDD blocks in there, they're pretty much a waste of money.

I would recommend products from Swiftech (http://www.swiftnets.com/) and Danger Den (http://www.dangerden.com/store/), also EK if you can get your hands on it. I'd get this (http://www.dangerden.com/store/product.php?productid=336&cat=48&page=1) Danger Den 9800GX2 block, and the Swiftech Ultra kit for your CPU with a chipset cooler (http://www.swiftnets.com/products/mcw30.asp). You can get a second pump & radiator when you add your GPU cooling since you have that huge case. You could even get the quad radiator (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5945/ex-rad-122/MagiCool_XTREME_Quad_480_Radiator.html?tl=g30c95s6 67) :drool:


Agreed.

[healingwave]

But do I need a second Pump if I just use one big loop?

[Sarsbaby]

You could do 2 seperate loops. Your GPU is going to throw off way more heat than your CPU or chipset.

My Freezone loop is tiny compared my VGA loop, but keeps the CPU alot cooler than the GPU. CPU ~18c Idle and ~50c max Folding, VGA ~33c Idle 2D Clocks and ~45c Load on 3D clocks.
It's up to you. I imagine that if you use 2 of the same pumps it would be ok. Equal pressure and all.
And strong HD bay fans are good enough, the water blocks aren't practical yet. And definately try to stick with Swiftech and Danger Den.

[Dawgdoc]

I would do 2 loops as well. I have not played with the GX2s, but have been told that they have an IMMENSE amt of heat that they give off.

Also there is absolute NO reason to liquid cool your hard-drives. You will not see 1 lick of system enhancement or performance gain. Same thing goes for your southbridge, and most likely your MOSFETs as well.

All of those extra blocks will not only dump some additional heat into your system, but also increase resistance, necessitating a larger/better pump or multiple loops.

Add in the heat dump and resistance from your CPU and you must have 2 loops.

Plus, if this is your 1st loop thats ALOT to work out. Adding in all the extra stuff thats not necessary is likely going to lead to some sort of failure. Either a leak, or poor temps from warmer tubes rubbing up on large tubes, problems mounting everything, yada yada yada.....

Plus with all of that tubing your case airflow is going to be out the window.

Start with your CPU and your GPUs on 2 loops. Get that down nice and solid and then with the 2 loops IF you choose to add other stuff you have extra elbow room.

Ditto on everyone else regarding the brands as well. Swiftech, DD, EK, D-tek are all great blockmakers. Koolance.......well Ive never used one personally but I have read they are 'meh"

Thats some system you have there. WTF are you going to do with 3 1/2 TB of drivespace??? LOL.......Will take you 6 weeks to defrag, run virus scans, spyware scans, etc......

Just some more info for you as well....if you havent purchased your hardware I would hold off. EVGA is coming out with their 780i FTW which should be better than the 790i but with DDR2, and the GX2s are going to be discontinued in a month or 2. With GT200 coming out in June/July I think it makes the best sense to wait for them before a MAJOR upgrade/new system like this.

Just 1 mans opinion though :D

[Dawgdoc]

You could do 2 seperate loops. Your GPU is going to throw off way more heat than your CPU or chipset.

My Freezone loop is tiny compared my VGA loop, but keeps the CPU alot cooler than the GPU. CPU ~18c Idle and ~50c max Folding, VGA ~33c Idle 2D Clocks and ~45c Load on 3D clocks.
It's up to you. I imagine that if you use 2 of the same pumps it would be ok. Equal pressure and all.
And strong HD bay fans are good enough, the water blocks aren't practical yet. And definately try to stick with Swiftech and Danger Den.

What is your ambient?

I find it hard to believe your CPU is 18C idle. How do you get it less than your ambient? 18C is 64F.....you keep your house at 64F???? Remind me not to come over to visit without a snowsuit!!!

EDIT: Freezone is a "chiller". Didnt realize that. With a chiller you can get subambient :)

[healingwave]

I had Freezone Elite, but wasnt able to get the MTEC to work. I was told it is not compatible with vista x64 by Coolit systems. And now I am really scared to try their Boreas chiller.

And those GX2s, they are sitting at 75C on idle with factory fans.

[Sarsbaby]

What is your ambient?

I find it hard to believe your CPU is 18C idle. How do you get it less than your ambient? 18C is 64F.....you keep your house at 64F???? Remind me not to come over to visit without a snowsuit!!!

EDIT: Freezone is a "chiller". Didnt realize that. With a chiller you can get subambient :)

Yeah, it's really nice. But with such a high OC at such a high Voltage I had to mod it and turn it up all the way. I use headphones so the 190CFM fan really doesn't bother me. But my ambient temps are usualy between 70-80f, I guess that's like 20-23c? It's just balanced right so I don't get condensation, except if it's a really cold rainy day.

[Sarsbaby]

I had Freezone Elite, but wasnt able to get the MTEC to work. I was told it is not compatible with vista x64 by Coolit systems. And now I am really scared to try their Boreas chiller.

And those GX2s, they are sitting at 75C on idle with factory fans.

That really sucks! An Elite with a Boreas would be CHILLY! Not to mention expensive. Have you ever considered XP x64?

Try to get those fan speeds up on those stock fans, that's way too high of an idle IMO.

[Dawgdoc]

That really sucks! An Elite with a Boreas would be CHILLY! Not to mention expensive. Have you ever considered XP x64?

Try to get those fan speeds up on those stock fans, that's way too high of an idle IMO.

I run XP x64 and in my personal opin its the BEST version of windows available by far.....

Of course, understand that I am somewhat anti-vista so my view is a tad tainted. Vista is a slow, bloated resource hog of an OS with some eye candy IMHO :D

[Sarsbaby]

I run XP x64 and in my personal opin its the BEST version of windows available by far.....

Of course, understand that I am somewhat anti-vista so my view is a tad tainted. Vista is a slow, bloated resource hog of an OS with some eye candy IMHO :D

A big ditto here boss.:thup:

[healingwave]

I mainly play games on my PC, so I like directx 10. Since I was not able to get my Freezone Elite to work, does it really work that well?
I can use the Elite for my CPU.
Add Boreas to my GPUs-Mosfets-North Bridge loop.

[Dawgdoc]

I mainly play games on my PC, so I like directx 10. Since I was not able to get my Freezone Elite to work, does it really work that well?
I can use the Elite for my CPU.
Add Boreas to my GPUs-Mosfets-North Bridge loop.

I would still recommend starting with just your CPU/GPU and adding that stuff later man.

Those loops you are planning are some SERIOUSLY aggressive work. To try that on your first loop I think is a bad bad idea. I just started water cooling about 1 month or so ago, and If I tried to do that on my first rig I think I would have given up.......

To each their own though.

Some damn fine hardware you got going on there. Once the drivers for the GX2s mature some more you will be killing it on games! In fact, I dont think your monitors refresh rate will not keep up with your GPUs and that will be your biggest bottleneck.

What monitor are you planning on running with this monster rig?

[healingwave]

I have Dell 30" 3007WFP-HC. Was using 20" LCD, once you used the 30" tho, there is no turning back lol.

[Dawgdoc]

I have Dell 30" 3007WFP-HC. Was using 20" LCD, once you used the 30" tho, there is no turning back lol.

Yea thats kickass man. I wish I had $1000 to spend on a monitor though LOL....

[Springbok]

Yeah I've got the 24" Dell, they're so mind blowing when you first open the box but after owning one for awhile you can only think bigger!

I maintain that you should do the CPU/Northbridge loop first, then do a second loop for the GPUs. The first reason being that your case is really tall and it's a lot of head for one pump if you're putting the radiators at the top rear.

The second reason is, as others have stated, it's tough work putting together a watercooled rig. I've been building them for years and my latest build took me 6 months of tweaking after I first installed it to get everything just right so I can leave it running. I kept getting leaks and it took me ages to figure out the cause was both the radiator and the CPU block! You can put a watercooling system together in a day or two but there will always be kinks that you'll need to iron out. Don't forget to leak test, even if you do everything perfectly you could still have gotten faulty hardware.