Which loop should the NB water block be in? GPU or CPU?

[GMdoubleG]

Hello all and thanks for all the help everyone has given me the last few weeks. I'm about to finally run all the hoses to the water blocks and I have one final question before I do it. I have two loops, a CPU loop with a Swiftech GTZ cooled by a XSPC RX triple rad and a GPU loop with a MCW60 R2 block on a 260GTX cooled by a Swiftech MCR320 rad. Both loops are powered by swiftech MCP655 pumps. My question is, which loop do I put the NB water block in? I figured not the CPU loop because it will dump more heat into the loop that low temps are of the greatest value and not the GPU loop because it might be too hot to properly cool the NB. I'm not sure which logic is correct so please comment so I can finally put it all together.

Thanks again!

[Aynjell]

Hello all and thanks for all the help everyone has given me the last few weeks. I'm about to finally run all the hoses to the water blocks and I have one final question before I do it. I have two loops, a CPU loop with a Swiftech GTZ cooled by a XSPC RX triple rad and a GPU loop with a MCW60 R2 block on a 260GTX cooled by a Swiftech MCR320 rad. Both loops are powered by swiftech MCP655 pumps. My question is, which loop do I put the NB water block in? I figured not the CPU loop because it will dump more heat into the loop that low temps are of the greatest value and not the GPU loop because it might be too hot to properly cool the NB. I'm not sure which logic is correct so please comment so I can finally put it all together.

Thanks again!

I'd say look at the TDP of both devices. Place the NB on the one with the lower TDP. If you're going to do it, balance the heat load.

GTX 260 182W TDP

Your CPU wasn't mentioned, but I'll assume it's something decent if you're spending money on water cooling. Even i7, one of the hottest CPU's around, is 130W. Phenom II is 125W, Core 2 Quad is 95W for newer cores, and Core 2 Duo is 65W for newer cores.

[GMdoubleG]

The CPU is a Q9450 and I'm looking to overclock it. I'm not sure how much heat that will generate since I've never overclocked before. Its going to be an experiment from here on out. :)

[Conumdrum]

Goodness. Two 360 rads. One CPU, one GPU. Two loops, one for each. Each loop has PLENTY of wattage room.

It don't matter. The NB doesn't create a lot of heat and either loop can absorb it.

My answer? Best hose routing. What looks and bends the best.

With your GTZ on the CPU and I bet you'll add a second GPU :) put it on the cpu loop. Careful on the CPU to NB tubing, it can torque the NB bock so it's not flat on the NB chip.

[Aynjell]

Goodness. Two 360 rads. One CPU, one GPU. Two loops, one for each. Each loop has PLENTY of wattage room.

It don't matter. The NB doesn't create a lot of heat and either loop can absorb it.

My answer? Best hose routing. What looks and bends the best.

With your GTZ on the CPU and I bet you'll add a second GPU :) put it on the cpu loop. Careful on the CPU to NB tubing, it can torque the NB bock so it's not flat on the NB chip.

With experience comes a dosage of reality. I'd of never thought of this stuff. :)

It's funny the kinds of things you learn when you actually water cool... and here I am giving advice based on theoretical or ideal situations. But I definitely agree after reading it. I seriously need to give water cooling a shot. :(

What kind of case will you be using, and where will you be placing your radiators? Have you looked into the ATCS 840 by chance? I think it can hold two radiators of that size internally... undoubtedly with some compromise in regards to installation options.

[Conumdrum]

Hehe, once you look at multi internal rad installation... So which rad will get the warm air from the other rad and the rest of the PC parts? It really gets complicated in multi rad setups. Golden rule one, res/Tline before pump. Second rule if possible (and it WILL affect final temps) Always outside room air into every rad.

Nuff for now. Think Delta T in watercooling.

[GMdoubleG]

The case I'm using is a silverstone TJ07 modified the top to fit the swiftech rad and put the second rad in the bottom where the hard drive cages were.

[Spawn-Inc]

good to see a fellow double triple radder...

i would toss it in the gpu loop if you don't plan on adding a second gpu. keeping the cpu temps down is more important then the gpu's temps.


got any pics of your setup?

[GMdoubleG]

I plan on running all the hoses tonight so I will start a new thread with all the pics of my new rig. Thanks for everyone's help!

[Spawn-Inc]

nice, so you haven't seen the temps yet from the rads? they will be sweet, they are for me.

cpu load = 37-38C
gpu load = 32C tops