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Water cooling recommendations?

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AoN x KiLLa

Registered
Joined
May 6, 2010
I need some recommendations on Pumps/Radiators/Reservoir/Tubing/Loops/etc...
I'm going to be water cooling a Asus Rampage III Extreme (when the waterblock comes out), i7 930, and a GTX 480 HC FTW.
Also I will be overclocking so what do you guys recommend?
 
First :welcome: to ocforums.
As conumdrum says: ''watercooling is not a best buy shop where u list a thing and u buy''!
First,Read the stickie do your reading etc. come back in 1week and post a list of components and we'll help you with!
w8 the guru to post link... and i might start to copy and paste them on my deskop and link them...
Some link that come in my minds
http://skinneelabs.com/ U can find every test made by him. plenty of comparison of rad/cpu block pumps etc. etc. take 2-3days to read them. Learn about heat load, Delta T etc.! have fun :0
 
Yea, I made a post last week of 5-8 links that HAD to be bookmarked for new folks. I thought I bookmarked that post. Grrr...

I still need to go deep on a sticky about DT and heatload, someday....

Okay AoN, don't fret on all the links. Bookmark them and start learning. It's so much better for your brain and OURS. You finding an answer and learn is better than us spoonfeeding you. We do it a LOT, your for sure not the first.
So here we go, BOOKmark!

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=631501 Actually building
http://www.overclockers.com/annual-water-cooling-cleaning-rebuild-journal/ Maintaining a loop
http://www.overclockers.com/beginners-guide-water-cooling/ The BEST basic guide
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=601925 A fine fine rig. Built by a woman with amazing ability.
http://www.overclockers.com/guide-deltat-water-cooling/ Time to play with math. THE DT GUIDE TO SEE WHAT RADDAGE YOU NEED.
http://www.behardware.com/articles/817-1/the-energy-consumption-of-93-graphics-cards.html GPU wattage, updated with new cards, outdated but informative.
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=670346 Radiator size templates, make it fit!
https://martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/ Considered a GOD in the WC world, he's back!

http://skinneelabs.com/ Another leader.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=202394 Another forum, great links. Slow place, but many old timers visit. Was the top of the heap may years ago.
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=678189 Latest annual cleaning and rebuild of my PC
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=734842 My latest teardown, some info, Deep Secrets Revealed

BOOKMARK, CYA in a few weeks. I'd for sure read 20-30 posts from beginning to end here. We have new folks do the same as you, and you can see how we guide them on choices and whats good or bad. Don't rush it.
 
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Sorry guys im experienced in computers, im just new to the water cooling thing.
Im looking at guides and videos for advice right now. Thanks for the reply's.
 
Alright be gentle Im new to the watercooling so I just need some advice.
So after lots of research I think I have narrowed it down.
Reservoir: (idk 275ml?)
Pump: Swiftech MCP355
Radiator: Black Ice GTX 480 or Thermochill PA120.4 (Do you think that is overkill?) (Also not sure on fans either?)
Cpu Block: Swiftech Apogee XT Extreme cooling a i7 930 O.C. to 4ghz
Graphic Card: GTX 480 HC FTW
Mobo Blocks: Asus Rampage Extreme 3 (When NB&SB and Mosfet block are available)

Loops:
2 individual loops
res1 or dual pump res > pump1 > gpu > mosfet > rad1 > res
res2 or dual pump res > pump2 > cpu > nb&sb > rad2 > res
or
1 big loop
res > pump1 > gpu > mosfet > rad > pump2 > cpu > nb&sb > res
Alright do you think it could run off one pump and also how big do you think the reservoir would have to be to do the one big loop?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Not 100% sure but depending on what water block you get for the mobo, some companies make an all in one block that covers NB/SB and Mosfet. And if your going with a GTX480, the heat tolerances on that piece of hardware are more than your board or CPU. You would be better off in a 2 loop just put
Loop1 Res-> pump -> rad -> CPU -> entire chipset
Loop2 Res-> pump -> rad -> GPU

As for a single big loop. the res size doesnt matter as much as the flow rate. If you were just doing CPU and GPU, you should be able to get away with one strong pump. But with the chipset in there I would vote for 2 pumps.

Res-> pump -> pump -> etc.

the radiators dont need to be in any paticular order because the heat evens out after a little while so stick them in the loop where you can afford the space.
 
Alright what about radiators if I was to do the two loop like you said would I just need something like a 120.3 for the gpu and a 120.4 for the cpu/full chipset?
 
U know that u need 2 radiator if u want to do 2loop? u only said 1 in ur big items link.
Ur Cpu will only need an 120.3
Gpu will only need an 120.3 - quad for a better dt.
Heatloads....
CPU 200wats max
GPU 250-275watts max.
Read skinee radiator comparison carefully with heatload - Delta T etc...
just to make sure u see it
DONT RUSH IT
It took me 2month to buy all my wc part.
 
Oh my bad well I ment two radiators.
Also the 120.3 will keep the cpu cool at 4ghz plus the mobo chipset?
 
Oh my bad well I ment two radiators.
Also the 120.3 will keep the cpu cool at 4ghz plus the mobo chipset?

It should, the mobo shouldnt add too much heat seeing how the R3E lacks the NF200 chip. It depends on how much past 4 you are going for. If I was going to go with your setup, I would go 120.3 for CPU + chipset and 120.2 for single GTX480 and 120.3 for dual.

And as always if you have the space to over radiate, it wont hurt your system.
 
Alright thanks for the advice I will probably go do the dual loops and just get two 120.3 radiators because I will be getting a second gpu in the future.
I do have one more question tho wats a recommendation on a reservoir I know I want to run two loops but, I dont want two reservoirs so should I get a reservoir with a y splitter or a single with two pump nozzles?
And Im going to read alot more up on all this before I start buying will probably be a month or two before I start buy the watercooling stuff.
 
Alright thanks for the advice I will probably go do the dual loops and just get two 120.3 radiators because I will be getting a second gpu in the future.
I do have one more question tho wats a recommendation on a reservoir I know I want to run two loops but, I dont want two reservoirs so should I get a reservoir with a y splitter or a single with two pump nozzles?
And Im going to read alot more up on all this before I start buying will probably be a month or two before I start buy the watercooling stuff.

That would defeat the purpose of two loops. The reason for two loops vs one big is that GPUs have higher heat tolerances and generally produce more heat as well, so you want to keep that warmer temperature water away from your CPU loop.
 
Depending on what pumps you buy, there are some nice bay resses that have room for two pumps and have two small resses, one for each loop. Good stuff.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_318_665&products_id=27200
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_318_665&products_id=25767

My setup I have two DDC 3.2 pumps, each has the original top removed from the pump and this installed. I got plenty of room tho.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_318_665&products_id=23357

Two loops is 100% seperate. Nothing touches from each loop, liquid, pumps, etc etc.
 
Alright I think I have my setup.

Reservoir: XSPC Dual 5.25" Bay - DDC Dual Pump / Dual Split Reservoirs
Pump: x2 Swiftech MCP655 Pump w/ Speed Control
Radiator: x2 Thermochill PA120.3
Radiator Fans: x6 Logisys Dual-Ring Cold Cathode Fluorescent Fan CCF120RD (up to 3200rpm)
Tubing: Tygon 2075 Ultra Chemical Resistant Tubing
Fittings G1/4: x10 Bitspower Matt Black 1/2in. Compression Fittings for 3/4in. OD Tubing # BP-MBCPF-CC5
Fittings G3/8: x4 Thermochill - 3/8" BSPP - 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD Compression Fitting
CPU Block: Swiftech Apogee XT Extreme
GPU Block: GTX 480 HC FTW
Mobo Block: EK Full Chipset Block (Not Available Yet)

Loops:
Res1 > Pump1 > GPU > Rad1 > Res1
Res2 > Pump2 > CPU > Mobo > Rad2 > Res2

Am I missing anything?
 
Pretty solid! Rethink those fans. 3200 rpm? You know how loud that would be? And you'll for sure want to use a fan controller.

The PA 120.3 rad shows little improvement over 2000 rpm, read up on it's scpecs at Martis.
 
Honestly I dont care about noise I got headphones on. If someone where to yell into my ear right beside me I wouldnt hear it. And even though 3000rpm fans dont give much improvement they do give some and there cool looking too.
 
Im going to get a fan controller so I can turn them down when Im just at my desktop. At first Im probably not going to get a controller cause Im going to be broke after this but, in a few weeks after the build I will get a fan controller.
 
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