[Scryer_360]

Two things:
I was wondering what the consensus was for a good double 120mm fan sized rad was. I've read the reviews on Martins Liquid Lab on the XSPC RS240 and MCR220, but there are also the PA120.2's and Black Ice Stealth 240's. And those are just what I'm aware of.

The goal is to get as quite as possible on a i7 system. Whether or not this means having to really up the money on the processor to get higher speeds with lower heat isn't really that important, its getting all this in an Antec P180 (removing the front 3.5 inch bays, mounting the hdd in a custom made space and using the bottom 5.25" bays for the reservoir). Edit: oh, because case airflow will be bad in this after adding rads, the north bridge will be liquid cooled too.

The second thing is GPU cooling: a GTX285 is approximately 183watts of thermal envelope to cool. This means mounting a larger triple rad to the top or back of the case, and that's to maintain just average temps. Still trying to find a low noise level, it seems the consensus is RX360 would get the job done at 1000rpm (shooting for average, not spectacular, temps). A thought struck me though while digging around in the case that it might actually be possible to fit two double size rads in here: shooting for temperatures that are only mildly better if better at all than the stock fan setup provides, but just trying to get as quite as possible, does anyone think that anything but a triple rad would cool two GTX285's?

[Conumdrum]

Appreciate you reading deep, your a smart cookie.

Here is the raddage issue:
Best rads for low noise and good cooling with meduim fans or highs turned down.
King Thermochill
XSPC
Feser
Swiftech MCR series

Next is noise and thin, high fin density
Black Ice newer ones.

Thats it, simple enough.

On to what you want to cool. In the older days (soo early 2008) a 360 quality rad was enough to cool an overclocked processor and a GPU. Times have changed. A stock 920 needs a 220 size, and if your a BIG overclocker a 320 size is needed. A 285 added to it might be pushing the limit.

If your room temps with all that heat always stays cool, then 'maybe' a 320 rad will do in one loop. It's hard to say.

A i7 overclocked should have a 220 at min. Adding a hotter GPU and upgrading to a 320 size and much faster fans ruins the noise requirement. Up to you to try it and see if your happy I guess.

And yea, digging deeper into your post, I'd look at a 220 for the GPU loop with LOUD fans might be quieter than stock air fannage. Or a 320 size for quiet GPU loop.

[Scryer_360]

I've scrapped plans for wild overclock of the processor, but that begs a question I can't seem to find an answer to. According to some basic CPU calculators that factor in overclocks, overclocking a 920 to 4 gigahertz results in much higher wattages than a 940 or 965. Considering they are all the same basic processor with some factory tweaks (multipliers mainly), does it stand that a 920 and 965 at the same speeds would put off large differences in heat?

Also, about the GPU loop: I was thinking instead of using the DangerDen GTX285 kit, I'd just buy the BFG GTX285 "ThermoIntelligence" Edition, which has a BFG water block installed on it already. I passed that idea around at work today, and one of our interns (didn't like the guy before, maybe less so now) made a rather impassioned speech against using BFG's "ThermoIntelligence" water blocks.

As far as I can tell, its just a copper water block on the thing. Nothing special. Anyone wanna back the intern though?

Edit: oh and forget about the double rad for the GPU loop. A friend gave me his TFC X-changer 360.
Second Edit: also everyone recommends Yate Loon for low speed fans. However, DangerDen sports two glowing reviews of Evercool's 120mm fans, which claim 30 decibels and 80CFM. Right now two Yate Loon D12SL-12's are on the list and three D12SM-12's. Anyone have a belief that Pabst or Evercool would be the better choice?

[Spawn-Inc]

for the most part the intern is wrong, the bfg block is pretty much a DD block so its good. but most of the time (at least when i was looking, around the time of the 8800 series cards) it was cheaper to buy the card and a third part water block then to buy the block and card together.

[Conumdrum]

Agreed, DD sells blocks direct to BFG. Can you trust a assembly line worker to apply the TIM to the chip for the best temps? Not a big deal GPU's aren't teribly sensitive and if it's not right you can RMA it anyway.

There is no diff in a 920 or a 940 except they are binned and it becomes a 940 if it's better. The 965 is made with a very slight diff in hard clock settings and TDP max, but heck, that could be done after the binning process. There is NO diff in basic silicon between the three. Now, thay are (have) released a D0 stepping for the 920, better voltages for overclocks. What the diff you see is probably is a 920 needs more voltage to get to xx clocks than a 940 or 965, so it will pull more watts. Keeping voltages low on a chip with an overclock is the main factor in how good the chip is usually.

Thats why I can't wait to build by i7 rig with my i7 965 ES sample with D0 stepping. Darn slow boat from ITALY!!!!!!!!

Pabst are very nice fans, you pay for them. I never ever pay attention to manufacturer fan specs. Ohh, here is a fan review on some, XS is still down so I can't link you to other good fan tests.

http://www.overclock.net/water-cooli...-part-1-a.html

[Scryer_360]

Originally Posted by Conumdrum

Agreed, DD sells blocks direct to BFG. Can you trust a assembly line worker to apply the TIM to the chip for the best temps? Not a big deal GPU's aren't teribly sensitive and if it's not right you can RMA it anyway.

There is no diff in a 920 or a 940 except they are binned and it becomes a 940 if it's better. The 965 is made with a very slight diff in hard clock settings and TDP max, but heck, that could be done after the binning process. There is NO diff in basic silicon between the three. Now, thay are (have) released a D0 stepping for the 920, better voltages for overclocks. What the diff you see is probably is a 920 needs more voltage to get to xx clocks than a 940 or 965, so it will pull more watts. Keeping voltages low on a chip with an overclock is the main factor in how good the chip is usually.

Thats why I can't wait to build by i7 rig with my i7 965 ES sample with D0 stepping. Darn slow boat from ITALY!!!!!!!!

Pabst are very nice fans, you pay for them. I never ever pay attention to manufacturer fan specs. Ohh, here is a fan review on some, XS is still down so I can't link you to other good fan tests.

http://www.overclock.net/water-cooli...-part-1-a.html

They make the 965 in Italy? I wasn't even aware Intel had a facility there.

After reading that, I think I'll just order the Yate Loons. No one has complained about them and they seem to have a great reputation, so I'll wing it. I have 6 120mm fans to do as I please with if it doesn't work out, I only spent $7 each on them. So why not?

I've been banging around in my case, and actually, once I get the Feser mounted topside, I may have room for a 120 style at the back. So a 220 or 240 up front, connected to a 120 in the back. Tight fit, but meh. Could just provide the little extra cooling needed.... although maybe not a good idea if it's gonna cause more flow restriction. Interwebz time.

With the exception of the TFC 360 (sitting in the corner, taunting me), I haven't ordered anything except my water blocks, ten feet of Tygon 3603 tubing (3/8)(need some play room here) and 2x DD-CPX-Pro pumps.

[Conumdrum]

Hehe, no my tech station is coming from there. I got everything else, missing just that.

[Spawn-Inc]

that thing still not in conumbrum?? whats taking so long.

[Conumdrum]

LOL, thanks for caring Spawn. Well news finally Gary said it will be in their place Mon/Tues. I pre-ordered today, should ship latest Wed AM. Darnit I hope. 2 day UPS from Chicago area to Las Vegas ain't cheap. I got Sat/Sun/Mon. Took Monday off, I'll need it since I'm so anal about doing it right.

So prebuild pics next Friday night, I hope. I'll need a widescreen pic, so much stuff.....

[Scryer_360]

I've been surfing for deals on hardware, haven't ordered more than I've posted, and noticed something odd...

It seems EVERYONE is out of stock of NEARLY EVERYTHING. *sigh*

I'm having to order through three, count'em, THREE websites to get my two extra rads, blocks, tubing, fittings, and sheesh.

Is it normal in the W/C game to have to play "wait for it...." with e-tailers?

[Spawn-Inc]

no, i've noticed petras is out of alot of stuff but jabtech seems to have good stock. but that was 2-3 weeks ago. but it always takes 2 weeks for parts to get to my place, but thats because i get the cheapest shipping.