First I would like to say what a great community! Lots of helpful people and a ton of terrific information. I have been lurking here for the past month or so. What started out as a desktop replacement project has morphed into a performance PC project. I'm a very experienced system builder but this will be the first water cooling setup for me.
I have the following hardware:
Motherboard: EVGA X58 Classified 3
CPU: i7 970 Hexacore
GPU: EVGA GTX 570 Superclocked in 2-Way SLI (Soon to be 3 Way)
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1600 24GB
SSD: Crucial 256GB SATA III
Hard Disk: 2x Western Digital 2TB 6.0Gb/s SATA
Power Supply: Corsair AX1200
This system is currently residing in a Thermaltake Armor+ case but I will be moving it to a SilverStone TJ07. There are a number of threads here where others have documented their builds with this case, and they have been very helpful in assisting me in my decisions.
My first thought was to go with two loops, one for the CPU and another for the GPUs. But after spending several days reading and thinking about how I would benefit from all of this I decided that I am really fine with the stock GPU coolers. The fans definitely make a bit of noise when the cards are under load, but I don't find it so objectionable that I need to spend $500 or more on a dedicated water cooling loop to tame the noise. The GPUs never get above 77C under full load with the stock cooler so it isn't like I have a heat problem on my graphics boards that I need to address.
That leaves me with a CPU loop and that is where I believe there are gains to be had. My system has short term stability with an overclock to 4.2 and even 4.5GHz, but temps are a problem. While running Prime95 within three to five minutes core temps are at 85C and rising slowly but steadily. I estimate that at 4.2GHz I need to deal with about 220 watts. I have already tried one of the massive air coolers on the market and it just isn't enough. If I want to get to 4+ GHz with reasonable temps I have concluded that it is going to take water cooling to do it.
I have put together a rough bill of materials for this setup:
Koolance CPU-370 water block
Swiftech MCP655 12v Water Pump
XSPC Tank Reservoir - Laing D5
Black Ice SR1 480 Radiator
XSPC RS/RX 120mm Series Radiator Stand
Four Noctua NF-S12B FLX 120 x 25mm Fans
Tygon R-3603 1/2" ID (3/4" OD) - Laboratory Tubing
IandH Dead-Water Copper Sulfate Biocidal PC Coolant Additive
I haven't made up my mind yet about fittings. I like the look of compression fittings but am thinking that barbs and clamps may be more secure and reliable. I am also a little unsure of the XSPC reservior. I have some time to mull over these choices. I would like to be ordering by mid month.
Any comments or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
--Jerome
I have the following hardware:
Motherboard: EVGA X58 Classified 3
CPU: i7 970 Hexacore
GPU: EVGA GTX 570 Superclocked in 2-Way SLI (Soon to be 3 Way)
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 1600 24GB
SSD: Crucial 256GB SATA III
Hard Disk: 2x Western Digital 2TB 6.0Gb/s SATA
Power Supply: Corsair AX1200
This system is currently residing in a Thermaltake Armor+ case but I will be moving it to a SilverStone TJ07. There are a number of threads here where others have documented their builds with this case, and they have been very helpful in assisting me in my decisions.
My first thought was to go with two loops, one for the CPU and another for the GPUs. But after spending several days reading and thinking about how I would benefit from all of this I decided that I am really fine with the stock GPU coolers. The fans definitely make a bit of noise when the cards are under load, but I don't find it so objectionable that I need to spend $500 or more on a dedicated water cooling loop to tame the noise. The GPUs never get above 77C under full load with the stock cooler so it isn't like I have a heat problem on my graphics boards that I need to address.
That leaves me with a CPU loop and that is where I believe there are gains to be had. My system has short term stability with an overclock to 4.2 and even 4.5GHz, but temps are a problem. While running Prime95 within three to five minutes core temps are at 85C and rising slowly but steadily. I estimate that at 4.2GHz I need to deal with about 220 watts. I have already tried one of the massive air coolers on the market and it just isn't enough. If I want to get to 4+ GHz with reasonable temps I have concluded that it is going to take water cooling to do it.
I have put together a rough bill of materials for this setup:
Koolance CPU-370 water block
Swiftech MCP655 12v Water Pump
XSPC Tank Reservoir - Laing D5
Black Ice SR1 480 Radiator
XSPC RS/RX 120mm Series Radiator Stand
Four Noctua NF-S12B FLX 120 x 25mm Fans
Tygon R-3603 1/2" ID (3/4" OD) - Laboratory Tubing
IandH Dead-Water Copper Sulfate Biocidal PC Coolant Additive
I haven't made up my mind yet about fittings. I like the look of compression fittings but am thinking that barbs and clamps may be more secure and reliable. I am also a little unsure of the XSPC reservior. I have some time to mull over these choices. I would like to be ordering by mid month.
Any comments or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
--Jerome