First Time Watercooling

[MattBee2k2]

As some of you know I just recently got my new rig built, http://forum.overclock3d.net/index....-2k2s-first-build/page__p__421723#entry421723

And I'm wanting to watercool, just the graphics card at the moment and I don't really know what go get. Also would I need a different case from the Colossus to do cpu and graphics card? and I'll also be adding a 2nd 580 after the summer or round about September maybe.

Could you's give ma a list of a everything I would need to watercool a gtx 580 in a BitFenix Colossus, Don't really know my budget so don't consider that just now but I want to get the best performance for money.

Thanks

 

[ruthless_villain]

you might want to check if your gpu is reference design or not first

 

[MattBee2k2]

you might want to check if your gpu is reference design or not first

What do you mean by that? Its the MSI 580 Lightning.

 

[ruthless_villain]

manufactures change the PCB for their cards to cut costs/and or increase performance... if your card is not the nvidia reference design you have to use a universal heat sink unless somebody has made a water block for that specific card.

 

[MattBee2k2]

manufactures change the PCB for their cards to cut costs/and or increase performance... if your card is not the nvidia reference design you have to use a universal heat sink unless somebody has made a water block for that specific card.

Assumed that and guess its not the reference design, Could you make up a list of stuff that I'd need? from special tech

 

[ruthless_villain]

well

a radiator

a pump

a resorvoir

a gpu block

barbs

tubing

fluid

i think its all there

 

[MattBee2k2]

well

a radiator

a pump

a resorvoir

a gpu block

barbs

tubing

fluid

i think its all there

After reading the thread you posted about the universal or the full cover blocks is it really worth trying to water cool this card or is it better to leave it as it is, I just want to because the noise is kinda annoying when it's right next to me and the heat that it gives off is annoying when its next to me too because it makes my room warmish.

 

[MattBee2k2]

Actually here's a full cover non-reference water block

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-f...l-for-570-580-gtx-non-reference-graphic-cards

or this http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-fc5x0-gtx-gw-nickel-for-570-580-gtx-non-reference-graphic-cards

 

[ruthless_villain]

After reading the thread you posted about the universal or the full cover blocks is it really worth trying to water cool this card or is it better to leave it as it is, I just want to because the noise is kinda annoying when it's right next to me and the heat that it gives off is annoying when its next to me too because it makes my room warmish.

im not water cooling my card because its non reference and apparently you have to cool the memory etc seperately so its not worth it in my opinion

 

[MattBee2k2]

im not water cooling my card because its non reference and apparently you have to cool the memory etc seperately so its not worth it in my opinion

Did you see the links tot he non-reference design full cover waterblocks? think they'd be fine? and worth the water cooling now?

 

[MattBee2k2]

Anyone know if those non-reference blocks will be fine?

 

[C3mods]

Anyone know if those non-reference blocks will be fine?

They work fine for non reference cards, you don't have to cool the memory separately if its a full block like that. When I get to finally work on my new setup I will be water cooling my graphics card/s also. But you need to look up your specific card to see if it will work with it, you can go to the EK website and use the configure tool to check this out. But looking at the EK website, the MSI lightning has to use a gpu block and heat sinks for the ram like ruthless_villain said. Which I wouldn't do personally.

Just my personal opinion, if you do plan or are thinking of water cooling a system, you should check the availability of water blocks for all the parts you are wanting to use before ordering the parts in the system. This way if you end up doing a water cooling loop, you know there is blocks for all the stuff.

Hope this helps for future builds.

 

[MattBee2k2]

They work fine for non reference cards, you don't have to cool the memory separately if its a full block like that. When I get to finally work on my new setup I will be water cooling my graphics card/s also. But you need to look up your specific card to see if it will work with it, you can go to the EK website and use the configure tool to check this out. But looking at the EK website, the MSI lightning has to use a gpu block and heat sinks for the ram like ruthless_villain said. Which I wouldn't do personally.

Just my personal opinion, if you do plan or are thinking of water cooling a system, you should check the availability of water blocks for all the parts you are wanting to use before ordering the parts in the system. This way if you end up doing a water cooling loop, you know there is blocks for all the stuff.

Hope this helps for future builds.

But if the lightning is a non-reference card and thats a full cover non-reference water block then wont that cool the memory separate so everything should be fine? and when you said check the availability of water blocks for all the parts you are wanting to use before ordering the parts in the system, if you meant the actual parts for my computer I already ordered them in and built the rig 2 weeks ago.

 

[C3mods]

But if the lightning is a non-reference card and thats a full cover non-reference water block then wont that cool the memory separate so everything should be fine? and when you said check the availability of water blocks for all the parts you are wanting to use before ordering the parts in the system, if you meant the actual parts for my computer I already ordered them in and built the rig 2 weeks ago.

What i am saying is for future builds, because you already had bought your parts for the computer. And that is if you are even considering water cooling the computer.

Also, yes the block is for non reference cards, but not all them are the same and the block will not work on some of them. According to the EK website that I suggested you go to, it states that they don't make a full water block for the MSI 580 Lightning. So the ones that was linked, according to the manufacturer, will not work with the card.

 

[MattBee2k2]

What i am saying is for future builds, because you already had bought your parts for the computer. And that is if you are even considering water cooling the computer.

Also, yes the block is for non reference cards, but not all them are the same and the block will not work on some of them. According to the EK website that I suggested you go to, it states that they don't make a full water block for the MSI 580 Lightning. So the ones that was linked, according to the manufacturer, will not work with the card.

Ok, thanks I hadn't originally planned on water cooling but after getting the computer and because the thing is right next to me it's a little loud even though the lightning is one of the if not the most quiet 580 and the computer gives off a bit of heat and with summer coming it's going to be warm.

Also what would a 240mm rad be suitable for water cooling at good temps? (meaning what parts would it be suitable for cooling at once)

 

[C3mods]

Ok, thanks I hadn't originally planned on water cooling but after getting the computer and because the thing is right next to me it's a little loud even though the lightning is one of the if not the most quiet 580 and the computer gives off a bit of heat and with summer coming it's going to be warm.

Also what would a 240mm rad be suitable for water cooling at good temps? (meaning what parts would it be suitable for cooling at once)

It really depends on the thickness of the rad. A thin one, I wouldn't do more than cpu and maybe the motherboard chipset. A thick rad you might be able to do a low heat graphics card and the cpu. If you move up to a 360 thick it will do a cpu and most any graphics card. I would suggest even bigger or extra rad for more than 2 graphics card and the cpu. So it really depends on what your trying to cool of what size you need honestly.

If you want to try out just water cooling your cpu, you can go with an XSPC RX240 kit, it comes with the rad, cpu block, fittings, hose and pump in the res. Tom made a video on using this kit, you should check it out.

Hope this helps some.

Sorry he did two, but the last one was on the RS360 kit, but its the same as the 240 just different rad, and the RX is a thicker rad, the rs is a thinner one.

 

[MattBee2k2]

It really depends on the thickness of the rad. A thin one, I wouldn't do more than cpu and maybe the motherboard chipset. A thick rad you might be able to do a low heat graphics card and the cpu. If you move up to a 360 thick it will do a cpu and most any graphics card. I would suggest even bigger or extra rad for more than 2 graphics card and the cpu. So it really depends on what your trying to cool of what size you need honestly.

If you want to try out just water cooling your cpu, you can go with an XSPC RX240 kit, it comes with the rad, cpu block, fittings, hose and pump in the res. Tom made a video on using this kit, you should check it out.

Hope this helps some.

Sorry he did two, but the last one was on the RS360 kit, but its the same as the 240 just different rad, and the RX is a thicker rad, the rs is a thinner one.

Thanks for the help and I'll just hold out on water cooling the cpu just now because it stays pretty cool and quiet, I was mainly wanting to water cool my graphics card but seeing as that isn't a good option since there's no full cover water blocks I'll just not bother for now. Maybe just water cool my cpu at a later date when I see how temps are with a overclock. Really wanted to water cool my graphics card as well because it's the warmest and loudest thing in my system and when I get a 2nd one it'll be even warmer and louder plus they'll be close together.

 

[C3mods]

Yes it will get warmer, but make sure you have what fans in the case itself you can have for good airflow. Don't know much about the BitFenix cases other than what I have read, and viewed videos of. I know it looks sweet, but one site showed it running hot in the case compared to other cases, but I might be wrong on that. I wish I could find the website now to link it, but it was a chart with a list of computer cases and what delta temps they had while running the computer gear in it.

I found a link that has the chart in it. Computer case delta temp

 

[MattBee2k2]

Yes it will get warmer, but make sure you have what fans in the case itself you can have for good airflow. Don't know much about the BitFenix cases other than what I have read, and viewed videos of. I know it looks sweet, but one site showed it running hot in the case compared to other cases, but I might be wrong on that. I wish I could find the website now to link it, but it was a chart with a list of computer cases and what delta temps they had while running the computer gear in it.

I found a link that has the chart in it. Computer case delta temp

Temps are fine with the stock fans and no extra ones, still to add more fans and the temps already are decent for rather rubbish fans, on load the system temps won't go any higher than 43c the cpu won't go higher than 50c and the graphics card won't go higher than 70c and idle is 28c system temp, 25-30c on cpu differential between cores and 35c on the graphics card.

 

[C3mods]

Temps are fine with the stock fans and no extra ones, still to add more fans and the temps already are decent for rather rubbish fans, on load the system temps won't go any higher than 43c the cpu won't go higher than 50c and the graphics card won't go higher than 70c and idle is 28c system temp, 25-30c on cpu differential between cores and 35c on the graphics card.

I was saying this to you about you saying the heat, and the added heat from adding another video card to your system. If you add another video the temps will rise even more and you might want to add more fans if there is spaces for them or change out the ones in it for better ones. I am not saying its a bad case, and not meaning it derogatory. I am just going off of reviews, and you saying that its heating up, that you might want to do that.