Flow meters and Temperature Probes

[Surfie]

Hi all,

As many of you will know by now, I am deep in the throes of planning my first loop. I have figured out my case, blocks, radiators, pump, res, and even the rough layout of how I want it to be set up.

Technically, I guess, the answer to the question I am about to ask is "no", but I am hoping to get an answer a bit more meaningful than that.

The question is: should I be bothered installing such things as flow meters and temperature guages into my loop?

My initial thought was no, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder. Surely, finding out what my flow rate is, and what the water temperature is, can be beneficial. With the res/pump combo I am getting (XSPC Photon 190), I think that a flow meter may actually be required, since seeing the flow on this particular res can be very difficult, due to the anti cyclone dampening that xspc have put in.

Thoughts?

 

[SuB]

Flow meters are an aesthetic choice tbh, and temp probes.. well.. so long as it's neat I guess ?

 

[Nurf]

It really depends on what you want. I personally like to know alot of about how my system is performing. Water temp tells you alot in the sense that if its high then more rads or faster fans should help and if its low, but cpu/gpu temps are bad then your blocks aren't performing well. Flow rate does tell you how well your pump works in your system, but I personally don't really care as long as the liquid is moving.
The probes are tools that help you troubleshoot. Other than that it's really just a question of are you a guy who likes looking at numbers or not.
In my first build I had a fan controller and temp probe and I learned alot about how rpm affects my own build, making future changes much easier, but was it something I needed? not really, but I found it useful.

 

[tinytomlogan]

No.


No.















No.

 

[Remmy]

I think as long as you choose one well, and place it well, they can really enhance the aesthetics of your loop. I got one of these Primochill indicators as soon as they were available because they were the first nice looking ones out there.

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...Visual-Flow-Indicator--UV-Blue-pid-18212.html

Personally, I think this is one of the best looking parts of my loop, or maybe even the whole rig, because I love the look of the flow indicator and the rigid tubing and SLI fittings between the GPUs and the indicator; so if used correctly you can really improve the look of your rig, and they're very cheap too.

Other than aesthetically, I suppose it's nice to know your pump is still working at a glance, but I wouldn't say it's an essential tool for monitoring performance. Just look at your temps on different pump/fan settings and that'll be the most reliable way to check on and adjust how the loop performs.

As for temp gauges, they're only useful aesthetically, if you can make them look classy and not tacky, so just go by the temps of your actual components if you're wanting to monitor performance instead of water temp.

 

[alpenwasser]

In the end, your CPU/GPU (or whatever else you're cooling) temps will tell you whether
or not your loop is doing its job, so there is really no need for that kind of stuff.

However, since W/C is often more about want than need you are of course free
to put in what you like. Personally I'm a bit of a stats whore, I like to know flow rates and
coolant temps and all that stuff, but once your loop is up and running in stable conditions
it's not like those values are going to fluctuate wildly (and if they do, something is wrong,
and you will see it via component temperatures).

 

[Bartacus]

What Alpenwasser and Nurf said (ignore Tom). I find the temp sensors useful for seeing how fast your temps rise/drop with fans at certain speeds. Not that those things matter, but I found it interesting to note temp spikes/drops with fans at 50% versus 75% or 100%. They can serve you well for setting baseline stats for your loop, so if you add more rads later on, you can use them to help you gauge the increased heat dissipation.

It depends on what you like. I have a digital Koolance flow meter that I haven't installed yet, but the only reason I bought it was to see the difference in flow rate between single / dual pumps. With both that and the temp sensors, I hope to see how changes in flow rate affect the heat dissipation. The flow meter wasn't cheap though ($70). XSPC temp sensors work well, don't cost much, and can fit very neatly into your loop. I love mine, and wholeheartedly recommend them. :beerchug:

 

[Surfie]

Thanks for the feedback all. Gives me some food for thought.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Yeah ignore Tom its not like he has been watercooling for years and never needed them. Youll soon put them in your rig, get bored of looking at them and wish you had just saved money and gone with the simple better looking option that I said about

 

[Bartacus]

I was just playing Tom. Your reviews are the reason I'm here and I totally respect your opinion. These particular gadgets can be useful IMO, not particularly "needed". But then again, watercooling is rarely about need. Besides, what nerd doesn't like more gadgets?!?!

 

[airdeano]

Hi all,

As many of you will know by now, I am deep in the throes of planning my first loop. I have figured out my case, blocks, radiators, pump, res, and even the rough layout of how I want it to be set up.

The question is: should I be bothered installing such things as flow meters and temperature guages into my loop?

Thoughts?

first loop? Keep It Simple
just get it done. add bells and whistles later. might have enough bugs not
having to worry about meters and probes. once you've got the system de-bugged
and near your liking, then deck it out with what-all bobbles and neatos you want.
there may be another end-all item that'll replace those and you'll be neck deep
in them and can't rid them.
personally, the more clutter diverts focus off the idea of why in the first-place.
just my $.02

 

[Warchild]

What Alpenwasser and Nurf said (ignore Tom). I find the temp sensors useful for seeing how fast your temps rise/drop with fans at certain speeds. Not that those things matter,

--It depends on what you like. -- --The flow meter wasn't cheap though ($70)-- :beerchug:

From those editted comments alone, you basically agree with Tom that they aren't needed. And its a added cost for no real gain.

It's personal preference in the end. Personally I hate seeing unnecessary components. Simplicity is best and I try to hide what I can.

*edit.. that wasn't intended to flame you at all Bad way I put it i suppose.. Just saying that in the end it comes down to what you prefer. For a first loop you should keep it as simple as possible.

 

[tinytomlogan]

I was just playing Tom. Your reviews are the reason I'm here and I totally respect your opinion. These particular gadgets can be useful IMO, not particularly "needed". But then again, watercooling is rarely about need. Besides, what nerd doesn't like more gadgets?!?!

Im just a less is more kinda guy when it comes to water. Same with cables from the PSU tbh.

I just dont like adding in extra fittings and cables / wires etc etc etc.

Once its been running a couple weeks youll never want it again. temp probs can be added at a push to the res but the whole before and after blocks thing is a bit pointless.

 

[Warchild]

Im just a less is more kinda guy when it comes to water. Same with cables from the PSU tbh.

I just dont like adding in extra fittings and cables / wires etc etc etc.

Once its been running a couple weeks youll never want it again. temp probs can be added at a push to the res but the whole before and after blocks thing is a bit pointless.

I should post a pic of mine soon Tom. I'd make you proud. Rads, pumps cables all neatly locked away under a mid panel I have made for my 900D case

Waiting on the last of my tubing to be delivered so I can finish it

 

[Surfie]

Thanks all for responding.

*IF* I were to do it at all, it would only be to serve a few purposes... namely:

• Be able to tell that my loop is actually flowing/cycling water with a glance
• Be able to check what the average temperature of my loop is, and compare that to ambient, to determine the Delta Temp (and see how fan speeds effect this)

That's all. Having said that, and having listened to the comments of many on here (along with further research off my own bat) I have come to the conclusion, that I won't bother. There is more than one way to skin a cat, and flow meters are not the only way to determine that water is flowing properly. Just like there are other ways of checking temps.

Ultimately, the decision is one of cost vs benefit for me; would it be useful? Sure. Worth the financial outlay for it? Questionable. Can I achieve the same result for less? Almost certainly. Can I use it in my loop in a manner that serves the overall look I am going for? Doubtful. Net result: Skip it, and find something better/cheaper that also looks better.

 

[Warchild]

I have been watercooling for some time, and it is not needed at all in my opinion.

Few simple methods (depending on layout of your loop and case of course)

Simply look at your Res. Water flow will of course show mild turbulence in the res. If not, maybe pump is inadequate for the loop, or loop has blockage.

Flush your Radiators well to remove any deposits inside (flux) this will often find its way to your cpu block otherwise and gather in the thin vanes of the block limiting the flow.

I have never cared about the temp of my loop. Overtime I have got used to what temp my CPU shows at idle, and what it is like underload at stock clock, 4.2, 4.4 etc. Same goes for my GPU cards.

I suggest you look at the EK watercooling kits. They are a great starting point and you can build from there replacing components as you progress. Pump is not to my liking though, but will serve you well.

All I can say is welcome to the world of watercooling. You most certainly will love it and be tweaking improving in no time

 

[Surfie]

<snippity snip>
Simply look at your Res. Water flow will of course show mild turbulence in the res. If not, maybe pump is inadequate for the loop, or loop has blockage.
<snippity snip>
I suggest you look at the EK watercooling kits. They are a great starting point and you can build from there replacing components as you progress. Pump is not to my liking though, but will serve you well.
<snippity snip snip>

Thanks for the welcome, and the advice on heading for EK as a solution. At this point in time however, it is not a pathway that is open to me, unless I flush the money used for purchase of components already (I've already purchased water blocks for my CPU and GPU).

As for the res/pump: in most circumstances, you are absolutely correct, however in the case of the XSPC Photon series (170/270) [and as far as I know, it is the ONLY series which is the exception here], they have little to no turbulence at all - which is why I was thinking of adding a flow meter in the first place. In all videos I have seen of them in use, I have not been able to tell by LOOKING at the res that it was on: I had to use other cues: PC lighting, fans spinning etc etc to confirm that the rig was actually on. True, it could just be a trick of light or the users in question not connecting it properly, but i'm skeptical of this, based on the users in question.

Also, sorry for editing your quote, but I wanted to keep it succinct for brevity. God knows I waffle on enough as it is!

 

[Warchild]

Edit my posts as you see fit.



The store I purchase from do the same and have fans running at 16% with pump on minimum require voltage giving it enough juice to start up etc. The machine is silent.

Also water turbulence in the res can also depend on how you have the inlet and outlets setup. But needless to say, im sure you will adapt and be able to monitor your loop without gimmicky additionals. Thats not to say they aren't helpful. Just that I found them an unnecessary expense.

Good luck with your loop. I'm sure plenty of people on here will help you out if you need it.

I'm hoping to complete my new escapade soon enough. Just need a new Res and some additional acrylic tube.