High End water cooling advice

[PetetheSweet]

I don't want to open a new thread, while you already talking about a "possibly" 900D build.

I'm really thinking about building a 900D build too, but with a more or less air tight lower compartment with two rads and one maybe two rads in front and top (one 480 should be really enough, to cool the CPU I think).

It's just overkill but it's a want to have thing.

But I don't know whats better, single loop or lower compartment GPU's only and the upper part CPU only.

Pumps and pumptop-res. would be sitting on the dividing plate made of alloy or carbonfiber.

Mechanical HDD's mounted in the 5,25 bay section and SSD's on the back.
The detachable hard drive bays have to go, to make room for the pump/res. combo.

what do you think guys?

 

[mihapiha]

I was looking at the Corsair homepage. They found also an interesting solution for the Pump and reservoir: http://www.corsair.com/900d

What they've done is to use Bitspower D5/MCP655 Mod Pump Top V2 with a Bitspower D5 Mod Kit - in this case Shiny Sliver. Bitspower Water Tank Z-Multi 250 on top connected with Bitspower Matt Black Dual G1/4 Adjustable Aqua Link Pipe I fitting.

This construct seems to be hold in place by two things. First the only two of four bolts hold by the thin plate meant for the HDD cage. Keep in mind the left thinner one of the two pice thing TTL is removing here: http://youtu.be/6b3EwprglnU?t=53m51s

And if you'd move it to bolt in all four screws, you wouldn't be able to fit the reservoir.

And secondly by using only fittings to connect the pump to the 240 radiator in the bottom. This solution is definitely an option for me too, as I will go for Bitspower fittings either way, but I fear this solution might be not worth the effort as the pump won't be sitting stable. Probably it is rattling in it's position and creating quite a bit of noise as it spins. That way though, I'd at least be able to add another 240 radiator and fill up the case more. Also it looks great.

 

[alpenwasser]

I can see it all coming together in a way which I would like. I just hope that the two radiators with only push Corsair SP120 fans will be able to handle the load I will throw at them.

It took me a while to find it, but here is a review comparing the Monsta to the XT45 both
with one side of fans and in push/pull; at different fan speeds.

As another reference, according to Martin's Liquid Lab, the XT45 will perform about the
same as a UT60 at lower fan speeds (link). Even though it's thinner, it does
have higher FPI (I have both and have compared them), which seems to offset most
of the performance loss due to lower thickness. The Monsta of course has lots of
power, provided you give it enough air.

According to Martin's test numbers, two UT60's 480 mm should be able to dissipate
~400 W for a 10 C delta between water and air @ ~ 1000 rpm. But that is of course
with his fans and not with SP120's. I'm sure you can extrapolate other performance
numbers for different rpm's yourself from the graphs to a double 480 setup

Sadly he has yet to test a Monsta, but the numbers from these two reviews combined
should at least enable you to get a general idea of things.

 

[mihapiha]

That's great and certainly makes calculations a lot easier.
I expect that with the SP120 quiet (1450 rpm), one of the two 480s being a monsta and the dual D5 pump solution, that this ought to improve to the 450W+ neighborhood.

The first link says that the difference between push and push pull is like 1ºC; which is something I expected. So push alone should be fine.

I am more and more leaning towards the 900D... If the temperatures prove to be fine and the fans a bit too noisy I'll put them to 10 or 9V. But I think this pretty much covers it.

450W ought to be enough for CPU + MB + 2 high end GPUs easily. Especially because there hardly ever will be a scenario where the GPUs are under full load, and so would be the CPU. The CPU I will overclock but the idea would be to get it to 4.5 GHz or more. Which I think shouldn't be much of a problem

 

[Mysterae]

Personally, I consider the Caselabs to be an extremely long-term investment, and I think that's not just me being overly optimistic. I can easily see myself getting 10 years or more out out of this case, which amounts to ~90 USD per year. If you change the build and maybe need some additional accessories somewhere down the line, that might be another 100 USD, so in total I will have spent 100 USD/year over the next 10 years on a case that absolutely, perfectly fits my needs.

I like your man-maths!

 

[wassupdoc]

You are forgetting with your previous problems that gtx480's where basically radiators lol

 

[mihapiha]

You are forgetting with your previous problems that gtx480's where basically radiators lol

I would disagree with that. I think you've not clicked on the link I left in the first post. Hence you may not realize that I had a WaterCool MO-RA3 (which is basically 120.9 - 65mm thick) + 120.3 (or 360) 55mm thick radiator cooling my system with 4 GPUs and CPU.

I believe it were really the pumps which I think messed up the performance. I had two DDC pumps in that system, which for this size loop was just barely enough. The problem was the XSPC Laing DDC reservoir I was using too. See I didn't have the pumps behind each other to push flow but in the middle the loop. It was set up this way:

res + pump 1 => CPU => 360 radiator => res + pump 2 => 4 GPUs in serial => MO-RA3 radiator


I definitely won't do this again. And if I overkill on the pumps, at least I can rule out something if the cooling performance isn't right. I also think that the new fans may improve quite a lot in the new case...

 

[Choklitmlk]

never underestimate the power of a d5 pump, i dont know what you had before or why you had issues, but with decent waterblocks it would take a lot to effect a d5. so long as your tubing isnt kinked aswell...

My d5 vario runs a 120.2 and a 120.3 rad with a cpu and 2 gpus and i can run it at half power if i want to (for noise, even though its still quiet as at max speed). the real reason to have a dual d5 config is for redundancy, like i said ill never need more pumping power, but if i could fit a dual d5 block into my case i would.

i agree with having plenty of headroom, i run both my rads in push/pull with performance sp fans undervolted, and its very quiet whilst still giving mint performance (plus i could ramp them fans up if i really wanted to push my components), so personally id go with 2x120.4 monsta rads (a little tinkering will get the second one internal where your thinking of putting the 120.3) and sp 120 pe's undervolted in push/pull + dual d5s. not only will this look the part, the redundancy and potential performance of this loop going forward would be outstanding.

 

[Deejeta]

+1 for dual d5's, 2x head pressure, plus it looks nuts as well.
http://docs.engineeringtoolbox.com/documents/636/pump_serie.png

 

[mihapiha]

i agree with having plenty of headroom, i run both my rads in push/pull with performance sp fans undervolted, and its very quiet whilst still giving mint performance (plus i could ramp them fans up if i really wanted to push my components), so personally id go with 2x120.4 monsta rads (a little tinkering will get the second one internal where your thinking of putting the 120.3) and sp 120 pe's undervolted in push/pull + dual d5s. not only will this look the part, the redundancy and potential performance of this loop going forward would be outstanding.

I don't fully follow what you mean there.

Right now I am thinking of using the Corsair Obsidian 900D with a top 120.4 80mm thick radiator with Corsair SP120s quiet edition fans on push, and a 120.4 radiator with Corsair SP120s quiet edition on push in the bottom compartment. I'm not sure yet whether I will go with the 80 or the 60mm thick radiator there. Depends what may look better.

In the bottom compartment will be also the EK-D5 dual Top and I was thinking of using the Bitspower 250mm reservoir ...

Fittings will most likely be Bitspower black sparkle...

At least that's what I'm looking into now...

+1 for dual d5's, 2x head pressure, plus it looks nuts as well.
http://docs.engineeringtoolbox.com/documents/636/pump_serie.png

That is good to know, definitely makes the dual D5 solution I have in mind more sweet...

 

[Choklitmlk]

I don't fully follow what you mean there.

Right now I am thinking of using the Corsair Obsidian 900D with a top 120.4 80mm thick radiator with Corsair SP120s quiet edition fans on push, and a 120.4 radiator with Corsair SP120s quiet edition on push in the bottom compartment. I'm not sure yet whether I will go with the 80 or the 60mm thick radiator there. Depends what may look better.

In the bottom compartment will be also the EK-D5 dual Top and I was thinking of using the Bitspower 250mm reservoir ...

Fittings will most likely be Bitspower black sparkle...

At least that's what I'm looking into now...

more or less what i was meaning

 

[wassupdoc]

I would disagree with that. I think you've not clicked on the link I left in the first post. Hence you may not realize that I had a WaterCool MO-RA3 (which is basically 120.9 - 65mm thick) + 120.3 (or 360) 55mm thick radiator cooling my system with 4 GPUs and CPU.

I believe it were really the pumps which I think messed up the performance. I had two DDC pumps in that system, which for this size loop was just barely enough. The problem was the XSPC Laing DDC reservoir I was using too. See I didn't have the pumps behind each other to push flow but in the middle the loop. It was set up this way:

res + pump 1 => CPU => 360 radiator => res + pump 2 => 4 GPUs in serial => MO-RA3 radiator


I definitely won't do this again. And if I overkill on the pumps, at least I can rule out something if the cooling performance isn't right. I also think that the new fans may improve quite a lot in the new case...

I did, it's just gtx 480 are notorious for pumping out heat like nothing else :3

 

[mihapiha]

Basically what I have to wait for now is only to find a buyer for my folding-farm. As soon as this thing is sold I will start buying the parts of the water cooling, cleaning radiators etc.

I figure I do not need to hurry with the motherboard, CPU and graphic cards, as I will probably wait for a newer generation on both. Maybe there is a chance of me getting some older gen water cooled hardware, just for the time being to test the performance.

But I'll see. first and foremost I want the radiators clean and mounted and I will also start on the cable management and tubing. I was thinking of going for Bitspower crystal link in the bits which would be viewable though the side panel window. Or only use fittings. Not sure yet. I'm also unsure what color scheme I want for the fittings. Thus far only Black-Sparkle and Matt-Black caught my eye.

 

[Deejeta]

crystal link can look pretty sweet. - singularity computers here in oz - (good youtube channel) has a heap of builds with the stuff.
yeah take your time and get the loop sorted and plan everything. dummy fit. fart around with different options. then grab the cpu,mb,gpu and throw em in. its not like your'll have many clearance issues.

yeah gtx480's, far out my loop temps would be in the high 60's compared to mid 30's nowadays.

 

[mihapiha]

It was singularity computers who got me interested in crystal link. It does look nice. But I'm not convinced that it is that good. Crystal link tubing is very very thin. I know tubing size usually doesn't make a difference but I somehow think the 13/10mm tubing might be ideal in my case though.

I'm happy if somebody can enlighten me about crystal link. Will there be a flow problem? Or to be more precise: Will the temperature of the components go up by more than 1ºC if I do crystal link?

I want to check which tubing won't stain much, if I can find something good, I might do tubing. If I feel the blue over does it, I might settle in for a fitting solution. Meaning: no tubing in the main compartment. But If I take away the blue there, I will have to get blue Corsair cables for the 1200i.

Either way I will take as much time with that build as I need and I will try to make it into a real showcase

 

[Deejeta]

The only real issue that i dont particularly like about using a heap of crystal link in a system is that you most often then not end up with a heap of 90' bends in the loop. This would inhibit flow.
One would have to invest in a heap of extra angle fittings just to turn a corner.
Tubing is cheap, comes in whatever colour you want and is easy to replace.
Singularity builds are real showpieces. He certainly does good work. Especially with his cabling.

 

[mihapiha]

The only real issue that i dont particularly like about using a heap of crystal link in a system is that you most often then not end up with a heap of 90' bends in the loop. This would inhibit flow.
One would have to invest in a heap of extra angle fittings just to turn a corner.
Tubing is cheap, comes in whatever colour you want and is easy to replace.
Singularity builds are real showpieces. He certainly does good work. Especially with his cabling.

I totally agree with that. But remember I have the dual D5 with the EK pump top.



I honestly cannot imagine that this system could have flow problems

It's more the tiny tubing that worries me more than the 90° fittings.