How relevant are long pipe runs?

[MrToad]

I'll elaborate a bit...

Atm I can see two possibilities, one neat and tidy, the other convenient.

My loop goes Res > Pump > RAD1 > CPU > RAD2 > GPU > Res.

Now, I can place the res next to the pump on the bottom of the case, which yields the shortest tube run and the most "neat" finish.

Or I can place the res above the RAD2, on the "ledge" where the second drive cage goes in the TT Armor, making it the highest component in the loop but yielding a longer pipe run.

Now, do longer pipe runs (about 40cm more on the second setup over the first) have a negative impact on the overall performance of the loop?

Besides, with the second setup the water needs to be propelled up again from the GPU block to the res, does this affect negatively to the pressure in the loop? I'm sorry if this question sounds very stupid, but my knowledge of hydraulics is... well, that water is wet and if spilled it's volume expands proportionally to how likely the surface where it was spilled on is to get damaged by it.

 

[FarFarAway]

I'd place the res higher to let gravity do some of the job to let the pump get all the water it can

 

[NickS]

Yeah, res @ the top of the loop makes filling extremely easy. In my case, my res is at rock BOTTOM. Even below the pump. You don't even want to fill my loop, ugh.

 

[MrToad]

Thank you for the input ^^. To the ledge we go.

Lately I've been eating through a lot of literature regarding watercooling without properly chewing it. Now I have indigestion of mixed concepts.

Besides, there was something in the back of my head bugging me about potential difference (don't know how you call this in english, sorry) and kinetic energy... Probably another short circuit in my brain.

 

[FarFarAway]

Well in the case of my loop my pump is at the bottom being fed by a res above it. The pump pumps straight up into the RAD, then it's downhill all the way from there. This means the pump only needs to pump up like 2ft of head and flowrate + gravity does the rest (D5 ftw)

 

[MrToad]

Well... alea jacta est... I've drilled the holes to fit the res on it's ledge and to fit the fillport above it.

Now the last decision before I start assembling everything... to lap or not to lap, that's the question...

The prospect of lapping a £495 ($990 for you) piece of delicate electronic equipment is somewhat... daunting.

 

[FarFarAway]

Don't lap it then see how you get on

If the temps are a bit high (even after remounting etc) then lap it

 

[MrToad]

Don't lap it then see how you get on

If the tempsare a bit high (even after remounting etc) then lap it

That's what common sense tells me, thank you for reinforcing it...

I mean, I tested it with the razorblade and it's indeed convex, but... but... I... must... stop... myself... from... reaching... out... for... the... glass...

 

[NickS]

If it's convex that bad, please lap it. You'll get terrible temperatures.

 

[MrToad]

Stinking to isopropyl alcohol atm... catching my breath with a nice cup of tea...

Did anyone get tennis elbow doing this before?

Btw, another couple of questions, sorry to hijack my own thread and keep it drifting off-topic.

I've placed the front radiator (Swiftech MCR220) "upside down" so to speak (inlet and outlet on the top).

The rear one (PA 120.1) is in the "natural" position because of the bleed valve, but the swiftech doesn't have one, and now for the life of me I can't remember why I decided to do this... Have I done something very very dumb?

And second question, I have the PA120.1's shroud, which I got with the rad, but with the shroud fitted the rad protrudes like a mile from the back of the case which's long enough by itself, does it add any benefits or I can remove it and shorten the case by 5cm? If I carry on this way it's going to end either sticking out of the house or sitting in the middle of the room...

 

[FarFarAway]

Shrouds do help, but not a very huge amount

As for the RAD - it's on the case floor right? and the barbs are facing up so you can get the tubing onto it?

If thats the case then it's fine, as for bleeding, just tip the whole case from side to side a bit occassionally during leak testing to make sure no airs stuck in there. As the RAD is at the bottom of the loop gravity should do the rest

 

[MrToad]

As for the RAD - it's on the case floor right? and the barbs are facing up so you can get the tubing onto it?

Nope. The rad is in the front, upright, and with the inlet and outlet on the top facing inwards.

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Sorry, I'm not very good with ASCII art. Hope it's understandable.

 

[FarFarAway]

Should be ok then I would have thought as the air should bleed out of the top.

dunno about pressure in the loop and stuff tho