Rad Heat dissipation

[Luuke]

tl;dr Is a 360 and a 240 rad enough for about 500W to dissapate ( 2 x gtx 680 & 3570K)

Hello there,

Was wondering how many rads I need for this setup, as I am unable to access skinneelabs's website with radiation dissipation charts, not sure if it is blocked in my country or just down.

The total TDP of my system will be 477W, but I upped it to 500W to compensate for a margin of error in any way. (2 x gtx 680 and 3570K OC 4.3Ghz 1.25V)

Now I currently have a bought a 360 and 240 black Ice GT rad since I managed to find them for $30 each to help with my budget, first of all I cannot find tests of heat dissipation with them so I will be treating the GT360 as the XSPC RX360 but just keeping in mind that results can range a decent amount from them.

Results are mixed; one website shows the RX360 heat dissipation of 625W @ 2000RPM and the other claims 303W @ 2200RPM, so will a 240 and 360 rad be enough for this at a TDP of no more than 500W? it is very odd how different these results are both at 10C Delta T so I thought it would be a better idea to ask humans rather than google.

Using a D5 pump and XSPC water blocks (GPU's) & EK block (CPU) that I believe have decent pressure.

 

[Remmy]

tl;dr yes, it should be okay.

I have an i5 2500k (TDP 95W), and 2 GTX580s (TDP 244W each), so 583W TDP in total. This is cooled by a 360mm x 60mm and 240mm x 60mm on D5 setting 2, with push/pull SP120 QEs at ~7V, and everything is fine. During intensive gaming sessions approx 65°C CPU, and 45°C GPUs.

Those rads you have are 30mm thick right? I'd imagine you'll still be fine with those as the TDP is 100W less, you might just need the fans or pump on a bit higher

Edit: The CPU is at 4.5GHz, so it's going to put out even more heat then

 

[Luuke]

tl;dr yes, it should be okay.

I have an i5 2500k (TDP 95W), and 2 GTX580s (TDP 244W each), so 583W TDP in total. This is cooled by a 360mm x 60mm and 240mm x 60mm on D5 setting 2, with push/pull SP120 QEs at ~7V, and everything is fine. During intensive gaming sessions approx 65°C CPU, and 45°C GPUs.

Those rads you have are 30mm thick right? I'd imagine you'll still be fine with those as the TDP is 100W less, you might just need the fans or pump on a bit higher

Edit: The CPU is at 4.5GHz, so it's going to put out even more heat then

If the fans are running at ~7V then you must be using a stepdown cable since the QE's are rated at 12V? Sadly I dont think push pull will fit in my case, how much of a difference would it make other than not being able to run the fans as slow/quiet? (eg the 3 fans in pull @ 12V vs 6 fans in pushpull @12V since noise isnt too much of a priority for me). Yeah the GTS is 30mm thick and has 30FPI density so I wouldnt want to stepdown the volatge ofthe SP120's, that I plan on buying.

 

[Remmy]

I'm using a fan controller, and I think the minimum voltage on it is around 7V, but I don't have a multimeter so I can't be certain. But yes, 12V is the 'normal' voltage for fans.

The radiator size is far more important than push/pull is, the extra bank of fans will probably only make two or three degrees diference.

 

[Luuke]

I'm using a fan controller, and I think the minimum voltage on it is around 7V, but I don't have a multimeter so I can't be certain. But yes, 12V is the 'normal' voltage for fans.

The radiator size is far more important than push/pull is, the extra bank of fans will probably only make two or three degrees diference.

Excellent, thanks for your help! I think I might add another 240 just for fun

 

[Remmy]

Excellent, thanks for your help! I think I might add another 240 just for fun

Hey why not If you can fit it in, extra rad space can only help

 

[Surfie]

Hey why not If you can fit it in, extra rad space can only help

Only up to a point...

There is a point where no further gains can be made (e.g. attaching a car radiator to your computer and running it with a fan).

Realistically, if you go REALLY bonkers and overkill with radiators and fans, you might be able to run the PC at a 2-5 degree delta temperature. The real benefit (in my view) of an extra radiator is the ability to undervolt the fans even further, ensuring silence.

But, don't let me talk you out of it. I am a real fan (hehe pun) of the idea of more radiator space. Just be aware that there is a point where the benefit of extra rads can be neutralised.

My 5 cents (+ VAT/GST) is that of trial and error: get what you initially planned for, then trial it. If you are not happy with the performance (be that noise wise, or temp wise or both), then throw another radiator at it or fiddle with the fans (reducers/fan controller etc) and try again. Best case: you might save yourself a hundred dollars (or more) on hardware and be happy. Worst case, you need to purchase the extra radiator, and you've just wasted a bit of coolant/coolant mixture.

 

[Remmy]

Only up to a point...

There is a point where no further gains can be made (e.g. attaching a car radiator to your computer and running it with a fan).

Realistically, if you go REALLY bonkers and overkill with radiators and fans, you might be able to run the PC at a 2-5 degree delta temperature. The real benefit (in my view) of an extra radiator is the ability to undervolt the fans even further, ensuring silence.

But, don't let me talk you out of it. I am a real fan (hehe pun) of the idea of more radiator space. Just be aware that there is a point where the benefit of extra rads can be neutralised.

My 5 cents (+ VAT/GST) is that of trial and error: get what you initially planned for, then trial it. If you are not happy with the performance (be that noise wise, or temp wise or both), then throw another radiator at it or fiddle with the fans (reducers/fan controller etc) and try again. Best case: you might save yourself a hundred dollars (or more) on hardware and be happy. Worst case, you need to purchase the extra radiator, and you've just wasted a bit of coolant/coolant mixture.

Yeah, of course like all things the effect will taper off, but I meant within reason i.e. as many as you could fit in your case is still going to keep giving a benefit with each extra radiator, not piles of rads outside the case xD

 

[Luuke]

The only problem is I have to import the biocide which is quite expensive (Check my build "log" in projects and it will explain why) and distilled water isn't in store you have to go to high end pharmacies and ask them to get it from that back, so it's not quite as simple as draining it and putting it all back together

I'm using the Corsair Carbine Air 540 so a 360 rad on the front, 240 on the top and if I move the bay drives on the bottom a 240 might fit there depending on how far down my Gtx 680 goes.

But no kill like overkill . For now I will go with as you suggested and do what is planned! I managed to pick up both my rads at 50% so I have a bit extra budget to squeeze if I need to.

 

[Surfie]

Well if you can get another rad at discount rates, then I'd go for the extra just for giggles. It's not like the budget hadn't been assigned for rads anyway.

But that will depend on your financial status as well I guess.

 

[NeverBackDown]

I firmly believe in having as many rads as possible if it looks great, all about the looks in the end.

Also the SP fans run on 5v and can be started at 5v. I have mine startup on 5v almost every time and only turn them up to 7v in gaming sessions.