Required spec to cool GPU and CPU

[S_I_N]

there are some here who think minimum is fine while other like SieB and myself (and others) who would steer you towards the true goals of things which for water cooling is if you dont do it right why bother at all. As I have said from the get go the formula while maybe looking like it bears meaning is just random numbers The user assign themselves without thought of what they should point to. A correct understanding of water cooling should include many variables. Like amount of heat to be dispersed pump flow and head fans used are amoung the important items to consider. Just because someone did it does not mean it will work for everyone. Ambient temps play a very important part in any cooling scenario.

As stated a 360 thick rad will do the job but with the added nuisance of noisy fans to assist it. There are quiet fans that may hold the temps decent (not best) the better solution is to use a 360 and 240 to cool so the fans can be kept low and quiet. Which is the ultimate goal to water cooling to be cool and quiet.

M&P I'm sorry if it seems like i attacked your formula but imho I cant put my mind around those figures without explaination of where they come from. you say what each stands for but not how you came about assigning the values

 

[SieB]

Oh good well i think i'll a thick 360 & 240

not much point having watercooling if it's going to be loud

Yep, if your gonna do it you may as well do it properly.

Get some decent fans as well though, something like Scythe Gentle Typhoons 1850rpm, Akasa Apache or Akasa Vipers. Those are pretty much the best fans you can get for radiators, high rpm, high CFM and a high static pressure, so even when they are turned down they still perform well. You should be able to run them at 800rpm maybe higher with a 360 and a 240 and you will still get good temps with hardly any noise.

 

[SPS]

M&P I'm sorry if it seems like i attacked your formula but imho I cant put my mind around those figures without explaination of where they come from. you say what each stands for but not how you came about assigning the values

To be fair to M&P his formula was to work out the bare minimum that would be needed to cool the given hardware, which so far has proved to be correct. So if someone did want a quiet PC, which I'm sure most if not all WC users want, then add another rad in for good measure.

However some evidence to back up his formula wouldn't go a miss

 

[jack2k20]

Yep, if your gonna do it you may as well do it properly.

Get some decent fans as well though, something like Scythe Gentle Typhoons 1850rpm, Akasa Apache or Akasa Vipers. Those are pretty much the best fans you can get for radiators, high rpm, high CFM and a high static pressure, so even when they are turned down they still perform well. You should be able to run them at 800rpm maybe higher with a 360 and a 240 and you will still get good temps with hardly any noise.

With a 360 and 240 rad both 60mm thick what would be the best for quietness and airflow, pull or push or pull and push?

 

[S_I_N]

what case?? most agree theres no real bonus to push/pull plus keep in mind a 60mm thick rad with push/pull 25mm fans = 110mm you're case options diminish greatly at that thickness.

 

[jack2k20]

what case?? most agree theres no real bonus to push/pull plus keep in mind a 60mm thick rad with push/pull 25mm fans = 110mm you're case options diminish greatly at that thickness.

I'm planning on getting the NZXT switch 810 when it comes out next month, the demo that they showed they had a 60 rad with push and pull and had plenty of space. I don't mind not having push and pull, I don't have a personal preference as its my first time water cooling.

 

[S_I_N]

yeah the Switch 810 should easily handle push/pull they claim 90mm of space above the mobo. it may hang a lil over the board but not anything major. just remember the more fans the possibility of more noise also you'll need a decent fan controller to handle all those fans.

 

[tinytomlogan]

there are some here who think minimum is fine while other like SieB and myself (and others) who would steer you towards the true goals of things which for water cooling is if you dont do it right why bother at all. As I have said from the get go the formula while maybe looking like it bears meaning is just random numbers The user assign themselves without thought of what they should point to. A correct understanding of water cooling should include many variables. Like amount of heat to be dispersed pump flow and head fans used are amoung the important items to consider. Just because someone did it does not mean it will work for everyone. Ambient temps play a very important part in any cooling scenario.

As stated a 360 thick rad will do the job but with the added nuisance of noisy fans to assist it. There are quiet fans that may hold the temps decent (not best) the better solution is to use a 360 and 240 to cool so the fans can be kept low and quiet. Which is the ultimate goal to water cooling to be cool and quiet.

M&P I'm sorry if it seems like i attacked your formula but imho I cant put my mind around those figures without explaination of where they come from. you say what each stands for but not how you came about assigning the values

It can be done on a 360 mate if done right.

 

[S_I_N]

not doubting it at all mate

just erring on the side of caution

 

[Master&Puppet]

M&P I'm sorry if it seems like i attacked your formula but imho I cant put my mind around those figures without explaination of where they come from. you say what each stands for but not how you came about assigning the values

No worries. Let me explain things which maybe I should have said in the first post but would have made it rather long...

It's a system which works for me and I appreciate if you don't like the formula, there's a reason I did put it like that (see modifier below)! As I said, its a rule of thumb I use expressed as an equation. There's no science behind it, I find it actually more useful than 'scientific calculations' because it is born out of experience and takes into account factors which you cannot calcualate like:

The amount of fan noise you choose to put up with.

Proximity of the system to you.

Amount of coolant.

Type of fans.

Make of rad.

Added overvolt heat.

Case airflow.

Radiator position and airflow.

How hard you work the kit and how often.

You can just alter the modifier if you want, that's what it's there for, up to around 2.5 is sensible i.e.

(W + O) x2 = R x D x F

The same system is now cooled with 2x 240mmx60mms or a 480x60.

To be honest I could have just written this in my original post:

Basic

360x60

Quiet

480x60 (or 2 240s)

Really quiet

600x60 (360 + 240)

but then who learns from just being told the rad size they need? It's a tool which I think anyone can use to estimate. I hope that's more to your liking

M&P

P.S. I'll edit the original post so that if someone does choose to use it it's all there in black and white.