Required spec to cool GPU and CPU
- Thread starter jack2k20
- Start date
Master&Puppet
New member
I made a little formula which I run with and maybe useful to make comfortable yet quiet temps:
Basic Formula
(W + O)*1.5 = R x D x F
W = 1 point for each water block you want to cool.
O = 1 point for every OC'd/hot item you want to cool.
R = 1 point for a 120mm radiator section.
D = 1 point for a 30mm thick radiator and 2 for a 60mm radiator. (interpolate and extrapolate as required)
F = 1 point for using fans or 0.5 point for going fanless. (No bonus for push/pull though its nice).
E.g.
You have two blocks and 2 OC'd/hot items:
W(2) + O(2) = 4 x 1.5
So to balence the equation:
6 = 3 x 2 x 1
1x 360mmx60mm rad with fans.
Modifier
The Modifier basically alters how cool and quiet the system runs, change it from 1.5 (minimum) to 2 (quieter) to 2.5 (pretty damn quiet) and then balence the formula in the same manner as done above.
(W + O)x2.0 = R x D x F
Now the system is worth 8 points (4x2) and would be balenced by 2x 240mmx60mm rads.
Hopefully that's confused everyone.
M&P
P.S. if you are looking into buying your own fans then static pressure is a more valuable stat than CFM when cooling radiators.
So the formula for fans would be
SP x (CFM / 2) = FV
Where SP = staitc pressure, CFM = CFM and FV = Fan value
Only joking, I don't really have an equation for that
EDIT: Added modifiers.
Basic Formula
(W + O)*1.5 = R x D x F
W = 1 point for each water block you want to cool.
O = 1 point for every OC'd/hot item you want to cool.
R = 1 point for a 120mm radiator section.
D = 1 point for a 30mm thick radiator and 2 for a 60mm radiator. (interpolate and extrapolate as required)
F = 1 point for using fans or 0.5 point for going fanless. (No bonus for push/pull though its nice).
E.g.
You have two blocks and 2 OC'd/hot items:
W(2) + O(2) = 4 x 1.5
So to balence the equation:
6 = 3 x 2 x 1
1x 360mmx60mm rad with fans.
Modifier
The Modifier basically alters how cool and quiet the system runs, change it from 1.5 (minimum) to 2 (quieter) to 2.5 (pretty damn quiet) and then balence the formula in the same manner as done above.
(W + O)x2.0 = R x D x F
Now the system is worth 8 points (4x2) and would be balenced by 2x 240mmx60mm rads.
Hopefully that's confused everyone.
M&P
P.S. if you are looking into buying your own fans then static pressure is a more valuable stat than CFM when cooling radiators.
So the formula for fans would be
SP x (CFM / 2) = FV
Where SP = staitc pressure, CFM = CFM and FV = Fan value
Only joking, I don't really have an equation for that
EDIT: Added modifiers.
Master&Puppet
New member
Yea that's mine, it's how my head works. You don't want to see my gym spreadsheet...
I have the same philosophy as ttl on watercooling - no point doing it if it's going to be loud - you might as well have stuck with air cooling.
Check out 10:48 here.
As for pumps, radiators aren't actually the deciding factor because they don't cause much resistance to flow. Water blocks are the sticking point and you'll have two which is a moderate figure.
There are 2 stats you look for when deciding on a pump - delivery head (that's the pressure it will pump at) and LPH (litres per hour or flow rate).
For delivery head I like to have a minimum of 1m per block and 0.5m per radiator so you'll be wanting atleast 2.5m.
As for LPH - the faster the better, 400-600 is fine, 600-1000 is great 1000+ is awesome.
The most commonly used pumps are made by, or versions of the swifttech/laing designs (the D5 or ddc)
Laing, swiftech, Koolance are all good brands. XSPC/Koolance do good reservoirs. You also get two types of reservoir now, ones that are freestanding in your case or the ones I'd recommend which fit into drivebays (one to 2 slots).
Check out this page. Though the DDC pro 10 pump would do you, it's only £2 more here for the DDC ultra 18 which is all kinds of better.
Master&Puppet
New member
No worries, post your list of parts when you get round to it. Extra heads always help to make sure you don't buy a non-reference gpu block when you've got a reference card etc...
S_I_N
New member
M&P mate I do not mean to sound ugly but imho ur formula makes no sense to me. It looks like a random bunch of numbers tossed out there. Lets be pratical with our info and use real world numbers like TDP to be cooled flow rate fan speed. None of those are in ur equation. No one in their right mind would try and cool a overclocked cpu and gpu (especially a 580) with a single 360 rad (well maybe if it was 100mm thick) I would suggest a min of a 360 thick and a 240 thick rad to handle that heat load.
ruthless_villain
New member
thats actually a pretty decent formula tyvm
ttl cooled a 980x and a 6990 of a 60mm thick phobya rad and his temps were pretty good and you arent going to get anything hotter than a 6990 and 980x
S_I_N
New member
thats actually a pretty decent formula tyvm
we shall have to agree to disagree on that lol
true he did but fans were at 12v (while not loud for those others may not be) also he hadnt oc'd the 6990
I'm just making recommendations on my thoughts on the matter. Its always up to the end user to do what they will.
A 360mm rad thats 60mm thick with the right fans would be ok tbh, its only a 2500K and in the systems Ive done the CPU has always been warmer than the GPU's. I think youll be fine with one rad tbh unless you want it utterly silent and then I would go with an extra rad just so you can have the fans barely spinning and still have everything on full load.
If i got a 360x120x60 rad what oher size rad would be needed to be nice and silent?
So a 360x120x60 and a 240x120x60 would do the job?
ruthless_villain
New member
they would be overkill if anything, your temps would be brilliant
I'm getting mixed messages here haha. I would like it to be silent with good temps though
SieB
New member
The 360 on it's own will do the job but you will need your fans on almost full wack to maintain decent temps. If it's a silent rig you want though adding a thick 240mm rad will let you have your fans turned down pretty low.
Like Ruthless said it will be overkill but you would have a quiet rig, if you aren't to worried about noise then a 360 on it's own will be fine but if you want silence add another rad.
Like Ruthless said it will be overkill but you would have a quiet rig, if you aren't to worried about noise then a 360 on it's own will be fine but if you want silence add another rad.
The 360 on it's own will do the job but you will need your fans on almost full wack to maintain decent temps. If it's a silent rig you want though adding a thick 240mm rad will let you have your fans turned down pretty low.
Like Ruthless said it will be overkill but you would have a quiet rig, if you aren't to worried about noise then a 360 on it's own will be fine but if you want silence add another rad.
Oh good well i think i'll a thick 360 & 240
