Traveling by car with a custom loop?

[kimir]

Hello! Liquid cooling experience noob here, I have read a lot and have a good idea of what I'm doing. Long story short, I'd like to do a CPU/GPU (2600k/Titan) loop with a 240mm 80mm radiator, and a dual bay res/pump.

I will have to travel with my computer in the car in a year or so.

Could I keep it assembled, but bled while I travel? (I would assume so, but I haven't read anything about traveling with custom loops.)

If anyone has experience or horror stories with traveling, I'd appreciate your opinions/process for such a thing.

PS. Are there specific parts I should choose like Pump/reservoir combos to reduce the chance of a leak?

EDIT: PCPartPicker list of specs. http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kimir/saved/1z8P
Proposed Liquid Cooling Parts: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kimir/saved/1MdG

 

[I Hunta x]

Just drain it and then fill it at the other end, within a year you will be used to draining and filling it anyway as you would probably have cleaned it once or twice atleast.

 

[Feronix]

Some people will tell you that you can actually keep the liquid in but I'd tell you to better be save than sorry. Just bleed the loop and nothing can really go wrong. If it makes you feel better, take out the GPU (however there's not a massive heatsink on there so you should be alright).


Just make sure that you tighten all the fittings and such once you've arrived. Just make sure that nothing can leak, then do a leak test and just fill it up again

 

[Kopesetic]

Might be a stupid question, but are you planning to use the computer while on the road, like when you stop for whatever? Just seems to me that it would be the only reason to not consider draining the loop.

 

[S_I_N]

a 240mm for a 2600k and titan???? I doubt your running it stock since ya spent on 2400mhz ram so I'll be first to say might as well stay with what cooling you have. As I doubt you'll see any temp differences unless your running your fans full speed.

but on topic how far ya driving?? if just a shortish distance as long as you keep it standing upright with no room for it to topple over filled or drained will work. But as said it'll be time (past time imho) for a refresh of the loop.

 

[jamesriley94]

Some people will tell you that you can actually keep the liquid in but I'd tell you to better be save than sorry. Just bleed the loop and nothing can really go wrong. If it makes you feel better, take out the GPU (however there's not a massive heatsink on there so you should be alright).

A lot of the waterblocks - my 680 Razor is quite a lot heavier than the stock heatsink and fan. That's what I'd be most concerned about tbh, so I'd be wanting to leave it flat.

If tubes are done properly, then they won't come off, and if you've done it with the shortest lengths possible, then they won't have room to wiggle and pull off.

I've always drained mine if I took it somewhere (took it to and from uni (2 hour car journey) 4 times in total). Although I'd be pretty confident in mine that it wouldn't leak even if I did leave it filled.

The only thing you really want to be careful of is if you have a tube res or slightly insecure pump, as that could come off its bracket/clips, which may then start pulling on tubes.

 

[kimir]

Might be a stupid question, but are you planning to use the computer while on the road, like when you stop for whatever? Just seems to me that it would be the only reason to not consider draining the loop.

I will not be using it on the road - just at the destination. I will travel by car for anywhere from 3-14 hours with my rig twice a year.

a 240mm for a 2600k and titan???? I doubt your running it stock since ya spent on 2400mhz ram so I'll be first to say might as well stay with what cooling you have. As I doubt you'll see any temp differences unless your running your fans full speed.

but on topic how far ya driving?? if just a shortish distance as long as you keep it standing upright with no room for it to topple over filled or drained will work. But as said it'll be time (past time imho) for a refresh of the loop.

I was planning on going with a 240mm 80mm Monsta radiator, push/pull SP120 performance edition. Would that not be enough?

I'll be driving hours, it already sounds like I should drain it and remove the GPU from the rig.

A lot of the waterblocks - my 680 Razor is quite a lot heavier than the stock heatsink and fan. That's what I'd be most concerned about tbh, so I'd be wanting to leave it flat.

If tubes are done properly, then they won't come off, and if you've done it with the shortest lengths possible, then they won't have room to wiggle and pull off.

I've always drained mine if I took it somewhere (took it to and from uni (2 hour car journey) 4 times in total). Although I'd be pretty confident in mine that it wouldn't leak even if I did leave it filled.

The only thing you really want to be careful of is if you have a tube res or slightly insecure pump, as that could come off its bracket/clips, which may then start pulling on tubes.

Would you recommend combos? (ex. Reservoir/pump or radiator/reservoir) I guess I'd be bleeding it, so would it matter? I'll upload the plan for my build in a few when I get back to my desktop.

Thanks for the responses so far!

 

[jamesriley94]

Pump res combos are easier to fill and bleed IMO - may be wise to have a dedicated drain line though if you are doing it very regularly.

Getting a GPU block with multiple ports on often makes bleeding easier if that's your lowest point, as you can just open up one on the underside with a jug underneath and it'll come straight out from there.

 

[nepas]

Put a blanket around the PC and use the seat belt,or strap it down in the boot,as long as you are not Lewis Hamilton it will be fine.

 

[kimir]

Put a blanket around the PC and use the seat belt,or strap it down in the boot,as long as you are not Lewis Hamilton it will be fine.

I'm actually the stig.
I'm not sure my Fractal Midi R2 would fit, actually.

Pump res combos are easier to fill and bleed IMO - may be wise to have a dedicated drain line though if you are doing it very regularly.

Getting a GPU block with multiple ports on often makes bleeding easier if that's your lowest point, as you can just open up one on the underside with a jug underneath and it'll come straight out from there.

I believe my GPU would in fact be the lowest point. The reservoir goes lower, but the ports don't. Therefore...? Which is the "lowest" point?

I was thinking the EK Waterblock for the Titan. I'll post up the parts I'm looking at in the OP.

 

[jamesriley94]

Without some form of colour coding, I have no idea what's what on that diagram...

The EK blocks only have 2 ports which will both be in use. I was thinking more like the XSPC Razor block:
http://www.xs-pc.com/products/waterblocks/gpu-waterblocks/razor-gtx-titan/
Which has 7 ports in total.

 

[kimir]

Without some form of colour coding, I have no idea what's what on that diagram...

The EK blocks only have 2 ports which will both be in use. I was thinking more like the XSPC Razor block:
http://www.xs-pc.com/products/waterblocks/gpu-waterblocks/razor-gtx-titan/
Which has 7 ports in total.

The colors don't really matter at this point, but they were just to help me visualize each size/fan type and what to buy. The radiator would be push/pull with SP120 Performance fans. I was just showing what I expect to have in my rig. What is considered the "lowest point" in my rig? Would it be the GPU or the radiator?
The red line is the proposed loop. (Res/pump>CPU>GPU>RAD>Res/pump)
(labeled version hacked together - never expected this to be a public diagram)