Two rads for 350D?

[Chopper3]

I have a Corsair 350D already fitted with their H100i AIO CPU water cooler but I'm toying with the idea of ripping it out and putting in a 'proper' custom water cooling setup - but I have a few questions as I've never done this before.

Firstly I know I can get in a very nice 280mm radiator from XSPC for the top, it'll fit and I'll be able to mount it either way around and still have space for the fans I'll need underneath and this would suffice for cooling the CPU. But if I want it to cool my single current 780 would it be enough or would I NEED to put in a front radiator?

I currently have two 120mm fans pulling air in through the filter at the front but obviously these would have to reverse if I put a radiator in front of them - but then ALL of my fans would be pushing out - and we know nature abhors a vacuum so would I reverse and filter my rear fan to allow incoming air?

Presumably I couldn't run the CPU and TWO 780's through one 280 radiator right?

A further question is would you install a tube style reservoir or a bay-based one? I'm not sure where a tube-based one would actually mount in a 350D to be honest.

And my final question - do these things leak? Obviously they will if I do a crap job but even then should I expect the odd leak every so often and if so how do you deal with it (other than destroy hardware!) ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Feronix]

Ehm... Running a high-end CPU and GPU off a single 280mm rad kind of defeats the purpose of watercooling, which is low temps and little noise.

I would definitely recommend getting 2x 240mm rads as 120mm fans tend to be better, especially if you get the pressure optimized ones like Corsair SP120s or Noctua NF-F12s.

For the fan lay-out I would just use the front fans as intakes, they will pull fresh air from outside into your rad. You can then easily use your top rad as an exhaust if the use the rear as intake (get a dust filter for that though).

 

[Nurf]

One radiator will work, but it will be loud and hot, meaning there is no point. Two is enough to have good temps with low noise and give you
a chance to play with fans speeds to find the best compromise between the two.

You could just have all the rads as intake. The air temp coming from them is (depending on fan speed) at the very most near water temps. With both cpu and gpu under water, everything else will do just fine with that kind of air. (Feronix's idea is also good)

Two 780s and a cpu can be run from TWO rads if your willing to have not so silent fans and higher temps. What amount of rad space is enough really depends on what fans speeds and temps you want. (once you cool one gpu you get a better idea of what 2 will do)

Bay vs tube res is up to you. Usually tubes are easier to drain, but it depends on where it's put. Come up with a place the tube will fit and plan your loop with a bay and a tube res and choose which one you prefer.

If it doesn't leak during a leak test, it shouldn't leak after words as long as your not aggressively pulling on connections or something. Leaks happen, but they aren't as common as the internet tells you (assuming that your trying to do things right).

 

[Bartacus]

I echo all of the above, and will add this: the best way to leak test is to assemble the loop outside the PC. If I were you, I'd pick up an external power supply, something like this:

https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/2a_12v_5v_external_dc_power_supply_molex_for_system_testing

I also recommend this switch:

https://www.dazmode.com/store/product/36_4pin_extension_cable_w_power_on_off_switch_black

With those 2 items ($20 total) you can leak test on your workbench / kitchen table / whatever before you even install the stuff in your PC. Buying some "disposable" tubing isn't a bad idea either. Get 10 feet of clear tubing for testing, and use that tubing to assemble the loop on a bench. I had all my blocks / rads / pumps connected together on my kitchen table. Just fill it up, use the external PS to fire up the pumps, and that's it. If anything is going to leak, it will most likely be a fitting with a nicked o-ring, but chances are you won't even see that. As was said above, leaks are uncommon, unless you break something, nick an o-ring with a knife, etc.

Another benefit to that approach is you'll get familiar with filling / draining a loop before you have it anywhere near your expensive parts. Just my $0.02CDN.

 

[Chopper3]

Thank you for your thoughts gents.

 

[loonie]

wot you think of this? Its almost the same wot Tom did in his vid, but without the H100.

grtz

 

[Chopper3]

Very nice, thanks for updating me on this. So your reservoir is in a drive-bay I presume? would you mind letting me know your parts list for that lot please? did you have any issues with it or challenges? how are front fans setup on that? How does it perform overall in terms of heat and noise?

Thanks again, really great build.

 

[loonie]

Very nice, thanks for updating me on this. So your reservoir is in a drive-bay I presume? would you mind letting me know your parts list for that lot please? did you have any issues with it or challenges? how are front fans setup on that? How does it perform overall in terms of heat and noise?

Thanks again, really great build.

I found this build, realy nice. Also the cooling bits list.

* EK Supremacy + Naked Mount Kit
* EK Titan XXL
* HWLabs GTX240
* Alphacool ST30 240
* Corsair SP120 PWM
* Koolance RP-401X2 (bay reservoir)
* Primochill Ghost Compression fittings
* Koolance PMP-400 (DDC) x2
* Primochill tubing
* Bitspower flow indicator

 

[Chopper3]

That's brilliant, thank you - are there any photos of the back showing the wiring do you know?

 

[loonie]

That's brilliant, thank you - are there any photos of the back showing the wiring do you know?

There are no pictures of that. But mayby you can find some ideas here on this forum. Only 350D owners club.

forum thread = corsair-350d-owners-club
picture = lightbox

grtz

 

[Chopper3]

thank you.