Watercooling Setup

[dipzy]

Hey guys, im planning to water cool my rig.

I have seen systems where 1 loop cools both cpu+gpu and 2 loop systems, one for cpu and the other for gpu.

Which one is better and how big is the difference?

Im going to be upgrading to intel 980x in a few months and in a couple of weeks getting a GTX 580

my system specs are:

Asus Rampage II extreme

Intel Core i7 920@ 3.9GHz

Prolimatech Megashadow cooler

3 x 2GB corsair Dominator GT

120gb OCZ vertex 2E SSD

300GB velopciraptor

2TB Samsung F3EG

ATI 5770 (upgrading to Asus GTX 580)

Silverstone Strider 1500w

Silverstone Fortress 2 case

 

[tinytomlogan]

To start with buy the 970, if you know how to overclock youll know why

Second seperating the loops keeps the HOT gpu loop away from everything else, its not essential but if you are spending money like you are it should be done properly imho

 

[dipzy]

To start with buy the 970, if you know how to overclock youll know why

Second seperating the loops keeps the HOT gpu loop away from everything else, its not essential but if you are spending money like you are it should be done properly imho

Thanks for the reply, i'll get the i7 970 and i'll do separate loops

One question though, what is the best tubing size as i know there are different thickness's and what fittings are better koolance or bitspower?

 

[equk]

I have seen systems where 1 loop cools both cpu+gpu and 2 loop systems, one for cpu and the other for gpu.

Which one is better and how big is the difference?

Doesn't seem like there's much point in spending loads on a dual loop.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=254683

Conclusions:

Under extreme performance scenarios, and from a pure performance standpoint, dual loops versus single loop are neither better nor worse, under the strict condition that the load ratios are evenly balanced.

Under the most commonly encountered loads though, single loops do win.

Under both of the above use scenarios, single loops also win from a reliability standpoint because of pump redundancy.

 

[dipzy]

Doesn't seem like there's much point in spending loads on a dual loop.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=254683

Great article thanks for giving me the link, helped alot. Going with a single loop now, the money i save will go towards the fittings as they are pricey

 

[tinytomlogan]

Great article thanks for giving me the link, helped alot. Going with a single loop now, the money i save will go towards the fittings as they are pricey

Ive always gone with twin loops, especially now with such hot cards. Meh personal pref, I always have been a tart when it came to loops!

1/2 barbs with 7/16 hose is my other personal pref, you dont even really need hose clamps

 

[dipzy]

What is the best way to drain the system when it comes to the time where you have to change the coolant?

 

[dipzy]

Ive always gone with twin loops, especially now with such hot cards. Meh personal pref, I always have been a tart when it came to loops!

1/2 barbs with 7/16 hose is my other personal pref, you dont even really need hose clamps

come to think of it, what you are saying about hot cards is true. They are getting powerful every time and with that come more heat, plus im planning to add another card for a SLI setup next year so like you, i want to do it right

its a good that i haven't ordered the rads yet

 

[equk]

surely if the loop goes:

res/pump > cpu > gpu > rad > rad >

you have cpu at a lowish temp then goes to a higher temp gpu but then before it gets to the cpu again it is cooled via the radiators.

It's not like cpu=35 + gpu=65 total=100

especially when you could have 2 radiators on the same loop (2x the surface area per loop than 1x rad per loop)

Which is why overall there's little difference between 2 loops and 1 loop.

You could also get 2x pumps on 1 loop for redundancy if u want.

 

[hmmblah]

The temp of the water will even out across the loop, correct? Therefore the hotter GPUs will raise the temps on the CPU.

 

[equk]

The temp of the water will even out across the loop, correct? Therefore the hotter GPUs will raise the temps on the CPU.

but then the gpu is in a loop with better cooling capability so the overall effect on the cpu is a few degrees (if any)

and the gpu is possibly quite a few degrees lower than it would be with separate loops (as the tests in the article show)

 

[dipzy]

but then the gpu is in a loop with better cooling capability so the overall effect on the cpu is a few degrees (if any)

and the gpu is possibly quite a few degrees lower than it would be with separate loops (as the tests in the article show)

What if there is one pump for each loop?

 

[Heebs]

What if there is one pump for each loop?

You have to have at least one pump per loop...

 

[tinytomlogan]

What if there is one pump for each loop?

if you have two loops you have to have two pumps as its completely seperate loops.

Ive just never been a fan of putting it all in one loop when you have a lot of lots hot parts

 

[dipzy]

Ahh i see. A few more questions:

1) where is the best place in the UK to get compression fitting from koolance and bitspower, which fittings do you prefer and why?

2) is one phobya G-changer 360 radiator for i7 970 cpu and one phobya xtreme quad radiator for the GTX 580(going to add a second card later next year)be enough?

 

[dipzy]

if you have two loops you have to have two pumps as its completely seperate loops.

Ive just never been a fan of putting it all in one loop when you have a lot of lots hot parts

That is true, i have seen systems where there is one phat 360 radiator and its in a single loop that has a cpu. two gpus, chipset and mosfets