Laing D5 Buggered or am I asking too much?

Greebo · 4 Oct 2010 at 10:10

I have built a new watercooling system consisting of the following:

1 x 360 XSPC RX rad
1 x 120 TFC rad
1 x Swiftech XT i7 block
2 x EK gtx470 full cover waterblocks
1/2" tubing.

I used my old Laing d5 pump with v.2 top.

Now, I had major issues with the new setup in getting it to bleed and feed the pump properly (don't ask but I started again and moved where everything was and it all works fine now) and there was short periods of 10 seconds or so when the pump was running dry (I know, not a good idea

)

However, looking at the reservoir the water going in is not much more than a slow tap. Now with my old system consisting of a xspc cpu block and only a swiftech double rad (although I had two ek gpu blocks so no change there) it was very forceful and caused major turbalance in the reservoir.

So they question is have I knackered my D5 pump when at times it was running dry or is my new loop too much for the pump?

Easy ways of checking whether the D5 is knackered please?

If the loop is too much, can somebody recommend a suitable pump please?

piggin · 4 Oct 2010 at 10:50

I think the pump is ok its just you are asking a lot from it.

At the moment I have a 120.4 SR1 rad with XT, full motherboard & 5970 water blocks. My system is doing the same. The flow is very slow & the pump is on number 5 speed.
You could always do two loops, add a second pump or get another D5 and change the top for a double pump version.

rjk · 4 Oct 2010 at 10:56

that loop is fine.

i run more on a single d5

is it a vario? have you turned the speed up?

minicle · 4 Oct 2010 at 11:02

It sounds like your D5 might have reached the end of its days. From what you have said I think that the 10 second periods of dry were the problem, not the extent of your loop.

I have a d5 pushing water around two radiators, a pa480, 360, gpu, cpu, and m/b blocks. I am not going to say that the flow is ideal, but my temps are ok.

(cpu)
high 20's - low 30s idle
mid 40's - low 50s in every day use
low 60s on prime

Gpu temps are in the high 40's. Water temps seem to peak around 29-30c

I think the discussion to be had around around pumps is finding the balance of noise/vibrations vrs performance (head pressure/flow)

I have tried a ddc ultra (2 in series at one point - waaay over kill) and a d5. Neither are perfect. The Ultra I would say was better for performance. The d5 for silence.

Perhaps two 10w ddc's in series is the happy medium.

piggin · 4 Oct 2010 at 11:03

I should have added that I used to run the D5 with the SR-1 & the 5970 water block and the turbulence in the res was very high even when the pump was set on number 2.

Have your temperatures been affected?

Greebo · 4 Oct 2010 at 11:43

rjkoneill said:
that loop is fine.

i run more on a single d5

is it a vario? have you turned the speed up?

I checked that. Was my first though - lol. It's on 5.

Greebo · 4 Oct 2010 at 11:50

Thanks for the reply piggin and minicle.

Problem is that my old loop was a q9650 so nothing to compare to.

Temps at 4.4Ghz and 1.385v are as follows:

Idle: 30C
Prime: 65C

Gpu's are 30C idle and 51C under furmark and 42C when gaming.

So overall they are not bad. Just frightened that my pump will fail one day.

Biffa · 4 Oct 2010 at 12:51

Its a new loop completely right? If any of the blocks are reused then I'd pull them apart and check for gunk. If all new blocks then could be an air pocket trapped in the rad.

Greebo · 4 Oct 2010 at 14:42

Biffa said:
Its a new loop completely right? If any of the blocks are reused then I'd pull them apart and check for gunk. If all new blocks then could be an air pocket trapped in the rad.

no, everything is 2nd hand except for the tube. I flushed everything out thoroughly before using.

Just no experience of the XT waterblock and how restrictive it is. Plus going from a double rad to two thick 360 +120 rads I have no idea how it should be performing.

Going to take a video and post. I really don't want to strip the loop down again for the 3rd time in 5 days unless I really have to

piggin · 4 Oct 2010 at 16:25

From the temps things look ok.
The D5 will run with your loop with no problems.
You are just asking it to do a lot, so the turbulence in your res will not be that great.
With my loop, I am getting a good strong flow into the res but no turbulence.

Greebo · 4 Oct 2010 at 18:52

Something is not right. I have added a 2nd 120.1 TFC rad since I last ran this loop and now my temps are higher under prime compared to before. I just compared them for the same overclock/voltage. I left it running for several hours and temps are now77/78C. It was meant to be better with the extra rad

Either the extra 120.1 rad is too much for it and I would be better off without it in the loop or my d5 is shot.

piggin · 4 Oct 2010 at 21:50

Sounds like an air lock.

Greebo · 4 Oct 2010 at 22:37

piggin said:
Sounds like an air lock.

That's what I thought but trust me i have had the case in 6 different orientations to check. No air locks anywhere that I can find.

I might do a full strip down tomorrow just to check for stupid things.

Biffa · 4 Oct 2010 at 22:55

Have you actually stripped the blocks before now?

piggin · 5 Oct 2010 at 06:31

Greebo said:
That's what I thought but trust me i have had the case in 6 different orientations to check. No air locks anywhere that I can find.

I might do a full strip down tomorrow just to check for stupid things.

Air locks can be q nightmare to get rid of. When you shut your system off does the level in the res increase. Or when you open the res does it hiss.
If it does then you have an air lock.
Could be worth running your rig on its side for a bit to see if you can get any air out.

Greebo · 5 Oct 2010 at 08:14

piggin said:
Air locks can be q nightmare to get rid of. When you shut your system off does the level in the res increase. Or when you open the res does it hiss.
If it does then you have an air lock.
Could be worth running your rig on its side for a bit to see if you can get any air out.

Hmmmmm starting to think you are right now. Sorry for dismissing your suggestion but having lugged my case into every orientation and shaking it, I was convinced it couldn't be that.

However, yes the level in the res increases slightly and it does hiss when you open it so the symtoms fit.

It's just how the hell you get rid of it

Greebo · 5 Oct 2010 at 08:16

Biffa said:
Have you actually stripped the blocks before now?

Not the cpu block. I just flushed it when I bought it and looked through the sockets and everything looked pretty clean and tidy in there.

I will try and get rid of this bloody airlock first before I start stripping blocks.

ANybody got any good tips for getting rid of it please?

rjk · 5 Oct 2010 at 09:42

personally i would whack some tubing clamps on and remove the pump.

set up a small loop and test outside the case. make sure that the pump is working as it should. maybe even dismantle it and check the impeller for any damage/signs of wear.

Greebo · 5 Oct 2010 at 10:24

rjkoneill said:
personally i would whack some tubing clamps on and remove the pump.

set up a small loop and test outside the case. make sure that the pump is working as it should. maybe even dismantle it and check the impeller for any damage/signs of wear.

Good idea. I just hate breaking my loop down. But I should to be sure. You got tubing clamps for sale on ocuk then?

ANy tips on airlocks?

DeadMan · 5 Oct 2010 at 10:58

Greebo said:
Good idea. I just hate breaking my loop down. But I should to be sure. You got tubing clamps for sale on ocuk then?

ANy tips on airlocks?

Make sure the res is the highest point, open the top a little and turn the pump on and off while tipping the machine at 45 degree angles.