Watercooling GPUs only

RichH

RichH

RichH

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Just wondering does anyone just watercool their GPUs?

I'm probably just going to do my 7950s.

Anyone done this? What sort of rad power do you use?
 
I've seen a few that do, most are those that are happy with an ALC solution on the CPU, though I personally don't see much point, if you're going to the expense of creating a loop you may as well throw the CPU in for another £40.

Two 7950's alone you'll be looking at a 360 rad.
 
One way to look at it is, if you are going to spend all that money just cooling the gpu it makes sense to spend a extra £50 for a cpu block and cool that as well. If you decide to go down that route later you will have to waste time draining and stripping the loop down again.
 
Hmm, it just seems a bit pointless when I already have an NH-14D on the CPU. 2 fans on a 240 for the rad is going to make the same noise.
 
20 degrees really? My CPU never goes above 60 in games, even with 2 GPUs pumping hot air into the heatsink.

Besides, cooling the CPU requires extra radage. I only have space for a thin 360 and a square 200. I think that be better used cooling just the GPUs personally. Although I could get a thick 120 in if I ditch the CPU sink.

Is it a big deal draining the loop and adding to it later?
 
Not a major deal but certainly more hassle the adding it the first time around.

Around 20c difference is about right, the 2600k I had went from around 74c on a h80 (around nh-d14 performance) to 50c under water with synth stress.

360+200 would be more than enough for a 3 component loop.
 
I would say so yes :)

Temps are always subjective to a few other factors but you'll certainly see a huge difference over the noctua cooler.
 
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allowing for worst case, 7950's draw about 250w each on a good OC - I tend to work on the basis that one 120mm rad = 110watts

from the reviews I can find a 200x200 roughly = a 360 so you've got 660w of rad... add in the CPU and you've got maybe 650w of components...

so yeah, should be fine - if you put rads in your case and have them pulling the warm air from the CPU over the rads then the heat from the CPU will be affecting your loop temp anyway, so may as well put the CPU in the loop
 
OK, thanks for this, and good point about CPU heat being pulled though rads.

R.e 120mm rad = 110watts, does this result in low temps or just acceptable temps?

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone.
 
RichH said:
OK, thanks for this, and good point about CPU heat being pulled though rads.

R.e 120mm rad = 110watts, does this result in low temps or just acceptable temps?

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone.
Click to expand...

from various tests - this is with moderate fan speed to keep the water delta over ambient to around 10C

so if ambient is 20C, water will be 30C and most blocks will keep a delta of 10C, so your component temp will be around 40-50C (deltas on CPU blocks tend to be slightly higher and GPU's lower)

this is all very rough guess work as without knowing exactly what components your going to choose and then trying to find reviews of those specific reviews it's difficult to tell exactly

what I can tell you is that I run a 3930k with 2 GTX670's overclocked to within an inch of their life, I have 12 120mm fans and 2 140mm fans on a massive rad and my water delta is less than 3C and my CPU usually sits at a delta of 18C on an LTX block (e.g. not the best) and my 2 GPU's sit at a delta of less than 10C on MCW82's
 
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Would love to but it is going to make the case what, 6 inches deeper?

Hmm, have been meaning to get a bigger desk anyway. I'll have a think about that.
 
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