SPEC ME: 7970 crossfire

Sobtanian

Sobtanian

Sobtanian

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Joined
20 Apr 2007
Posts
133
Hi all

I'd be grateful for some spec advice. Quick system details: i5 2500k CPU (water cooled with an antec kuhler closed loop), two powercolor HD 7970 GPUs, with EK waterblocks. These are cooled with a Zalman Reserator XT (external all in one).
Case is a thermaltake Level 10 GT.

I think the Reserator is a great piece of kit, I've been using it for years. The only issue is that it has a fixed alarm when the liquid temp reaches 60 degrees. In this warm weather, this is becoming an issue with crossfire games, as after about an hour or so the water reaches this temp. The GPUs are at 60 degree or so in-game, so they're not overheating but I assume the Reserator isn't powerful enough for the two?

So I'd like to take the plunge (:p) into a DIY custom loop that can cool both GPUs efficiently, and I'd appreciate any help speccing it.

Thanks. I have no specific requirements other than the above, so any suggestions welcome and appreciated.
 
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How much radiator space do you have with the CLC in there cause from what i see that case can only support one 240mm rad (which would be your CLC i could be wrong) which would mean it would have to be external like what you already have?
 
IMHO If the gpus only hit 60 then I wouldnt be bothered about it. Maybe you could find a better 14cm fan to replace the one in the unit to increase the cooling potential.

something like

noctua nf-a14 flx fan - 140mm

noiseblocker blacksilent pro fan pk3 - 140mm

nzxt fx-140lb enthusiast performance control fan - 140mm

the nzxt has some of the highest static pressure figures but it wont be totally silent.

there is also a cooljag everflow fan that won the fan test in toms hardware but its only available in the states.

To Mods I hope the link is OK as its a US based company so isnt really a direct competitor to OC. If this isnt allowed please remove it and have my apologies for posting it
 
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@dfour Yes, the temperature isn't what bothers me. The alarm however, is a constant BEEP BEEP BEEP which you can't disable :( I try to ignore it, but it gets on my nerves. I wish there was a way to change the threshold. I've left it beeping while playing Civ V once for about 3 hours, and the hottest it got was 65.

I thought about removing the tweeter, but this same alarm is used if the waterflow is blocked, so a bad idea.

@scotsdragon the CPU CLC is attached to the back 120mm fan space. The case has a big top fan which can be removed, for a 240mm radiator space. Skip to 02:50 in this video please.


EDIT: youtube tag not working.

EDIT2: the reserator seems to use a 160mm fan, which isn't standard :(
Would this kit from OcUK be overkill? It's the dual pump kit. Not sure if one reservoir/pump are enough? If so, the OCuK V8 kit seems fine (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-041-OE)
 
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water cooling rig

OcUK Tech Lab - 18w DDC Pump & EK-DDC X-RES 140 CSQ Value Combo £106

or

OcUK Tech Lab - XSPC D5 Vario Pump & EK-D5 X-RES 100 CSQ Value Combo £105

XSPC AX240 Dual Fan Radiator (Black) £75

Tubing and fittings of your choice with either

Corsair Fan, SP120 PWM High Pressure Fan 4 pin, Dual Pack £26

or

Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm 1850 RPM - 3 Pin £15 each

Use the motherboards fan controller with them. If your going to add the cpu you will need to add another 120 rad as well (might as well while your doing the rest :) )
 
I'm very obliged thank you.

I was thinking of leaving the CPU with the Kuhler for now, because it's quite and I'm very happy with it's performance. As this is my first custom loop I worry I'll **** things up.

I'll get to ordering now. Thanks again.
 
No problem. I couldnt find out how much space you actually have in the top of the level 10 case so for a rad and fans so have specced you a slightly thicker rad @ 40mm thick. If you suddenly decide to cool the cpu heres some more bits:

EK Water Blocks EK-Supremacy clear top £52 (acetel black top is same price)

XSPC EX120 120mm Radiator - Black £32

1 or 2 more fans if you have the space.

Both pumps will easily cope with the extra load and it will look more complete. Sell the Khuler to make some money back. Also 5 litres of deionised water from Halfords is £3 and either 2 silver kill coils (no maintenance) or some mayhems biocide and your done (some maintenance).

The best advice I can give you is plan it out before starting it on paper so you can see if you are going to need 45 or 90 degree fittings to avoid kinks in the tubing.

All the best :D
 
im not sure 360 (240 + 120) rad will be enough for cpu and both gpu's if the cpu is heavily oced. the other question would be where do you want your water cooling eg dual bay rez or nestled in the case?
 
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ah my bad lol i thought id gotten the 120 ones ill edit it lol thanks Dfour ive edited that could have been a bad mistake :)
 
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Because i have that kit myself and it wont cool everything the pump on it isnt awsome, you could get cpu and one gpu it would struggle with cpu and two gpu's. my next build in september im deffo going d5 it may cost more but its fully adjustable and will run virtually all set ups.

in the end if you want to chance it and see if it works its your money :) and a single (slim)240mm rad will not be enough for your needs. youd be fine if it was only for t he cpu maybe at a push a cpu and one gpu but not for cpu and two gpus
 
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if your not doing the cpu then the pump in that kit will be fine and i think the 240 rad would be enough maybe ask in customer support section how much an upgraded radiator would make to the kit like the

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-033-BX would be normally they only charge you difference in price and its a better thicker rad for more heat dissapation
 
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scotsdragon said:
if your not doing the cpu then the pump in that kit will be fine and i think the 240 rad would be enough maybe ask in customer support section how much an upgraded radiator would make to the kit like the

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-033-BX would be normally they only charge you difference in price and its a better thicker rad for more heat dissapation
Click to expand...

You can upgrade without speaking to customer services to the sr1 240 for £14 extra in the drop down boxes. The only thing that concerns me is the space at the top of the case. The sr1 is 54 mm deep and with a fan is 79mm deep while the ex240 is only 35.5mm deep and with a fan 60.5mm deep. How much room does the level 10 have in the roof before it fowls anything on the motherboard??

@sobtainian
Also you originally said that you where keeping the Khuler so what was the point in specking the OC kit??
 
Yes the Kit has the (currently useless) CPU block. I only mention it because it's price is cheaper than both your specs, and it's very similar to what your one is.

Lemme look at the top of the case.
 
Ok, there's 7 cm between the top mount in the case and the top edge of the motherboard. The black ice with the fans is at least 7.7 cm, as is the xspc rx240 (the two options in the kit).

The xspc ex240 is 3.5cm thick, so with the fans (2.5cm) should leave a comfortable 1 cm gap between themselves and the mobo.

Hopefully this will cope with the two GPUs?

EDIT: woops, sorry for repeating the measurements you've already calculated, I missed them when I first read the post.
 
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