Case for Dual Loop Setup?

G24HAM · 25 Nov 2012 at 19:51

Hi all,

Planning on building a high performance gaming rig which will also be used for video editing and rendering in HD.

What I want to do is Build the system with 2 loops.

First loop for the Motherboard and CPU using a 240 radiator with 4 fans in Push-Pull. May possibly consider cooling the memory on this loop but that will seriously complicate the plumbing I think but would use a 360 rad if I go that route.

Second loop for the GPU's Using a 360 radiator with 6 Fans in Push-Pull.

I was thinking of using 2 single 5.25" bay res/pump combo's (1 for each loop obviously)

Whilst I'm here I may as well ask what you kind people think of this plan and feel free to suggest any improvements.

On to the real problem. I can't seem to find a suitable case as I need space for -

Optical Drive
Fan Controller
2 x Reseviors
2 x SSD
1 x HDD (Possibly a couple more later on down the line)

Does anyone know of a case where the radiators can be efficiently positioned with the fans in place and not sacrifice too many drive bays. I would love to do a scratch build but I don't have a suitable work area yet. Would prefer cost to be kept below £200 and don't want to do much in the way of case modding just now.

Thanks in advance
G

pgi947 · 25 Nov 2012 at 22:16

Firstly, don't believe the hype, all push/pull is going to do as add a heap of noise for an extra 1-2c temp difference, in some cases P/P can even make temps worse! Far better off using the space available for a thick radiator + a single set of fans.

As for case, the Switch 810 seems to fit your needs, will take a 360 up top and a 240 down at the bottom with no modding. If you want more radiator then that (considerably more anyhow) you're going to have to start looking at Silverstones Temjin (spelling?) series or cases designed around watercooling (XSPC/MM/Phobya etc...) which are all well over double the cost of a switch 810

SeraphX · 25 Nov 2012 at 23:26

As above really

Don't waste money on push pulling fans, save a few quid and buy some radiator shrouds, They will give better performance

Harveywoo · 26 Nov 2012 at 10:34

Push pull is not the best way of water cooling IMO as its makes a whole lot of extra noise for the sake of maybe 1-2 degrees, which wont allow enough headroom to make a difference OC'ing.

Instead go for a decent set of fans like the sythe gentle typhoons and a chunky rad.

Avathar77 · 26 Nov 2012 at 10:49

As above push pull is over hyped!
Why going for dual loops? have you considered a single loop with a better pump(MCP35x?) or 2 pumps(MCP655?)
Most of the time it is easier and neater to have a single loop for CPU, 2 x GPUs and Mobo block with RAM blocks added in(although I think the later 2 blocks are just for show).

Pabl0 · 26 Nov 2012 at 12:32

I'd go for a single loop, with a 420 rad up top and a 240 down the bottom, I have this in my Elysium with a i5 @ 4.5 and a single 7970 for now and it keeps things chilly. I have push fans on the 420 and push/pull on the 240 but they will be changed to just push later as there loud and from what I can make out offer barely any advantage just noise although the fans aren't matched in each side.

With just single fans on each side of the rad and 3 case fans all set through the fan controller to low the loudest item in the case is the 2tb hard drive. With a very quiet rig max temps I get under load in prime is 45c and if I set all fans to max that drops to 40c although that's 50dbs of noise versus 36 on low.

I'd go for one big loop and go for a decent pump, D5 or even a double d5.

timciren · 26 Nov 2012 at 18:10

You can comfortably fit 2 * 360 rads and keep all the drive bays in a Corsiar 800D. I've run mine very quietly for a couple of years with a single pump and 6 low speed fans running off a fan controller. I have just moved over to a mini case for a change though, so my 800D is gathering dust atm

SeraphX · 26 Nov 2012 at 18:16

timciren said:
You can comfortably fit 2 * 360 rads and keep all the drive bays in a Corsiar 800D. I've run mine very quietly for a couple of years with a single pump and 6 low speed fans running off a fan controller. I have just moved over to a mini case for a change though, so my 800D is gathering dust atm

Comfortably?

I want pictures.

pgi947 · 26 Nov 2012 at 18:34

SeraphX said:
Comfortably?

I want pictures.

It might be a bit cramped but I'm guessing 360 in the top and another in the bottom provided you don't have an oversized PSU. Wouldn't require a massive amount of modding.

I'll be going one step further then this in an 800D in the coming weeks with a 480+360 combination

The amount of modding I'll be doing is somewhat unreal, I'm sure I'll manage to screw it up though. I'll be having 480 up top and 360 in the front., XL-ATX/SR-2 tray fitted with a custom mid-plate.

SeraphX · 26 Nov 2012 at 18:58

pgi947 said:
It might be a bit cramped but I'm guessing 360 in the top and another in the bottom provided you don't have an oversized PSU. Wouldn't require a massive amount of modding.

I'll be going one step further then this in an 800D in the coming weeks with a 480+360 combination

The amount of modding I'll be doing is somewhat unreal, I'm sure I'll manage to screw it up though. I'll be having 480 up top and 360 in the front., XL-ATX/SR-2 tray fitted with a custom mid-plate.

Not comfortably, 360 in the top yes, easily, but even a 240 in the bottom requires modding, I seriously doubt you could even get a 360 in the bottom, without raising the 'floor' so it sits on its side.

I had a 800d last year lol

timciren · 26 Nov 2012 at 19:06

SeraphX said:
Comfortably?

I want pictures.

The red looks so last year

pgi947 · 26 Nov 2012 at 19:13

^Yey I was correct

Not a chance of that fitting with an extended PSU though

A nice neat build though

my builds usually end up in a frustrating mess of cables and tubing

SeraphX · 26 Nov 2012 at 19:15

Mhmm, I stand corrected.

G24HAM · 26 Nov 2012 at 22:58

Thanks for the replies.

Obviously I have no experience with this at the moment so will carefully consider all the advice given.

opstrat · 27 Nov 2012 at 01:34

Just completed a duel loop on an 810 switch. Granted the 2 tube res are mounted on the front. Was all purely for asthetics.

smiley1987 · 27 Nov 2012 at 01:35

I think you should wait for more advice because a lot of people seem to run one loop for all their components . Maybe you should look into a single loop with some very thick rads because a good quality pump will easily run all the components of a pc with some high overclocks perfectly .