Corsair 540 - GPU only loop

Overrated

Overrated

Overrated

Associate
Joined
15 Sep 2013
Posts
50
I created a thread asking for information on this last week - thanks to those who responded.

I have decided to go ahead with a watercooling loop for my two Asus 7970 Matrix Platinum's. I don't have experience with watercooling so I'm hoping I can get some advice around how best to approach this and which components to select.

Additional Information:

Corsair Carbide 540 Case
CPU cooled by an H100i mounted at the top of the case
GPU loop rad will have to go at the front - there should be room for a 360 rad

I've had a look around and have found the correct VGA blocks, and also like the look of the below pump/res combo (which I've seen used in another 540 build).

YOUR BASKET
1 x OcUK Tech Lab - XSPC D5 Vario Pump & XSPC Acrylic Tank Reservoir Value Combo £99
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC R9-280X Matrix - Acetal+Nickel £89.99 (£179.98)
Total : £289.78 (includes shipping : £9.00).



Hopefully there are some people here who have experience with 540 builds. It seems I have a couple of options on where to mount the pump/res:

1. Above the PSU (not sure I am comfortable with this - due to potential leaks?)

2. In front of the PSU on the floor of the case

Any recommendations on the required components and approach would be great.

Thanks
 
Doesn't really matter where it is mounted when it is a res/pump combo, you will leak test before you switch components on, so it shouldn't leak on the PSU if you decide to mount it there.

I will mount my two pumps under the optical bay cage. Have you thought of selling the h100i and including a CPU block into the loop with an extra 240 to go on the roof?
 
Thanks for the reply.

I'm pretty much set on keeping this as a GPU only loop. So I am basing all my comments on this. I have put together a list of components I think I would need:

YOUR BASKET
1 x OcUK Tech Lab - XSPC D5 Vario Pump & XSPC Acrylic Tank Reservoir Value Combo £99
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC R9-280X Matrix - Acetal+Nickel £89.99 (£179.98)
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator GT Stealth 360 £49.99
2 x Monsoon 13/10mm (ID 3/8 OD 1/2) Free Center Compression Fitting Six Pack - Red £27.95 (£55.90)
5 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm 1850 RPM - 3 Pin £16.98 (£84.90)
1 x Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound (4g) £8.99
1 x XSPC EC6 Coolant Blood Red £8.99
3 x Primochill Primoflex Advanced Tubing 13/10 - Clear £5.99 (£17.97)
1 x EK Water Blocks HD Tube 10/12mm 3-Slot (2 pcs) £4
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-HD Adapter 10/12mm - Black £2.99 (£5.98)
2 x Koolance Hose Clamp for OD 13mm (1/2in) £0.95 (£1.90)
Total : £529.57 (includes shipping : £10.00).



The reason I have 5 fans is that I am thinking of changing the ones on my H100i as well - as these are currently quite loud.

Have I covered everything, and do all the components work in conjunction with each other? I'm not sure on how much tubing I would need etc.

Another thing I've come across is barbed vs. compression fittings. I have seem both recommended over the other - does any one have an opinion on this?
 
It may be a bit tough getting that tubing onto those res barbs.
I found 16/11mm tubing a bit of a wrestle with 1/2" barbs even after dipping it in hot water.

Barbs vs compressions on the rest of it? Compressions all the way :)

You almost certainly won't need 3m of tubing. Get 2m to be on the safe side, depending on where you mount the pump, though that'll likely be plenty more than enough.
 
Compression all the way. Only reason to go barbs is to save money. Match the right barb to tubing and it is just as secure but is effort to get on snugly. If you throw cost of hose clamps into the mix, the price is about the same as Compression's, so i say go compression's for ease and nice neat look.

If you want a thicker radiator but are space wary, you can remove the front panel and mount radiator fans externally, giving you plenty of room inside the case.
 
Okay - I've changed the tubing to 16/11 and down to 2m. Also changed the rad - would this be a better choice?

YOUR BASKET
1 x OcUK Tech Lab - XSPC D5 Vario Pump & XSPC Acrylic Tank Reservoir Value Combo £99
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC R9-280X Matrix - Acetal+Nickel £89.99 (£179.98)
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator GT Xtreme 360 £79.99
1 x Monsoon 16/11mm (ID 7/16 OD 5/8) Free Center Compression Fitting Six Pack - Red £27.95
5 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm 1850 RPM - 3 Pin £16.98 (£84.90)
1 x XSPC EC6 Coolant Blood Red £8.99
1 x Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound (4g) £8.99
2 x Primochill Primoflex Advanced Tubing 16/11 - Clear £5.99 (£11.98)
1 x EK Water Blocks HD Tube 10/12mm 3-Slot (2 pcs) £4
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-HD Adapter 10/12mm - Black £2.99 (£5.98)
2 x Koolance Hose Clamp for OD 13mm (1/2in) £0.95 (£1.90)
Total : £525.64 (includes shipping : £10.00).



Have I now got everything I would need to put the two GPUs in a water loop?

Also, this may sound daft - but how would I mount the res/pump to the base of the case? And can I use something like this, to stop vibrations from the pump:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-101-OP&groupid=2362&catid=1170
 
Last edited:
You can get 20g of mx-4 for £20. You probably wont use all of the 4g but if you end up re-applying the block a few times you might!

I bought 30g of mx-2 and don't regret it one bit, since i have ended up re-seating blocks when i hadn't planned to.
 
Made the suggested changes - thanks guys.

On the rotary fittings - It doesn't look like there are any 16/11 ones, or am I missing something obvious here?

Uncle Petey - that mounting pad looks good, and this may seem daft but I still don't see how you would attach it all to the bottom of a case. Could you explain a little?

YOUR BASKET
1 x OcUK Tech Lab - XSPC D5 Vario Pump & XSPC Acrylic Tank Reservoir Value Combo £99
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC R9-280X Matrix - Acetal+Nickel £89.99 (£179.98)
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator GT Xtreme 360 £79.99
1 x Monsoon 16/11mm (ID 7/16 OD 5/8) Free Center Compression Fitting Six Pack - Red £27.95
1 x Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Compound (20g) £19.99
6 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm 1850 RPM - 3 Pin £16.98 (£101.88)
1 x Mayhems X1 Blood Red Coolant £7.99
1 x ModMyMachine Shoggy Sandwich V2 for Pump Decoupling - Black £6.95
2 x Primochill Primoflex Advanced Tubing 16/11 - Clear £5.99 (£11.98)
1 x EK Water Blocks HD Tube 10/12mm 3-Slot (2 pcs) £4
2 x EK Water Blocks EK-HD Adapter 10/12mm - Black £2.99 (£5.98)
2 x Koolance Hose Clamp for OD 16mm (5/8in) £1.1 (£2.20)
Total : £559.88 (includes shipping : £10.00).



One other question - do I need anything like silver coil or biocide to prevent algae growth?
Thanks
 

Just use standard G1/4 rotaries. Your compression fittings screw into them :)
No biocide/killcoils needed as X1 does all that for you.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom