Debating my first WC loop

ali_83 · 12 Dec 2014 at 20:44

Looking to replace my big aircooler with something quieter and a bit more efficient. Torn between just going for an AIO or taking the plunge into a custom loop as general opinion seems to be that they are more efficient and quieter.

Would something like this be a good starting point in case I want to add my GPU to the loop as well (295x2):

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-327-XS&groupid=962&catid=1532

Or could I get away with something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-266-XS&groupid=962&catid=1532

Im guessing that if I was to add a GPU into the loop I would be looking at a minimum of a 360 rad or could I get away with a 240?

I'm not doing any overclocking but looking to keep my system fairly cool and quiet.

deFiniLoGy · 12 Dec 2014 at 23:35

ali_83 said:
Looking to replace my big aircooler with something quieter and a bit more efficient. Torn between just going for an AIO or taking the plunge into a custom loop as general opinion seems to be that they are more efficient and quieter.

Would something like this be a good starting point in case I want to add my GPU to the loop as well (295x2):

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-327-XS&groupid=962&catid=1532

Or could I get away with something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-266-XS&groupid=962&catid=1532

Im guessing that if I was to add a GPU into the loop I would be looking at a minimum of a 360 rad or could I get away with a 240?

I'm not doing any overclocking but looking to keep my system fairly cool and quiet.

You should be looking at least 480mm of rads to cover your components - 120 for CPU, 120 for each GPU and 120 spare. So 480 in total

And also, the EX series doesn't perform as well as the RX in terms of cooling capacity.

skylineboy · 13 Dec 2014 at 05:31

I would avoid the 750 bay res pump like the plague. It is widely known to have serious vibration issues and this will kill your silent hopes.

What is your absolute budget and what case have you got?

ali_83 · 13 Dec 2014 at 08:15

Ah didn't realise I'd need to go for a 480 rad, that shakes things up a bit. Would I still need the 480 even though my GPU is a single card or does it matter more that it's two chips on a single card and therefore needs a bigger block?

My case is a Corsair 350D but I'd be changing this probably for a 750D should I go for a WC loop.

Budget isn't huge to be honest. If I can't do it for under £300 then I'll probably just go AIO, tolerate the noise and save for a better monitor!!

skylineboy · 13 Dec 2014 at 08:29

I'd be treating the gpu as a dual card and needing 240 on its own personally. Especially if you want silence

ali_83 · 13 Dec 2014 at 08:37

Hmmm so would I be better going for two separate 240s?

Would it be a case of res -> rad -> cpu -> rad -> gpu -> res ->

Or have I just got that totally wrong and made myself look like a tit?

Doomedspeed · 13 Dec 2014 at 08:57

You could get a loop like that in a 350D easy.

It would be more like : Pump/res (a bay res + pump may be best for you) > Rad > CPU > GPU > Rad > back to pump. Easy. You'll still get the benefits of the second rad even after the GPUs, its all one big circuit.

welldone · 13 Dec 2014 at 09:06

ali_83 said:
Ah didn't realise I'd need to go for a 480 rad, that shakes things up a bit. Would I still need the 480 even though my GPU is a single card or does it matter more that it's two chips on a single card and therefore needs a bigger block?

My case is a Corsair 350D but I'd be changing this probably for a 750D should I go for a WC loop.

Budget isn't huge to be honest. If I can't do it for under £300 then I'll probably just go AIO, tolerate the noise and save for a better monitor!!

not bad idea

ali_83 · 13 Dec 2014 at 12:34

Doomedspeed said:
You could get a loop like that in a 350D easy.

It would be more like : Pump/res (a bay res + pump may be best for you) > Rad > CPU > GPU > Rad > back to pump. Easy. You'll still get the benefits of the second rad even after the GPUs, its all one big circuit.

Ah I see so the liquid would be cooled at the end of the cycle rather than after each component?

I'm guessing it moves so quick around the system that it doesn't get chance to warm up that much?

pc-guy · 13 Dec 2014 at 13:03

that loop sound more like saving plumbing than being efficient. if you want maximum cooling then rads after each water blocks will make sense.

also CPU and GPU will have different working temperature range. so you may want to put rads in front of the one that works best at lower operational range.

kaku · 13 Dec 2014 at 13:16

Loop order doesn't matter, so long as your pump is primed properly (eg. reservoir before pump). Use whatever route looks the best to you or is the neatest.

skylineboy · 13 Dec 2014 at 13:58

pc-guy said:
that loop sound more like saving plumbing than being efficient. if you want maximum cooling then rads after each water blocks will make sense.

also CPU and GPU will have different working temperature range. so you may want to put rads in front of the one that works best at lower operational range.

What a load of tripe!

The order doesn't matter as long as the pump is after the resevoir.

deFiniLoGy · 13 Dec 2014 at 13:58

pc-guy said:
that loop sound more like saving plumbing than being efficient. if you want maximum cooling then rads after each water blocks will make sense.

also CPU and GPU will have different working temperature range. so you may want to put rads in front of the one that works best at lower operational range.

No it doesn't.

Flow rate is so high that coolant temperature should be virtually uniform within the loop. Non-uniform temperature will only happen when your pump is failing.

ali_83 · 13 Dec 2014 at 21:37

Some good food for thought there folks, thanks.

Not sure I could squeeze it into my 350D though as I'm limited on clearance in the top of the case as the heatshield on my motherboard gets in the way, its bad enough with the rad from the 295x2 in there if I'm being honest.