EK 360 performance kit (from a noob's perspective)

[haszek]

Just wanted to share my thoughts regarding EK kit and this is all by a first timer.

I was always afraid that watercooling might be very fragile, not safe, requires a lot of knowledge, maintenance, tools etc. but at the same time I was jealous in terms of temperatures, OC capabilities and noise. So after seeing thread about watercooling kits in "deals&offers" (even though I wasn't planning) I decided to jump into water. Some new toys to play

I bought EK-KIT P360
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-kit-p360-performance-watercooling-kit-wc-99d-ek.html

I did some reading before, decided I might want to add graphic card (or two) in to the loop therefore ordered also additional rad from EK
EK-CoolStream CE 280
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-coolstream-ce-280-dual-wc-99h-ek.html

Everything I ordered (at first)

...and unpacked..

My previous setup wasn't bad at all, fairly quiet, temperatures were ok, however overclocked 980ti was like a hair dryer during gaming:/ (running at around 1380 on core). Temperatures in previous cold months we approx 72-76C while gaming. I guess my case didn't help with perfect airflow (evolv ATX) but anyway...



...going back to the EK KIT...
Everything was quite clear to follow and understand. The only thing I was missing was regarding radiators, I didn't flush the radiators before installing them. Manual didn't mention anything and afterwards when I was reading forums very often people were saying that with top quality rads it's not neccessary? not sure, I guess if I buy 1080 with block I will use new coolant so this will serve as cleaning/flushing.

Vardar fans start working from 50% so minimum RPM for them is 850 (they don't go to max speed 1850, just a bit lower). I think they are quiet I think... because it's hard to say with noise from pump. I can't connect the pump to PWM CPU fan connection just yet as cable is to short to reach it, so can't even test it. On idle my PC is louder than before with air cooling (I assume pump is working on max 4800).

I had difficulties with mounting res. Included mounts are too large and there is not enough space in the front between 280CE and 980ti. At the back of the case, holes didn't match EK mount so I had to drill in the case. In the end this was also not good as window screw was touching the pump which was causing louder vibrations. I bought EK holders which give more flexibility and removed pump/res mount included in the kit.

My current build looks like this

I can't compare temperatures as outside is much warmer than it was earlier this week.
On CPU I have idle temps around 28C, AIDA64 stress testing, closed case, after 20min around 70C.

Watercooled case with weak airflow (phanteks) and in addition blocked with radiators is not good for air cooled graphic card though...which is pushing me even harder to get gtx1080. There is very little air circulation and in a closed case it gets warm really quick, even with fans to max. While playing Doom (around 20-22C in the room), 980ti was getting temps around 84C and was causing temperatures inside the case to rise by approx 15C (by motherboard sensor). Temperature on the CPU though stayed at 59-60C which I think was great considering conditions

Overall I'm very happy with the purchase, it was fun to play with it, build it. Quality of the EK products is very high, which you notice straight away. I even like their coloured boxes they've got style.

Can't wait for new graphic card and do some testing then. I don't think I will be disappointed. There are probably things that I could've done better and this can be my chance to improve my water cooling loop

 

[Petelock]

Nice. looking tidy. I've got the glass version of your case and a predator watercooled kit. Just for your interest, I've got my 980ti in the loop and temps are fine. Under gaming the gpu gets to around 45-50c.

You'll be happy when you add the gpu into the loop.

 

[haszek]

when I read about people having OC'ed GPU temps below 50C it's like a totally different level for me

Just got extension cable to my PWM pump and set it up for a very low (1000rpm) to make it totally quiet. Can't hear Vardar fans (at 850) or phanteks 140 fans in the front. Pump was the loudest in the system but now fixed .

 

[D1craig]

I'm guessing your top radiator fans are pull? If it was me them fans would be other side of radiator and in a push. Also an exhaust might be good for reducing temps of your gpu.

 

[enigma27]

haszek can i ask where you get those clips that go around the gpu power cables?

 

[haszek]

I'm guessing your top radiator fans are pull? If it was me them fans would be other side of radiator and in a push. Also an exhaust might be good for reducing temps of your gpu.

Yeah exhaust would be great, however I can't fit it in, no space:/
I was reading that fans need to pull the same amount of air as they would push so I decided to setup pull as I prefer clean look of the rad, rather than fans. Don't know what is the reality, temperature difference

haszek can i ask where you get those clips that go around the gpu power cables?

There you go, I have E22 small.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cases-and-modding/modding/sleeved-cables/cable-combs

 

[enigma27]

Thank you sir.

 

[Cenedd]

In testing pull fans are significantly less efficient that push - they blow better than they suck
If you want the fans that side of the rad all you need to do is flip the fans over so they pushing air in through the rad. Should lower temps for stuff connected to that loop as you'll be cooling the rad with cold air drawn in from outside the case. However, given that you've got a toasty GPU, low case airflow and high internal case temps, you might want to wait until you've got the GPU under water as it will be blowing warm air into the case.
What are your front fans doing push or pull? Worth testing the results both ways but probably worth waiting until you wet that GPU.

 

[Petelock]

Agree with Cenedd. I have the CPU and GPU in the loop on a 360 rad in push/pull drawing in air from the front. It's enough to keep the temps I referenced above. Get the GPU under water and then review where you're at. With that much radiator real estate, your temps will be good.

 

[DBT85]

A nice op, handy since I'm considering a custom EK loop with a 360 and a 280! Useful to see them in a build together.

At first I thought the 280 looked a little small but thne I realised where the rest of it had gone lol.

 

[haszek]

In testing pull fans are significantly less efficient that push - they blow better than they suck
If you want the fans that side of the rad all you need to do is flip the fans over so they pushing air in through the rad. Should lower temps for stuff connected to that loop as you'll be cooling the rad with cold air drawn in from outside the case. However, given that you've got a toasty GPU, low case airflow and high internal case temps, you might want to wait until you've got the GPU under water as it will be blowing warm air into the case.
What are your front fans doing push or pull? Worth testing the results both ways but probably worth waiting until you wet that GPU.

That's what I'm gonna do...get a new graphic card, must is a must (no excuse) Front is pushing air in.

A nice op, handy since I'm considering a custom EK loop with a 360 and a 280! Useful to see them in a build together.

At first I thought the 280 looked a little small but thne I realised where the rest of it had gone lol.

Yeah 280 fit in there just...(it's probably scratched at the bottom ). It's weird with this case (or maybe it's rad's fault?) as holes in the front of the case didn't match to the rad. I could only screw in the top fan to the rad but then holes in the case were not aligning for the bottom fan/bottom part of the rad:/

 

[D1craig]

That's what I'm gonna do...get a new graphic card, must is a must (no excuse) Front is pushing air in.

for now you could get a fan and stick it on the bottom section of the front radiator as a pull and it could give the gpu some more air flow reducing its temps (this wont be hugely effective though as it will be blowing warm air from the radiator over the gpu). but it (the fan on bottom/front rad) could be the exhaust you need.

 

[Slam]

Nice. looking tidy. I've got the glass version of your case and a predator watercooled kit. Just for your interest, I've got my 980ti in the loop and temps are fine. Under gaming the gpu gets to around 45-50c.

You'll be happy when you add the gpu into the loop.

may I ask where you mounted your radiator, fans and reservoir?

 

[Petelock]

Radiator is on the front pulling in cold air. Fans are push/pull making use of the extra space at the bottom of the PSU shroud. The reservoir is incorporated into the Predator unit. When I expand it out to be a full loop I will be placing it similar to haszek at the back of the case.

 

[Slam]

Thanks, I thought that the front would be best so that it pulls in cold air. I think that to fit the 360 radiator there requires removal of the 3.5" drive bay. I can't see any other mounts for 3.5" drives, are you only using 2.5" drives?

If you put a new radiator into the top of the case then will you pull air in from the top or exhaust heat out?

 

[Petelock]

I just use 2.5" SSD's so no need for the 3.5" bays (you're right that they need to go to make this work).

I would likely play about with the second rad but imagine that I would use it to exhaust air from the system. It will be unlikely that there's going to be space for a separate exhaust fan (though some modding may make that possible) and I would want to ensure that I maintain air flow rather than leaving a load of heated air with no where to go.

 

[Slam]

I just use 2.5" SSD's so no need for the 3.5" bays (you're right that they need to go to make this work).

I would likely play about with the second rad but imagine that I would use it to exhaust air from the system. It will be unlikely that there's going to be space for a separate exhaust fan (though some modding may make that possible) and I would want to ensure that I maintain air flow rather than leaving a load of heated air with no where to go.

Thanks, it does make sense that the front position with the fans drawing air in is the better setup. It would be too expensive for me to switch from 3.5" hard disks to 2.5" drives so I need the drive cage.

If your predator setup already cools your cpu and gpu (gpu temps of 45-50c sound great to me) then why are you adding a second radiator?
I ask because I'm thinking of going with the EK Blocks X240 kit which has a 64mm thick 240 radiator. I want it to cool a i5 2500k and a graphics card such as a GTX 1070 or RX480.

 

[Petelock]

When I do it it will be for SLI or because I want to max out a custom loop for Aesthetics/the challenge of a more complex build.

Temp wise, you're right I'm all good with the set up I have.