Expanding the Loop

jinxpad

jinxpad

jinxpad

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So I have my 800D all set up the way I want it.

Come Kepler I'm looking to possibly go SLI and I know that my current loop just won't cut it.

So in addition to the 360 and 140 I have in my current loop, I'll be adding an additional pump and 240 with the plan being that the 240 + 140 will cool the GPU and the 360 will cool the CPU (maybe I should swap this around?).

Current Hardware:

MCP355 + XSPC high flow acetal top
Black Ice GTX 360 (3 x 1850 Gentle Typhoons)
EK Coolstream 140 (1 x Noiseblocker P3 140mm)
EK FC480 GPU Block (copper/acetal)
EK Supreme HF CPU Block (copper/acetal)
EK 250 X2 Advanced Cylinder Res.


Planned Extention Hardware

1 x Additional MCP355
1 x Koolance RV-402 Dual Bay Dual loop res (to replace the EK 250)
1 x XSPC RX240 / Black Ice GTX240
2 x Kepler GPU Blocks

I have a couple of questions about my planned expansion. This won't be happening until Kepler of course but I prefer to be prepared and have it all planned out, but mainly;

* Should I stick with the MCP355's or should I sell the one I have now and grab a D5 now and then a second one when I get the rest of the kit

* Parallel vs Serial cooling for GPUs? I've read all over and can't seem to get enough of a definitive view on which would be better cooling.

* I'm torn between the two 240 radiators, XSPC or HWL GTX?

* What are the opinions of the Koolance Dual Bay Dual Loop res? I couldn't find many youtube vids or useful reviews personally, so I was wondering if anybody had either the DDC or D5 versions, and could offer some insight.

Thanks a bunch guys :D
 
The MCP355 should be enough for that, i use one on my setup running i7 950 with sli 580's on a pair of 240mm XSPC RX rads, blocks are more restrictive than rads so....
As for the rads, not sure about the GTX240 but the RX rads are some of the best u can get but are pretty thick compared to other rads so will need to make sure u have the space especially if u want to run push/pull.
 
Interesting, I would have most certainly thought I'd need another pump to sufficiently push water through 3 blocks and 3 radiators. The thickness of the RX won't be a problem, as I'll be modding my 800D to fit it at the bottom, although it'll probably just be in a Pull config.
 
Adding a 480 rad into my loop soon and kindof in the same boat really as for the pump but i do think the MCP355 will be enough if u can keep the loop as tight as possible, i was considering a D5 and getting a Koolance bay res but still not sure really.
 
After a little bit more pondering, I'll probably just add another MCP355 to the loop, should definitely be sufficient for the blocks I'll be cooling.
 
Just been looking around at dual bay res's actually and love the look of the Koolance RP-402X2, not cheap by a long way but i could add another MCP355 and mount both in the res and have them run in series for more pressure.
 
Yeah I do love the look of the 402's not to mention the amount of space you save. I'm planning on drilling 2 fill ports as well at the top to allow for easy filling and bleeding too, as I remember how much a pain in the arse filling bay res' can be.
 
Yea i think i'll be doing the same if i go down the bay res route, might even consider a dual loop (2x 120.2 = gpu's and 1x 120.4 = cpu) if i go with that Koolance one but not sure if i would gain anything with that setup.
 
hmmm I would suggest putting the 120.4 on the GPU's they generate more heat for the most part? I'm actually thinking of switching up the loop to have the 240 and the 140 cool the CPU and the GTX360 I already have just on the GPU's.

I've settled for picking up the RX240 over the GTX240. Now I just need to order my power tools, and wait for kepler to come out :D
 
Tbh my gpu temps on my current setup are just fine, between 25c and 29c idle and in extreme circumstances maybe 52c, also with the case i am looking at i will have to mount the 2x 120.2 rads near the bottom, basiaclly thoes rads will be just cooling the gpu's instead of the cpu also and my cpu is the hottest part in my system atm.
 
what case are you gonna be getting? Those GPU temps are lush, shame the 480's run so much hotter, mine idle at about 38 and goto 50~53 on full load like when playing Crysis 2 or something.
 
LittleDevil PC-V8, 240 rads will be staggered in the bottom and the 480 will go in the top, still need to do some measuring but i think i can use push/pull on the top rad if i go for the Black Ice SR-1 (they are about 5mm thinner than the 480 RX rads), the bottom rads will be push/pull too so thats why i will need to stagger them.
littledevil.jpg

Still contemplating selling my 240 rads and buying 3 480's lol but i just don't think it's worth it for the parts i will be cooling looking at the temps i get now with just a pair of 240 RX rads.
 
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Ahhhh yeah now I remember seeing you post this pic in another thread. Pricey one if I remember correctly but this is one hell of a wc case..
 
Yea not a budget case lol but the way i see it it should prettty much be the last case i ever buy :)
Just watched ur video of ur build and looking sleek :)
 
Looks like a great case for watercooling, but I just don't like the exterior look of an Lian Li cases that I've seen. which is annoying as everyone seems to love them but I just can't imagine buying one. :(
How does this compare to the XSPC H2 case? Also not a pretty case (IMO), but another one that looks great for watercooling?
 
I have looked at that and it's a bit cheaper but what put me off is it has a reverse motherboard mounting.
 
Yeah, I'll admit I'm not too keen on that either. I believe, if you know what you're doing you can rotate it around the other way so it's like a "normal" case. I however, don't know what I'm doing. So I'm considering the XSPC H1 too!
What do the sides to that Lian Li look like?
 
Ah, my bad, I should read more closely!
Looks quite nice with the side on. It's just the fan grills that I don't like.
also the power buttons (which is what I'm guessing the holes are for) is a bit far down for my liking (means a lot of bending over)!
 
Mine will be on my desk so the lower buttons will save me stretching up :P
And i think one of these will look nice in the top :)
rp402x2p0.jpg
 
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