First loop - Save me from myself

Thats pretty hot for GPUs on a custom loop as well to be honest.

My 290x stays under 40c after a few hours of GTA5. But I'm only giving +44mv, so I guess if your going balls to the wall with voltage, then maybe its not THAT bad.
 
Thats pretty hot for GPUs on a custom loop as well to be honest.

My 290x stays under 40c after a few hours of GTA5. But I'm only giving +44mv, so I guess if your going balls to the wall with voltage, then maybe its not THAT bad.

Hmm I've not added any voltage on the cards at all. Maybe I need to crank up the fans or something.

I've got a 420 rad at the top and a 280 rad at the front, both XPSC's ex range so they aren't too thick. Maybe they aren't doing the trick.
 
Hmm I've not added any voltage on the cards at all. Maybe I need to crank up the fans or something.

I've got a 420 rad at the top and a 280 rad at the front, both XPSC's ex range so they aren't too thick. Maybe they aren't doing the trick.

I'm using 2x XSPC EX280 Rads lol. Thats for my 4790k and single 290x.

I let the fans get up to just over 1k RPM. gives me an ambient / water temp delta of 10c, which is an average to sightly poor water temp for 1k RPM I feel.
 
Something isn't quite right. I don't have anything to monitor water temps, but going by CPU and GPU i left it running over night doing nothing, and my idle temps on all components are levelled of at 41degrees.

Unsure why. The loop isn't catastrophically failing anywhere as the GPUs don't go above 50degrees on loudish profile, or 55 quiet.

Any guesses why i'm not able to rid more heat?
 
^What speed is the pump on?

Forget that, see you have it on 4. No it won't make much difference. I have mine on setting 3. For two GPU blocks, cpu block, 2x 480mm rads and a single 240. I can set from 3-1 and see a few degrees difference. I can set from 3-5 and see no difference. I would consider setting yours to 2 or 3. 4 is too high and will only give you louder idle and wear the pump out faster.

Are the temps low on first boot? Is there anything using resources at idle? When at 40c idle are the rads warm or the blocks?
 
Last edited:
Read the thread but missed what fans you ended up buying? Those could be a problem regarding your temps depending on what you bought.
 
Pump is on 3, had a play and settled on that as the sweet spot.

There isn't really any activity on idle, but the CPU may not be downclocking. Can't remember the name of the BIOS setting that enables that?

Not sure about temps at start-up temps as i've not given it much down time. I'll switch it off now and check later.



Fans could be a good shout. I've got bequiet fans that weren't particularly suited to mounting on the rads. Any 140mm recommendations? I'm already sonewhat over budget, and i don't like noise!

Kinda wish i'd gone a PWM route. Maybe i'll get some replacement fans and hook them up to mobo/GPU fan headers?
 
140mm isnt a great size for rad fans, I did a lot of reading up before building my loop and the consensus seems to be go for 120mm. Anyway, 140mm and quiet you might struggle as better airflow = more noise unfortunately.
I'd recommend you get a fan controller and modify your own custom fan curves - I have the https://www.overclockers.co.uk/nzxt-grid-v2-internal-digital-6-fan-controller-fg-028-nx.html and it is a great piece of kit.
For the 140mm fans have a look at these:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/akas...per-silent-140mm-fan-4-pin-pwm-fg-064-ak.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/noct...pwm-140mm-high-performance-fan-fg-026-nc.html

Whats the exact model number of the fans? Check out the airflow and static pressure stats against the ones above and see if its worth changing.
 
You haven't got any air trapped somewhere have you? Really does sound like it could be something like that. Better fans are well worth it but I would want to make sure it wasn't something else first.

What was the loop like when you bled it? Did you get lots of air out? Have you tried re-seating the cpu block and making sure good thermal paste is used and applied correctly.

Doesn't make sense spending money till you know it is definitely that.
 
Ah I went for 140mm because I was under the impression that bigger = quieter. I went for https://www.overclockers.co.uk/be-quiet-shadow-wings-fan-mid-speed-140mm-fg-021-bq.html which was a mistake as the fittings are awkward. They're probably not that flush on the top rad either, because I was quite scared of another puncture.

I wouldn't rule out trapped air, but wouldn't really know how to recognise or cure that? I do plan to re-seat the CPU block.

I kinda want to leave the whole thing alone as I've had a fairly rotten time getting this far and it's nice that my PC works at all lol, but these CPU temporatures probably should be sustained.

Thanks for all the advice btw, much appreciated.
 
That is a good video for bleeding a loop. Basically tilting the case while the pump in running with everything sealed. Signs that there may be air in the system are poor temperatures and quite often the loop can make more noise than expected (slurping or gurgling is the best way to describe). It's quite normal for the reservoir to drop level during this procedure so make sure it stays topped up. Did you bleed the loop at all?

Can you upload a picture of the loop so we can get an idea of the setup.

And - don't give up - you'll get this sorted!! :p
 
Also those fans are really not designed for radiators! They more designed for cases to exhaust hot air and as such do not have high static pressure which is the feature you're wanting on radiator fans. Also if they aren't sitting flush then they will be even worse! Your right not to force them though because the last thing you want is to puncture a radiator!

Suitable fans are something like the Corsair SP140 or Noctua A14 - that fan blade style with high static pressure.
 
I did bleed it, but nowhere near the 30mins that video suggests. I think I did each direction once. There is no noticable bubbling or gargling noise, but I can certainly have another go at bleeding.

In terms of fans, the front rad has some 'proper' fans pushing, with the BeQuiet fans pulling, both aimed into the case. The ceiling-mounted rad has the BeQuiet fans pushing, and the top of the case has a couple of 200mm fans pulling, both aimed up to exhaust. I'll replace the BeQuiet fans on that top rad ASAP.

Not the clearest picture, but you get the jist. Too much hosing, and I didn't bother with any of the lights!

y3mfW30sZdZsv32arp5LoX8i-a6fUkzMJ9tsp7yWwwgPEIbctNa9J3Hy-AeU61TTKPuvxktvWJhBLFh4dBS43QJ_Aoyj-7_OEcYbpOUQrZr8HLf-OjSTx6cmH2uJo3rWZApkfn-_iWxvslAq4VqNMV1g_dBPxnxuLj6bEXK-Ri2wpE

And a bonus, here it is after disaster struck

y3maIaPwmqvh_-E6-UD34U9_lg7r9XXuSwdXcdWBGYO6iY6YDYzmIo-0AGCQXPiU0QWdfBv3CHNlmhkGzo7P0XdnG2v4bdFunUE3mWza9v5w9c8VzDI90B9jVo4gekxOOq8I-AH3BIpJfc96CUBVWytqbcqHpV-HbvLS63QzHkjMQQ
 
Last edited:
I would give it another go. Tip it right over and see if there is any trapped air.

I can see what you mean - those fans don't make good contact with the rad.

I had a similar disaster with an EK reservoir not long ago - one of the pre drilled holes for led's had gone straight through the acrylic - mine looked similar to your second photo.
 
With the new Corsair SP140 fans and maybe a minor tweak to the way the CPU block was mounted <cough> the temps are a lot better now. Topping out at about 37 on the CPU and 41 on the GPUs in initial playing around.

Bit noisy now though, so I'll see if I can use some of that new temperature headroom to slow some fans down :)
 
Back
Top Bottom