Help with watercooling setup

ntemples1 · 23 May 2010 at 16:00

Hi guys,

I currently have a Coolermaster ATCS 840 Case with a i7920 @ 4.0ghz with a HD 5970 + HD 5870 trifire inside.

I really want to try and cut down the noise of the case (quite noisey when gaming) so I was wondering if this is possible with water cooling?

also which components would you recommend for this setup, I am a bit of a noob with watercooling so what's best ?

Many thanks in advance

ntemples1 · 23 May 2010 at 18:17

mmj_uk said:
Your best bet in my opinion would be to sell the 5870 and use the money to fund the watercooling upgrade, EK waterblock for the 5970, Heatkiller 3 for the i7, 360mm radiator/pump etc.

I don't imagine you really need tri-XFire?

that sounds an interesting idea, well the 5870 does help in some situations but yes its overkill most of the time, does OCUK stock the above stuff?

ntemples1 · 23 May 2010 at 19:23

thanks everyone for all the input, will it reduce my load temps on the i7??

at the moment i am hitting 80 on all four cores when running prime.

ntemples1 · 23 May 2010 at 19:46

Higadeb said:
I would say that most of the noise would be coming from the 5970! They are notoriously loud.
Also, +1 for HW91's set up. Except I'd use a PA 120.3. Best radiator in the business IMHO.
What are you currently using to cool your i7? It most defo will reduce the temps, as a reference I have an i7 920 @4.2 cooled by and EK supreme HF and it maxes out at 73'C.
Oh yes, and may I ask, do you use eyefinity with your GPU set up? I was thinking in going eyefinity, does the 5870 help in games with eyefinity? Or is just a 5970 enough?

thanks fot the advice, I currently have a prolimatech meghalem (probable spelt that wrong!) and all four cores run at 80 -81 under 100% in prime after a few hours, so 73 would defo be an improvement.

As regards to the gpus, no I am not running eyefinity at the moment, but I do want to do it in the not too distant future, I am gaming at 1920 x 1200, and really most games the 5970 really does the business at that resoltion. Although there are some noticable differences in games like crysis, metro 2033, and BF2, definately smoother when the 5870 is present and a lot going on on-screen.

It's a toss up now whether to sell the 5870 and go with the water setup, also my case (coolermaster ATCS 840) has 2 huge fans on the top of the case anyway, I did have 2 apache 120mm on a push/pull on the meghalem, but it doesn't make much difference in temp when i just have one.

ntemples1 · 24 May 2010 at 09:05

mmj_uk said:
ATCS 840 is perfect for a 360mm radiator if you get one with 15mm fan spacing, it mounts easily in the top.

You could always have both GPU's in the loop but it'll hurt your wallet much more.

Thanks could you link me to a decent make please?

ntemples1 · 24 May 2010 at 18:08

Higadeb said:
If is a radiator you're looking for I higly recommend this It's out of stock here and the pic is a bit weird but as I said before, IMHO it's the best

Edit:
Manufacturers webby Link
Has a better pick than here if that matters to you

Yes thanks for that, i have found it online, it looks a good rad, so now i think i have all the bits book marked, i must admit I am a little nervous about taking apart my 5970 though, will it affect it's resale value?

ntemples1 · 31 May 2010 at 09:25

Ok guys slight change of plan, I now have 2 X GTX 480 in SLI!! So I will need to change my water plans, any suggestions as to what I might need to change, apart from the EK FC GTX blocks I know, but some people are saying I need to have a separate rad and loop for the cpu? to maintain its 4ghz overclock? any help would be appreciated, cheers.

ntemples1 · 31 May 2010 at 12:02

mike gunnz said:
I would say that a Therm 120.3 on its own would cope quite adequately with 480SLI and an i7 @4ghz.

I managed to cool a QX9650 @4ghz, 2 x GTX260, NB, SB and 2 x mosfets without difficulty on a Therm 120.3 with Yate Loon fans. Yes I know the 480s run hot but I find people tend to overestimate the heat output of their components and to underestimnate the cooling potential of their radiators.

Just make sure you get a top quality pump such as a Laing 18w or a D5.

That's great advice, so far I am looking at the following, please can you tell me which other bits I would need?

Also this is my current system:

ntemples1 · 31 May 2010 at 16:53

Higadeb said:
Ooh, going for a 120.3 with 2x480 and i7? I'd be interested to know how this works out! I wouldn't be 100% on you reaching you 4GHz clock back, and you defo wont be able to overclock the GPU's. I don't know anyone who's done that all off one 120.3!
I personally (in an ideal world) would go for a 120.3 for the GPU's and a 120.2 for the CPU in separate loops. Although to find a case for all that isn't the easiest and it starts getting a bit expensive!
One piece of adivce I would give, put the CPU first in the loop so it gets the coolest water possible!

I suppose another way of doing it would be to get a corsair H50 for the cpu, and then have the 480's on a loop all of their own?

Or leave the CPU on air only and just water cool the 480s? they are the hottest and noisiest things in the case?

ntemples1 · 31 May 2010 at 22:16

Higadeb said:
The 480's at stock will most probably be noisier (read much noisier) than the rest of the setup. I can't say what noise your current CPU cooler shoves out, but 480's in sli have been benched to top 65 db (it was 67 exactly I think). In sli they ran at a toasty 98'c under full load, if there is one thing you want to wc (well two I guess), it is these!

Yeah I think that'd be the way to go, so what exactly will I need for just watercooling the GPUs?

ntemples1 · 1 Jun 2010 at 09:54

mike gunnz said:
Its a bad idea to only put the GPUs on a loop. I would still argue that a Thermochill PA120.3 can easily cool 2 x 480 and an overclocked i7 cpu. I don't see any reason to build two separate loops for the CPU and GPUs.

OK well I suppose I can try it out and see what happens. worst scenario is that I would have to add something else, like another loop. So just a bit more reading before ordering really as I don't want to order something by mistake that I don't need!

ntemples1 · 1 Jun 2010 at 13:23

I am thinking of doing what this guy has done:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=250238&page=2

About half way down the page in pics,

Leave my CPU on air and set the loop up for just the 480's, what would I need for this? surely a smaller rad?

ntemples1 · 1 Jun 2010 at 14:48

layte said:
I have recently watercooled my SLI 480's, it has made a huge difference to the noise of my machine (plus 920core/1100mem is a brucie bonus). I used the following parts for the GPU loop:

Thermochill PA120.3
XSPC Laing DDC 200ml Reservoir Pump Top
Laing DDC-1+ Ultra 18W
EK480 blocks
(plus various fittings, tubing and fans)

That little lots keeps my overclocked 480's nice and cool, I have never seen the temps go above 63c (and that was with with furmark). Given the heat I can feel coming from the RAD when the cards are under full load, I would be very wary about adding an i7 into the loop.

I really like the sound of your setup, what fittings, tubing and fans did you use? I think I am going to go for the same and try and overclock my 480's after.

ntemples1 · 1 Jun 2010 at 16:55

layte said:
Just standard 1/2" barbs with Masterkleer 7/16" Tubing. I used a dedicated SLI connector between the cards ( http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-183-OK&groupid=962&catid=1529&subcat=1747 ). For the fans, I picked up 3 Scythe S-Flex 1600RPM jobbies. I have a less than clear pic of the inside of my case here: http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~layte/pics/480-tape-lol.jpg

Thats brilliant help thankyou very much! I notice you have a separate loop for your CPU is that with another Rad?

ntemples1 · 1 Jun 2010 at 19:19

Right so basically this is my shopping list for the loop for just the gtx 480 SLI

and some other bits that I found elsewhere,

XSPC Laing DDC-Pump 12V Ultra(18w) inc Acrylic Top
2 X EK-FC480 GTX
ThermoChill PA120.3 Radiator

Is that everything I will need?

someone said about putting an easy drain, what would I need for that?

ntemples1 · 1 Jun 2010 at 21:38

HW91 said:
you'll need some worm/jubilee clips, and what mobo are you using?

also iirc the only fans from Scythe which work well with rads are GT1850's, so you should probably change the fans to something else, seeing as you're ordering from elsewhere as well, some 1650rpm or 2200rpm Yate loons should work well.

thanks, I am using a EX38-UD5, do I have to Jubilee clip every joint?

ntemples1 · 2 Jun 2010 at 19:47

ntemples1 said:
thanks, I am using a EX38-UD5, do I have to Jubilee clip every joint?

Sorry to be a pain but anyone? I want to order the bits up in the next day or so.

ntemples1 · 4 Jun 2010 at 10:14

Right I ordered my stuff last night:

2 x EK-FC480 GTX - Acetal
Thermochill PA120.3 360 Radiator with 15mm Fan Spacing
XSPC 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD (13-19mm) High Flex Tubing : Clear
XSPC Laing DDC 200ml Reservoir Pump Top : Plexi
XSPC Laing DDC-Pump 12V Ultra(18w)

8 x 1/4" Thread Compression Fitting for 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD Tubing : Black Nickel
2 x 1/4" Thread 90° Rotary Compression Fitting for 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD (13-19mm)
3 x Yate Loon 120 x 120 x 25mm Case Fan 1650 RPM :
4 x Nylon Hose Clamp for 3/4" (19mm) Outer Diameter Tubing
2 x Feser Aqua Cooling Fluid (bi-distilled) for Water Cooling Systems 1 Litre : Ultra Pure Water

Hope I've ordered correctly, I forgot however the SLI dedicated connector gonna order that today and some MX2 TIM.

How exciting!!!

ntemples1 · 4 Jun 2010 at 11:05

Bubo said:
Is that "ultra pure" water as it says on the tin, i.e. nothing but water? No anti-algae additive? Plus you seem to be missing the 3/8bsp to G1/4 adaptors for the thermochill rad.

Yeah I wasn't sure what coolant to get but can't I add something after colour ? Also the thermochill rad had an option when I bought it to come with 1/2" barb connectors so I selected that, is that right?

Please If I need something else let me know so I can order it, cheers.

ntemples1 · 4 Jun 2010 at 11:36

Bubo said:
1/2" barbs are fine then in that case, if you don't mind not having every fitting being compressions.

I wouldn't bother with any colour dye if I were you, then only thing to be sure of is if the coolant has a biocide in it to stop algae growth, as no matter how pure it says the water is you will always get some organic compounds in the loop somehow when you put it together. So check the spec and if it doesn't say it includes anti-algae properties then get some PT-Nuke or silver kill coils.

Too late now like, but you would have been fine with bog standard de-ionized water from Halfords, with the PT-Nuke.

edit: did some totting up, you seem have bought too many fittings for just a gpu only loop, by my calcs you only needed 4, plus the two barbs for the rad, and the sli connector. Still better to have too many than too few.

Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated! Yes I though I may have to many I just wasn't sure how many angled ones I might need, also later I was going to put a T junction in with a drain coming off it, so i will probably use them up at some time.

I will order the PT nuke, and next time I'll get the water from halfords, i literally live about 5 mins walking distance from one.... bugger!!

When I build the loop shall i put it all together outside the case and then do a leak test?