Loop Order check please

[Korsun]

Hi all

Just drawn up my loop order and wondered if you could give it the once over and advise on any changes required....

RAD #1 Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator GT Stealth 240 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-004-BX

RAD #2 EK Coolstream RAD XTX 240 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-160-EK&groupid=962&catid=1523

These rads are cooling the following;

2 x Gigabyte GTX670 Windforce 2048mb cards fitted with Ek 680 reference blocks and backplates
1 x 3770k CPU clocked at 4.5gh

I'm using a XSPC 5.25 res with a XSPC Laing D5 pump http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-061-XS&groupid=962&catid=2133

Heres the loop and thanks for your time....

 

[Kei]

I would swap the ends on both rad #1 & rad #2 to make the tubing routes shorter. (you don't need to have radiators inbetween blocks as it's an equilibrium) That would mean the order would become:

Res > Pump > Rad#1 > CPU > GPU#1 > GPU#2 > Rad#2

Otherwise, I can't really see anything wrong with it.

 

[spooks]

Hi, I'm no expert but I'm currently planning out my first custom loop and have read various guides/watched numerous videos. Current opinion suggests that 'loop order' isn't important. Your pump will send the coolant around the full system very rapidly, so the heat build up will be a gradual effect from all components in the loop. So, in theory the order shouldn't matter. More important is to ensure your cooling components are up to the job.

Like I say I'm no expert but this does make sense to me.

 

[Gertford]

While you're exactly right there, Spooks. The best option from what I've heard is whatever gives you the shortest tubing routes. Less tube = Less distance for the loop to travel. It can be difficult sometimes to get the shortest routes but I've found that the right fittings (90/45 degree rotary's and whatnot) can help you shave off a a LOT of tubing because you don't have to curl it around just to get it to fit right.

This is the mistake I made and now I'm completely replanning my loop for when my GPU blocks get here and ordering more rotary fittings.

 

[Mick-1965]

The reason people like to keep the loop as short as possible is to keep pressure drop to a minimum.
But bear in mind that (1/2 " tube) you'll get roughly as much pressure drop with one 90 deg fitting as you will with ~1 foot of tube.
So you need to be losing well over a foot of tube to benefit from replacing it with a 90deg bend.

The pressure drop per 90 deg bend or ~foot of 1/2" tube is 0.02 psi
In my opinion the amount of gain or loss either way is just not worth the effort. Unless of course you have a seriously weak pump.

Just plumb it so there are no kinks and its neat.