RAD Setup for Antec1200, which one is better?

[Avathar77]

Ok first thing is first, Antec1200 is not the best case for watercooling, lets get that out of the way. When I got this case I told my self "I would never get in to watercooling" but here we are!

So any way, I already have a CPU loop and want to put my 695(7)0 under as well. But I figured a single 240mm rad is not enough. So I got my self a Black Ice GT stealth 240 from the bay(bargain at £12).

I am eagerly waiting till this EK nickel plating issue to be resolved(Hurry up Eddy from EK!!) for I have to order the GPU block. But for now I am more concerned about the placing of the 2nd RAD.

I am planing to put a HDD drive cage at the bottom of the case and place one RAD on top of it with 2 x 120mm fans pulling air in. There will also be a fan in the drive cage as well. I think I will have enough space for the pump to be on top of the drive cage. 2nd RAD is going to be on the top of the case with 2 x 120 mm fans pushing air through the rad to the top. I am going to keep the 2 rear 120mm fans and the top big boy fan as it is.

I have come up with 2 possible ways but not sure which one is good.

Pump-> GPU Block -> CPU Block -> 240 RAD1 -> 240 RAD2 -> Pump

or

Pump->GPU Block -> 240 RAD1 -> CPU Block -> 240RAD2 -> Pump

First setup has minimal tubing while second has a RAD before each block.

Also I am thinking of putting 2 sets of VL4N quick disconnects just before and after the GPU Block so that I can easily remove the GPU. From the skinnee labs tests on QDs it seems like there is not much flow restriction with them. QDs are not cheap but I think its a good investment since I tend to clean the PC every month or so and change the GPU every year or less!

So what do you think is the best setup and why? Any more configs I can set it up?

 

[bifday2k]

Id personally use the first option myself as its neater routing and less tubing, the temps between the 2 will be negligible, if any difference at all.

 

[Avathar77]

Thats what I like as well but will it not heatup the cpu because of the warmer water from the gpu block going in the cpu block?

 

[bifday2k]

The cpu will be affected yes, but only due to the added heat from the gpu being in the loop, this would be the case no matter what the loop order was.

The loop will just reach a certain temp, and then level itself out, the more experienced guys will be able to explain it better then i can.

 

[Avathar77]

Thanx for the reply. So after some thought I am going to try out the 1st method(Pump-> GPU Block -> CPU Block -> 240 RAD1 -> 240 RAD2 -> Pump) simply because it is much neater. And as you said the temp deference cant be that bad. Over time water will come to the equilibrium temperature.

I have seen many using 90 degree adapters in the loop, but from what I have read it just lowers the flow rate and pressure very much. Have I got something wrong?

 

[mr griffin]

You might find it a bit tight to fit a double rad in the top unless you want to do some modding of the the case or loose the top rear fan. I stuck a Thermochil 120.2 in mine and I had to cut some of the case out as well as weld a brkt to mount 2 of the holes. If you use a slightly smaller rad like a swiftech 240 it will be easier.