Sanity check for 3080 Ti FE custom loop

Kashinoda

Kashinoda

Kashinoda

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27 Apr 2004
Posts
476
I've always been strictly air cooled but god damn the noise on this thing is horrible :D

I'm not looking for massive performance here, just a reasonable setup to keep the noise down and maybe OC in the future. The CPU won't be included in the loop.

Main Bits:
Block: Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-N RTX 3080 FE Edition
Pump & Reservoir: EK Water Blocks EK-Classic Pump Reservoir 160 SPC
Radiator: EK-COOLSTREAM PE 360

Other Bits:
Fans: ARCTIC P12 PWM x 3
Tubing: AlphaTube TPV 12.7/7.6 - 3.3m
Fittings: Alphacool HF compression Fitting TPV 12.7/7.6 x 6
Fittings: Alphacool HF quick release connector kit TPV x 2
Fluid: Alphacool Tec Protect 2 Clear 1000ml
Tool: Hose Cutter
Tool: EK Filling Bottle (1000ML)

Case is a BeQuiet Silent Base 802 so room for a 360 rad up top and plenty of space for the reservoir.

Is there anything I've missed? Cheers!
 
Have you tried Undervolting the card as you can reduce power by nearly 100w without a noticeable performance difference which will knock around 10C off the card and allow a much lower fan speed? Might be worth trying before dropping £500 on a custom loop.
 
kevman said:
Drain port can save a lot of hassle
Click to expand...

Cheers, I assume I can stuck that on the reservoir?

Joxeon said:
Have you tried Undervolting the card as you can reduce power by nearly 100w without a noticeable performance difference which will knock around 10C off the card and allow a much lower fan speed? Might be worth trying before dropping £500 on a custom loop.
Click to expand...

Yeah that worked well when I had a 3080 (MSI Trio) using -150mv, -15oC on core/mem and quieter fans.

The cooling solution on the 3080 Ti FE just isn't that good, the fans at 60% are incredibly annoying. I have a stable -160mv undervolt with 88% Power Limit but it's still pulling 300W. :D

I paid RRP for the 3080 Ti (£1050) and sold the 3080 for £1400 so happy to eat the cost.
 
Seems fine.
Watercooling won't be much for performance, but the temperature gain is brutal, as is the noise level.
When I had my 3080, the only reason going back for a custom loop was the GPU. I understand your point.
For CPU, unless going nuts on voltage, any high end tower or Arctic Freezer 280/360 would manage it at near silent noise level.
But for GPU, no chance.
The Alphacool block is good. The only reason I decided to replace with the EKWB was for the active backplate which is essential for the 3090, not so much on the 3080.
The thermal pads supplied by Alphacool were good enough. Spending 30 odd quid for 1 or 2 Celsius gains, when your temps should be at mid 50s, doesn't justify, IMO.
Also, I recommend using the rad as exhaust. Warmer air from the case feeding the radiator won't be as bad as dumping from the radiator all the heat being generated by the GPU. You'll notice how hot the air comes out of the radiator.
 
kevman said:
Drain port can save a lot of hassle
Click to expand...
Drain port in the correct place will, a lot of people put them in places where you won't get the most benefit from it.

The drain port ideally needs to be at the lowest point of the loop so mavity takes over as soon as you open the drain valve and open up the res to allow air to escape.
 
Drumroll said:
Seems fine.
Watercooling won't be much for performance, but the temperature gain is brutal, as is the noise level.
When I had my 3080, the only reason going back for a custom loop was the GPU. I understand your point.
For CPU, unless going nuts on voltage, any high end tower or Arctic Freezer 280/360 would manage it at near silent noise level.
But for GPU, no chance.
The Alphacool block is good. The only reason I decided to replace with the EKWB was for the active backplate which is essential for the 3090, not so much on the 3080.
The thermal pads supplied by Alphacool were good enough. Spending 30 odd quid for 1 or 2 Celsius gains, when your temps should be at mid 50s, doesn't justify, IMO.
Also, I recommend using the rad as exhaust. Warmer air from the case feeding the radiator won't be as bad as dumping from the radiator all the heat being generated by the GPU. You'll notice how hot the air comes out of the radiator.
Click to expand...

Yeah keeping the Noctua NH-D15 for the CPU. 3x 140MM front intake and 1x 140MM rear with the rad on top!

It's the 3080 Ti I have, though I assume for all intensive purposes it's the same as a 3080 rather than 3090.

Jay85 said:
Drain port in the correct place will, a lot of people put them in places where you won't get the most benefit from it.

The drain port ideally needs to be at the lowest point of the loop so mavity takes over as soon as you open the drain valve and open up the res to allow air to escape.
Click to expand...

As I'm using some quick release connectors for the GPU I should be able to just utilise those right? I'll just need a spare quick release male or female connector to release?

Horrible illustration:
7ooEbul.png
 
Kashinoda said:
Yeah keeping the Noctua NH-D15 for the CPU. 3x 140MM front intake and 1x 140MM rear with the rad on top!

It's the 3080 Ti I have, though I assume for all intensive purposes it's the same as a 3080 rather than 3090.



As I'm using some quick release connectors for the GPU I should be able to just utilise those right? I'll just need a spare quick release male or female connector to release?

Horrible illustration:
7ooEbul.png
Click to expand...
You could do, there's nothing wrong with doing it that way but it means you'll have to take the QD off to drain it. You can't just pull back on the Quick release to drain, you'll have to unscrew the fitting altogether to drain it.

I still think a drain valve on your res/pump at the bottom would be the best option, it will allow you to attach a G1/4 barb and attach tubing to it so you can direct the coolant to a bucket to drain.
 
For drain, a Y fitting or a 3-way splitter plus a ball valve at the inlet of the reservoir should be good to go.
Quick disconnect are great, but for a single component, not really necessary.
 
It is a slightly different GPU block but I have the Alphacool one for the 3080 reference card and it is shockingly bad. If I could afford it I would replace it. It simply doesn't cool the VRAM properly. Very poor fluid circulation over the VRAM chips.
 
Yeah can use quick disconnect
Very useful to save draining everything
As jay85 said you still need to get the coolant out though
Once you disconnected the GPU
I just push in the centre of the quick disconnect
With a screwdriver etc
And let it run into a jug
Though I also have a drain valve too
The quick disconnects just let me remove individual components
Should the need arise
 
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