Single or Dual Loop?

[Dirtyganker]

Hi,

I've recently installed a custom loop based on Overclocker's V12 equipment selection. For anyone not familiar it's a single loop with a 120.3 (360mm) radiator. My hardware selection is currently this:-

Case : NZXT Phantom Enthusiast
CPU : Core i7 2700k (oc 4.7Ghz @ 1.31v - 55c at 100% utilisation)
RAM : 16Gb Gskill Ripjawz
Mobo : Asus Maximus iV Gene-Z Rev3
Gfx : KFA2 nVidia GTX670 oc
1st HDD : Kingtson Hyper-X 240Gb SATA 6Gb/s SSD
2nd HDD : WD 1Tb Sata 6Gb/s Black

I'm currently using a Koolance quick-release bracket to hang the radiator on the rear of the case as I didn't want to get into modifying the case whilst I get to grips with my first custom loop. Now I've got everything installed, working great, very happy with the results and have a good handle on how everything functions I will be moving the radiator into the top of the case in order to clean up the installation completely.

I'm still considering my next upgrade of motherboard from Z68 but I've been waiting to see what the new Asus Formula V Maximus will be like before deciding. My gut feeling is that I'm quite likely to end up going to an Asus Rampage iV Extreme and Core i7-3930K along with waterblocks for the motherboard and skip Ivybridge completely.

I'm also considering moving the GTX670 into my son's PC and getting a GTX680 complete with full-cover water blocks and of course there is the potential for an additional card in SLi in due course.

My question is this - how much can I get away with on a single loop given the kit I've described? I'm assuming that I'd be better off putting the graphics on a completely seperate loop. I've got lots of room for a dual reservoir and an extra pump, and I could be creative about size and location of a 2nd radiator. My feeling is that dual oc GTX680 would produce more heat than the CPU and cooling across a single loop could potentially impact my CPU overclock - am I right in this assumption? Or do plenty of people cool everything on a single loop?

I guess the question is really which is best cooling for my UK pounds? An additional rad in the same loop or should I really keep it seperate.

 

[Avathar77]

Performance benefit of dual loop is negligibly small on many cases, 2 GPUs and a CPU with Mobo block and RAM blocks would do just fine in a single loop, providing you have the flow, RAD space and Temp transfers right!

 

[Dirtyganker]

I think I could move the 120.3 rad inside the case with it blowing out the top and perhaps put 120.2 on the back with the Koolance bracket if I'm stuck for somewhere else for it to go.

On a side note, the NZXT Phantom comes with a single 200mm fan in the top with a space for a another, which I already have but haven't installed. You think I get away with mounting my rad directly underneath those fans pulling air through the rad instead the 3 x 120mm fans? Space-wise it's not going to be a whole lot different - 400mm already allocated for big fans as opposed to replacing them with 3 smaller, faster and potentially noisier units.

It would be a really quick job too as I'd only have to secure the rad in place and it's job done. Or I could mount the fans on the underneath and put the rad in the top but I think I'd have to remove some case material to allow for the hoses to return back into the case.