So I've made a massive mistake

Junglist

Junglist

Junglist

Soldato
Joined
11 Jun 2015
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Bristol
Edit: seems another mistake I made was putting this thread in the wrong section. Could a mod move me, please


Hello,

It's got to (or if I'm honest, past) that time where I need to empty my custom water cooling loop but I've been putting it off the last few weeks because I don't know how I'm going to do it - properly.

You see, this was my first attempt at WCing a system and while it went OK it seems I didn't exactly think everything through. In my haste and excitement to do something I've always wanted to do I completely overlooked a drain valve. Massive rookie mistake.

So I'm at a loss. How on earth do I empty my system without potentially having water fall into the rest of my computer? Do I try to syphon it out of the reservour out of the front? Do I hold my machine sideways and cut the the tubing somewhere on a low point and try to drain it out that way? I'm really at a dead end trying to work out how i'll do this.

I plan on redoing the loop in a different way - buying some angled compression fittings will make life much easier for starters. But first I need to find a way of emptying it.

Secondly, I really would like to put my GTX 980 Ti 'under water' but I'm not sure I have enough radiator space to do it along with my CPU.

I currently have a 360x60mm radiator with fans pushing the air out of the case. Will that be enough to cool both a CPU and GPU with a decent overclock? Maybe even 2 980Tis in the future

Worst comes to worse I was thinking about doing the popular mod on the 800D and making it possible to put a 240mm radiator in the bottom. Did consider making it possible to do a 480mm radiator at the top but it seems a waste getting rid of my existing 360mm radiator.

Thanks for any help. I know I should've planned it better originally.
 
Whats the lowest point in the loop - ie. which bit is nearest the bottom of the case.
Unplug everything, unbolt that bit so you can swing it out of the machine, and undo the fixings for the hose - either compression or barbs, and dump it into a kitchen bowl.

Have some kitchen roll on standby.

My first WC build had a drain valve etc. The 2 since then I never bothered, I just loosen off a hose and let it come out. If you do it slowly, its not going to gush all over the place.
 
The lowest point in the loop would be right next to my pump. I'll try and find an old picture of it to give a better impression.

Quzb.png


That's the offending loop. Can't wait to get it fixed properly. It looks so messy
 
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Think that will be the way I go.

You can just about tell that I used pure straight connectors in that attempt. I'l not be making that mistake again. Going to order a few angled ones this time.

Do you think I can get away with a 3930K and 980Ti on one 360mm radiator?
 
Ah rubbish! Putting in another radiator would end up costing me significantly more as I would need to buy a dremel gun and something to take out rivets.

Good job I asked though. Was just looking at waterblocks for one. Maybe some other time :(
 
Where my computer lives, it doesn't have any space above or behind it to have an external radiator.

I either have to man up and accept I need to modify my 800D or just stick with CPU cooling.
 
Just fit a decent single 120mm rad where the rear exhaust fan is. You may need some 90 degree angle fittings but it should work fine and that would give you more than enough cooling capacity. What is the 360mm rad you have now? It may be enough for your cpu and gpu as the 900 series gpu's aren't exactly hot running. Years ago I ran 7800GT sli and a Athlon 64 4000+ all on a single Alphacool rad and still had decent temps.
 
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Ooh... I didn't even think about switching that out! Will the additional 120 be enough?

It is an XSPC RX360 radiator.

Dimensions: 130 x 56 x 398.5mm (WxDxH)
Copper and Brass Core
Core thickness: 46mm
2 Rows of 21mm by 2mm Tubes
13fpi (fins per inch) Splitter Fin
Click to expand...

You might've just saved me a lot of money - and time/effort - with that suggestion and you just put a big grin on my face!
That is if it would be sufficient cooling.

just stumbled across a brand called 'Barrow' whose fittings are apparently the same as BitsPower. Seem to have many good reviews so I might buy them as they're half the price.
 
I would go with one more 120mm rad. It should be fine to handle a cpu/gpu combo. You can do the maths but guestimate 100w per 120mm, x4 should be enough headroom for decent loop temps.
 
I think I'll be buying the parts after my car (probably fails) the MOT on Wednesday.

Just need to research removing the heatsink off a 980Ti/Titan x and I should be good to go.

When i get home from work I'll have a stare at my PC and try to work out the best fittings to get. Trying to visualise it now but it's quite difficult. What angles do you guys find are the easiest to work with?

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions
 
Ask away, that's why we are here. Better to get as much information/advice as possible.

Your RX360 is a very good rad and I would be tempted to try both the cpu and gpu on it alone. The extra single 120mm rad would give you much more headroom though.

Looking at your piccy I reckon you could get away with a pair of 90 degree angles (one on the 120mm rad outlet and one on the 360mm rads inlet) to get from the 120mm rad to the 360mm rad. I would try and fit the 120mm rad so it's outlets are towards the top of the case or alternatively, fit it with the oulets at the bottom and go Pump>GPU>120mm rad>CPU>360mm rad>RES>Pump. It may be easier that way to route the tubing. I think the best option if you are able to do it would be to swing the 360mm rad around so it's outlets are towards the front of the case. That way when you come off the cpu you can go straight to the rad and the outler from the rad would go straight down to the res. You wouldn't need and angled fittings running this way either. You may need a 45 degree angle on the outlet of the 360mm rad to clear the 120mm rad and go back to the res. Rotary fittings makes things much easier but don't go cheap on them as the cheaper ones can be quite poorly fitting and leak. I had Alphacool ones and they leaked but luckily I found out as soon as I started leak testing. I have found the XSPC ones to be a good balance of price and quality. They look good too.

There is a review of your gpu here inculding a breakdown that may be of use to you.
 
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pastymuncher said:
Ask away, that's why we are here. Better to get as much information/advice as possible.

Your RX360 is a very good rad and I would be tempted to try both the cpu and gpu on it alone. The extra single 120mm rad would give you much more headroom though.

Looking at your piccy I reckon you could get away with a pair of 90 degree angles (one on the 120mm rad outlet and one on the 360mm rads inlet) to get from the 120mm rad to the 360mm rad. I would try and fit the 120mm rad so it's outlets are towards the top of the case or alternatively, fit it with the oulets at the bottom and go Pump>GPU>120mm rad>CPU>360mm rad>RES>Pump. It may be easier that way to route the tubing. I think the best option if you are able to do it would be to swing the 360mm rad around so it's outlets are towards the front of the case. That way when you come off the cpu you can go straight to the rad and the outler from the rad would go straight down to the res. You wouldn't need and angled fittings running this way either. You may need a 45 degree angle on the outlet of the 360mm rad to clear the 120mm rad and go back to the res. Rotary fittings makes things much easier but don't go cheap on them as the cheaper ones can be quite poorly fitting and leak. I had Alphacool ones and they leaked but luckily I found out as soon as I started leak testing. I have found the XSPC ones to be a good balance of price and quality. They look good too.

There is a review of your gpu here inculding a breakdown that may be of use to you.
Click to expand...


Thank you so much! Even though building a loop wasn't as hard as I first thought there is still so much I need to learn about it.

Changing the radiator around wont be a problem so if you think that will be better then I'll take your word for it :)

Have you ever fitted a block to a GPU? I'm looking at instructions and it all sounds pretty daunting. I know I want to do it but I know I'm also terrified of killing a £600 GPU in an afternoon. All my friends are trying to talk me out of it but I'm determined.

Looking forward to getting home and staring at it, take a few measurements and then it'll be much easier to visualise. I'll buy the stuff, then have 'fun' trying to drain it and then put the new stuff in.

As I'm on the subject of drains. Do you have some form of drainage set up on yours?
 
Putting a block on a gpu is really no different to putting one on a cpu. Most, if not all blocks will come with step by step instructions. All you have you have to do is make sure you get one that fits your card which isn't a problem for you as EVGA has used a reference pcb. I only use core only universal blocks but I presume you will be using a full cover block? If so then you don't even have to worry about extra cooling for the memory and vrm's.

I have a drain with a tap coming from one of the spare outlets on my reservoir which is what I would do if you have a spare outlet. If you don't then you are looking at adding a T line somewhere, preferably at the lowest point of the loop. Looking at your picture you seem to be using a bay res? Do you have a spare outlet on it?
 
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I've got an EK-Bay spin so If I remember correctly I should have 2 ports free on the back so that might be easier to have a drain valve coming from there. Just need to work out an aesthetically pleasing way of routing it.
 
JunglistE said:
I've got an EK-Bay spin so If I remember correctly I should have 2 ports free on the back so that might be easier to have a drain valve coming from there. Just need to work out an aesthetically pleasing way of routing it.
Click to expand...

If you've got spare ports just put a bulkhead on it that you can attach some pipe to when you need to drain.
 
The way I would do it is to screw a 1/2" barb or compression fitting into one of the spare ports on the res, attach a length of hose and on the end of the hose fit a 1/2" Hose Adaptor With G1/4" Sealing Plug. It's basically a 1/2" barb with a G1/4" female thread that takes a blanking plug. For some reason OCUK doesn't sell these and I can't link to them as it's on a competitors website but if you google how I wrote it you will find it. The barb and the adaptor with sealing plug will cost you less than a fiver. You can tuck the hose out of sight behind the hdd cage when not in use.
 
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