To dual loop or not dual loop

[the wopster]

I’m considering going 2 120FLT res and cooling my cpu and graphics card separately, anyone got any advice or recommendations?
This is my current loop

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Depends on What do you want to achieve?
I use 2 pumps
But both on same loop
So if 1 fails I don't need to shut down immediately
I also have quick disconnects
So can remove the GPU or CPU or pump etc
Without needing to drain the loop

 

[Jay85]

Did it in both the O11D and my new case Evolv Shift X using FLT120's with D5's. Just plan your loops prior to starting, make sure it all fits. Make sure you have plenty of fittings, offsets, extenders and angles.

My latest Uses an external radiator as well so i use 3x D5's in total. 1 on 1 loop and 2 on the other for abit more flow.

 

[Bubo]

When I started water cooling many years ago I did a dual loop system, the idea being I thought it would give more chance to get the maximum overclock on the gpu and cpu, so that the heat input of one would not affect the other in terms of getting the max out of them. This was in the days when there was a lot more headroom for overclocking gpus, before they started locking things down on the cards with power limits etc. I eventually went to a single loop system as the benefits were not really that obvious in practice, versus the much easier tube routing single loop gives, and this was still before they started to lock down gpus. Nowadays given how little headroom you have to overclock a gpu, unless you risk modding the bios or hacking the card etc, there is even less advantage to be gained by putting the gpu on a separate loop imo.

 

[Jay85]

When I started water cooling many years ago I did a dual loop system, the idea being I thought it would give more chance to get the maximum overclock on the gpu and cpu, so that the heat input of one would not affect the other in terms of getting the max out of them. This was in the days when there was a lot more headroom for overclocking gpus, before they started locking things down on the cards with power limits etc. I eventually went to a single loop system as the benefits were not really that obvious in practice, versus the much easier tube routing single loop gives, and this was still before they started to lock down gpus. Nowadays given how little headroom you have to overclock a gpu, unless you risk modding the bios or hacking the card etc, there is even less advantage to be gained by putting the gpu on a separate loop imo.

Don't forget it also allows for easier changed out of main components being the gpu and cpu. You can change one without having to totally disassemble the other to change the gpu or cpu especially good if you have a awkward case.

 

[Bubo]

Don't forget it also allows for easier changed out of main components being the gpu and cpu. You can change one without having to totally disassemble the other to change the gpu or cpu especially good if you have a awkward case.

Yes that would be an advantage on its own if you don't mind having the extra tubing overall. I suppose the other factor with dual loops is you will end up with different delta T above ambient in each loop, and therefore potential differing rad effectiveness, though this may not be noticeable in reality. This is what I noticed anyway going from dual to single, the cooling performance barely shifted the needle on either component.

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Reasons for it
Better cooling? Unlikely to vastly improve
Compared to CPU and GPU in one loop
Assuming adequate radiator area is used of course
You may see some difference
But one loop should still have temperatures that
Are easily in the acceptable range


Aesthetics?
Well everyone has their own idea
Of what looks good

Easier replacement of components?
Well for soft tubing anyway
My quick disconnects make easier component removal
Than 2 separate loops do
Though quick disconnects are quite bulky
So not aesthetically to everyone's taste
But they're very useful
Though for hard tubing am not aware of any quick disconnects

Personally I still think if you have 2 pumps having them
In the same loop for redundancy
Is the better option
Pumps are pretty reliable yes
But they can fail and lead to immediate down time
Especially an issue if in a country where
Local shops don't sell watercooling equipment

 

[Haz123]

@Jay85 What LCD did you use for the sensor panel ? I have O11 Dynamic and only 11.5 cm on the horizontal to fit an LCD in so finding it hard to find the correct one.

@OP Anything is possible and dual loops loop super cool but when I check hwmonitor after a gaming session I see the cpu maxing out at 100w and the gpu at 200w, with an NV gpu that could be over 300w. If you go for a dual loop then 1 will have to potentially dissipate 3 times as much heat as the other 1, not an ideal situation.

 

[Jay85]

@Jay85 What LCD did you use for the sensor panel ? I have O11 Dynamic and only 11.5 cm on the horizontal to fit an LCD in so finding it hard to find the correct one.

@OP Anything is possible and dual loops loop super cool but when I check hwmonitor after a gaming session I see the cpu maxing out at 100w and the gpu at 200w, with an NV gpu that could be over 300w. If you go for a dual loop then 1 will have to potentially dissipate 3 times as much heat as the other 1, not an ideal situation.

It's a 5" LCD Waveshare panel from what i remember.

 

[Haz123]

Ty Jay , not only is that the cheapest I have seen but it has the ports on the bottom like I have been looking for and not the side like most of the other 5" lcds seem to have. Did you make your own acrylic border or did it come with one ?

Edit - Never mind I found an acrylic case for it so looks perfect.