Water Cooling Question

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 13:08

I have purchased the gear ready for my new build (see Sig). I will be cooling the CPU and GPU using one loop with a XSPC RX 360 Radiator.... the question is:

Will this be sufficient to cool both the i7-2600K and Sapphire HD 6990 using one loop?

If so, which direction of flow. Should it be:

1. Res/Pump -> GPU Block -> CPU Block -> Rad -> Res/Pump
2. Res/Pump -> CPU Block -> GPU Block -> Rad -> Res/Pump
3. Res/Pump -> Rad -> GPU Block -> CPU Block -> Res/Pump
4. Res/Pump -> Rad -> CPU Block -> GPU Block -> Res/Pump

Or should I split the flow through a Y connector to both the CPU and GPU so that they are both getting equally cooled fluid? Although on that note I do understand that the liquid will choose the path of least resistance so one block may get starved of coolant.

Thanks in advance.

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 13:15

I suppose that would be best in any situation really as the coolant is being cooled prior to being fed to the waterblocks.

See I'm learning stuff every day!

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 13:22

Phenomenologica said:
From what I understand liquid temperatures even out across the whole system very quickly, so the Y splitter idea is entirely unnecessary.

Many thanks for that though. So either option 3 or 4 would be OK?

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 13:33

mjones1 said:
Loop order doesn't matter long as the res is before the pump, a single 120.3 rad wont be enough really, either at a single 120mm at the back of mod the lower chamber to hold a 120.2.

The Rad i'll be using is an XSPC RX360 which has 3 rows of 13mm by 2mm Tubes, so unlike the cheaper versions the coolant spends more time in the radiator being cooled. I'm a bit reluctant to add a 120.1 in the bottom of the rig unless temperatures dictate otherwise.

The pump that I'll be using is a MCP355 Laing DDC-pump 12V DDC-1Plus 18w with a XSPC DDCRES 200ml Laing DDC Top Reservoir... Just FYI

It looks as though I'll have to "suck it and see" when I start the build next week.

Thanks

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:00

Thanks for that dexez. I may document the build and share it with the forums.

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:14

Well I'm not too sure what happened there but quite a few posts were deleted....

Someone been naughty?

Thanks for the help to the ones that were sensible with their replies. I've learned a few things since I've joined and been reading the threads around here. I'm sure I'll not be disappointed with my build since my old PC is nearly 6 years old and based on an air cooled AMD Athlon 64 4000+ socket 939 Processor with an nvidia 7800GTX and 2 gig ram.

Roll on the next week.

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 21:49

I see.... Just checked the previous posts and it's all clear now.

I will take step by step pics and attempt to document it in the forum for others to "learn" from. Not that the old hands will learn from this.... Hopefully it just helps!

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:33

What about the "Project Logs" section?

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 23:35

zulu9812 said:
I wouldn't be so sure that a 360mm rad will cool your i7 and your 6990 - the 6990 especially will put out a lot of heat. If it was me, I'd want at least a 240 in addition.

Well I will try it and see what happens. If it does not prove to be efficient in cooling the whole system I will have to then purchase a 120.2 to add into the cooling loop. I'm sure the 800D can cope with this.

Activ8 · 19 Jun 2011 at 23:41

Oh I see.... Cheers, I'll amend it.

Activ8 · 20 Jun 2011 at 00:09

neo-omega said:
I run my full rig with just a single 360 rad without problems. People really underestimate the cooling powers of those bad boys!

Cheers, thats a vote of confidence. How did you plan your loop/flow as per my 1st post?

Activ8 · 5 Jul 2011 at 16:33

Well I'm very impressed with the cooling loop so far. I have it running like this:

Res/Pump -> Rad -> CPU Block -> GPU Block -> Res/Pump

Idle temps are 33 to 34.5 degsC for the HD6990 and the CPU temps are anywhere from 26 to 33 degsC Idle.

Running Dirt 3 temps don't go near 50degsC so far I'm a happy camper.

Activ8 · 5 Jul 2011 at 17:39

hyperst said:
temps look fine for the setup there, any pics?

Yes I have taken pics but I'm busy installing software etc. I will get them posted real soon.

The only issue I have had was with the weight of the case. Try rotating an Obsidian with one hand whilst you're bleeding the loop... :eek:

Activ8 · 7 Jul 2011 at 14:33

Here's a few pics of the build as promised:

Corsair Obsidian 800D:

Front:

Asrock P67 Extreme 6:

XSPC RX360 Radiator:

G.Skill RipjawsX. i7 2600K in situ:

EK Supreme HF Full Copper Block:

CPU Waterblock Mounted:

Corsair AX1200 PSU:

Compression Fittings:

XSPC Reservoir:

Lamptron FC5 V2 and Liteon DVD:

Masterkleer Hoses in Place:

Sapphire HD 6990:

XSPC Razor Waterblock in place:

System Filled and Bled of Air:

Note in the above picture the temporary piece of wood supporting the end of the HD 6990 + Waterblock.
This has been added because the card sags by approx 10mm due to the weight of the waterblock.
Any suggestions appreciated... If not I will spray it black to suit.