Water cooling tips :)

Sida · 18 Apr 2011 at 14:30

I've never watercooled in my life, but it's always been something I've wanted to do. The problem is the prices always seem to be crazy. I was just reading my emails and noticed one containing a cosair closed loop cpu cooler for like £47 and I'm thinking that's not that high.

What I would really like to do though is cool my gpu and cpu and I was wondering if someone that could inform me of the cheapest watercooling solution I could get that would do the job well, or options that cost a bit more but are much better. From reading around it sounds like you need 2 radiators and a pump + brackets? Where does all that even fit? Could I get 2 closed loop coolers instead?

Many thanks

aaronhowe · 18 Apr 2011 at 14:50

Your not allowed to post links to competitors websites. I'd suggest you edit that out before a mod comes and does it for you

Not watercooled myself so I'll let someone else answer that one for you

Sida · 18 Apr 2011 at 14:57

aaronhowe said:
Your not allowed to post links to competitors websites. I'd suggest you edit that out before a mod comes and does it for you

Not watercooled myself so I'll let someone else answer that one for you

Oh right. I suspected that as it was blocked out, but I've seen people post links to other websites that sell parts all over the forums so I thought it would be fine. Nevermind

seekdestroy · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:13

XSPC kits are quite good I think. It's best to go all custom though.

2 "closed loops" I guess you mean like the h70, as far as I'm away they only do CPU coolers for thme.

To cool GPU+CPU would need a 120.2 or 120.3 rad (240, or 360). you shouldn't need two.

Then you need CPU block, GPU block, tubing, 1 pump, 1 res.

2 fittings for rad, 2 for pump, 2 for res, 2 for each block.

Tbh, unless your going to spend £200+ on watercooling I don't think it's worth it.

I've just watercooled my CPU+SLI graphics,and its probably cost £350-£400

But most of my temps have dropped 30C - 40C and pc is silent now

Cleeecooo · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:24

as said, that closed loop is just for the CPU.

I very much doubt you can liquid cool your GPU as it is a non reference board and I don't think anyone has made a block for it.

I would definitely recommend that you do your research and get a decent liquid cooling loop as your case is perfectly suited to liquid cooling.

I am currently planning my loop and it is coming to around £450, but that being said, you don't need to spend that much as you can't cool your GPU.

Sida · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:27

Cleeecooo said:
as said, that closed loop is just for the CPU.

I very much doubt you can liquid cool your GPU as it is a non reference board and I don't think anyone has made a block for it.

I would definitely recommend that you do your research and get a decent liquid cooling loop as your case is perfectly suited to liquid cooling.

I am currently planning my loop and it is coming to around £450, but that being said, you don't need to spend that much as you can't cool your GPU.

What do you mean non-reference board? Because I have the soc edition? Wouldn't it be the same as a standard board if I removed the tripple fans?

Cleeecooo · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:29

Sida said:
What do you mean non-reference board? Because I have the soc edition? Wouldn't it be the same as a standard board if I removed the tripple fans?

no. The PCB on the SOC is a different one to the standard Nvidia one for the 480.

seekdestroy · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:30

Try have a look at EK blocks, I managed to find a non reference block for my GTX 460 GS/SONIC

Sida · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:31

Cleeecooo said:
no. The PCB on the SOC is a different one to the standard Nvidia one for the 480.

Well that totaly sucks

Cleeecooo · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:32

seekdestroy said:
Try have a look at EK blocks, I managed to find a non reference block for my GTX 460 GS/SONIC

Couldn't find one for the 480 SOC

Now I am trying to get another 480 and liquid cool that and use SLI

Sida · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:48

I don't want to spend a load of cash to just cool my cpu. Cooling my gpu was the main reason I wanted watercooling. Sucks to find out I spent the extra on a soc and I can't water cool it. I guess I should just get the £50 pre-build cpu cooler then?

Cleeecooo · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:49

Sida said:
I don't want to spend a load of cash to just cool my cpu. Cooling my gpu was the main reason I wanted watercooling. Sucks to find out I spent the extra on a soc and I can't water cool it. I guess I should just get the £50 pre-build cpu cooler then?

not really worth it. A good air cooler is probably be better. I would consider trading your 480 for another one with a ref design if you really want to liquid cool

hyperst · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:50

The other option would be to get a VGA only block for the SOC version you have

Cleeecooo · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:51

hyperst said:
The other option would be to get a VGA only block for the SOC version you have

Problem is, how do you cool the VRAM???

hyperst · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:53

Cleeecooo said:
Problem is, how do you cool the VRAM???

Those stick on heatsink things?

Sida · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:54

Cleeecooo said:
not really worth it. A good air cooler is probably be better. I would consider trading your 480 for another one with a ref design if you really want to liquid cool

I currently have:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=fg-006-nc
http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/cpu/u120ex/product_cpu_cooler_u120ex_revc.html

The cpu liquid cooler is:
http://www.corsair.com/cooling/hydro-series/hydro-series-h50-cpu-cooler.html

Would there be minimal difference in temps? There's also the H70 for £70. I've had my 480 for about 2 weeks and I really don't want to sell it for a second hand value after such a short time :/

Cleeecooo · 18 Apr 2011 at 16:16

Sida said:
I currently have:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=fg-006-nc
http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/cpu/u120ex/product_cpu_cooler_u120ex_revc.html

The cpu liquid cooler is:
http://www.corsair.com/cooling/hydro-series/hydro-series-h50-cpu-cooler.html

Would there be minimal difference in temps? There's also the H70 for £70. I've had my 480 for about 2 weeks and I really don't want to sell it for a second hand value after such a short time :/

I doubt you will see a difference of more than 5 degrees.

Cleeecooo · 18 Apr 2011 at 16:17

hyperst said:
Those stick on heatsink things?

Any chance of a link?

Sida · 18 Apr 2011 at 16:53

Ok I basically have 3 scenarios based on the fact my friend is planning to buy a 480 at the end of this month which I totally forgot.

First:
Sell my soc to my friend and buy a standard 480. Spend around £200 on water cooling. Means I don't need a new PSU and can add another 480 in the future and can play with better overclocking on my 480 and i7.
Price: £200

Second:
Buy a second 480 SOC, run on air cooling but also have to spend another £200 on a new psu. Over my budget tbh but doable. Probably can't overclock much.
Price: £430

Third:
Sell my SOC to my friend and buy 2 470s or somethng. I don't think I'd need a new PSU, and I could probably water cool these for the price I would pay for scenario 2. This means I'm stuck with 470s and don't have the *add a 480 in the future* option like scenario 1.
Price: £350 or so.

I'm thinking scenario 1. For £200 I'll have a water cooled 480 and it's good to know I can add another in the future when I can afford a new psu aswell. Scenario 3 seems good because I'll have SLI + liquid cooling but I'll lack future proofing and be paying another £150.

What do you reckon?

hyperst · 18 Apr 2011 at 16:55

Cleeecooo said:
Any chance of a link?

These things here

I would go option 1