Watercool 2x7950 HIS ICEQ Boost

skyjawa · 31 May 2014 at 11:21

As topic. Noob when it comes to watercooling and would like some thoughts!

I've recently had to move where my rig sits and as a result it doesn't get as good airflow as it once did. Playing BF4 now one of the cards creeps into the mid to high 70 degrees (75-79) whereas before it only got to 70-72 in summer. Since the hot weather isn't really with us yet its only going to get worse!!

CPU is fine so I'm only really looking to watercool the GFX and leave the CPU as is unless its not worth leaving and to do it all together.

Would appreciate some pointers as to a good entry level setup to fit the HIS cards. Any opinions appreciated, spec in sig re case etc...

Thanks

deFiniLoGy · 31 May 2014 at 11:38

If you are watercoolling ur GFX card anyway, you would better w/c ur CPU as well.

Look at EK Supremacy for CPU block.

EK Cooling configurator to see which VGA Block fit ur card.

EK PE series radiator, around 480mm rad size at least for ur loop I would say.

Single D5 pump will be enough

Luke_Bowman · 31 May 2014 at 11:53

Only a block and one more tube to include the CPU and will allow you to push the CPU further if it bottlenecks the GPU's

GoogalyMoogaly · 31 May 2014 at 12:40

With a HAF 932 you're limited to a 360mm rad unless you go for an external radiator.
You may also be able to get a 120 for the rear fan placement but this might clash with the top radiator depending on thickness and orientation.

As above ideally you'd include the CPU in the loop. A large air cooler may get in the way of the top radiator (again depending on thickness and also fan config).

I believe the HIS 7950 IceQ cards use standard 7950 blocks (well I hope so as that's what I have waiting to be fitted).

As for pump and reservoir placement, you've probably got room for a bay res/pump combo, but I did find the vibration to be a bit loud with that. Things may have improved since I did it though. A bay mounted reservoir would probably be fine, but the pump might be better off as something you could mount on some vibration dampening material.

Andygully · 1 Jun 2014 at 20:10

I use the same cards have a kraken g10 on the top card dropped temps down to mid 50s from mid 70s. I did have a spare antec cooler so was just the price of the kraken.

skyjawa · 3 Jun 2014 at 08:38

Thanks all, thought I'd be limited on the rad. Would a 360 be enough?

skyjawa · 23 Jun 2014 at 12:27

Any thoughts chaps, would a 360 rad be enough to cut the mustard or would I need more?

mjones1 · 23 Jun 2014 at 13:11

It would be enough.

krooton · 23 Jun 2014 at 14:30

Personally, just sell the cards and get a second hand 290/290X with a 3rd party cooler.

I did just that, lost a bit of performance, but a single 290X runs much cooler than dual 7950s. The blocks and whatnot for watercooling would end up costing more than getting a second hand 290/X

skyjawa · 24 Jun 2014 at 10:38

I run the 7950's in Xfire for BF4 at 6000x1200 Eyefinity. I don't think a single 290 would give the detail level and fps I can get with the 2 cards would it?

krooton · 24 Jun 2014 at 12:37

Sell 7950s for £200

Buy 2x 2nd hand 290s for £440

A loop and blocks for your 7950s would be nearing on the £200 difference any way

skyjawa · 25 Jun 2014 at 18:48

And surely would suffer the same fate needing extra cooling......

krooton · 26 Jun 2014 at 08:45

skyjawa said:
And surely would suffer the same fate needing extra cooling......

Well you could undervolt them, even give them a minor underclock to keep the temps in check, and still outperform your 7950s.

Keep in mind that the thermal threshold for the 290s is much higher.

Or just run 1 overclocked 290. as I said earlier, I didn't lose that much performance, but it runs MUCH cooler than my dual 7950s did.