Watercooling Upgrade Advice

domyboy

domyboy

domyboy

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Joined
22 May 2006
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603
Location
Glasgow
Hello folks, I’ve been absent from the water cooling (and PC building) arena for some time now and I'm looking for advice on what to do with upgrading my current system with respect to cooling.

My current system is a ASrock Z87 Extreme with a 4770K with dual discrete water loops with two 360mm Thermochill radiators, D5 pumps and reservoirs in a Mountain Mods Extended U2-UFO CYO. One loop for GPU and one loop for CPU.

Now I’m upgrading to Rzyen 9 but I'm unsure whether to go with those closed loop 360mm radiators and CPU block with integrated pump without a reservoir so here comes the questions;
  • What are your thoughts on these closed loop products?
  • Are these closed loop systems reliable?
  • Are the CPU pumps noisy?
  • Are they able to dump enough heat from a mildy overclocked Ryzen 9 (5900 or 5950) CPU?
  • Are the tubing lengths generally adequate for installation in large cases like the extended UFO?
  • Are the fan hole spacings align with a Thermochill radiator (Thermochill who don’t seem to make radiators any longer had different mounting holes from memory - maybe someone can clarify)?

I recently bought a closed loop water cooled Sapphire Toxic 6900XT but decided to sell it on as the tubes were rather short and it didn’t have the Thermochill radiator mount spacing so it didn’t mount properly in my case. The pump was quiet however I don’t know if that applies to all of these coolers or maybe because I never stressed/loaded the GPU enough.

Would appreciate any input/advice/lessons learned etc

Cheers
Dom
 
Thoughts on closed loop coolers (CLC) or AIO.

Generally reliable so long as setup correctly with the tube-end of the radiator several inches above the block. Basically ensure that any air stays in the radiator and doesn't get to the pump.
CPU pumps are not noisy unless they get air in them (see first point)
A 360mm or 420mm CLC with good enough fans is little different from a custom 360mm/420mm loop. It has less fluid (no reservoir) but that has little impact under sustained load.
Some have long tubing, some don't. Make sure you get one with long tubes if you need that. If possible put the radiator in the roof.
Thermochill PA rads as you say used non-standard spacing. Modern CLC use the same specs as everyone now which will be different from the Thermochill rads you have.

Since you still have two good rads, excellent pumps and a reservoir, why not just get am AM4 block? It will be vastly superior to a CLC and will allow expansion if required.
 
MikeTimbers said:
Thoughts on closed loop coolers (CLC) or AIO.

Generally reliable so long as setup correctly with the tube-end of the radiator several inches above the block. Basically ensure that any air stays in the radiator and doesn't get to the pump.
CPU pumps are not noisy unless they get air in them (see first point)
A 360mm or 420mm CLC with good enough fans is little different from a custom 360mm/420mm loop. It has less fluid (no reservoir) but that has little impact under sustained load.
Some have long tubing, some don't. Make sure you get one with long tubes if you need that. If possible put the radiator in the roof.
Thermochill PA rads as you say used non-standard spacing. Modern CLC use the same specs as everyone now which will be different from the Thermochill rads you have.

Since you still have two good rads, excellent pumps and a reservoir, why not just get am AM4 block? It will be vastly superior to a CLC and will allow expansion if required.
Click to expand...

Hi Mike, thanks for the reply.
My immediate thought was just to buy an AM4 waterblock but there were several reasons why I started to ponder AIO alternatives; 1) Waterblocks are expensive compared to circa 2010 (not just inflation), 2) I have an option of buying a second hand AIO (Asus 360mm) for £100 which is little more than a new waterblock, 3) I recall some messy issues I had with the loop leaking on setup albiet it has run flawlessly for ten years since :), 4) Given the age of my radiators and pumps I'm unsure what life remains in them (Difficult to determine).
On the other hand my case wont accept the reduced hole spacing of standard new radiators without modification and even with modification the actual fan 120mm holes will never align. I'm also sceptical about the length of the tubing provided in these AIO products: Asus website suggests 380mm which will be very tight. I could mount on the roof of the case as you suggesrt but that involves further modification and i wont be able to postion items on top of the case which is my current setup.

Decisons decisions :) If there was a way of determining the life of my existing radiators & pumps and it showed there was reasonable life left then a new AM4 CPU block certainly seems like the correct way to go.
 
i agree with Mike and just get a CPU block or convert your existing one to go with your existing setup... but also because AIO will look a bit weird especially in a MM case.

If the CPU block is an EK Supremacy (both non and evo), you just need an AM4 bracket for it
 
im4gine3 said:
i agree with Mike and just get a CPU block or convert your existing one to go with your existing setup... but also because AIO will look a bit weird especially in a MM case.

If the CPU block is an EK Supremacy (both non and evo), you just need an AM4 bracket for it
Click to expand...

AIO would make the MM case rather spacious :D

Didnt realise brackets were available for new AM4 sockets - that would be ideal. I'll have a look on the EK website.
 
domyboy said:
It is an EK Supremacy (dont think its an evo but could be wrong).

Edit: Just peered into the case - it says Supreme on it not supremacy.
Click to expand...

That should be fine as the Supreme is universal and fits both AMD/Intel platforms... only the included brackets do not fit the new/current AM4. EK have them for around a fiver

Edit.. hold that thought.. can you take a pic of your CPU block... does it look like the Nickel High Flow/LTX version or does it look like one of the old Swiftech Apogee Blocks? If it looks like the Apogee, not sure if the same bracket would work, and would be best messaging EK direct to check
 
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im4gine3 said:
That should be fine as the Supreme is universal and fits both AMD/Intel platforms... only the included brackets do not fit the new/current AM4. EK have them for around a fiver

Edit.. hold that thought.. can you take a pic of your CPU block... does it look like the Nickel High Flow/LTX version or does it look like one of the old Swiftech Apogee Blocks? If it looks like the Apogee, not sure if the same bracket would work, and would be best messaging EK direct to check
Click to expand...

See picture below - i think the universal AM4 bracket would work - its worth a try at under a tenner.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuebYXg49uD4hIQEXo9WWDkDHbXgqQ?e=lFRZ5e

Having been absent from the OCUK forums for a long time I still cant belive the forums still have the same picture link system.
 
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hmm for a tenner it would be worth a shot, but can't guarantee it'll fit.

Supreme Mount bracket
mounting_plate_supreme_hf_amd-nickel_600.jpg


Compared to the Supremacy version
ek-amd_mounting_bracket_black_1.jpg


If i remember, if you still have your old AMD mounting bracket for the block, i think you can modify that to make it fit AM4 too as the original Supreme HF AMD mounting plate has space to drill holes to match the AM4 socket.
 
Well after a long wait until payday I finally bought my new bundle. Thankfully the bracket i bought from Overclockers fitted the existing EK supreme water block. When I unboxed the bracket, I thought no way is this going to fit as it’s a completely different shape. The bracket outline doesn’t fit the exact geometry of the water block top but the holes align and that’s really all that matters to mount it securely: it maybe doesn’t look the best fit but after a few days of checking for leaks and temps it’s all good. Thanks for your input im4gine3
:)

Also link to Overlockers bracket;https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-amd-socket-bracket-for-am4-wc-9dx-ek.html


Few pics for anyone interested.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuebYXg49uD4hOdnB8OZh-3LpGki-Q?e=vdeLis
 
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