Will a 360mm radiator be enough for a CPU and GPU?

[trawetSluaP]

Hi,

I recently purchased an EK KIT 360P for my CPU and am chuffed with it.

What I'd like to do next is add a GPU to the loop. I don't really have enough space in my PC for another radiator so I was wondering if the single 360mm radiator that came with the kit will be sufficient to cool both components.

I'd imagine my CPU will be cooler as the rad is set up as an exhaust at the moment and has all the hot air from the GPU blowing through it.

What do you guys think?

Also, I can get a full Bitspower waterblock for the 980 Ti Lightning I have for 189 Euros. Is this too much as I realise it's an end of life product? It's just cheaper than buying a new card and a waterblock for the new card! Or would you guys recommend hanging on for a bit and grabbing a 1080 Ti and adding that to the loop?

 

[trawetSluaP]

Bitspower have never had a good rep when it comes to gpu blocks in terms of performance. Look at EK, you can pick up a block for the 980ti from their range.

I did look into an EK block but they don't do a full cover block for the Lightning.

It will be sufficient, but you may notice an increase in temps. The GPU hot air won't be making that much of a difference currently, but adding another component to the loop will. That said, rads are cooled more effectively with fans bringing in cooler air from outside, so you should have fans on intake anyway, not exhaust. That should help performance. This is also better for maintaining positive pressure and avoiding dust build up in the case (providing intakes are filtered).

As suggested, an EK block might be preferable. It's up to you if you want to get the 1080Ti... that's a big investment, about £850 once you factor in block/backplate. Only you can answer whether that's worth it or not.

At present it makes a 5C difference to my CPU temps when I have the GPU running at full chat. Having said that if I add the GPU to the loop it will no longer be exhausting hot air into the case, meaning I can change the fan orientation on the rad to intake.

I know the Bitspower block seems expensive... But I wanted a full block for the GPU. Decisions, decisions.