Can you liquidcool CPU with AIO, but liquidcool GPUs with custom loop?

[leroym1]

Hi, so I'm working on a PC build that I wanted to be fully watercooled, with a custom loop from EKWB. I determined it would be around $1,000 which is very expensive for cooling, and something I'm not willing to pay. My specs are as follows:

CPU: Ryzen 7 2700x
Mobo: MSI X470 Gaming Plus
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 64GB DDR4-2133
GPU(s): 2x MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X (in 2-Way SLI)
Case: NZXT S340

After using the custom loop configurator, I found that it would be $1,000 to cool my 2 GPUs and my Ryzen CPU.

I'd like to have my GPUs custom loop cooled since they get hotter, but I'd like to cool my CPU with the Corsair H60 2018.

Could I liquidcool my 2 1080 Ti GPUs with a custom loop, but cool my CPU with an AIO (H60 2018) in the same case? Would I need a bigger case with more space for 2 radiators?

I'm new to liquid cooling and custom loops, advice would be generous. Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

To answer your thread's title, yes it's possible but it's kind of impractical and cumbersome. Custom watercooling in itself is impractical to the budget conscious builder 😛 Since you have the S340, the only possible locations to mount the radiators are at the front with a 280 and the rear with a 120. In effect you could cool all your hardware(if you disregarded the delta's to an extent) with the only inclusion to your parts list being the CPU block, 4 fittings and some length of tubing. This is also taking into account that you have a pump/res chosen for the custom loop.

BTW,it's a bad idea getting that Corsair AIO. Did you read through the watercooling sticky(in my sig)?

 

[Barty1884]

You can isolate a loop to whatever you want, so yes, you could use an AIO for the CPU and a custom loop on the GPUs..... I wouldn't, personally, but there's nothing stopping you.

What is driving the cost up substantially? At a minimum, you're only adding a CPU block, some tubing & fittings.
At most, you're looking at the same +Rad (and fans).
Most of EKWB's "normal" sized Rads (240-280mm etc) are in the $70-$100 range, are they not?

So, even opting for a mid-range CPU block + Rad, your cost is somewhere in the ~$200 region (with fans).
So +$200 there vs +$70 or so for a halfway decent AIO..... Your net 'saving' would be in the $100-$150 range?

A max $150 saving to go from a full custom-loop to a mixed AIO + Custom?
Seems like a relatively small saving, in a project that's hardly economical to begin with?


....of course, for more than a 240mm + 120mm, you'll need to change your case.

 

[Darkbreeze]

No way that H60 can handle that 2700x. No. Possible. Way. Not effectively anyhow. It is not rated for a CPU with that kind of TDP. If you plan to overclock, this just makes the problem even worse. Listen to Lutfij and Barty, they will not lead you wrong.

 

[androbourne]

I agree with darkbreeze. I had an H60 and H80 when I was a noob in watercooling. They were barely better (if at all better) then just using a good air cooler/heatsink...

I'm currently running H115i and now that is a real AIO cooler. Its a beast.

I stick away from custom loops because of the maintenance. AIO are maintenance free. Plug and play until they die, which normally is the pump that dies first. (I've had mine for 4+ years and its on 24/7, still chugging away).

And I also agree with others estimates. When starting off on a new system. Both AIO and Custom Loops are most likely going to be more then you need and way more expensive to add to a new comers build. Get a good air cooler to start with and read more on water cooling and start small and add as you go.

I personally dont do custom loops anymore. I hate the maintenance. If I needed to do water cooling for my CPU and GPU I'd just get two AIOs and use a conversion bracket to make one of those AIOS work for my GPU. (check around brakets to do this conversion is pretty easy to find).

But from my experience. You get a good GPU, you wont need it on your GPU. I use AIO on CPU only and because how AIO works, it pulls hot air out of the system via the rad into my room so it leaves cooler air in my system which means GPU runs cooler also. I use an MSI 1070 OCed to 2000mhz and left it on stock air cooling (with a custom fan curve just because Im nerdy like that). My GPU never goes above 65c and thats under load for long periods of time.

That is another reason why I suggest start small. You may find out you don't even need water cooling on GPU and just wasted that money for nothing.

 

[Darkbreeze]

They were barely better (if at all better) then just using the stock cooler.

Fixed that for you.

 

[androbourne]

They were barely better (if at all better) then just using the stock cooler.

Fixed that for you.

Well depends... that H60 isn't even better then stock cooler lol Now H80, yeah thats better then stock.

 

[Barty1884]

They were barely better (if at all better) then just using the stock cooler.

Fixed that for you.

:lol: that's so true. The H60, H55 et al are pretty good if you want to stick an AIO on your GPU (with a bracket), as they're essentially what are sold as the "hybrid" cards anyway.

As a CPU cooler, they're extremely underwhelming - especially given the price.

A solid, budget air cooler would usually rival, if not better them for less money.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Not to sleight any cooling enthusiasts out there, because liquid cooling certainly has it's place, chiefly, IMO, aesthetics and extreme high end overclocking with big custom loops, but I personally believe that with a great case cooling solution utilizing plenty of equal or negative pressure high end case fans (Which by the way are a lot cheaper overall than any custom loop), a very good CPU heatsink fan combination and a graphics card with a reasonably good board partner cooling solution, there is no reason or need for water cooling unless you just want it for aesthetics or as a hobby.

Water cooling [strike]freaks[/strike] enthusiasts will disagree, but the fact remains that there are plenty of high end systems that don't use it and are perfectly fine even with big CPU and GPU overclocks.

If I was going to use an AIO I don't think I'd use anything lower than something like the H115i and more probably something like the H150i.

 

[Barty1884]

Not to sleight any cooling enthusiasts out there, because liquid cooling certainly has it's place, chiefly, IMO, aesthetics and extreme high end overclocking

And compatibility, at least as far as AIOs go.

I'm a big fan of beefy air coolers - I currently have an NH-D15, but you do limit yourself much more.
An AIO needs sufficient space to mount an Xmm radiator. Most cases today have a 240mm rad mounting, at the very least there's 1x 120mm mount.

Take a big air cooler at 165mm (and in my case, add chromax.swap on top of them +5mm)..... the sheer number of cases available that'll support that kind of CPU cooler clearance is reduced dramatically.

 

[androbourne]

I think it really boils down to your needs. For myself, water cooling the CPU allowed for cooler air to remain in the system longer, hence cooling off other components faster. Its the only reason I do it.

That combined with a good fan controller and fan configuration for in and out pressure. It's pretty helpful. But again, why I stick with an AIO instead of a loop or air.

But yeah I agree.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, compatibility CAN be a reason. There are cases where big air coolers can't fit, but there are also some pretty outstanding low profile coolers out there. Even a mediocre heatsink fan can do a fair job in a cramped, small enclosure, if it can breath something besides hot air.

 

[Karadjgne]

Just an FYI, the Corsair H60 has almost identical ability and results to a 140w CM hyper212 EVO, so put in that light, darkbreeze's somewhat understated 'no way that'll work' becomes even more rediculously understated. Basically consider any budget cooler as no better than 'stock'.

In a nutshell that s340 is woefully inadequate for your planned cooling. Your options are a 240mm aio on cpu and stock gpu heatsinks or a more specialized aircooler such as the Scythe Fuma Rev.b on the cpu and an expandable aio like the fractal design Celsius s24 or the Swiftec H220 X2 with waterblocks on the gpus.

Either way, budget isn't going to be your limitation, your case design is.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Ok, minor exaggeration, but not by much. Any cooler capable of reasonably cooling a 110w or higher CPU will probably do as well or better.

I'm certainly not talking about some tiny stock cooler that might have come on an i3 two generations ago.

But yes, I wasn't specifically trying to be on point. The fact is though, that even a budget cooler like the H5 will outperform it and do it more quietly. Probably matters WHICH version, the older H60 or the newer one we're talking about too. But regardless, the fact remains also that with his current case that cooler could only be used at the rear exhaust position, which is going to dramatically decrease it's cooling performance especially with another radiator at the front of the case pumping extra heat right at it. It'd be running full bore all the time in that case.