I Need A Good Custom Loop For GTX 480's

[tinmann]

I have been running 2 GTX 480's in SLI and even though the temps have been manageable at Stock clocks running Battlefield 3 in Ultra everything on High bring the cards to temps in the mid to upper 70 degrees Celsius, I'd like to overclock both cards so I bought 2 Danger Den Water Blocks. Now the real question is just what else do I need to complete this project? I have a Corsair 800d case but I have a Corsair Hydro H100 CPU cooler mounted in the top of the case cooling an i5 2500K OC'd @ 4.3 Ghz with idle temps @ 30-33 degrees Celsius and in the mid to high 50's @ load. I'm pleased with it's performance so I only want to build this custom loop for the GPS's.
I'd like a good radiator that I could mount at the bottom of the case or where the rear exhaust fan sits. Would a 240mm Rad fit in the bottom of a Corsair 800d where the PSU sits or can I get by with a 120mm Rad? And which Reservoir fittings and tubing is best in my situation.

Corsair 800d
Asus P8Z68 V-Pro
Corsair Vengeance 1600 4X4Gbs
Corsair H100
GTX 4800 SLI
Seasonic Platinum 1000
Corsair Force 3 Sata 3 SSD

Do they make a radiator that fits a 140mm fan?

 

[rubix_1011]

Going to need more than a single 240 and a lot more than a single 120 for SLI 480's...you are looking at somewhere in the range of TDP of 250 watts per card for a total of 500 watts at 100% load. You're likely going to need a larger radiator like a 3x120 or a very good (thick) 240 and good fans.

 

[tinmann]

I want to water cool 2 GTX 480's SLI, whilke looking around I came across the Swiftech MCR-X20 Drive Rev3 a 3x120 Radiator with integrated reservoir and pump.
http://www.xoxide.com/swiftech-mcr320-drivepumpres.html
Now I'm planning on replacing my Corsair H100 and going with a CPU/GPU loop using this setup. I have the water blocks for the cards I just need the water block for the CPU.
I like the Apogee HD . Any recommendations?
http://www.swiftech.com/ApogeeHD.aspx

 

[Motopsychojdn]

and yes, 140 size rads are available
Moto

 

[rubix_1011]

Swiftech Edge kit comes with that drive/rad and the block:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_202_604&products_id=32747

For CPU and SLI 480's, you are going to need a bit more than that 320 rad, unless you plan on running push/pull or very good fans.

What is your budget, expectations and delta you want to reach?

 

[tinmann]

Going to need more than a single 240 and a lot more than a single 120 for SLI 480's...you are looking at somewhere in the range of TDP of 250 watts per card for a total of 500 watts at 100% load. You're likely going to need a larger radiator like a 3x120 or a very good (thick) 240 and good fans.

I'm looking at the Swiftech MCR-X20 Drive Rev3 as it is a 3x120 Rad. available with integrated pump and reservoir

http://www.swiftech.com/MCR-X20-Drive-Rev3.aspx

 

[rubix_1011]

You can find 140mm rads on just about every watercooling retailer site:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=59_457_458

I also replied to your other thread...prob best to combine them.

 

[rubix_1011]

This next topics has been merged by Rubix_1011
■ Any Swiftech MCR-X20 Drive Rev3 Impressions?

 

[rubix_1011]

Combined these threads...no point of asking the same questions twice in different threads.

 

[tinmann]

Swiftech Edge kit comes with that drive/rad and the block:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_202_604&products_id=32747

For CPU and SLI 480's, you are going to need a bit more than that 320 rad, unless you plan on running push/pull or very good fans.

What is your budget, expectations and delta you want to reach?

I'm planning on a push/pull config., right now no budget to speak of, I just want to do it right the first time. Whats an honest estimate on a loop that will cool both CPU and GPU and configured in a Corsair 800d ?

 

[Lutfij]

if you do it like me...? $700+

 

[rubix_1011]

I'd have to stop and think how much I've spent on watercooling...my first kit was a Swiftech H20-80 kit with an 80mm rad.

I just want to do it right the first time

I understand- that's why we're trying to make the point to do as much learning and planning you can prior to ordering and building.

 

[tinmann]

I have been looking at reservoirs, pumps and Radiators first. I am leaning towards a dual loop dual 5.25.inch bay reservoir, My main choice is the Koolance RP-452X2

http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=2025

With dual Koolance PMP-450's
http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?products_id=493

Radiator, 3x120mm 30-FPI Copper
http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=815

Radiator, 1x140mm 30-FPI Copper
http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=962

And eithe the Koolance CPU-370 waterblock
http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=2030

or the Swiftech Apogee HD
http://www.swiftech.com/ApogeeHD.aspx

for starters. I can deside on fittings, hoses, coolant and fans later.

 

[nforce4max]

You can try to integrate more than just one rad but I suggest that if you do that you add a second pump to compensate or your flow rate will be very poor. As for the blocks Koolance is good but I would go with full cover instead to keep the whole card cool without any concern knowing that the vram and power vrm is running very cool as well. If not full cover you will still need to keep some fans near the cards to be sure that temps stay low as there is more to a card than just the gpu core.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Read his list again,
He has two rads and two pumps listed
But he has not listed a Gpu block yet I notice

Moto

 

[rubix_1011]

No need for dual D5's on a loop like this.

 

[Lutfij]

^ true, none of those parts are as restrictive as the Aquacomputer AMS rad.

for the cpu block , might want to take a look at the raystorm or the supreme HF copper...?

* though i am a lil curious...has this thread moved from GPU only cooling to the entire rig WC'ing?
Edit: yeah it has.

That bay res is cool, though filling/draining will be a PITA. Could go one big res and have one loop for the entire system.

 

[tinmann]

^ true, none of those parts are as restrictive as the Aquacomputer AMS rad.

for the cpu block , might want to take a look at the raystorm or the supreme HF copper...?

* though i am a lil curious...has this thread moved from GPU only cooling to the entire rig WC'ing?
Edit: yeah it has.

That bay res is cool, though filling/draining will be a PITA. Could go one big res and have one loop for the entire system.

I'm looking at loop for the entire system now.

 

[Lutfij]

you could get Quick disconnects for your loop, and if you google your case with watercooling (mentioned in the sticky) you're going to get more inspiration on stuff you'd want to get as well as mounting options.

universal blocks are a lil erm, bland but they will last you a while as you keep swaopping GPU's...they are even better cos tey are cheap. The selective blocks for specific models are more harder on the wallet but are a treat for the eyes

any head way with the cpu blocks? and the number of pumps...?
Edit:
have you shuffled your list in the mean time?

 

[jonathann1818]

Are you looking to go completely custom?

For this loop I would. I think a 360 in the top and a 120 in the back should be enough to get rid of the heat of the CPU and GPUs.

The RX360 and RX120 from XSPC would be great choices IMO. I just built a loop with those and they fit nicely in the 800d. Im actually using these to water cool 3 580s and in i7 930 and it surprisingly works quite well. So you have no problem with your setup.

The EK supreme HF would be a great CPU block.

I would just make sure that you buy a good strong pump like an MCP 655. You will need to maintain a good flow rate despite the restriction of all 3 blocks so you can keep water flowing nicely through the rads. 2 pumps is unnecessary though. For redundancy maybe but 1 pump is just fine.

Reservoirs are really a preference thing IMO. Tube reservoirs are a little easier to bleed but bay reservoirs look cooler IMO.

The only other suggestion I would make is to use compression fittings to connect all of the components to the tubing. They are really secure and easy to take apart if needed.

 

[tinmann]

Are you looking to go completely custom?

For this loop I would. I think a 360 in the top and a 120 in the back should be enough to get rid of the heat of the CPU and GPUs.

The RX360 and RX120 from XSPC would be great choices IMO. I just built a loop with those and they fit nicely in the 800d. Im actually using these to water cool 3 580s and in i7 930 and it surprisingly works quite well. So you have no problem with your setup.

The EK supreme HF would be a great CPU block.

I would just make sure that you buy a good strong pump like an MCP 655. You will need to maintain a good flow rate despite the restriction of all 3 blocks so you can keep water flowing nicely through the rads. 2 pumps is unnecessary though. For redundancy maybe but 1 pump is just fine.

Reservoirs are really a preference thing IMO. Tube reservoirs are a little easier to bleed but bay reservoirs look cooler IMO.

The only other suggestion I would make is to use compression fittings to connect all of the components to the tubing. They are really secure and easy to take apart if needed.

Hey Jonathann, care to share some pictures?

 

[jonathann1818]

Sure thing. I take some pictures and post them shortly. I am still going to add a few more blocks to the loop such as ram block and chipset block (mostly for looks). When I get those blocks ill post some more pictures.

 

[jonathann1818]

Hey Jonathann, care to share some pictures?

Here are the pics.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/dscf0839u.jpg

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/dscf0833.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/804/dscf0829a.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/3/dscf0827sj.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/dscf0825k.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/dscf0822x.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/dscf0819b.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/dscf0818c.jpg/


These are the parts that I got:

Laing D5 Pump Vario (also called MCP 655, exact same pump)
RX360 Rad
RX120 Rad
Ek Spin Bay Actel Reservoir
3 x Koolance VIDNX580 GPU blocks
EK Supreme HF Acetal + Nickel CPU Block
EK X-Top D5 for Laing D5 Pump
Compression Fittings
4 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 1850 rpm fans

A rad/pump/reservoir setup like this should allow you to water cool those 480's plus the CPU very nicely.

Here is a review that I used to select the radiators.

http://skinneelabs.com/xspc-rx360-v2/2/

Look at the top center thermal chart results (pink and blue one). That one will show you the heat load dissipated vs the temperature delta given different fan speeds and a constant flow rate. I would say estimate the actual DC power draw of the 480s and CPU from your power supply and then use this chart to get and idea of how much headroom you will have. A temperature delta of about 10C isnt bad at all (about average). But getting it lower than that is definitely better.

Here is a good review showing you waht your PC would likely consume from the wall AC.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-480-3way-sli-review/25

Apparently a fully loaded x58 system will use about 702 Watts from the wall AC when stressed. So about 90% of that would be DC so I figure that 630 Watts would be what your system is consuming. No take away the motherboard, drives ram etc. and you are probably down to about 600 watts for just your GPUs and CPU (you have LGA 1155 so its not exaclty this but close enough). That should give you a good idea for what rads and fans to use. I would still recommend using an RX360 and RX120 for this setup though.

I also use distilled water. Works great.

Hope this helps.

 

[Lutfij]

@ jonathan - did you post in the WC members gallery? nice sli setup there.

*

A rad/pump/reservoir setup like this should allow you to water cool those 480's plus the CPU very nicely.

not to be dissing your opinion, but the TDP's are what make that answer

you've been using those EK's for how long? no chipping/corrosion on the nickels?

 

[jonathann1818]

@ jonathan - did you post in the WC members gallery? nice sli setup there.

*

A rad/pump/reservoir setup like this should allow you to water cool those 480's plus the CPU very nicely.

not to be dissing your opinion, but the TDP's are what make that answer

you've been using those EK's for how long? no chipping/corrosion on the nickels?

Thanks.

Hey I get what you mean about the TDP. I am just saying that it is better to get actual power consumption numbers to get a more realistic feel for the DC power consumption.

I remember when I was selecting my parts, I was told by lots of people "just take 244 TDP for the 580 x 3 + 200 W for the CPU when overclocked and that is your power consumption". The reality is that when im really stressing the machine (ie Metro 2033 with 99% GPU usage ) the system will only consume about 930 Watts from the wall. Factoring in the AC to DC efficiency and other power consumption of the other components I was down to about 800 Watts for GPUs and CPU. Not the 950-1000 Watts I was being told. Now would more headroom be nice yes, but the system is working quite well.

So all Im really saying is that if you want to design a water cooling loop based on the TDP, you will have a lot of headroom and thats good but its also good to see how much power you are actually drawing.

In this case though, the maximum power consumption has been reached.

Actually I just put the loop together a couple of weeks ago using the new EN nickel plating from EK. Have not noticed any chipping or anything of that sort. I was a little concerned about it but I have yet to hear of any issues from anyone else using this block.

And ill probably post my rig in the members section once I get the ram and motherboard blocks in.