Liquid metal GPU,loop order and radiator.

[sniper2606]

Afternoon.

I have a few questions regarding liquid metal and loop order.

Few months ago i delid my cpu and applied liquid metal, amazing results, yet now i sit here wanting to WC my 1080ti so i bought this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079TFNLLR/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yes i checked and this will fit my version of the card, so now my question is, should i apply the metal liquid to the GPU? or stick with normal thermal paste? any concerns about liquid metal?

2nd question, What the correct loop order from reservoir to gpu to cpu to radiator? Here is a pic of my setup (Yes i know HARD TUBING blah blah blah, leave me alone) Would love a pic with the correct loop order when i install the GPU .

2018-04-02_05-37-38 by sniper260687, on Flickr

Last but not least, radiator size i believe is 240mm not sure will have to check when i get home, its pretty thick, will this be enough for both GPU and CPU?

Thank you!

 

[urbancamper]

Only use non conductive on the gpu. You will notice there are tiny capacitors around it. If you any get liquid metal on those points will short out your gpu. It's hard to tell where liquid metal will go once you close it back up. And if you make a mistake... Use non-conductive like MX4 or similar only.

As for the radiator. I would say it is dependent on your overclock. If that is the radiator, it would probably be a good idea to move up to a 360mm.

Oh ya, the order with 1 radiator. Radiator, Cpu, Gpu, Reservoir, Pump, Radiator

 

[sniper2606]

Only use non conductive on the gpu. You will notice there are tiny capacitors around it. If you any get liquid metal on those points will short out your gpu. It's hard to tell where liquid metal will go once you close it back up. And if you make a mistake... Use non-conductive like MX4 or similar only.

As for the radiator. I would say it is dependent on your overclock. If that is the radiator, it would probably be a good idea to move up to a 360mm.

Oh ya, the order with 1 radiator. Radiator, Cpu, Gpu, Reservoir, Pump, Radiator

I see, ill just stick with regular paste, dont wanna take any more risk frying the GPU, especially with current GPU prices.

I have my i7-7700K at 5.0 with idles in the 25c and full load never over 50c, GPU came OC.

About the loop order from what i understood.

Looking at my setup pic. I leave everything the same as is just disconnect the LEFT top tube on the CPU leaving the water back to the reservoir, install a new tube going from CPU to GPU then plug the first tube to the GPU so water goes back to the reservoir?

 

[urbancamper]

Disconnect the exit tube from the cpu, connect it to the gpu intake, connect the gpu exit line to the reservoir. Yes that would be it. Have fun with your new custom loop. I still think you should get a 360mm radiator though.

 

[sniper2606]

Which one would you recommend?

Honestly don't wanna spend more than $100

Disconnect the exit tube from the cpu, connect it to the gpu intake, connect the gpu exit line to the reservoir. Yes that would be it. Have fun with your new custom loop. I still think you should get a 360mm radiator though.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

the loop order should be the one that creates as few as possible vertical zigzags.
the liquid moves so fast that the temp difference between hottest and coldest point in a loop is within 1C.

a 240 rad can cool both GPU and CPU with fans spinning at really noisy 2000+ RPM.
if you want the system to be both cool and quiet, get the largest possible radiator.
here are some options:
4x120mm fans http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-480gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon.html
3x140mm fans http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-420gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon.html
the XFlow will allow easier fill and drain of the loop as well as lower liquid flow restriction.

 

[sniper2606]

Gotcha.

Okay i purchased a 360mm i should have everything by next week and report back.

I did some testing last night to see temps both on CPU and GPU to compare.

CPU idle 20c full load 58c, got a bit toasty last night while playing Rainbow Six Siege.

GPU idle Min 32 full load 64.

Hopefully once the GPU is WC the temps go down

the loop order should be the one that creates as few as possible vertical zigzags.
the liquid moves so fast that the temp difference between hottest and coldest point in a loop is within 1C.

a 240 rad can cool both GPU and CPU with fans spinning at really noisy 2000+ RPM.
if you want the system to be both cool and quiet, get the largest possible radiator.
here are some options:
4x120mm fans http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-480gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon.html
3x140mm fans http://www.performance-pcs.com/black-ice-nemesis-420gts-xflow-ultra-stealth-cross-flow-low-profile-radiator-black-carbon.html
the XFlow will allow easier fill and drain of the loop as well as lower liquid flow restriction.

 

[sniper2606]

So i got my 360mm radiator, got it installed put new distilled water in, but temps are really the same without the GPU being WC.

Wasnt the 360mm supposed to helped?

Disconnect the exit tube from the cpu, connect it to the gpu intake, connect the gpu exit line to the reservoir. Yes that would be it. Have fun with your new custom loop. I still think you should get a 360mm radiator though.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

for CPU alone, there is not much difference.

 

[urbancamper]

It will help, much better then a 240mm rad. When you attach the gpu to the setup.

 

[sniper2606]

Okay fair enough.

A few other questions.

Any other way of getting better TEMPS? I know those temps are fine considering its the i7-7700K but for being WC seems high?

Should i rotate the radiator with the tubes facing up? Ive notice 95% of the builds with this case has the radiator on the opposite side of mine. Does it mattter?

Im pretty sure i have the WP connected to the CPU_Fan should i change it to AIO_Pump or WC_pump? (ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero)

I have the fans blowing air to the radiator, good?

 

[n0ns3ns3]

Since your CPU is already delided, there is not much you can do.
The heat transfer (cooling or heating) occurs when there is a difference of temperatures between contacting materials (including air).
the larger the temperature delta, more heat can be transferred.
There well be always a substantial difference between the CPU temperature and room temperature under full load.
you can learn a bit about how it works here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxW7swuNQps

to your question, push or pull makes next to none difference. radiator orientation makes no difference.

 

[sniper2606]

Okay i got everything done.

GPU temps went from air cooling. Min 32 Full load 64

WC GPU Min 26c Full Load 49c

However somehow the CPU got hotter

Idle 20c Full Load 58c

NOW idle 33c Full load 65c.

This normal or do i need to wait untill or the air bubbles are gone and the loop settles again?

Pump is on max setting of 5.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

can you share a pic of how the setup looks like now?
there could be a number of reasons to why the CPU is hotter now which it shouldn't be by that much.

 

[sniper2606]

So i also change the orientation of the radiator and originally i had the top 2 entries switched, CPU tube was closer to the radiator entry.

But for some reason the loop wasn't providing enough water even tho it ran for 10 mins and the pump was making that noise when its dry.

So i switched the tubes (See pic) and now its fine. Why is that?

2018-04-11_01-26-29 by sniper260687, on Flickr

 

[sniper2606]

I had the pump on level 3 before WC the GPU, i cranked up the pump to 5 considering its working harder now with another piece added to the mix, i hope that aint the culprit of why the CPU is hotter, i go back to 3 and see


Pic attached.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

there should be no difference between the flow direction within the radiator.
Before reading, I wanted to ask you why you have crossed the tubes, looks ugly.
Have you cleaned the radiator before use ? if not, the CPU block might get clogged by "production leftovers". to check this, you will have to take the CPU block apart.
when you stop the pump, do you see some air in tubes connected to the radiator ?
the flow problem you had, could be due to air pockets in radiator.
If it was me, and there was no flow meter, i'd test the loop flow with a bucket - for that you going to need another tube. Disconnect the outlet tube from the rad and put it in a bucket (or a large reservoir with water - gallon would be more than enough). connect the spare tube the rad and and put the other end in an empty bucket. turn the pump on. the "optimal" flow rate is about 1 GPM. significantly lower will do worth cooling, significantly higher does not bring much improvement.

 

[sniper2606]

I dont care much about the looks.

Radiator is brand new.

So i let the loop run overnight and got most of the bubbles and air out, that seemed to do the trick,CPU temps are back around the 20s on IDLE.

Still some bubbles left, i will check tonight.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

new radiators should be cleaned before use. well, most of them.

 

[sniper2606]

So any reason why this block is having brown crap in it?

Looks to me like corrosion after only 3 days?

I never had this issue with the CPU, i have a silver coil in the reservoir

2018-04-12_10-35-48 by sniper260687, on Flickr

 

[n0ns3ns3]

read again what i wrote in last messages.
do a google search clean radiator before first use.