Question Options for liquid cooled GPU

[hwajai21]

Hi everyone - I've been building my own PCs nearly 30 years now but never dabbled in water/liquid cooling - always used air coolers - so it's a topic still a little intimidating to me.

It may or may not have been a price mistake but recently I was able to reserve a refurbished Powercolor Liquid Devil Ultimate 6900XT at a local store (with my 5% cc discount...will be $285... which I feel is pretty good for a 6900XT).

I knew it is liquid-cooled, but, was thinking maybe for another $50-$100 I may have been able to "easily" set up water cooling for it OR buy an aftermarket air cooler (heatsink/fan combo) to install and convert it. From my searching so far...both assumptions seem incorrect

I guess I just wanted to confirm:

1) I know about CPU AIO coolers - it appears no such thing exists for GPUs, correct?
2) There is no good aftermarket "one size fits all (or most)" air coolers for GPUs?

I don't have a lot riding on this - have not picked up the card yet and can just cancel - I was 'simply' going to upgrade the 6800XT in our second PC. but it just kind of sparked some curiosity too..

seems maybe not worth the hassle if I don't want to do a full "custom-loop" huh? (very little time for such things at present..)

appreciate any input.

** edit, current specs of subject pc:
-mini pc case (mATX) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CKMZXTT
-Seasonic 750w
-ASRock B550m Pro4
-5600X, 32GB
-2x nvme
- would potentially replace reference 6800XT

 

[Eximo]

1) Such things do exist, though they seem to have fallen out of favor. Look up the NZXT Kraken G12 for an example (Not a good choice since you already have a water block)
2) There are some, but again, late model GPUs would be more of an exception. Arctic cooling may still have some out there, but again, not worth it. You have the ultimate cooling solution already.

All you really need is a pump/res and a radiator, or a complete combo. And some fans of course. That can be done relatively cheaply. Just need some details about the rest of your computer for a simple shopping list.

 

[Eximo]

Here is a very generic parts list.

6950XT lowest price $580 (6900XT remaining listings are all original MSRP nearly $800)

$285 Red Devil 6900XT
$50 240mm Radiator, (You can certainly get cheaper ones too, just avoid the Aluminum ones)
$44 DDC Alphacool pump
$22.50 6 Compression fittings for soft tubing 10/13mm (only 4 required, but this would let you add a CPU block later on, nice to have spares too)
$15 3 meter clear tubing
$5 4 radiator fan screws

$136 in parts
$421, water cooled GPU. Not bad at all.

If you have 2 x 120mm fans already, you are pretty much all set, but that would add maybe $30 for some decent ones.

Now if you wanted to add your CPU as well, then we would probably want to talk about more fittings, additional radiators and a better pump. The nice thing is you can re-use water cooling parts aside from the GPU blocks. CPU blocks tend to last quite a few generations before they don't fit. (My current CPU block I started using with a 4th gen CPU)

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...-240mm-dual-fan-0330ac010200xx.html?color=158

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...titan_live_default_products_price_default_asc

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...t-tubing-6-pack-0360ac014100y0.html?color=217

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...-12-od-3-meter-0370ac015900xx.html?color=2397

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...D=26418&indexName=titan_live_default_products

 

[hwajai21]

1) Such things do exist, though they seem to have fallen out of favor. Look up the NZXT Kraken G12 for an example (Not a good choice since you already have a water block)
2) There are some, but again, late model GPUs would be more of an exception. Arctic cooling may still have some out there, but again, not worth it. You have the ultimate cooling solution already.

All you really need is a pump/res and a radiator, or a complete combo. And some fans of course. That can be done relatively cheaply. Just need some details about the rest of your computer for a simple shopping list.

thanks for the info, appreciate it!

I did come across the Kraken G12 but honestly was a little confused by the the product. Now I looked in the manual and appears you remove the original shroud/air cooler and attach an AIO type cooler to the GPU die?

but I've also read a lot about VRMs needing proper cooling too...and I don't see anything about that (I very well could be missing it - have always just used air-cool GPUs stock)

I may be too tight on room anyways - this is for a relatively small+"cheap" mATX setup (on purpose, was seeing how small I could get with mATX board). Seasonic 750w, ASRock B550m pro4, 5600X, 32GB, 6800XT. couple nvme.

case link
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CKMZXTT

if you're up for a shopping list I'd sure consider it -- no pressure! thanks again

https://imgur.com/a/JV64bC4

 

[hwajai21]

Here is a very generic parts list.

6950XT lowest price $580 (6900XT remaining listings are all original MSRP nearly $800)

$285 Red Devil 6900XT
$50 240mm Radiator, (You can certainly get cheaper ones too, just avoid the Aluminum ones)
$44 DDC Alphacool pump
$22.50 6 Compression fittings for soft tubing 10/13mm (only 4 required, but this would let you add a CPU block later on, nice to have spares too)
$15 3 meter clear tubing
$5 4 radiator fan screws

$136 in parts
$421, water cooled GPU. Not bad at all.

If you have 2 x 120mm fans already, you are pretty much all set, but that would add maybe $30 for some decent ones.

Now if you wanted to add your CPU as well, then we would probably want to talk about more fittings, additional radiators and a better pump. The nice thing is you can re-use water cooling parts aside from the GPU blocks. CPU blocks tend to last quite a few generations before they don't fit. (My current CPU block I started using with a 4th gen CPU)

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...-240mm-dual-fan-0330ac010200xx.html?color=158

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...titan_live_default_products_price_default_asc

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...t-tubing-6-pack-0360ac014100y0.html?color=217

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...-12-od-3-meter-0370ac015900xx.html?color=2397

https://www.titanrig.com/alphacool-...D=26418&indexName=titan_live_default_products

wow, thanks a bunch for the info + shopping list! hmm, just may consider taking this on.

I should've mentioned my case/other specs in the original post too - it's a relatively small mATX case (I put a link+pic in the above post).

do you think it still may work, or too little room? I guess the water cooled gpu will actually take up less room (vertically at least)

appreciate your time!

 

[geofelt]

Your case is a very small one and is designed to have the side vent supply the cooling air to the gpu.
I don't know where you could put a separate radiator in such a small case.
And, how strong will your processor be?
That needs airflow for cooling too.

I would rethink using such a small case for a high powered system.

 

[hwajai21]

1) Such things do exist, though they seem to have fallen out of favor. Look up the NZXT Kraken G12 for an example (Not a good choice since you already have a water block)
2) There are some, but again, late model GPUs would be more of an exception. Arctic cooling may still have some out there, but again, not worth it. You have the ultimate cooling solution already.

All you really need is a pump/res and a radiator, or a complete combo. And some fans of course. That can be done relatively cheaply. Just need some details about the rest of your computer for a simple shopping list.

Eximo by the way i feel dumb - thought I was replying to 2 different people and then realized both posts were yours when i re-read a bit ago.

anyways, thanks again for all the info here - even if i don't go through with it this time now that I have a better idea of how this works i'll be mulling it over when i get the itch to upgrade the main pc again..

 

[hwajai21]

Your case is a very small one and is designed to have the side vent supply the cooling air to the gpu.
I don't know where you could put a separate radiator in such a small case.
And, how strong will your processor be?
That needs airflow for cooling too.

I would rethink using such a small case for a high powered system.

yeah I hear you it just may not work out for this setup, and that's ok. cpu is a 5600x (cheap air cooler now) and the fans are pulling air in the bottom and out the top. overall it works well for what we use it for but was just thinking maybe i could do this 6800xt to 6900xt swap for relatively little $$ net after selling the 6800xt.

but i'm leaning towards it's just not going to be worth the effort needed to make it work right in this small case and such...even though it's a pretty dang good deal on the 6900xt...

thanks for the advice!

 

[Eximo]

It would probably work as long as you can get the radiator in there somewhere and find room for the pump. As long as the air can get in and out it wouldn't be too bad.

Bottom mounted GPU radiator would probably work. 5600X with that cooler is going to be just fine. It would be quite similar to the way it is now with the GPU exhausting into the case.