Ok, so I'm new water cooling. I decided I really wanted to try it with my new computer build. I've been reading up in the stickie threads and suggested other sites and such. I think I've got it straight but I wanted to let the experts give it a once over.
I'm planning on doing a CPU and GPU loop. It's an i7-2600k that I'll be overclocking and GTX 580 (maybe SLI it later). I already ordered the parts for the computer and am looking to order the water cooling parts here in the next week or so. TDP is about 350W for all and would be about 600W if SLI.
Pump: Swiftech MCP-35X
Add-ons: Heatsink & Noctua NF-R8 80mm
Top: EK DDC X-Top Rev. 2
Reservoir: XSPC 5.25" Bay Reservoir
CPU Block: XSPC Raystorm
GPU Block: EK 580 GTX EN + Acetal
Question: Is the Back Plate worth having at all on this?
Radiators: 1) XSPC EX240 mounted at the top of the case horizontal with push/pull fans.
2) XSPC RX240 mounted vertically outside the back of the case on some stand-offs & having a just a pair of pull fans. Well the case exhaust 120mm would still be hitting it some.
Note: If I eventually go to SLI, I figure I can switch out the back radiator for a 360 to make up for the extra watts, part of the reason for having it outside there.
Fans: Six Scythe Gentle Typhoon (AP-15) I'll probably have them dialed down with the fan controller most of the time.
Controller: Lamptron FC-5V2
Note: I was thinking that I would double up a few of the fans, mainly each pair push/pull fans on one control each for the top radiator.
The flow I like would be this: Res (top bay)>Pump (bottom of the case at a fan port)>GPU>Radiator (back)>CPU>Radiator (top)>Res
So how does it look? My one concern is that the flow order that I want for my loop causes it not to be a nice, smooth loop. Should this matter too much? I chose the flow because I thought it might bring temps down a little on the components by having the radiators cool between the GPU & CPU. The optimum flow would have the two radiators back-to-back and CPU/GPU back-to-back.
Also, recommendations for tubing? I was just going to go with the standard 3/8" ID and barbs. But is there any particular brand of those I should get or avoid?
The links mainly come from FrozenCPU just because it was more convenient to pull from one sight. But I'll be shopping around some, so if anyone knows some good deals going on somewhere for any of these parts, please let me know.
Thanks
*EDIT: Forgot the TDP and added one more question
I'm planning on doing a CPU and GPU loop. It's an i7-2600k that I'll be overclocking and GTX 580 (maybe SLI it later). I already ordered the parts for the computer and am looking to order the water cooling parts here in the next week or so. TDP is about 350W for all and would be about 600W if SLI.
Pump: Swiftech MCP-35X
Add-ons: Heatsink & Noctua NF-R8 80mm
Top: EK DDC X-Top Rev. 2
Reservoir: XSPC 5.25" Bay Reservoir
CPU Block: XSPC Raystorm
GPU Block: EK 580 GTX EN + Acetal
Question: Is the Back Plate worth having at all on this?
Radiators: 1) XSPC EX240 mounted at the top of the case horizontal with push/pull fans.
2) XSPC RX240 mounted vertically outside the back of the case on some stand-offs & having a just a pair of pull fans. Well the case exhaust 120mm would still be hitting it some.
Note: If I eventually go to SLI, I figure I can switch out the back radiator for a 360 to make up for the extra watts, part of the reason for having it outside there.
Fans: Six Scythe Gentle Typhoon (AP-15) I'll probably have them dialed down with the fan controller most of the time.
Controller: Lamptron FC-5V2
Note: I was thinking that I would double up a few of the fans, mainly each pair push/pull fans on one control each for the top radiator.
The flow I like would be this: Res (top bay)>Pump (bottom of the case at a fan port)>GPU>Radiator (back)>CPU>Radiator (top)>Res
So how does it look? My one concern is that the flow order that I want for my loop causes it not to be a nice, smooth loop. Should this matter too much? I chose the flow because I thought it might bring temps down a little on the components by having the radiators cool between the GPU & CPU. The optimum flow would have the two radiators back-to-back and CPU/GPU back-to-back.
Also, recommendations for tubing? I was just going to go with the standard 3/8" ID and barbs. But is there any particular brand of those I should get or avoid?
The links mainly come from FrozenCPU just because it was more convenient to pull from one sight. But I'll be shopping around some, so if anyone knows some good deals going on somewhere for any of these parts, please let me know.
Thanks
*EDIT: Forgot the TDP and added one more question