Water Cooling

[bolweval]

Just recently built a new rig and have installed 2 GTX 280 video cards in SLI, the bottom card stays pretty cool but the top one doesnt get as much air and is running 10c hotter than the other. I want to water cool them but I have never had water cooling on any of my PC's over the years, so I'm lost on what is the best, and I mean the best. I never do anything half assed. So any advice you folks can give me on brands and equipment needed would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not going to water cool my CPU, I already have a Thermalright TRUE Copper Ultra-120 extreme on it, and it works supremely.

Here's the new systems specs

Mobo: Asus Rampage Gene II (it's the small one)
RAM : 6gigs Corsair Dominator GT 1866
HD : 2 300gig Velicoraptors
CPU: Core i7 920
Cooler: Thermalright TRUE Copper push pull Notua NF-P12 fans.
LIAN LI PC-B25B Black Aluminium ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
PSU: Antec Signature 850w

 

[japps2]

do a search...this has been covered hundreds of times. Conumdrum and Rubix have a list of websites to read in order to educate yourself. it will cost around $600 to watercool 2 GPUs

from Conumdrum's standard post:

My standard noob cut n paste, spend some time reading, your really on the right track.
........................
I'll steer you to some more technical links, please spend a few days (DAYS) reading posts, searching, learning. Don't forget to look for your case with WC. Google your case and the word watercool or some combination of that. WC stuff is larger than you think, I know from experience. WC setups done right are awesome and almost silent.

Great place, not wayyy over the top with uber WC guys.
http://www.ocforums.com/index.php
Uber place, owned by one of the worlds winning OC guys in the world. Not a place to post or ask questions by noobs, but an awesome place to learn.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/
Another good place to learn
http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/
The GURU of independent testing, worshipped by many.
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/
Great places to buy WC stuff
http://www.dangerden.com/index.php [...] e&Itemid=1
http://www.petrastechshop.com/
http://www.jab-tech.com/

Hope it helps, see ya in a few days, get edumacated!

 

[photonboy]

unless you are actually having problems, just leave it

 

[bolweval]

Japps2. Thanks for the links, very helpful kept me reading all night.

photonboy. I consider one idling at 60c, and one idling at 70c a problem, thanks for your insightful post.

Would love to here from someone here that has a water cooled vga setup.

THX

 

[japps2]

can't say for VGA...I cooled the CPU, NB and SB chipsets on my ASUS Maximus Extreme board. I'm running a qx9770 at 3.6GHz 24/7...before watercooling I was using the same TR 120 extreme aircooler...and it was lapped. Before temps were hovering around 43C at idle for 4 cores and ~55C under load. I now idle around 23C and maybe hit ~38C under load. So while I can't make claims on VGA temps, I can say that my CPU was significantly better cooled with water as opposed to a very good aircooler.

 

[bolweval]

can't say for VGA...I cooled the CPU, NB and SB chipsets on my ASUS Maximus Extreme board. I'm running a qx9770 at 3.6GHz 24/7...before watercooling I was using the same TR 120 extreme aircooler...and it was lapped. Before temps were hovering around 43C at idle for 4 cores and ~55C under load. I now idle around 23C and maybe hit ~38C under load. So while I can't make claims on VGA temps, I can say that my CPU was significantly better cooled with water as opposed to a very good aircooler.

Man, 20c temp dif from air to water, that's HUGE, so temping. I've always been worried about having water in my case, but the technology has come so far now, may be its time I jump on (water) board. ; ) ar ar

 

[bolweval]

Well I've done the home work, and this is what I have settled on for cooling my 280's

2 x Swiftech GTX200 Heatsink for GTX260/280 $60.99

1 x PUMP SWIFTECH|MCP655 12 VDC PUMP R - Retail $74.99

2 x WATER BLOCK SWIFTECH|MCW60-R R - Retail $69.98

1 x RADIATOR SWIFTECH |MCR220-QP RTL - Retail $39.99

1 x MCRES-Micro Rev2 Hi-Flo Reservoir $25.95

1 x Tubing: 1/2 in. (ID) x 3/4 in. (OD) Clearflex Vinyl Tubing x 10 ft. $14.00

2 x Fittings: 4 clamps for 1/2in tubing $4.00

1 x HydrX Coolant $2.50

1 x SmartCoils 625 Blue $3.10

2 x Noctua NF-P12 120mm Fans 41.99

Approximately $330.00

Anything I've left out? any additional suggestions would be appreciated, thx

 

[bolweval]

Well I've done the home work, and this is what I have settled on for cooling my 280's

2 x Swiftech GTX200 Heatsink for GTX260/280 $60.99

1 x PUMP SWIFTECH|MCP655 12 VDC PUMP R - Retail $74.99

2 x WATER BLOCK SWIFTECH|MCW60-R R - Retail $69.98

1 x RADIATOR SWIFTECH |MCR220-QP RTL - Retail $39.99

1 x MCRES-Micro Rev2 Hi-Flo Reservoir $25.95

1 x Tubing: 1/2 in. (ID) x 3/4 in. (OD) Clearflex Vinyl Tubing x 10 ft. $14.00

2 x Fittings: 4 clamps for 1/2in tubing $4.00

1 x HydrX Coolant $2.50

1 x SmartCoils 625 Blue $3.10

2 x Noctua NF-P12 120mm Fans 41.99

Approximately $330.00

Anything I've left out? any additional suggestions would be appreciated, thx