120.2 System Setup Q&A

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cornelious0_0

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Hey all, just wondering if I might be able to get away with a 120.2 radiator to watercool my CPU and GPU. My E8400 is currently sitting at 4GHz /w 1.328v and currently loads at 57c on air. The GTX260 is running at stock clocks/voltages and is not OC'd at the moment.

Would it be possible to put the E8400 and GTX260 in the same loop using only a 120.2 radiator? I would only have room for 120x25 fans on one side of the radiator inside my TJ08 so push-pull setups are out of the question.

I don't mind louder/faster fans if need be, I just need to know if I'd be able to pull it all off without making my temps any worse. I'm not looking for huge gains, just a bit of a temperature drop as well as the "wow factor" of setting up another h2O loop cleanly inside my new mATX case.

Input is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance you guys.
 
You will either want a Thermochill or Feser 120.2 radiator for this application, IMHO. I don't see why either one of them will cool your loop just fine.
 
R1ckCa1n said:
You will either want a Thermochill or Feser 120.2 radiator for this application, IMHO. I don't see why either one of them will cool your loop just fine.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately with my GTX260 very close to the front intake fan I only have about 38-40mm available for radiator depth. I know this is really going to limit my options, but I'm still hoping I can get this working with a thinner radiator.

Again, I'm not after huge temp drops...I just wanna switch to water while at least maintaining my temps...it's mostly for visual appeal.

I'll switch to faster fans if I have to if it'll let me get by on a thinner rad, I just really wanna setup an internal water loop in my TJ08.

EDIT: I'm looking at either the Black Ice GT Stealth 240 or the Swiftech MCR220, two of the only half decent radiators I could find that are under 40mm depth...if I decide to move to faster 120mm fans do you guys think that either the Black Ice GT Stealth 240 or MCR220 would cut it without hurting my temps???

Would I even have to move to more then a pair of Scythe S-Flex "G" fans with either of these rads?
 
A 120x2 is really pushing the bounds that both an overclocked cpu and a GTX260 can handle. I don't think it matters if its Swiftech, Feser or Thermochill, a single 120x2 isn't going to come close to giving a good temp without high CFM fans. The temperature will be volatile when your room's ambient temp goes up. A 120x3 would be a minimum requirement for an overclocked E8400 and the GTX and thats with your overclock.

Using Martin's radiator flow estimator, and counting 440watts total heat dump, Fan speed of 1600rpm, your delta on a PA120.3 would be 8.65, or average performance. Using the 120x2 XSPC and 1600rpm fans produced a delta of 15.98 which is in the poor performance category. Now, an XSPC isn't as good as an MCR220, but its no slouch either. I'm using this example to show that your setup probably wont' hit acceptable number according to the two charts I ran. Hope this helps.
 
I'm more then likely going with a 120.1 for the CPU alone and leaving the GPU on air...it all depends on how much cash I can round up in the next 5-6 months. It would be overall much more impressive to have the CPU and GPU both on water, but the cost of the larger rad and a decent full coverage GTX260 block does start to add up when you're on a budget.

We'll see how things go, all I'm looking for is temps that are no worse then my current air temps...and I'm pretty sure I'd at least be at that point with a 120.2 cooling both parts.
 
Ok, I looked at your case, it is kinda small, however, here are a couple of ideas for this situation:

1 - You could pull the 3 1/2" bay out of the front and fit a dual rad there and then place a single rad off the back in the 120mm fan hole. This would essentially give you a triple rad setup which would be plenty for the E8400 and GTX260.

2 - You could mount a triple rad on the top outside with the barbs in the rear pointing down which would allow you to run the tubing inside through an empty PCI slot.

3 - You could mount the triple rad off the back of the case using a Swiftech radbox (or long screws) and again run it inside through a empty PCI slot.

If you want, take a look at my build log and look at how I first mounted my rads on my CM690.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=194398

As far as the GTX260, you can get a XSPC full cover water block for $40 at Jab-tech.com. Thats a full cover block for $40, you can't beat that with a stick.

Also, I would suggest getting a D-tek Fuzion water block ($40) and a MCP355 ($65) with a XSPC replacement top ($20) which will give you a low restrictive loop with one of the best pump/top combo's you can get. This in combination with either a triple rad or dual with single rad setup will give you great temps at both idle and load. All of this can be gotten at Jab-tech.com.
 
utnorris said:
Ok, I looked at your case, it is kinda small, however, here are a couple of ideas for this situation:

1 - You could pull the 3 1/2" bay out of the front and fit a dual rad there and then place a single rad off the back in the 120mm fan hole. This would essentially give you a triple rad setup which would be plenty for the E8400 and GTX260.

2 - You could mount a triple rad on the top outside with the barbs in the rear pointing down which would allow you to run the tubing inside through an empty PCI slot.

3 - You could mount the triple rad off the back of the case using a Swiftech radbox (or long screws) and again run it inside through a empty PCI slot.

If you want, take a look at my build log and look at how I first mounted my rads on my CM690.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=194398

As far as the GTX260, you can get a XSPC full cover water block for $40 at Jab-tech.com. Thats a full cover block for $40, you can't beat that with a stick.

Also, I would suggest getting a D-tek Fuzion water block ($40) and a MCP355 ($65) with a XSPC replacement top ($20) which will give you a low restrictive loop with one of the best pump/top combo's you can get. This in combination with either a triple rad or dual with single rad setup will give you great temps at both idle and load. All of this can be gotten at Jab-tech.com.
Click to expand...

I will say that I've strongly considered all of the possibilities you listed, but the only one I'd actually go with (idealy) would be removing the internal 3.5" cage and mounting a dual rad in the front of the case.

I really want to keep everything internal, and having a rad ontop of the case or hanging off the back is a huge turnoff for me, as the system is moved to and from LAN parties a lot and I want/need to be able to put the case back in it's box to move it if need be.

The 120.2 rad would be for the E8400 alone, but if I could convince myself to mount something externally then i'd definitely go for a triple rad ontop of the case with the hoses entering the case between the rear fan and the PSU.

Hell, I'm looking at selling my GTX260 and HD4870 (once it's RMA'd) to buy an HD4870x2, and it'd be pretty sweet with a 120.2 loop for the CPU using the front fan mount and a 120.3 for the x2 using a top-mounted external rad.

A lot is up in the air right now, problem is that whatever I'm going to do I need to plan for FOR GOOD because I'm going to be making any necessary cuts all at once and getting the case painted much sooner then I setup any of the h2O.

We'll see...thanks for the input.
 
it should be enough, don't expect incredible temperatures but it should suffice for your system.

I definitely like the idea of mounting the 120.2 in front by taking out the hard drive cage. Just by a 3.5" to 5.25" bay converter for your hard drive. I would recommend mounting a 2nd 120.1 radiator at the back exhaust slot. To give you a bit of space I suggest mounting the fan outside of the case and the radiator inside of the case, basically sandwiching itself in-between the case.
 
I might use a 120.1 or a 120.2 off the back fan, but I'm strongly opposed to having anything external, I idealy want the entire loop to be inside the case for ease of transportation.

We'll see though, not sure when this will all have a chance to come to fruition, as I'm focusing on picking up a 4870x2 at the moment...meaning that the CPU will definitely be on it's own loop unless I do use an external 120.2 or 120.3 to supplement the card.
 
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