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1 Loop vs. 2 Loops / GPU only vs. CPU + GPU

J

joecuddles

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
1,103
Just curious about a few things here. First of all, I know very little of watercooling and pump specs. All I know is that head is good (as if I didn't know that anyways :p ) and that's about it.

So I was going to cool my GPU only, as that's what I concentrate on mostly. But I've started to want to cool my CPU as well, since I don't know when I can afford a Mach II GT. Now, specs are in sig. Questions are as follows :

1) How much of a difference (in degrees) would there be between GPU only vs. CPU -> GPU on the GPU side of things.

2) How much of a difference would using two seperate solitary loops (i.e 1 for CPU only, 1 for GPU only) be compared to going CPU -> GPU?

Thanks in advance :)
 
Yeah, that's what I'm worried about, the degredation in performance (if there is any).

Would I need two pumps for a system such as that? As I said, I know nothing of watercooling setups, still reading up on them.
 
i run the cpu/gpu/nb all on the same loop with a koolance, i doubht youll have any trouble with a good diy system.
 
1) the temperature rise of the water in a typical block at decent flowrates is less then 1 K (=1 C =2 F)
2) two loops might give you higher flow rates = better cooling, if you pump can handle it. If you get 2 gpm through each block, you probably will get about 1.5 gpm if you have them in a single loop. But you need a pump that can provide 4 gpm to drive 2 loops, and you add a lot of head with all the junctions
3) 2 loops also have the risk of one loop plugging and you not noticing, since all your flow quietly reroutes itself through the other
4) 2 loops have a lot of potential extra leak points, e. g. 6 if you work with 2 Y pieces, more if you use valves to balance the flow
5) higher head also means higher stress on your system - more potential for leaks
Unless you have a monster of a pump (something like 10 gpm with 20 ft of head) I'd go single loop.
 
So a dual loop looks like it's not worth it if it'll only gain me 1C compared to a single. I just need optimal cooling for the video card, but 1C won't be a big deal.

So I guess I'm off to research products / set up types and how to go about doing this.... Watercooling seems harder to learn about than overclocking was :(

Would you have any suggestions for products / setup order? Pump -> CPU -> GPU -> ?
 
People will argue up and down order doesn't matter. And I will agree with them, exept the water is obviously alittle cooler after it leaves the radiator. And by little, its like .02 c.

I would reccomend instead of running 2 seperate loops, you just double your cooling capacity. With a duel 120mm radiator, you will easily be able to cool 2 devices without sacraficing anything.

-Todd
 
Wonder if I can fit two of those somewhere in my case, let's hope I can.

How would the setup on that work? Not sure about the schematics of something like that.
 
If your case was built for 80mm fans(most are) then you will have to get out a drill and make the mounting holes yourself. You can mostly likely fit 2 in your case, its up to you to figure out how.

If you get 1 Black Ice Extreme radiator, that is enough to cool both items in your loop. It will be like 3c warmer than if you had 2, so the 2nd one isnt much of a gain for the price.

I reccomend just getting 1 nice radiator.
 
Well I'm using a PC75B, so I think I can fit everything in there. I just don't know how the full set up would work.

Pump -> CPU -> GPU -> Rad x2 ?
 
As far as your loop that you're running it would probably run PUMP > RAD > CPU > GPU > RES > PUMP. You want the res right by the pump. I'm also going to use that same case and there's no room for a single 120mm or dual 120mms without some modification. I posted another thread just a couple days ago about this in the Case Modding forum.
 
Ahh, are you sure? There's a lot of space near the PSU for one rad and another rad could be placed on the bottom of the case if you get rid of the drive holder (put drives in 5.25" bays). Pump might be able to fit as well.

Perhaps I should be trying to find someone who can mod my case... seeing as I suck total ass at anything physical labour related.
 
sideopen.jpg

topside.jpg
 
Pretty cramped in there :p

The PC75 is pretty huge, I thought it'd be enough to squeeze it all in there. But visuals is really important to me as well, couldn't have it that cramped.
 
joecuddles said:
Pretty cramped in there :p

The PC75 is pretty huge, I thought it'd be enough to squeeze it all in there. But visuals is really important to me as well, couldn't have it that cramped.
Click to expand...


I see Aviddigi's case as well organized, not cramped.

One loop, one dual 120mm rad, one decent pump and youll do very well. You can make it look super clean with just a little work.
 
Thanks Mike P
but a bigger case will be on the way once i sell this set up (you can always make cramped look good)
 
I think it's very organized and it does look good, just everything is really closed and there's not much space. I'm actually amazed that you fit all of that into that tiny thing :p

I guess I'll go with a single loop system and look into whether or not one or two rads will be worth it. Thanks for the advice, time to read hundreds of stickies about watercooling in order to learn :)
 
Aviddigi, tight system. I like. I'd like to see some clearer pics though. ;)

I am going to install my Vapo today, so the water goes to the GPU. :D
 
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