advice needed for first WC setup

[GoneUpInSmoke]

I am planning on installing WC on my system, mainly because I like a cool looking PC and I don't like the noise that my rigg is making....

first I'll specify my setup:
DFI NF4 SLI-DR
AMD X2 4400 (socket 939 / running at 250*10=2500Mhz) Cooled by Zalman CNPS9700
2*1GB OCZ PC4000 Platinum EB
ASUS 7800GTX Cooled by Zalman VF900-Cu
Actec 480W Modular PSU (with 120mm fan)
Lian Li PC-V1200 (with 2 120mm fans)
....


All temps are fine except for the NF4 wich is running 46°C idle and >50°C when gaming
CPU temp 27°C idle and about 35-40°C at full load
7800gtx temp 38°C idle and GPU RAM 30°C
PWM IC about 40°C

One of the main things I don't like about my PC is the noise it makes. Not that it is that loud, but still....
The most irritating noise comes from the fan that cools the NF4 chipset on my DFI NF4 SLI-DR motherboard. It is controlled by smartguardian and fan speeds can be set depending on temp. It's not doing a very good job... the NF4 is getting fairly warm. Though I must say that the problem is much less when the 'FSB' is not overclocked to 250MHz. (and that would be the only negative thing I have to say about my MB)
The two Zalman fans (CPU and GPU) are quite nice... not noisy and good cooling.
Two system fans and the PSU fan add to the noise.

In the watercooling area I am a complete noob, so I would like some advice.
I am planning on cooling everything with water (CPU & GPU & NF4) and I don't mind spending some money.
My case is fairly big, but not big enough to place a big radiator (2 or 3 x 120mm) inside the case without having to do some extreme modding... and I am not really into that.
2 options remain:
- a single 120mm rad placed neatly inside my case.
- a bigger rad outside my case
The big question is: Is a single 120mm rad like the HW labs Black Ice Xtreme 120mm going to be enough? I am guessing no... but if it would be I would go for this option. Mounting a 240mm at the back of the case would be the easyest alternative, but I like it better mounted on top (I'll have to drill a few holes into my nice and expensive case though)

Other stuff I am thinking of:
- Laing DDC-2 (18W)/Danger Den DDC Inline 12VDC Pump
- D-TEK FuZion Universal CPU Waterblock - 1/2"
- EK-NF4 Rev. 1.1 Chipset Waterblock
- EK-FC79 Full Cover Waterblock for nVidia 7800/7900 Series
or Swiftech MCW60 GPU Waterblock w/ MC14 Ramsinks
- EK-RES150 Multi-Option Reservoir

Any remarks or suggestions?

 

[nonlnear]

With a heat load like that, you really need to step up to a double radiator. If you're not overclocking anything, you might be able to survive on a single, but your temps would probably be no better than with air - and you'd have to have a decent CFM (i.e. loud) fan on the radiator. This is a terrible idea in many ways.

As for avoiding modding... you could stand a double radiator up vertically between the motherboard and the front 5.25" bays (midships). You're losing out on a degree or two compared to sucking external air, but if you don't want to cut your case, it's a solution. With some careful sealing - with double sided foam tape or something like it - you could duct the radiator so that it's getting almost external air. It's fairly unobstructed from the front of the case to the back - unless you're going to put in any more 5.25" devices. All you'd have to do is find a non-ugly way of putting mesh (or something) in place of the empty bay facade plates.

Alternatively, you could use two separate single radiators in your loop. I'd probably mount one on the back, and one under the DVD drive. You might be able to squeeze one in front of the hard drive compartment.

 

[GoneUpInSmoke]

Thx for the reply.

I was also thinking about 2 radiators. the easyest way would be to put a thin single pass radiator in front of the hard drives as you said... I have 5,5cm and the current fan (papst) is about 3cm.

The HW Labs Black Ice Pro 120mm Radiator is 25mm thick so it might just work. If not I could maybe buy a fan wich is a bit thinner.

If this should work I would have a The HW Labs Black Ice Pro 120mm Radiator at the front (intake) and a HW Labs Black Ice Xtreme 120mm Radiator at the back (outlet). I think that should be enough cooling potential, and there will be only 3 120mm fans left and nothing else. One for the PSU and the other 2 for rads/system.

A possible config would be:
pump -> CPU -> chipset -> GPU -> outlet rad double pass -> intake rad single pass ->
In this way the intake rad would be not as hot as the outlet rad and that would be best for the temp inside the case.

Is this a good config then, and will it be possible? Remember I have never done this before.
Any remarks or suggestions are very welcome.

 

[newls1]

personally, I would use 1 swiftech MCR320 rad for your setup. These swify rad's perform better then the BIP series, and using 3 120mm yate loon fans will be VERY silent, and cool very well.

 

[Arcygenical]

personally, I would use 1 swiftech MCR320 rad for your setup. These swify rad's perform better then the BIP series, and using 3 120mm yate loon fans will be VERY silent, and cool very well.

Yep, what he said.

I think I have the same desk as you OP

 

[GoneUpInSmoke]

Is there gonna be a big difference between the two setups?

1) 1 x HW Labs Black Ice Xtreme 120mm Rad & 1 x HW Labs Black Ice Pro 120mm Rad.
2) 1 x Swiftech MCR-320 "Quiet Power" Series Rad.

The second one is gonna be better, but I doubt it's gonna be possible to install it nicely inside my case. I think I'll need to put it on top outside the case and I would like it better if everything would be inside. I'll also have to drill some holes in my case and I prefer not to.
The first setup is gonna be easyer to install and it's also gonna look better, but will it be sufficient for cooling?

 

[nonlnear]

The MCR320 would typically go inside the top of your case. Cutting is required. Some people use radboxes but I think they're fugly (especially with a triple!). That's a judgment call though.

You could also put a triple radiator on the floor of the case. You'd have to move some or all of the hard drives, and you'd still have to cut, but the cuts wouldn't be visible.

You're probably best off just getting one big radiator and cutting your case. If you really don't want to, then just do two singles in the two obvious locations. Midships mounting a double size rad is also an option - just fill the empty slots in front with mesh bay covers to get some airflow. (A Kama bay might work too - I'm not sure about Lian-Li compatibility.)

If you're okay with cutting, just throw an AC Ryan grill cover on, and it'll instantly look professionally done. If you do step up to full on cutting and modding, you won't regret it. The grill covers make anyone's work look good, and they're not too expensive either.