AIO to Custom Loop Plunge?

[skypine27]

Hey guys:

Im running a high end system with a Corsair h100i:



Despite the number of fans, its damn near silent. I use Asus Fan Xpert 3 to keep them all at low RPM, approx 300-400. The loudest thing in the system at idle are the 4 x mechanical HDDs. Under heavy gaming, the CPU fans spool to approx 500 max and the rest stay at 400 and the loudest thing is the bottom video card, the GTX 980 with the OEM cooling system (top card has newer cooling system that lets the card run hotter but with a lower fan RPM)

I am thinking of doing a semi DIY kit, the Thermaltake Pacific RL 240:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Coole...71/Pacific_RL240_Water_Cooling_Kit/design.htm

In fact, Thermaltake uses my current case, the V51, in their product pic/ad for the Pacific RL 240 (they've removed the 3 x HDD Drive bays I still have in my system, and I would be able to do this too):


Im wondering, performance wise, if this kit would actually under preform the new Corsair h110i GT? (which is what I would replace my h100i with, if I don't do the Pacific RL 240.)

PS, i won't be doing the video cards, just the CPU at first.

As someone who has never done a DIY loop, I wonder how important fluid capacity vs radiator surface area is? Obviously the DIY loops, including the kit above, hold a hellofalot more coolant than the AIO units. No AIO units have external reservoirs. But, AIOs like the h110i GT have thin 280mm rads vs the Pacific RL 240's very thick 240mm. It seems to me from test results, especially with the fans running at low RPM to keep things silent, the thinner wider AIOs win out over the fatter, narrower ones. Example, almost every site I see that has the Corsair H80i (thick 120mm) in the same test bed as the h90 (thin 140mm), the h90 wins at a given fan RPM. Seems the fans have an easier time pushing air thru a wide thin radiator than a short, thick one.

Id be running my fans on whatever new unit I go with at low RPM, just as they are on my h100i.

Anyone here ever run an AIO then decide to go full custom, and compare CPU temps? I understand a main advantage of going custom would be able to put water blocks on the 2 x 980's but I don't feel like I would attempt that on my first go, so it would be a CPU only setup. I'll be honest here, the main reason I want to do this is experience and looks. Ive never run a case with a side window before, and to me it would look so cool to have that giant red penis pump in there.

Just looking for some opinions of experienced guys

Thx

 

[Tsumi]

First things first: AIOs use aluminum radiators. Real watercooling gear uses copper-finned radiators. Copper transfers heat much better than aluminum. The Corsair H105 was able to match the Swiftech H240X, but required 50 db vs 40 db on the Swiftech to do it. That's twice as loud.

CPU will not benefit much. Typically you will see temps lowered by maybe 5-8 C with a good waterblock. I have no idea how good the Pacific's waterblock is.

If you're going to do custom, I would say, do it right the first time. Your case is able to support a 420 mm radiator. Build a custom loop with the 420 radiator, and you won't need to upgrade it ever again unless you change cases. If you start with a 240 with a CPU only loop, you're going to want to upgrade that 240 when you add the GPUs.

 

[coran007]

Just my 2 cents but you could keep your existing cpu WC HSF and instead cool the bottom gpu with a waterblock by mounting an external radiator hanging off the back (have a pick I can send later) or maybe squeeze a radiator at the bottom where the two fans are and use a Res/Pump combo in the 5.25 bay area.

 

[psyshack]

If you want to WC build a simple loop with quality parts and move on. It is not that hard and damn sure not rocket science. I do heat transfer for a living. There are iron clad laws of psyhics that won't bend. I've been water cooling puter since the XT days.

I have a H100i here. The software sucks. And a custom loop in another machine. No comparison. I can move my Z97 setup from one cooling system to the other. And the custom loop runs 7c cooler even after 24 hours of torture testing.

Teach yourself something and build a loop.Or cop out and do a AIO.

 

[skypine27]

How do you come up with a full parts list, so you avoid having to order peice by missing piece online and waiting several days for it?

Example:


I want to put a 420 in the top, fans blowing as exhaust
and a 120 (even though the case will fit a 140mm??) in the rear with single fan exhaust

Im going to need a CPU block, reservoir/pump, tubing, compression fittings, and maybe right angle bends? This is assuming I skip the video cards off the get-go. If I want to do dual GTX 980s, then I need more parts.


How do you guys get what you think is a complete parts list before you get started??

 

[Tsumi]

Create your parts list, post it here, and we'll comb through it. There's several of us with lots of watercooling experience, and can tell you what you're missing. You don't need 90s unless you want it to look nice. Usually tube bending is enough to cover the angles needed. Two fittings per component unless it already comes with fittings.

The likely reason why the rear cannot support a 140 radiator even though it can support a 140 fan is because radiators are wider and larger than the fan. There probably isn't enough room for a radiator, and a 140 just barely fits.

 

[skypine27]

Edit:

Was going to start a new thread to try and complete a parts list but decided I would put the idea on hold for a few months, until after tax time!