Minimal Cooling Crossfire AMD R9 290x Setup

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wfarid

Limp Gawd
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Apr 20, 2006
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I'm thinking of going MATX for my X99 setup. I want something a tad smaller and more compact. I'm thinking of going for a Corsair 350D case. I also want something that can handle a 5k screen (planning on getting the HP Z27Q); hence the 290x crossfire setup.

I'm not terribly interested in getting a crazy overclock. Stability is more important to me as this will be used primarily for editing photos, 3d rendering. I will be gaming quite a bit on this machine, but the first two are more important.

This is what I thinking of cooling:

CPU --> Corsair H110 (at the top)

AMD R9 290X crossfire --> 2 x 140 RADs (EK-CoolStream RAD XTC 140) on a custom WC look.

Any thoughts, suggestions?
 
Thinking of something like this. I need the Hard drives at the bottom for 2 RAID 0 4tb WD Black drives. Will also have a 1tb SSD (but that I can stick anywhere).

NOTE THIS IS NOT MY PC, Just an example of what the build may look like.

Possible%20Setup_zpsma9ohspm.jpg
 
Have you thought about a 295X2?

I tried WCing in a mATX with 3x7970s. It was ok. Had to crank the fans a little to keep it under control. Oh and the H110 comes with awful fans as a warning!

Next time I WC I am going to put the pump and a massive rad in my basement, then my PC will be silent.
 
Well I already bought two 290x cards. Otherwise I would have just gotten the 295X2.

I just like the H110 because it's self contained and small. Otherwise the Gfx cards would warm up the CPU too much.

I live in an apartment, so unless the people who live beneath me want a radiator sticking around in their roof....
 
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wfarid said:
Well I already bought two 290x cards. Otherwise I would have just gotten the 295X2.

I just like the H110 because it's self contained and small. Otherwise the Gfx cards would warm up the CPU too much.

I live in an apartment, so unless the believe who live beneath me want a radiator sticking around in their roof....
Click to expand...

Bahaha. Well the H110 fans were ok on low IIRC which might be fine. My 980 is about 50C with both on low and it's OC'd.

If there is anyway possible I think it'd really help to get a 280 rad in the front. I ripped out my HDD cage and hid my two SSDs behind my mobo and one HDD in a 5.25 bay. Something irked me about having my storage under water components anywho.
 
Agree with you on the 280 in the front... Just don't know where I'd put my pair of WD 4tb Blacks... Need those guys to store all my photographs (have about 400 gigs and growing daily).
 
... just saw this : Project Zoe -- http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=219625&page=3

It was a while ago but holy holy cow is that an insanely beautiful case. I am SUPER tempted to build a custom case now (I design exhibitions for a museum, so why not my case!).

Anyways anyone else wanna chime in on the 2 x 140 for the 2 x 290x ?
 
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For how much heat you give off it might be worth it to do a custom PC with one of those giant 9x120mm radiator squares built into the door.:D

If you want to run the fans silent 80k mm^2 or more is ideal. Whichever way you want to get there.
 
I will say, put your CPU in the loop. The added cooling capacity for when the CPU is idling will be worth it. Sure, your CPU temps might be a tad bit higher due to GPU load, but a better CPU block + significantly better 2x120 radiator will offset that. And your GPUs will get better cooling as a result.

I will also recommend Alphacool radiators instead of EK. And just avoid EK in general. If you're tight on space, an Apogee Drive II will help save on space.
 
Thanks Tsumi, appreciate the advice. EK indeed isn't too friendly space wise. Good point about idling. What worries me is just pushing 5k pixels, with an OC'd CPU during something taxing like a next gen Crysis.

The increase in temp would definitely affect the stability of the OC, however if it was on a separate loop, then the cards could get warmer without negative impact on the CPU. GPU's are more tolerant of higher temps.

This guy cooled a single 290x with a 140 rad. So it's doable, I'm not expecting to set any records here, just want to effectively cool without making my case a place to bake cookies or simulate jet engine sounds.

None of my cards have referencer coolers though -- one is a dual dissipation XFX 290x and the other is a Sapphire Tri X OC. Right now I get idle speeds of 40C. My room temp is around 20C. This is without a crossfire setup (just have the sapphire popped in at the moment). I think once both cards are in crossfire in a smaller cramped case, watercooling will be the better option. Am I right in assuming this?
 
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The point I'm making is that by integrating the CPU into the loop, you get a better CPU block (transfers heat better = lower temps) and a much better radiator (can dissipate more heat = lower temps). It will at minimum compensate for the added GPUs, and might even lower overall temps, though that's hard to say without actual testing. At the very minimum your GPU temps will be lowered. At worst, your CPU temps rise by maybe 5 C. At best, it will be lower. Probably it will be about the same.

To give you an idea of how terrible those H100 radiators are, just look at [H]OCP's Swiftech H220X and H240X testing. They are equivalent to the H100 at max speed while using fans equivalent to the H100 at low speed.

In a case with proper airflow, you shouldn't need to watercool. You might need higher speed intake and exhaust fans, but if you can live with the noise, then there's no need. Experiment first before diving into watercooling.
 
In a tight MATX case with a crossfire setup, I see a clear benefit for watercooling. In general I've been meaning to jump into WC for over a decade now but never found the time. I remember buying Cathar's silver blocks (don't know if you were around for that) without ever using em. Now may just be the time to get into it.
 
There is always a benefit to watercooling. But whether that benefit yields any tangible results is a different story entirely. Since it would cost you nothing to try air cooling first, I would suggest you to do that.
 
why not put it all on 1 loop so you can have cpu + 2gpu's +2x 140mm rads + a 240/280 on the top?
 
I would definitely consider going to a single loop like the other guys here have said. Then you can reclaim the space the H100 takes up for a radiator incorporated into the loop. CPU temps may go up slightly, but it would be worth it on the GPU side to have the extra capacity. I'd probably go 240/280 up top and the 140mm up front and skip the one on the back. Going with the top and back rads is often a clearance headache
 
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