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New Liquid Cooling Project

H

Hartsocks

n00b
Joined
Apr 5, 2012
Messages
27
Hey guys! I'm setting up a liquid cooled PC and I've never done anything like this before. I have the majority of the PC components and I'm looking at WC stuff.
What I am looking at is:

Black Ice Gen Two Xtreme 280 Rad ~ Fitting size 3/8" Barb for 3/8" ID Tube 2x140mm Fans
Koolance Res/pump RP-1005 ~ Nozzle size G 1/4 Barb [ 10mm, 3/8" ]
EK High Flow G 1/4 thread ~ 3/8"fittings
Koolance Reusable Hose Clamp [ 13mm, 1/2" ]
PrimoFlex Pro LRT Tubing ~ 3/8" ID 1/2" OD
Nanoxia HyperZero Coolant

I've looked everything over and believe its all compatible and will Fit in Case. I only plan on cooling two GTX 680's or 2 GK110 cards when released with this setup and maybe the CPU down the road.
Being that this is my first WC build I just wanted a second opinion and your guys views on this. Any help and insight is Greatly appreciated!!

My system:
Case:Antec DF-85
Mobo: Intel X79SI LGA 2011
CPU: Intel i7-3930K ( To be OC)
Video Card: 2 680's or GK110's ( To be OC)
Memory: 16GB Corsair Vengence 1600MHz
PSU: Corsair AX1200w
SSD: Intel 520 Cherryville 120GB
HDD: WD Cavier Black 2TB 7200 RPM in Raid 1
Sound Card:HT| Omega Striker
Audio:Logitech X-540
Keyboard/Mouse:Logitech G-19 board, G9x Mouse
 
If you do use a dye, which I personally don't recommend, then you're going to need to drain your loop and clean the internals of all your components at least a couple times a year in order to avoid gunk buildup. Dyes often also stain tubing and other components.

I would also recommend 5/8" OD if you're using 3/8" ID tubing.

Any way you can fit a 360 or 420 rad in your case for more cooling capacity?
 
That 280 radiator might be a bit too wide in there. Maybe just find an extra thick 360 or 240
 
Thanks for the input guys.
So a better idea for the colored cooling would be to go clear distilled/deionized coolant with uv reactant Tubing?
And why the 5/8" tubing whats the difference besides being a little bigger?
I'll look into a bigger rad. The inside of my case will only fit a 240 or 280 but I'll look into rigging a 360 or 480 onto the outside of my case.

Edit: Alright i was looking at PrimoChill deionized water or PrimoChill Ice Non-Conductive. Which one would you guys perfer? The PrimoChill Ice already had anti-microbial/Corrosive stuff in it while the water does not.
Also the Rads I'm looking at X-Flow Black Ice Pro III 3x120mm or the Swiftech "eXtreme Performance" 3x120mm not sure which one though
 
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I would do colored tubing and then the cheapest Distilled water you can buy aka Walmart brand is what I use and a Killcoil. The fatter tubing will help when your doing tighter bends as it won't kink as easily. I have 1/2ID 3/4OD and you can bend 90's all day without it kinking.
 
I'd recommend colored tubing over dyes, yes. Just some buy distilled water at a grocery store or something - shouldn't be more than a dollar.

Thicker walled tubing usually has better bend radius and is just stronger. If you are set on the thinner tubing, though, then go for it. It won't spontaneously combust or anything.

Again, though, if you really like dyes, thinner tubing, or whatever else, go for it. Just know that there may be some drawbacks. Water cooling is all about customization and having fun, anyway.
 
Hi, sorry to hijack this thread but I was going to ask the exact same question:
which radiator size would we need to cool 2x GTX680s and a Core i7 3930K?
Is a 3x120mm radiator with AP15 sufficient to cool all this stuff?
 
Depends on the radiator and the noise levels you're comfortable with, as well as the overclocks you're aiming for and the temps you want to see.

With a Black Ice GTX 360 radiator in push/pull with AP15s, you'll probably see okay temps with two 680s at stock and the 3930k overclocked. If you want to start overclocking the 680s, I would look to get more radiator.
 
For the OP: You want to cool TWO vid cards and your CPU? That 280 is not going to cut it at all. see below.

Schaeffer said:
Hi, sorry to hijack this thread but I was going to ask the exact same question:
which radiator size would we need to cool 2x GTX680s and a Core i7 3930K?
Is a 3x120mm radiator with AP15 sufficient to cool all this stuff?
Click to expand...



Personally I'd go with one more rad. An extra 240 should work. Realize that with just the 360 you only have 120 worth of cooling per device. Your temps wouldn't be much better than air.

Want to overclock much? You WILL need more radiator.
 
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Hey guys thanks for all the insight and opinions!!
I'm soon to order everything in the next couple days. I've changed the colored coolant to the distilled water and UV tubing. Also I've dropped the 280 rad to a 360 rad for now. I'm only going to have 2 680s in the loop so I'll see how the temps are with the 360 rad. If there low I might add the CPU down the road and if temps get to warm ill add another rad but for now just the 680s and 360 rad.
Thanks again everyone I'll post some pics and benchmarks/temps when i get everything all together
 
I have not ordered yet but am looking at 3/8" ID and 1/2" OD i might go 3/8" ID and 5/8"OD still looking over it.
 
I must be really lucky, but i have been using dye enriched coolant by various suppliers (EK, FluidXP, Primochill) and never had it stain, or gunk up anything.

I have a system that I built in 2007 that has had Alien Green UV FluidXP in it, and has NEVER been drained. This PC was purchased from me in 2009 by my brother in law who is still using the PC. When at his house 2 days ago upgrading his system, not a single component had gunk in it, or any build up at all... this may just be a testiment to the fluid, but we are talking 5 years with no draining, and no build up.

Also, the tube had not stained one bit. But then again, I dont use any of this fancy smancy PC tube that people rip you off at $2+ per foot... but instead, I go to a local hose supply shop and get food grade 1/2ID 3/4" OD vinyl tube... doesnt kink, doesnt stain, and clear as the day I put it together once it dried after disassembly.

With that said, are you planning on cooling yoru CPU and TWO GTX680s with a single 240 Rad?? If so... get ready for an undersized cooling system, and much warmer than anticipated temps.

Edit: I just saw your update about no CPU in the loop, and upgrading to the 360 rad... thats more like it!
 
lol Thanks. I will be purchasing everything in the next day or two. I'm currently only going to run two GTX 680s in the loop on a 360rad. Down the road I might look into addding the CPU if/when i do I'll prolly ad another rad if temps are high.
 
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I think they are technically considered dual slot cards because of their stupid power connector design.
 
Alright I've been looking at radiators and I'm stuck. I've been looking at

XSPC RX360 Extreme Performance Radiator Version 2
Black Ice Pro III Compact High Performance Radiator
Swiftech "eXtreme Performance"
Black Ice GTX Gen two Extreme 360

Ive heard a lot of good things bout the GTX but dont know.
I tried comparing FPI and how much BTU each can move but got lost comparing em all. Do you guys have any opinions on whats better, or have used any of these??

Any and all help is appreciated! Thanks guys!
 
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