Optimal cooling loop

[Manaknight]

ok, i have two setups that are essentially the same, so i need some ideas for what would be the best loop for them

both are 655 pumps (one variable one non)

fuzion v2 on one and apogee gt on the other

the setups have 1x240 rad and 1x120rad one of the 120s is a thermochill, i can't remember the others at the moment, probably swiftechs

both using res and both cooling the video cards one is a dangerden full coverage and the other is a fuzion v2 gpu block.

anyway they will be cooling a q6700 with 5870 and qx6850 with either a 4890 or gtx460

my current setup has it going res - pump - 240 - cpu - 120 - gpu - res
i was wondering if there is a better way to optimize. my 6700 with 5870 both overclocked keeps it in (mostly) safe range, but not cold range. fan setup is push/pull on the 120 and push on the 240

the second system needs to have the 120 added still, but its ready to go, the 240 rad on this one is push/pull

is that the optimum config? should I double up the rad then go cpu/gpu? just curious to get some ideas when i break down the setup (going to colored hoses instead of colored water).

 

[CustomModAddict]

With those processors you should be fine with the loop you listed. But it never hurts to do push/pull fans on all the rads. I noticed whenever I do push/pull I get a couple degrees better. But I usually only do push/pull when I am using quieter fans. For example doing a build now, where I am using 82cfm fans on a 360 rad. But instead of putting them in push/pull because of limitations in space. I am going to add a 120 radiator and push/pull high flow after the CPU and right before the GPU.

Another thing to do is add shrouds. I forget the minimum distance required, but you will get better air flow if you move the fans a way from the rad just a little bit. I like to take old crappy 120mm x 25mm fans and cut the fan out and use the body for a shroud. Thats another option.

let us know how you make out, and good luck!

 

[Manaknight]

updates

got both systems up, one finished, the other almost done but running.

q6700 added shrouds, replaced coolant with distilled water and a biocide. elsewise the same

@1.5v and 3.8 i'm getting 32-35 idle and 59-60 full prime load. 5870 OC in the same loop gets into the 50's under load an sits around 40 idle. in other words it works awesome

the qx6850 and 4890, the cpu runs retarded hot. I'm going to try to combat this in the upcoming days. I have the push/pull on the 2x120 rad and have not installed the 2nd rad yet. at a 200mhz OC the quad idles at 46-47 on water and..well i haven't even tested load yet because that idle makes me sad. vid card idles at 40 and again i haven't stressed it yet. I don't have room to shroud though i'm guessing the second rad should help pretty significantly. for thick, tightly packed rads, what kind of fans should i be looking at, slower or faster? I think this is a primochill rad, it's packed a lot tighter than my thermochill 120. I'm also considering putting it right in line with the other rad. I'm not as concerned with the temps on the 4890 as i know they can take decent heat and frankly on this one the crappy vrms (xfx non black ed.) are gonna give on the OC before the core does.

just looking for some advice, that kind of idle on water shocked me, i ran a 6750 24/7 at 3.8 for ages and it idled at 33c on air, and my quad is nice and frosty on my other unit with a far higher voltage going through it. I know another option is seperating loops but unlike something like my lian li, the case on this system i dont think has the room for double loops and the house doesn't have space for external boxes.

anyway, open to suggestions. i'm still convinced the apogee gt should be enough, i've done more with older blocks (4ghz on a e7200 using a DD tdx block and single 120 rad.)

 

[CustomModAddict]

Alright a lot going on in that last post.

First run the rads before each heat source, ie radiator, CPU, radiator, GPU. Not inline, that will only be a waist of radiator. If it was chilled water then that would be different.

I am not familiar with temps on your CPU type, but it sounds like you may not have a good relationship with your block and CPU. Try lapping the block a little, clean it all up, use just a smidgin of paste. Its really hard to tell what the problem is there. Try posting some photos of the setup so we cn see what you have.

 

[Manaknight]

may have solved it.

read up a bit. sort of hit it from a few parts

first i dropped the shin-etsu paste, it's the top of the line stuff, but i read that mx-2/mx-3 actually does a bit better under a waterblock, and it spreads better.
second i used the dual line application trick for quads instead of my usual dot in the center, made sure the paste was nice and thin.
third i reseated the block was a lot more careful this time, it seems much more smooth.

now, at the same clocks as last night i'm getting 34-35c instead. as with before i have yet to try load but this is definitely a good sign

also taking this time to rebleed the loop, when that particular one was bled the first time it kept some tricky bubbles in the rad. once bleeding is done i'll put it through its paces. not taking any chances. Part of the problem with this chip is it runs pretty hot, 130w compared to the 105 or so of the other Q6x chips

 

[CustomModAddict]

let us know if that fixed it. I kinda figured it was with the block cpu relationship. Its as if they just werent meeting up right.

Good luck