Thinking ahead - SLI watercooling

[GumboClownPunch]

Hey gang,

I'm putting together my "build" list for my 2005 gaming PC (which will commence once the holidays end). Now, I'm planning to run dual pci-express 6800GT cards (SLI) and want to watercool them.

Should I run two separate loops? One loop for CPU/northbridge and one loop for both 6800GT cards? Or maybe one loop with a large reservoir, powerful pump, and dual-fan rad?

Any ideas? Has anybody contemplated how to tackle SLI and Watercooling?

Thanks in advance!

Gumbo

 

[MikeP]

CPU, NB and 2 cards. Thats a lot. Maybe a hefty pump and triple 120 rad. Id recommend that over 2 seperate systems.

Would it be similar to those with Dual CPU setups that are also cooling their NB and vid card? Anyone with one of those want to chime in?

 

[killernoodle]

Having 2 seperate systems is not better than having a single system. There is no gain in temps, it is more complex, more prone to failure, and more expensive.

A double heatercore should cool everything well. A single 120mm rad would cool everything adequately, but there would have to be a ton of airflow. There really is no problems cooling SLI except for tube routing between the cards so close together.

 

[Gongo]

i have my doubts about a single 120 and even a 120.2 cooling 2 6800 gts, cpu, and nb. i'd say go with a 120.3 or you might try the 120.2 with really really high air flow

 

[CompMage]

I would think about running a duel 120 primary rad and then perhaps a smaller 80mm rad between the two vidio cards or infront of them. That will help por off the heat from the CPU and and you're only having to worry about the run-off of heat from the first card.

I think a nice large res would help to. Going to defently need to re-think the whole idea.

My basic idea might be.

Bump
|
Large RAD
|
CPU
|
NB
|
Small RAD
|
GPU 1
|
GPU 2
|
Resavor

 

[DryFire]

i would just ditch the northblock. The zalman northbridge block or the thermalright block run passivly should cool it just fine.

 

[fore1337]

kind of a side note.
I don't think my DangerDen NV-68 will fit into an SLI configuration.
@ least, not in both slots.. it may work for the lower slot but not the upper one.

 

[GumboClownPunch]

Cool....thanks for all the responses. I agree with getting rid of the northbridge block from my design and use a passive one. Either way, it looks like one-loop would be the most practical...

I like CompMage's idea about running a small Rad before the vid cards.

Gumbo

 

[undertheradar]

Putting that many blocks and rads in line causes a lot of back pressure on the pump. I am in the process of splitting my rig into 2 seperate systems for this very reason. Putting that much on one water circuit slows down the water and causes the pump to make more heat...alot more heat...to the point that it actually works against you.

So far, I have mounted in my Lian Li - PC-V2000 (which makes a perfect water cooling rig BTW), eheim 12v pump, innovatek fass-o-matic w/ front bay adapter, innovatek 2x120mm rad that I made a blowhole in the top of the case for. The GPU, chipset, HDD, and CPU are all on this same loop. It keeps up, but the water gets split to go over the CPU and GPU, then over the HDD or chipset...so the HDD and chipset are getting already heated water...and to run the loop in reverse means my CPU and GPU wont tolerate as much overclocking...kinda the point here. Now, If I add an external passive radiator (prolly the konvekt-o-matic or HCTS), a second eheim, and tank-o-matic, I will split the duties up so that one loop gets the CPU and chipset, and the other gets the HDD and GPU. It's either that of I get a much larger pump so I can split the lines 4-ways so everything gets cool water at once, and enough of it...but I like this better. Nuf said. I say go for it!