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watercooling experts.. help me refine my setup

I

-=iNsAnE=-

Gawd
Joined
Dec 16, 2002
Messages
768
i'm fairly new to watercooling and i just recently put together a setup with all swiftech blocks the specs are as follows..

swiftech MCW5002 cpu block
swiftech MCW50 videocard block
swiftech MCW20 chipset block
hydor L30
procore with 120mm evercool fan

my layout goes pump > heatercore > cpu > videocard > chipset > res > pump and i have no other fans in my case except on my heatercore and in my psu.. no exhaust fans

my temps at 1.95v run around 43-46C (via temp probe) full load.. which i think is kinda high

so here's my questions..

1.) should i get a differnet cpu block? i was looking at the whitewater and if i threw it in my setup as it is now.. how would it peform compared to waht i already have?

2.) should i change my layout of my tubing so it splits and goes into my cpu and videocard then back into my chipset (considering i have the WW) or would that just hurt flowrate and reduce temps even more? but i do wanna get the highest videocard OC possible as well

3.) should i do either of the 2 above but totally ditch the chipset block?

4.) should i have any exhaust fans? since my case temp runs around 33-35C (via temp probe)

i know my temps are considered safe.. but i can push this thing farther but when i get around or over 2v my temps get even hotter.. i appreciate anyone who took the time to read all this and i hope one of ya has some suggestions for me.. thanks!
 
Why don't you have any case fans? Unless you get some exaust and some way to get cool air into your case, water cooling is worthless.

Where is the radiator placed in your case? I would STRONGLY consider adding some case fans (minimum one intake and one outake) to get some cool air moving in your case.

Before you get new blocks and/or change your current layout try getting some cool air to your rad! Unless you get some cool air to your rad, you're just cooling your blocks with their own hot air!

Good luck
-OMP
 
Where is your radiator located, and where does the air that goes into the radiator come from?

Some quiet fans in and out would be useful to move some air over your hard drives, mosfets, etc.

AS far as the water block, the white water will perform a little bit better (a few to several degrees, depending on ambient and stuff)

Removing the chipset blocks should help your temps should come down a little. Give it a try and post your results.

It adds heat to the water, and doesn't really need to be cooled that well. The only way I would ever wc my chipset is with a seperate loop, but that is just me.
 
my heatercore is in the bottom front of my case.. i can post pics later but i'm not at my pc now.. it takes up the entire bottom where there used to be another drive cage for 3 more drives.. my pump is setting in front of that and the air is blowing back into my case but it should be getting cooler air from outside.. since its stuck up against the front and i cut a big hole out in the front of my case for it to breathe.. i dont really have a spot for fans in the back since my cathodes are there.. i was wondering if i could cut a hole in the bottom of my case and put a fan there? if i would blow air out that it may help my case temps some but would it be too close to my desk to effectively get air out? and it would also not be very noticeable.. i dunno just an idea of mine

what kinda temps should i be looking at for around 2v under full load? and if i took off my chipset block would a passive zalman with ceramique be able to handle 230+ fsb?

thanks for the suggestions! keep 'em comin.. if ya need any more info just ask
 
cant speak from exp, but a big passive hs on the north bridge should work. If id doesnt and you have a window... 5v a 80 mm fan... keep it nice and chilly
 
ok, overall nice job, a few suggestions tho
1) get rid of the chipset wb, it will restrict flow and you dont need it....buy a micropool cooler and be happier

2) get a maze 3 water block, its about 30 bux, and performs about 1-0 degrees higher then a white water( NO MAZE 4, its worse :) )

3) dont do the Y thing, it isnt worth it...

4) get good case ventalation FOR SURE!


have fun, report back if u have any Q's :)
 
Originally posted by boardsportsrule
ok, overall nice job, a few suggestions tho
1) get rid of the chipset wb, it will restrict flow and you dont need it....buy a micropool cooler and be happier

2) get a maze 3 water block, its about 30 bux, and performs about 1-0 degrees higher then a white water( NO MAZE 4, its worse :) )

3) dont do the Y thing, it isnt worth it...

4) get good case ventalation FOR SURE!


have fun, report back if u have any Q's :)
Click to expand...

1.) where can i get some info on this micropool cooler? i cant seem to find anything about it

2.) i see the maze 3 is $40 at www.cooltechnica.com.. where could i get it cheaper? and how does the two compare with flowrate restriction? since i haev another block on my loop thats important

3.) sounds good :)

4.) where would u recommend i put some fans in my case? in the front isnt an option.. i'll try to get some pics up tonight.. i didnt have time last night

thanks for the suggestions!
 
1) sidewinder computers

2) try ebay or direct from dangerden.com or some one on the forums...the forums would be ur best bet...

3) good!

4)side blow hole, top blow hole...back blow hole, etc...any where is good, side is the best..
 
those northpoles are expensive.. how would a passive zalman compare? i got 2 of those.. when i bought them i got 1 for my NB and 1 for my SB.. or is there any alternative to the northpole thats cheaper?
 
over $30 for a NB heatsink.. wow.. there is no way i'd spend that much still.. i was thinking in the $10-15 range at most.. i guess i'll maybe try out my zalman passive. is anyone using it at high fsb's?
 
ok i finally got some pics of my pc and the tubing and such..

the side of my case

case_side.jpg


tubes

tube_layout.jpg


any idea's where would be a good place to put a fan for the best airflow? other than the side..
 
You really should put the 2 fans on the back of the case. Does your cathode really block out any chance of mounting those fans? Get those fans in there any way possible if you want lower temps.

Also, I had the same case as you before I got my lianli, and I remember mounting spots for 2 fans in front of where your radiator is. Get some fans actually blowing cool air to your rad. Just because your rad is sucking air through from the front of the case, it doesnt mean that the cool air from outside is comming in. That particular case does not have very good front ventilation, even if you did cut a large hole in it. If you can't get fans on the case in front and slide that radiator back, consider getting another 120mm fan and mounting it on the front side of the radiator to get a nice push/pull setup going.

Just some suggestions to help you get the best cooling:)
 
looking pretty good insane, just wanted to throw in i'm using that zalman sink myself, though it's on my SB.

flip
 
Originally posted by OneMadPoptart
You really should put the 2 fans on the back of the case. Does your cathode really block out any chance of mounting those fans? Get those fans in there any way possible if you want lower temps.

Also, I had the same case as you before I got my lianli, and I remember mounting spots for 2 fans in front of where your radiator is. Get some fans actually blowing cool air to your rad. Just because your rad is sucking air through from the front of the case, it doesnt mean that the cool air from outside is comming in. That particular case does not have very good front ventilation, even if you did cut a large hole in it. If you can't get fans on the case in front and slide that radiator back, consider getting another 120mm fan and mounting it on the front side of the radiator to get a nice push/pull setup going.

Just some suggestions to help you get the best cooling:)
Click to expand...

the idea of a push/pull setup would only be possibly if i ditched this res i'm using now since its already very tight in the bottom of my case.. but i'm thinking of doing that as well.. so i may be able to do that.. and i may be able to squeeze 2 80mm fans in the back.. but i'm gonna need some that are near silent .. so i have a couple more questions..

1.) is there a cheap res that is similar to the tank-o-matic that mounts externally that i can get? i may make my own but i want it to look decent and be clear preferably.. and also if i put a res on the back and put fans there the fans would be blowing right on my res.. or should i get a bay res?

2.) what are good near silent fans? 80mm and 120mm.. maybe i could get 2 quieter 120s to replace this evercool 120
 
There isn't much more to say really...

Try and get some intake and outake casefans (preferably in the front for the intake and back or top for the outake).

Also consider that watercooling may just not give you the very very low temps you have expected. All setups are different, naturally give different results. The people who boast temps in the 20's and low 30's load usually have a dual or triple radiator with some high CFM fans open to the outside of the case, who also live in an aircooled environment (60-65 ambient). Personally, I wouldn't mind your temperatures at 1.95 volts. With all those components, the swifty blocks, the small radiator, and the total lack of cooling going into your case, I would consider those good temperatures.

If you want the VERY VERY best out of what you have, get a case that allows you to get a radiator and fans directly to the outside air, has room for a larger rad, and allows the rad to get fresh air directly from the outside. At the very least, get at minimum 2 case fans, one in and one out. Let me know if you see any improvement.

Best of Luck
-OMP
 
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