Watercooling suggestions

djBon2112

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Jul 29, 2006
Messages
5,279
I'm building a gaming PC with the specs below (roughly) sometime around (just before or just after) Christmas. I'm looking at my watercooling options now just to be ahead.

Quad-core LGA775 Intel Processor 45-nm (hoping to clock it between 3.8 and 4.2 GHz 24/7)
An x38/Crossfire-X capable motherboard, probably DDR2 memory
ATi 4870 X2

Now, right now I have a CPU waterblock (forget the model, but it was the best for a Q6600 about a year ago), a 2x120 Swiftech radiator, and a Swiftech pump. I was thinking of one of the following loop configurations, let me know which one you'd suggest:

(My primary choice) 1. Dual-loop setup. 3x120 radiator for CPU + northbridge; 2x120 radiator for GPU(s).
2. Dual-loop setup. 2x120 radiator for CPU; 3x120 radiator for GPU(s) + northbridge.
3. Single-loop setup with dual pumps. 2x120 radiator + 3x120 radiator for CPU, GPU(s) (+ northbridge?).

What would everyone suggest?
 
single 1/2 id loop, one pump and as many rads as you want. ( I am assuming you have the large swiftech pump) .
 
I am running my CPU and 2 full cover GPU blocks in one loop with a Swifttech 320 rad and DDC3.2 pump with the XPSC res top. Works just fine, and with the fans on low I still keep all my temps at what I find acceptable levels. My CPU is a q9450 OCed to 3.8g and both GeFroce 280s are OCed by a small amount. At full load my CPU stays under 60c, and I have not worried about my GPU temps after the first couple of days of monitoring.

I can push the CPU up to 4g if I want to run the fans full out, but I find the silence of the system to be worth a small performance hit.
 
Back
Top