Cooling my non-reference 5870 - GPU only loop

[blckgrffn]

Hey All -

I am doing a bit of shopping to silence the 5870 in my rig (seen below). It was all fine and dandy until I started trying to use it for DC projects then its whine earned me looks from my wife. I'd also like to get my feet wet (hardy har har) with water cooling. Looking at building out from these core components:

Black Ice GTX Xtreme 120 Radiator

XSPC X20 200 Acrylic Pump / Reservoir Combo

Danger Den Maze5 Video Card Liquid Cooling Block

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5...treme_120_Radiator_-_Black.html?tl=g30c95s159

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9...ort_Profile_-_Black_Silver.html?tl=g30c97s152

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5..._Card_Liquid_Cooling_Block.html?tl=g30c87s143

OR:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/xsra750rxwak.html + Universal VGA Block?

My Case (CM 690 Rev. 1 - no window, no plans for a windowed case)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

Thoughts? Concerns? I'll be using the cheapest, ugliest and likely most reliable hose clamps. I also have no care as to what the hose looks like, etc.

I am considering the feasibility of hanging the radiator off the back of the case rather than having it on the inside... I think (?) that should be possible and I'll be putting those hose holes to work.

Also, I'll need to get some RAM sinks, right? Anything else I should know about water cooling a video card? The video card goes into my wife's PC sometime next year to upgrade her 3870 ( ) So I am not too concerned about resale so long as I can re-attach the air cooler.

If this all goes well I may add another 2x120 radiator for CPU and call it a day. I only OC to what I can get from stock vCore...

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Looks like the case is far from ideal for water cooling. Motherboard looks pretty tight on the top of the case and I can't tell if you can mount fans on the top of the case. Either way top radiator looks out. Side panel radiators are basically never a good idea. Trust me, I tried it once.

A 2x120mm rad will give you great temps on the GPU. Adding the CPU to that may result in less than exciting performance. I'd recommend a 3x120mm rad for a 100% loaded GPU in loop with a CPU.

I'll let someone else chime in regarding VRM and ram sinks for use with Universal GPU blocks. I have only used full coverage blocks.

Hanging the Rad can be done with something like this:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2...ion_2_Radbox_RadiatorFan_Housing_-_Black.html

Or you can make one by cutting up a fan.

 

[blckgrffn]

I do have 2x 120 CM fans installed in the top of it, I guess it is pretty tight. I suppose I'll have to take a picture and embarrass myself with my lack of cable management

I'd spring for a full coverage block, probably, but internet searches revealed that my particular board is non-reference and therefore a no-go with the available 5870 blocks out there.

I was thinking I could do a 1x12cm Radiator where the rear fan is? Like some of those all in one kits for CPUs, just with a GPU waterblock instead?

Thank you for your input


***
Edit:

I checked it out last night, and it really seems like there is quite decent amount of room at the top of the case. It even appears as if there might be mounting holes for 14CM fans... Pictures to follow...