First Water Cooling setup

[felang]

Ok so I recently purchased a Corsair Carbide 500R and have decided that it might just be time to dive into WC. I've been doing some research and it seems that XSPC Raystorm D5 kits could be just what I need. Hardware: 2600K, Asus p8p67 PRO, GTX 680 (reference)

Also, it seem that I might be quite limited as far as top mounted Rads go because of the limited space in my case (no push/pull).

My question is, do you guys think I could cool my overclocked CPU + GTX 680 off of only an XSPC 240ex rad? Will I need to get an additional 120mm rad?

If so, what waterblock is recommended for reference GTX 680's?

 

[dma0991]

A Raystorm D5 kit with EX240 + EX/RS120 would work only if you're not overclocking the CPU and/or GPU. Overclocking would be a stretch for the parts that you're getting but it would have been ideally better with a dual EX240 which isn't possible in a 500R without some modification to the front of the case. The top of my 400R will only support a standard thickness radiator with single fans instead of push pull. This was caused by the overly tall VRM heatsinks that my motherboard has but shouldn't be an issue if the VRM heatsinks are low enough.

 

[felang]

Did the EX240 fit in the top of your 400r without any mods, mesh cover and all?

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I'd recommend breaking out a ruler if you have the case there. Also keep in mind that pesky CPU power plug. Also keep in mind that radiators extend beyond the area of the fan space they use, both width and lengthwise.

240 worth of rad will also be pushing it. You could get by, but you'd be better off with more.

Are you intending to mount the rad at the top of the case? Also you might be able to fit another 240 in the front with a little modding, if the fan spacing is standard.

 

[dma0991]

Did the EX240 fit in the top of your 400r without any mods, mesh cover and all?

I couldn't sandwich the fans and radiator together inside the case as the VRM heatsinks was too tall, I had to install the fan outside and the radiator inside but this shouldn't be a problem for the 500R as the top plastic cover will conceal the fans. Simply put, there is more "space" up top in the 500R than than the 400R because the 400R's top is naked.

I would suggest adding an additional 120mm or 240mm radiator as the 240mm on mine is only sufficient for the CPU alone, adequate cooling even at overclocked speeds. The front should be able to hold a 240mm radiator with some modding and removal of the HDD cages, fan holes are not up to radiator spacing standard though.

 

[felang]

I couldn't sandwich the fans and radiator together inside the case as the VRM heatsinks was too tall, I had to install the fan outside and the radiator inside but this shouldn't be a problem for the 500R as the top plastic cover will conceal the fans. Simply put, there is more "space" up top in the 500R than than the 400R because the 400R's top is naked.

I would suggest adding an additional 120mm or 240mm radiator as the 240mm on mine is only sufficient for the CPU alone, adequate cooling even at overclocked speeds. The front should be able to hold a 240mm radiator with some modding and removal of the HDD cages, fan holes are not up to radiator spacing standard though.

Thanks, I guess I´ll try a single top mounted 240mm slim rad, if it doesn´t meet my needs i´ll add another rad later on. That´s the advantage of going this route vs. closed loop systems I guess.

 

[dma0991]

Thanks, I guess I´ll try a single top mounted 240mm slim rad, if it doesn´t meet my needs i´ll add another rad later on. That´s the advantage of going this route vs. closed loop systems I guess.

I still think that 240mm + 120mm is the bare minimum that you should aim for, anything less and it'll just work on stock settings, barely. I do recommend getting an additional 120mm radiator from the start unless you're willing to spend more money on tubing, bleeding and refitting.

A less invasive method is to have a 240mm up top, 120mm at the back and a 120mm at the bottom, next to the PSU. I would expect some clearance issues with mounting a 120mm radiator at the bottom but it is easier to do than a 240mm at the front, nothing a dremel couldn't fix.

 

[felang]

I still think that 240mm + 120mm is the bare minimum that you should aim for, anything less and it'll just work on stock settings, barely. I do recommend getting an additional 120mm radiator from the start unless you're willing to spend more money on tubing, bleeding and refitting.

A less invasive method is to have a 240mm up top, 120mm at the back and a 120mm at the bottom, next to the PSU. I would expect some clearance issues with mounting a 120mm radiator at the bottom but it is easier to do than a 240mm at the front, nothing a dremel couldn't fix.

Yeah, I´m pretty sure I´m going to go with an ex240 at the top and ex140 or 120 at the bottom right next to the drive cage. I´ve been checking dimensions and it should all fit, especially since my power supply is quite short (HX520), similar to this build:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1119694/...300r-400r-500r-owners-club/1140#post_16642652

 

[dma0991]

Yeah, I´m pretty sure I´m going to go with an ex240 at the top and ex140 or 120 at the bottom right next to the drive cage. I´ve been checking dimensions and it should all fit, especially since my power supply is quite short (HX520), similar to this build:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1119694/...300r-400r-500r-owners-club/1140#post_16642652

That's really nice, too bad that I don't have the luxury of removing the bottom half of the drive cage without modding. Never mind, a HWLabs GTX480 mounted externally up top of my 400R would look beastly. :twisted:

 

[felang]

That's really nice, too bad that I don't have the luxury of removing the bottom half of the drive cage without modding. Never mind, a HWLabs GTX480 mounted externally up top of my 400R would look beastly. :twisted:

That HWLabs GTX480 definitely looks awesome.

So I went ahead and ordered the top 240 and bottom 140 rads. Now I´m into the install planning phase and want to get suggestions on the loop.

I´m planning on going...

RES/PUMP -> 240mm RAD -> CPU -> 140mm rad -> GPU -> RES/PUMP

I´m thinking this will lower temps of GPU but I don´t know if going straight from GPU to RES/PUMP would be dropping to much heat on to the pump. Thoughts?

 

[chimaxi83]

Loop order really doesn't matter. The water temperature will equalize in your loop to the point that going from CPU/GPU directly into a radiator won't make much difference, if any.

 

[felang]

Loop order really doesn't matter. The water temperature will equalize in your loop to the point that going from CPU/GPU directly into a radiator won't make much difference, if any.

Makes sense... considering that then I guess I´ll just set up the loop the cleanest way possible tubing wise.

 

[dma0991]

I´m planning on going...

RES/PUMP -> 240mm RAD -> CPU -> 140mm rad -> GPU -> RES/PUMP

I´m thinking this will lower temps of GPU but I don´t know if going straight from GPU to RES/PUMP would be dropping to much heat on to the pump. Thoughts?

Unless the 140mm radiator is mounted at the back, you're making a messy loop that goes down from the CPU to the bottom of the case and back up to the GPU and up to the reservoir. Ideally, the 140mm radiator should be placed at the back of the case and it'll look better but from the link you've posted, I don't think a 140mm radiator at the back will fit with a 240mm up top, 120mm would.

The difference of the hot and cold portion isn't that different considering that the liquid is moving very fast, touching the hot and cold side you probably can't tell the difference. Do your loop like this,

Reservoir > 240mm > CPU > 120mm > GPU > Reservoir

 

[chimaxi83]

Yeah ideally you just want the shortest and most direct tubing paths possible.

 

[felang]

Unless the 140mm radiator is mounted at the back, you're making a messy loop that goes down from the CPU to the bottom of the case and back up to the GPU and up to the reservoir. Ideally, the 140mm radiator should be placed at the back of the case and it'll look better but from the link you've posted, I don't think a 140mm radiator at the back will fit with a 240mm up top, 120mm would.

The difference of the hot and cold portion isn't that different considering that the liquid is moving very fast, touching the hot and cold side you probably can't tell the difference. Do your loop like this,

Reservoir > 240mm > CPU > 120mm > GPU > Reservoir

The 140mm definitely won´t fit in the back. I was told the D5 based pump in these kits would provide more than enough flow for even multiple GPU blocks so I´m hoping the "messy loop" won´t affect flow too much.

Taking into account that the order doesn´t really matter and that the 140 has to go on the bottom I guess I´ll go (starting from highest component)

240 > Reservoir/pump > 140 > GPU > CPU > 240

Is that better? It is primarily a gaming rig so I wouldn´t mind having GPU first.

 

[chimaxi83]

This one is the kit with the bay res/pump?

 

[felang]

This one is the kit with the bay res/pump?

Yep.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...oduct_info&cPath=59_202_972&products_id=33588

 

[chimaxi83]

Yea, I'd probably do res/pump, down to the 120, and up to gpu, cpu, 240 at top, and back to res.

 

[dma0991]

240 > Reservoir/pump > 140 > GPU > CPU > 240

Is that better? It is primarily a gaming rig so I wouldn´t mind having GPU first.

Aesthetically it looks a lot neater that the previous. Up to you, whichever you want to be first, the reverse of what you've stated works fine too.

 

[aigomorla]

shortest loop = Always the best.

The least distance u have overall in tubing = less resistance = better turnaround for coolant = better deltas overall in temp.

Its not just about the size of your rad which tells you how well the system will handle, but the flow which the coolant is traveling inside the loop.

However like all things in our world, there is caps... meaning points where effiency is lost and u dont gain net, because somewhere else in your loop is bottlenecked.

Most typically this is at ambient..

 

[felang]

Thank you guys for your help, with loop questions out of the way I think I only have one more. Should the bottom radiator be pulling in air from the bottom of the case or should it be pushing warm air out.

I plan on retaining stock case fan config:

Blowing in: 2 front 120 + side 200

Blowing out: back 120 + dual top 120´s pulling rad (rad has to be installed inside case and fans on top because of clearance issues with case)

 

[aigomorla]

i noticed having rads pull from the bottom of the case = great in the short term, but long term asking for it.

How do you intend to clean your rads when they act as a vacume cleaner and suck up dust from your floor?

sometimes blowing air though the other side wont dislodge all the dust .
Also If you have carpet, thats fail on so many levels to have your rad pull air though carpet.

 

[felang]

i noticed having rads pull from the bottom of the case = great in the short term, but long term asking for it.

How do you intend to clean your rads when they act as a vacume cleaner and suck up dust from your floor?

sometimes blowing air though the other side wont dislodge all the dust .
Also If you have carpet, thats fail on so many levels to have your rad pull air though carpet.

The case has a filter under the psu and bottom fan mount but I don´t know how effective it is. I hesitate to install it blowing out because it will be right next to the front intake fans so Im thinking it´ll mess with the airflow throughout the case (blowing in botton front and exiting top back. I guess I´ll have it blow out and if I have no problems I´ll keep it that way.

I´ll update the thread once I have everything running, hopefully I won´t need any more help

 

[Peppered]

If i had the money I would get like a M8 from case labs. I would have the raid on the separate side of the MB. they have some items that let you install them on the side of the case too. I would use the top of the case to exhaust the air from the rads and you could have individuality filters from silverstone for your fans.
By doing this you don't pull hot air into your rads and you keep the hot air out of your case side with MB, GPU , CPU and ram.

 

[FMX]

Don't know if its been mentioned yet but have you considered the closed loop H80 or H100? They are watercooling for noobs I suppose but quite honestly they are very good for the money and minimal effort involved. I guess it all depends on how far you want to push though.