Need some quick help on some possible cooling solutions

[BigCoolJesus]

Well my original plan was to get a Thermalright SI-120 for my CPU (Opty 170) and a Thermalright V-1 Ultra for my GPU (7900GT).

But i found out in a review of the V-1 Ultra that it wont fit if your using an SI-120 on an Asus A8N-E mobo (which is the mobo im getting).
My only other option for the GPU was to get an Zalman VF900 (its the only other good cooler thats compatible with the 7900GT cards), but the reviews on this cooler suck.



So heres my choices (i do not want a tower cooler, such as the Ninja or Tuniq) -

1.) SI-120 and VF900
2.) SI-120 and Thermaltake Tide Water (Here)
3.) Coolermaster AquaGate ALC-U01 (Here) and V-1 Ultra
4.) Kingwin AquaStar (Here) which would cool both the CPU and GPU.


Which one of these cooling set-ups would offer the best performance and overclocking potential?


I know i have watercooling options in there, but i dont want to get anything eleborate, or spend more then $150 - $170 max, which is why i only looked at self-contained kits and nothing high performing.

 

[Operandi]

There isn't anything wrong with the VF-900, for noise it makes you can't beat for its performance. But if you really want the Thermalright V-1, you can check out the XP-90, SI-90, Ultra-90, and Zalman 9500 for your CPU; at least one of those options should let you use the V-1.

Lastly, since you clearly spending a large chuck of change maybe you should consider moving up to a higher-end board if for no other reason to bypass the crappy northbride cooler on the A8N-E.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: Operandi
There isn't anything wrong with the VF-900, for noise it makes you can't beat for its performance. But if you really want the Thermalright V-1, you can check out the XP-90, SI-90, Ultra-90, and Zalman 9500 for your CPU; at least one of those options should let you use the V-1.

Lastly, since you clearly spending a large chuck of change maybe you should consider moving up to a higher-end board if for no other reason to bypass the crappy northbride cooler on the A8N-E.

No reason to move up on the board.......the A8N-E is exactly what i need. Besides, i have a replacement for the northbridge already lined up.



So would a combination of either an XP-90 and V-1 Ultra, or SI-120 and VF900 be better then any of the watercooling kits i posted?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Operandi
There isn't anything wrong with the VF-900, for noise it makes you can't beat for its performance.

Yeah, you can, just not on the 7900GT.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Operandi
There isn't anything wrong with the VF-900, for noise it makes you can't beat for its performance.

Yeah, you can, just not on the 7900GT.

Exactly.......the only thing that beats it (and the only other cooler compatible for a 7900GT) is the V-1 Ultra.
Itd be nice to have an Artic Cooler Accelero.



Still waiting for a response on the water cooling solutions i posted : They any good, worth it?

 

[BigCoolJesus]

I decided to go with an XP-90C for the CPU and the V-1 Ultra for the Video Card.
And just for safe measure, i got 80x80x15mm fans for the V-1, so now they definatly wont be to wide.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
I decided to go with an XP-90C for the CPU and the V-1 Ultra for the Video Card.
And just for safe measure, i got 80x80x15mm fans for the V-1, so now they definatly wont be to wide.

It comes with one 80x15mm fan but adding a second is highly reccomended. The XP-90C cools ever bit as well as the xp-120 when partnered with the right fan, it just won't be quite as quiet.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
I decided to go with an XP-90C for the CPU and the V-1 Ultra for the Video Card.
And just for safe measure, i got 80x80x15mm fans for the V-1, so now they definatly wont be to wide.

It comes with one 80x15mm fan but adding a second is highly reccomended. The XP-90C cools ever bit as well as the xp-120 when partnered with the right fan, it just won't be quite as quiet.

Yea, im going to be using 2 fans on the V-1, but im replacing the stock one with my own (i want both fans to be the same model, so that way i can run them at the same exact RPM's and have the same output and noise)

I'll be using a 92mm Vantec Delta (112 CFM) on the XP-90C (with a fan controller of course)

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
I decided to go with an XP-90C for the CPU and the V-1 Ultra for the Video Card.
And just for safe measure, i got 80x80x15mm fans for the V-1, so now they definatly wont be to wide.

It comes with one 80x15mm fan but adding a second is highly reccomended. The XP-90C cools ever bit as well as the xp-120 when partnered with the right fan, it just won't be quite as quiet.

Yea, im going to be using 2 fans on the V-1, but im replacing the stock one with my own (i want both fans to be the same model, so that way i can run them at the same exact RPM's and have the same output and noise)

I'll be using a 92mm Vantec Delta (112 CFM) on the XP-90C (with a fan controller of course)

Two fans in push/pull configurations are not very efficient, especially if you at all care about noise.

You must mean the Vantec Tornado. Personally 112CFM isn't needed; there is a point of diminishing returns where more CFM isn't going to do anything but make more noise. For high CFM I wouldn?t go with anything more then this Delta, but I would probably go with this Sanyo Denki which is a great deal.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
I decided to go with an XP-90C for the CPU and the V-1 Ultra for the Video Card.
And just for safe measure, i got 80x80x15mm fans for the V-1, so now they definatly wont be to wide.

It comes with one 80x15mm fan but adding a second is highly reccomended. The XP-90C cools ever bit as well as the xp-120 when partnered with the right fan, it just won't be quite as quiet.

Yea, im going to be using 2 fans on the V-1, but im replacing the stock one with my own (i want both fans to be the same model, so that way i can run them at the same exact RPM's and have the same output and noise)

I'll be using a 92mm Vantec Delta (112 CFM) on the XP-90C (with a fan controller of course)

Two fans in push/pull configurations are not very efficient, especially if you at all care about noise.

You must mean the Vantec Tornado. Personally 112CFM isn't needed; there is a point of diminishing returns where more CFM isn't going to do anything but make more noise. For high CFM I wouldn?t go with anything more then this Delta, but I would probably go with this Sanyo Denki which is a great deal.

I never said push pull............ have you read any reviews on the V-1 Ultra? It consists of two heatsink areas, one on the bottom of the card, one on the GPU, which are connected via heatpipes. You can fit a fan on each heatsink, that is why i am using two.



So getting the 112CFM Vantec would be overkill (i want the ability to cool the mofo down ridicuously if i ever need to)?
Would any fan over 50CFM be more then enough?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
I decided to go with an XP-90C for the CPU and the V-1 Ultra for the Video Card.
And just for safe measure, i got 80x80x15mm fans for the V-1, so now they definatly wont be to wide.

It comes with one 80x15mm fan but adding a second is highly reccomended. The XP-90C cools ever bit as well as the xp-120 when partnered with the right fan, it just won't be quite as quiet.

Yea, im going to be using 2 fans on the V-1, but im replacing the stock one with my own (i want both fans to be the same model, so that way i can run them at the same exact RPM's and have the same output and noise)

I'll be using a 92mm Vantec Delta (112 CFM) on the XP-90C (with a fan controller of course)

Two fans in push/pull configurations are not very efficient, especially if you at all care about noise.

You must mean the Vantec Tornado. Personally 112CFM isn't needed; there is a point of diminishing returns where more CFM isn't going to do anything but make more noise. For high CFM I wouldn?t go with anything more then this Delta, but I would probably go with this Sanyo Denki which is a great deal.

I never said push pull............ have you read any reviews on the V-1 Ultra? It consists of two heatsink areas, one on the bottom of the card, one on the GPU, which are connected via heatpipes. You can fit a fan on each heatsink, that is why i am using two.



So getting the 112CFM Vantec would be overkill (i want the ability to cool the mofo down ridicuously if i ever need to)?
Would any fan over 50CFM be more then enough?

I've read up on the V-1 but maybe not the "Ultra"; I didn't know you could place fans on both sides of the card.

I think 50 CFM is definitely enough for the XP-90, more might help a bit if you are going to be getting into excessive overclocking. Either way, something like the Tornado?s 100+ CFM is pretty pointless.

For controlling the fans I leave that up to the motherboards BIOS or SpeedFan; manual fan controllers are so 20th century.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
I decided to go with an XP-90C for the CPU and the V-1 Ultra for the Video Card.
And just for safe measure, i got 80x80x15mm fans for the V-1, so now they definatly wont be to wide.

It comes with one 80x15mm fan but adding a second is highly reccomended. The XP-90C cools ever bit as well as the xp-120 when partnered with the right fan, it just won't be quite as quiet.

Yea, im going to be using 2 fans on the V-1, but im replacing the stock one with my own (i want both fans to be the same model, so that way i can run them at the same exact RPM's and have the same output and noise)

I'll be using a 92mm Vantec Delta (112 CFM) on the XP-90C (with a fan controller of course)

Two fans in push/pull configurations are not very efficient, especially if you at all care about noise.

You must mean the Vantec Tornado. Personally 112CFM isn't needed; there is a point of diminishing returns where more CFM isn't going to do anything but make more noise. For high CFM I wouldn?t go with anything more then this Delta, but I would probably go with this Sanyo Denki which is a great deal.

I never said push pull............ have you read any reviews on the V-1 Ultra? It consists of two heatsink areas, one on the bottom of the card, one on the GPU, which are connected via heatpipes. You can fit a fan on each heatsink, that is why i am using two.



So getting the 112CFM Vantec would be overkill (i want the ability to cool the mofo down ridicuously if i ever need to)?
Would any fan over 50CFM be more then enough?

I've read up on the V-1 but maybe not the "Ultra"; I didn't know you could place fans on both sides of the card.

I think 50 CFM is definitely enough for the XP-90, more might help a bit if you are going to be getting into excessive overclocking. Either way, something like the Tornado?s 100+ CFM is pretty pointless.

For controlling the fans I leave that up to the motherboards BIOS or SpeedFan; manual fan controllers are so 20th century.

Well i was planning on overclocking as far as my CPU would let me (including raising the voltage to the extreme, as my 3500+ is up to 1.72 Vcore, so im sure my future Opty 170 wont be spared a beating), so maximum cooling is a must.
Im gonna look into phase-change once i recupurate my funds from the initial build.



Yea, but i love manual fan controllers. As much as i would love to use my desktop or some program to control fan speed, its not as trust worthy and straightforward as turning a dial and getting guaranteed results. Even digital fan controllers arent as appealing to me. Knobs rule.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

I'll put it this way. I have no personal experience with the xp-90c. I do however have multiple xp-120's and any fan with more than 50 cfm unless reined back to about 50cfm not only does not help with perfromance but, I've seen it degrade performance up around 80-90cfm. Being a smaller heatsink and copper instead of nickel plated copper base with aluminum fins, it should be alble to use slightly higher cfm than the xp-120 but, I'd still guesstimate anything over 60 will be useless if not detrimental.