This Water Cooling setup..One loop or Two?

TechloGoblin

Junior Member
Oct 20, 2009
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hey guys,

I am going to be building my first water cooled system. I need desperate help

I have read, read and re-read tons of threads. I have been doing as much homework as possible. I spoke to someone who builds these setups and he swears I only need one loop for my setup. When you goto a doctor with a problem, you often get a second opinion..I need one from you experts

I am going to be cooling the following:

Core i7 920 (will be overclocking as much as possible on this CPU)

(2) XFX Ati 5870's (will NOT be overclocking these to MAX, just a nice overclock on each)

Asus Rampage 2 Extreme (Northbridge/Southbridge and Mosfets) using the Bitspower BLACK FREEZER along with the EK-Mosfet ASUS X58 KIT

This is what I am being told will be sufficient:

Dual DDC 3.25 pumps running with a Watercooling eK dual pump top
Feser X-Changer 480mm Xtreme Performance Radiator (with 4 Scythe fans)
EK-Multioption RES 250 Rev 2 Reservoir
Swiftech APOGEE XT Ultra Extreme Performance Water Block
(2) 5870 Full coverage waterblocks
all of the above with 1/2" tubing
Silverstone TJ07 case

Now in MY mind from all my reading the CPU and the NB/SB on the Asus Rampage 2 Extreme runs pretty hot, especially if I am going to be overclocking it pretty high. I don't think ONE loop with all of the above is going to get my temps cool. I am not looking for the cheapest setup, I am looking for the BEST COLD setup. I do not want to have to re-do things in a month.
I definitely would have to run the CPU first in the loop and I can only imagine the water being fairly hot after that, and then hitting the NB/SB and Mosfets to me would just be so hot...AND THEN still have to cool the 5870's (even without a massive overclock)

Will this Res/Pump/Radiator really do the job in one loop?
Should I run (2) loops with the CPU, NB/SB/Mosfets in one and the 5870's in their own much smaller loop?

from what I am being told the 5870's will not be creating enough heat to justify needing two loops, and it will run nice and cool with everything in one loop.

I really appreciate any responses.
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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Originally posted by: TechloGoblin

Core i7 920 (will be overclocking as much as possible on this CPU)

This alone would justify dual loops.