Water cooling GPU only?

[Dorkenstein]

I have a 5870 with a fan that gets pretty loud when the temps increase. I could use an aftermarket air cooler, but I was wondering if it would be useful to try my hand at water cooling by starting with only the gpu. I'm not against doing both GPU and CPU, but I thought I might start small.

Would it be a good introduction to WC? I'm not planning a massive OC on this, I just wanted quiet and good cooling. Would this experiment just be a big risk (leaks etc.)? Thanks.

 

[aigomorla]

well the initial cost in the gear you would need, wouldnt be worth it.

And for a little bit more in addition to the initial cost, you could watercool the cpu as well.

 

[mmntech]

Watercooling is more for show these days IMO. Not like when we had the 90nm+ CPUs and GPUs that ran hotter than the Phlegethon.

Does your 5870 have the reference design fan on it? I've never been impressed with those blowers. They're loud and generally ineffective from my experience.

Definitely go with an aftermarket air cooler. You can usually knock off at least 5-10c off your temps over the stock coolers. Often more. Plus they're quieter.

I've always been a fan of Zalman's GPU coolers. Their VF1000 is a pretty beefy cooler.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/63...40c21s65#blank

The VF900 is $10 cheaper. It's an older model, smaller. Should fit though. It's what I use on my 5770 and on my old 3850.

 

[Gillbot]

Watercooling is more for show these days IMO. Not like when we had the 90nm+ CPUs and GPUs that ran hotter than the Phlegethon.

Does your 5870 have the reference design fan on it? I've never been impressed with those blowers. They're loud and generally ineffective from my experience.

Definitely go with an aftermarket air cooler. You can usually knock off at least 5-10c off your temps over the stock coolers. Often more. Plus they're quieter.

I've always been a fan of Zalman's GPU coolers. Their VF1000 is a pretty beefy cooler.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/63...40c21s65#blank

The VF900 is $10 cheaper. It's an older model, smaller. Should fit though. It's what I use on my 5770 and on my old 3850.

I disagree. Some Core i7 Processors can still generate large amounts of heat when overclocked and definitely benefit from watercooling.

 

[aigomorla]

watercooling a gpu usually nets a reduction of HALF your load temps.

What do you mean its only for show?
Not to mention you remove a very loud delta fan blower.

The reason why i said its not worth it is because this.

He needs a pump + gpu blocks + tubing + rad + tline or res.
Well a cpu + gpu is:

Gpu blocks + Cpu blocks + tubing + a larger rad + tline or res.

So all he needs is a larger rad + cpu block to look at cake and eat it too.

 

[Kenmitch]

What case do you currently have?

Not all cases are water cooling friendly and this could also be another item you would need to buy.

 

[Gillbot]

Any case can be water friendly, just mount the rad externally.

 

[mmntech]

I disagree. Some Core i7 Processors can still generate large amounts of heat when overclocked and definitely benefit from watercooling.

Yeah, when overclocked, but it's still largely a niche product. Not like back in the old Pentium 4 days when they ALL ran hot as hell (original Athlon XPs included).

 

[aigomorla]

this isnt back in the old days tho.

Watercooling has been spoiled to death, so there is about anything and everything u could possibly need for water.

The problem is do you have the funds for it. because water is expensive without a doubt!

 

[cbn]

I have a 5870 with a fan that gets pretty loud when the temps increase. I could use an aftermarket air cooler, but I was wondering if it would be useful to try my hand at water cooling by starting with only the gpu. I'm not against doing both GPU and CPU, but I thought I might start small.

Would it be a good introduction to WC? I'm not planning a massive OC on this, I just wanted quiet and good cooling. Would this experiment just be a big risk (leaks etc.)? Thanks.

Sometimes small watercooling kits go on sale. Fry's and SVC had some close-outs a while back that might have worked for this purpose. (although you still would have needed an additional GPU water block)

Otherwise cooling just the Video card can get quite expensive.

 

[cbn]

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g30/...locks_VGA.html

When I look at this price list, I am seeing 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" listed for the water blocks.

What does this refer to?

 

[aigomorla]

outer diameter for barbs.

So tubing inner diameter to match.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Watercooling is more for show these days IMO. Not like when we had the 90nm+ CPUs and GPUs that ran hotter than the Phlegethon.

Read up on the nvidia GTX 480, aka Dustbuster II

 

[cbn]

outer diameter for barbs.

So tubing inner diameter to match.

What is the best size tubing to use? Any problem with using the largest size?

 

[daw123]

What is the best size tubing to use? Any problem with using the largest size?

People generally go with 1/2" outside diameter (or OD) barbs and 1/2" or 7/16" internal diameter (or ID) tubing. 7/16" tubing is popular because you can get cheep Masterkleer tubing and it also means you get a very snug fit between the tubing and barbs because the tubing is slightly smaller in diameter to the barb.

As an example:
1/2" OD G1/4 barb: http://www.jab-tech.com/Bitspower-True-Silver-G1-4-High-Flow-1-2-Barb-BP-SLWP-C01-pr-4397.html
7/16" ID Masterkleer tubing: http://www.jab-tech.com/Masterkleer-Tubing-7-16-ID-5-8-OD-pr-3079.html

Note: Most fittings use G1/4 threads, however there is some stuff, which uses G3/8 or G1/2 threads. It will tell you what the thread type is in the product information.

Edit: There are some products which come with the barbs built in and these are not necessarily 1/2" OD. The Swiftech MCP355 (or MCP350) pump springs to mind:
http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCP-355-12v-DC-Pump-pr-3510.html

Notice it says 3/8" OD barbs in the product info. You can get around this by replacing the pump top with either one of these and two 1/2" OD barbs:
http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Laing-DDC-Top-pr-4124.html (just the replacement pump top)
http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Acrylic-Reservoir-for-Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html (replacement top and reservoir)

The above replacements also improve the efficiency of the MCP355 (or MCP350).