Water Cooling GPU's

[p_monks33]

Hey guys, I am looking to watercool my 2 6950's and am a noob when it comes to this. I know that I need 2 waterblocks, a few fittings, tubing, a pump, resevoir, and a few other misc. items. I have one card that I need a 6870 block for and the other is a 6950 block. Can it be done or do I need to find a different card to use?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Why does one of your GPUs need a 6870 block? Do you mean a 6970 block?

Yes it can be done. A GPU look only I presume.

 

[BrightCandle]

Its important to know that in general if you want to watercool you need reference design cards. Most waterblocks are designed for the reference design and only fit and cool those designs properly, Waterblocks also only tend to come out for the top end card and the one step below it.

Why do you think you need two different blocks for the cards? Are you xfiring differing cards (bad idea)?

For the cost of watercooling you could probably sell both your existing cards and replace with a 680 GTX and get better performance without the water.

 

[dawp]

you can get universal blocks and the use heatsinks on the memory and voltage regulators.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...t_info&cPath=59_971_240_582&products_id=34013

you may be able to, depending on the stock heatsink, remove the insert for the gpu and reuse the stock heatsink with the universal block.

the universal blocks can be reused on subsequent build and just replace the heatsinks.

 

[p_monks33]

I have a GTX 680 already. I want to watercool the two 6950's I have. One is a reference 6950 MSI, The other is a HIS 6950 that I thought was a reference card, but turns out is not. It has the same PCB as a 6870. I may end up selling one of these cards and keep the other for a backup card. So if I want to watercool 2xGTX 670's what would the verdict be. I have a coolermaster cosmos 2 case. I know I want to watercool so please don't start with , Why do you wanna watercool lol. Im doing it for the good performance and it looks good.

 

[Subyman]

Pretty pointless to watercool those as they are rather cool to begin with and the blocks would cost 50% the price of each card. You'll end up spending 300+ on the loop with half of that in waterblocks. If its just for fun go for it. If you are looking to reduce noise, then there are better alternatives such as selling those and buying a newer card.

 

[EarthwormJim]

You can just get a universal waterblock, then you do not have to worry about it being reference or not.

 

[Smoblikat]

if youre poor like me and you need to WC grab an Antec Khuler 620 for 60$ and pop that bad boy on your GPU.

 

[dma0991]

I have a GTX 680 already. I want to watercool the two 6950's I have. One is a reference 6950 MSI, The other is a HIS 6950 that I thought was a reference card, but turns out is not. It has the same PCB as a 6870. I may end up selling one of these cards and keep the other for a backup card. So if I want to watercool 2xGTX 670's what would the verdict be. I have a coolermaster cosmos 2 case. I know I want to watercool so please don't start with , Why do you wanna watercool lol. Im doing it for the good performance and it looks good.

Personally not a big fan of GPU blocks due to each being different from one model to another. I'd rather spend on a universal GPU block but joining 2 cards in tandem would be tricky, I have yet to see one like that. For a full set that includes CPU and 2 GPUs, you're probably looking at a 360mm+240mm radiator with MCP655 as the pump.

 

[dawp]

^^
swiftech has a bridge connection for theirs:

http://www.swiftech.com/slicrossfirebridge.aspx

I'm sure others do too.

 

[p_monks33]

Thanks dawp. Ok so I think I may stick with my 6950's for another generation if I can get someone to trade me a reference board for my non ref. So if I want to cool 2x 6950's and 1 I5 2500k overclocked to 4.5ghz. How much radiator do I need? I have been looking at a 360mm rad in the top of my case and maybe a 120mm in the back. Would that be sufficient for cooling my system? Could I get away with just the 360mm? Also what is a nice resevoir that would be something that looks nice in the case.

 

[dma0991]

Thanks dawp. Ok so I think I may stick with my 6950's for another generation if I can get someone to trade me a reference board for my non ref. So if I want to cool 2x 6950's and 1 I5 2500k overclocked to 4.5ghz. How much radiator do I need? I have been looking at a 360mm rad in the top of my case and maybe a 120mm in the back. Would that be sufficient for cooling my system? Could I get away with just the 360mm? Also what is a nice resevoir that would be something that looks nice in the case.

I'm doing just about enough with my 240mm radiator for CPU alone, a single 360mm with CPU and GPU won't be sufficient. I don't like bay reservoirs, am using one right now but realized it was a mistake now that I'm using it. My current personal preference is cylindrical tube reservoirs that attaches directly to the pump or anywhere in the case.

 

[p_monks33]

So would you think that a 360mm rad and a 120mm rad would work? Or do I need to find a 240mm rad as well.

 

[WoodButcher]

HA! you already had the thread started, I didn't connect your name with what I read earlier. Early alzheimers,,,😱

More rad is always better but how much can you fit in that case? We spoke about the swifty triple I have but I think you'll be better off with a thick rad up top if it will fit and at least a 120.1 in the back. Maybe someone here knows if the 120.3 swiftech QP would be enough with a 120.1 helper?

 

[p_monks33]

I have heard you want to run a thin radiator up top for the cosmos II case so you can have your fans on top of it pushing air in. I can also run a 240mm in the bottom. I was thinking. Woodbutcher, if your pump has enough power to run a double loop, I could do reservoir > 240mm> CPU >360mm> GPU's>Pump and back to Reservoir. Is that totally wrong? My CPU is going to take less cooling than 2 hot 6950s. If I bought the stuff from you I talked about yesterday via PM all I should need is a 240mm rad, Reservoir, Killcoil, The 2 GPU blocks, CPU block, some fittings and that should about do it.

 

[dma0991]

I could do reservoir > 240mm> CPU >360mm> GPU's>Pump and back to Reservoir. Is that totally wrong? My CPU is going to take less cooling than 2 hot 6950s.

I tried imagining the loop you've stated and it came to a conclusion that the length of the tubing to/from the CPU will be excessively long. The cooling capacity of a 360mm+240mm rad is there regardless of how you place it and the temp difference between cold and hot lines are not that different. You could go with the loop you've mentioned but it'll look slightly messy.

My suggestion,
Reservoir + Pump > 360mm(top) > CPU > GPU > 240mm(bottom) > Repeat

 

[p_monks33]

Any suggestions on an 1155 socket water block? I want to hit 4.5hz stable. Under my old H60 I could hit that with temps in the 70s under load. The Evo im using now doesn't like anything over 4.3

 

[dma0991]

Any suggestions on an 1155 socket water block? I want to hit 4.5hz stable. Under my old H60 I could hit that with temps in the 70s under load. The Evo im using now doesn't like anything over 4.3

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to do way lower than that, given the fact that your ambient temps could be lower than mine and more radiators. My 4.5GHz setup under F@H load with <30C ambient would be about 65C on the highest core temp. I'm running with IB, you could probably do a lot less under load with SB. You could even push it higher than 4.5GHz if you want to.

As for the block, any would do the job almost the same but I went with the XSPC Raystorm as it performed superbly and not as restrictive. Read some reviews about it, there are plenty. Could've gone with the cheaper XSPC Rasa but I wanted the free better grade TIM that came along with the XSPC Raystorm. 😛

 

[WoodButcher]

I have heard you want to run a thin radiator up top for the cosmos II case so you can have your fans on top of it pushing air in.
If that's the case the swifty is the answer,
I can also run a 240mm in the bottom. I was thinking.
See if you can fit a thick rad here, bigger is better.
Woodbutcher, if your pump has enough power to run a double loop, I could do reservoir > 240mm> CPU >360mm> GPU's>Pump and back to Reservoir. Is that totally wrong? My CPU is going to take less cooling than 2 hot 6950s. If I bought the stuff from you I talked about yesterday via PM all I should need is a 240mm rad, Reservoir, Killcoil, The 2 GPU blocks, CPU block, some fittings and that should about do it.

I tried imagining the loop you've stated and it came to a conclusion that the length of the tubing to/from the CPU will be excessively long. The cooling capacity of a 360mm+240mm rad is there regardless of how you place it and the temp difference between cold and hot lines are not that different. You could go with the loop you've mentioned but it'll look slightly messy.

My suggestion,
Reservoir + Pump > 360mm(top) > CPU > GPU > 240mm(bottom) > Repeat

I agree w/ dma, he's absolutely right. The 655 pump is adequate for most any loop you wish to run but keep it short and sweet. A short, simple loop will perform better. The water temp in any loop will balance out and be almost the same temp throughout the loop no matter how you order the components. The only alternative is two separate loops.

Any suggestions on an 1155 socket water block? I want to hit 4.5hz stable. Under my old H60 I could hit that with temps in the 70s under load. The Evo im using now doesn't like anything over 4.3

Pick one you like with the lowest restriction. Performance wise one degree advantage from the block won't kill your OC. The key is to have enough radiator for all your blocks combined so you don't need to have monster fans blowing over them. I like to have the stronger fans blowing in and the lesser fans as exhaust to reduce noise and all of these run to a control to lessen the noise even more.

 

[HardWarrior]

Radiator peformance at a given fan speed in radiator design dependent to a degree, keep that in mind when you spec your rad/fans. If you feel adventurous (or space is at a premium) try mounting your fans in a pull configuration only.

I'm running (3-day old loop):

dual bay box rez>2x655b EK dual top>2xCoolgate 120.3>CPU>2xGPU

I'm very pleased with the results. Also, having fans in pull makes it a LOT easier to spot clean your rads.

 

[Subyman]

XSPC makes a thin radiator called the EX360. I'm using one to cool my 2500k and 680GTX. The 2500k doesn't see over 45C on load and the 680GTX stays around 42C on load and 28C on idle. I use 3xYate Loon medium speed fans and they do the trick. Although, since you are doing 2xGPUs and a CPU, you may think about an RX360 if you can fit it or add another 120mm rad to the back of your case.

For the CPU waterblock, I would recommend a XSPC Raystorm. As for the GPUs, since you've decided to keep them for a full generation (another year or so) then full blocks may be worth the investment, especially if you can get them used for around 50 dollars each. Sometimes the retailers blow out last gen waterblocks, so check the sites for deals.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Radiator peformance at a given fan speed in radiator design dependent to a degree, keep that in mind when you spec your rad/fans. If you feel adventurous (or space is at a premium) try mounting your fans in a pull configuration only.

I'm running (3-day old loop):

dual bay box rez>2x655b EK dual top>2xCoolgate 120.3>CPU>2xGPU

I'm very pleased with the results. Also, having fans in pull makes it a LOT easier to spot clean your rads.

Push gives better performance. If you have fan filters in front of your fans, cleaning is a non issue.

 

[HardWarrior]

Push gives better performance. If you have fan filters in front of your fans, cleaning is a non issue.

I've water cooled for over 10-years and as mentioned, I'm very pleased with the results of my current configuration.