What are the best cases these days for watercooling?

[Rodknock]

I'm thinking about starting a watercooling project, partly because I'd like to be able to push the clocks that much higher, but mostly because this (PC modding in general) has become a very enjoyable hobby, and I think setting up a watercooling system will be a fun project.

I've read many of the basic watercooling guides on here and other websites, but I haven't found the info I'm looking for regarding a specific (and important) part of the setup. In short, I'm curious to know what cases today (maybe a list of 5 or so?) are the best in terms of radiator placement? Are there any cases right out of the box that can accomodate a dual 120mm sized radiator? Like the DD Black Ice GTX, or something of similar dimensions?

Also, what is the most common placement for radiators that are internally mounted? Is a single 120mm-sized radiator, at the standard rear exhaust port enough for the vast majority of setups, or is something more...exotic, required? Basically, I don't want to bother building a WC setup if it won't be any more efficient than a Tuniq Tower.

Thanks in advance!

-Nick

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Rodknock
I'm thinking about starting a watercooling project, partly because I'd like to be able to push the clocks that much higher, but mostly because this (PC modding in general) has become a very enjoyable hobby, and I think setting up a watercooling system will be a fun project.

I've read many of the basic watercooling guides on here and other websites, but I haven't found the info I'm looking for regarding a specific (and important) part of the setup. In short, I'm curious to know what cases today (maybe a list of 5 or so?) are the best in terms of radiator placement? Are there any cases right out of the box that can accomodate a dual 120mm sized radiator? Like the DD Black Ice GTX, or something of similar dimensions?

Also, what is the most common placement for radiators that are internally mounted? Is a single 120mm-sized radiator, at the standard rear exhaust port enough for the vast majority of setups, or is something more...exotic, required? Basically, I don't want to bother building a WC setup if it won't be any more efficient than a Tuniq Tower.

Thanks in advance!

-Nick

If you're willing to take your time and spend some money water cooling can be a very fun project that will quite definately increase your overclocking potential. First of all, what is your total budget? That will help determine if we're suggesting $100 or $300 cases, or more if you've got it.

I'd have to say teh best cases for water cooling would be the Stacker810, Any of the V2XXX series from Lian Li, any of the monster big cube cases or a really old full tower server case. I woulnd't really ex[ect any of them to fit a dual 120mm radiator out of the box accept for a Lian Li 343 cube. Though both the 810 and the V2K's make it very easy to mount really big radiators.

To be honest, a single 120mm radiator on an exhaust port will not poerform much better than a tuniq tower. A dual 120mm radiator on intake with a good CPU block will perform better. Quite frankly if doing this from scratch including a new case you better have atleast $300, just for a cpu loop. For every block from there you'll be adding at least $50. For a full dual loop set-up that cools your entire system, CPU, GPU, NB with dual loops, dual raidators and preferably dual pumps with a case you're looking down the barrel of atleast $500, minimum. Thats the major factor that keeps non-enthusiasts out of watercooling.

 

[Rodknock]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Budget isn't really a concern, because this will be spread over a period of months. I won't be doing everything at once. I don't want to get stupid expensive with it, and I may even keep the case I've got now (Silverstone TJ09). The total budget for this project...I'd like it to come in under $750 total. I plan on doing a GPU and NB loop in addition to the required CPU loop. Frozencpu sells a bracket that lets the SS TJ09 accomodate a slim-line dual 120mm radiator at the top exhaust ports, but from what I've read, something of these dimensions, like Danger Den's Stealth series dual 120mm, really doesn't have the cooling performance I'm looking for.

Your post also reminded me of another question I forgot to ask: I've been under the impression that it's best to have the radiator in front of an exhaust port, so that you can evacuate the hot air as quickly and efficiently as possible. Is this not the case? Would it be better to have it in front of an intake port, to cool the charge air, and then evacuate the radiator's 'exhaust' elsewhere? I'm confused! haha

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Rodknock
Thanks for the quick reply.

Budget isn't really a concern, because this will be spread over a period of months. I won't be doing everything at once. I don't want to get stupid expensive with it, and I may even keep the case I've got now (Silverstone TJ09). The total budget for this project...I'd like it to come in under $750 total. I plan on doing a GPU and NB loop in addition to the required CPU loop. Frozencpu sells a bracket that lets the SS TJ09 accomodate a slim-line dual 120mm radiator at the top exhaust ports, but from what I've read, something of these dimensions, like Danger Den's Stealth series dual 120mm, really doesn't have the cooling performance I'm looking for.

Your post also reminded me of another question I forgot to ask: I've been under the impression that it's best to have the radiator in front of an exhaust port, so that you can evacuate the hot air as quickly and efficiently as possible. Is this not the case? Would it be better to have it in front of an intake port, to cool the charge air, and then evacuate the radiator's 'exhaust' elsewhere? I'm confused! haha

It depends on the case to be totally honest. If it's a closed case with tons of airflow then, I'd put in on an intake for better cooling I'd just be damn certain that there's enough airflow to get the heat out. If it's a really open case like the stacker 830 then it won't really matter as you'll be getting plenty of cool air into the system as to keep your radiators on the exhaust.

With the TJ09 I'd probably put A dual 120mm raditor on the top of the case for the CPU loop and with a GTX, I might put my hard drives up in 5.25" bays with some cooling of their own and remove the entire HDD cages and put a dual 120mm radiator exhaust ing there. I'd probably put a a TT i cage up in 3 of the 5.25" for the hard drives and some intake air, reverse the rear fan and make it an intake so you've got enough air to feed that top radiator, leave the mid fan blowing at your PSU and make a kind of wind tunnel at the bottom for you GPU/NB loop. You could mount your pump for your GPU/NB loop upside down from the FDD slot and put your CPU pump either mounted inverted from the top of the case(but then you'd see the bolts) or mount it to a bracket from the mid fan mount area. As for pumps and block you'll be better of waiting for some of the other guys to answer. I'm an air cooling guy so I can get you about that far but, thas about all.

 

[Oerekum]

I have a silverstone TJ09 with watercooling. I mounted an MCR320 in the top vent area exhausting and the back and front intake. Also I am replacing the window with black mesh for the radiator to suck cooler air. Anyhow, it's a bit of a meh case for watercooling. If budget is no concern, which is good, I would recommend Mountain Mods. They take a (some models even two) Thermochill pa120.3 radiator without modifications. They really are the best watercooling cases. [http://www.mountainmods.com/co...ses-u2ufo-c-21_32.html]

However in your first post you mention a dual radiator, do you already have that or something? Mountain mods also have a good case for dual dual 120mm rads; the H2GO [http://www.mountainmods.com/co...ases-h2go-c-21_81.html]

 

[Riverhound777]

The Antec P182 is on sale today at Frys for $50 AR. Not sure how good it is for water cooling but it does have two gromits in the back for the tubes.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
The Antec P182 is on sale today at Frys for $50 AR. Not sure how good it is for water cooling but it does have two gromits in the back for the tubes.

very bad case...

1. do you know how to case mod?

2. you failed to list the important thing... budget



EDIT: Man all this thread would need is my completed 690 guide. RAWR.... been so caught up with work due to an emergency, im having a pita time finishing it.


If you can do some moding look for my 690 thread which isnt finished yet. The final product will look like this tho, because its finished

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0862.jpg


But that requires some moding to do.

 

[MarcVenice]

Isn't his silverstone tj09 a good case for watercooling ? I thought it had enough space in the bottom to house at least a 2x120mm rad ?

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Isn't his silverstone tj09 a good case for watercooling ? I thought it had enough space in the bottom to house at least a 2x120mm rad ?

TJ-09 YES good case. however very expensive....

P182 bad case, only rad you can possibly fit are 120x1 internally.

You still need to cut up the TJ-09 for an itnernal 120x3 radiator mount.

And the TJ-09 if i remember correctly only took the PA120.2 natively up top. The MCR220 would need to be single fan mounted.


Seeing how you already have a TJ-09 why not just use that? its a great case to add a medium/upper tier h2o cooling in it.

 

[Rodknock]

Hmm, I was unaware that the TJ-09 would be able to fit the PA120.2 at the top ports. Hypothetically, would I be able to run the PA120.2 at the top, in tandem with the PA120.1 at the rear exhaust port? Would this be overkill, or what?

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Rodknock
Hmm, I was unaware that the TJ-09 would be able to fit the PA120.2 at the top ports. Hypothetically, would I be able to run the PA120.2 at the top, in tandem with the PA120.1 at the rear exhaust port? Would this be overkill, or what?

A PA120.1 would probably be not worth it. A Swiftech MCR120 would probably be better for your budget if you want to go dual-rad. It's not really overkill, but it would help with temps. you'd have to use louder fans with higher output to cool both your CPU and GPU on a loop since the PA120.2 can handle 200W on low-output fans to 350 on highoutput fans and a single 120 rad can handle 100. These are scenarios in which you don't lose too much flowrate so get a decent pump. A GTX and quad together can pump out about 350W of heat easily.

 

[Oerekum]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Isn't his silverstone tj09 a good case for watercooling ? I thought it had enough space in the bottom to house at least a 2x120mm rad ?

TJ-09 YES good case. however very expensive....

P182 bad case, only rad you can possibly fit are 120x1 internally.

You still need to cut up the TJ-09 for an itnernal 120x3 radiator mount.

And the TJ-09 if i remember correctly only took the PA120.2 natively up top. The MCR220 would need to be single fan mounted.


Seeing how you already have a TJ-09 why not just use that? its a great case to add a medium/upper tier h2o cooling in it.

It's very doable. I don't think the PA120.2 will fit. The MCR220 would fit, even with 2 fans. Don't see how it couldn't use both. (Ihave an mcr320 up top with three fans) I made my own brackets for mounting the rad to the fan bracket tabs. You can also buy silverstone made brackets now I believe, only for dual 120mm rads.



I'll see if I can get some pictures going to see how I did it (don't expect too much, first time watercooling =D)

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Oerekum

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Isn't his silverstone tj09 a good case for watercooling ? I thought it had enough space in the bottom to house at least a 2x120mm rad ?

TJ-09 YES good case. however very expensive....

P182 bad case, only rad you can possibly fit are 120x1 internally.

You still need to cut up the TJ-09 for an itnernal 120x3 radiator mount.

And the TJ-09 if i remember correctly only took the PA120.2 natively up top. The MCR220 would need to be single fan mounted.


Seeing how you already have a TJ-09 why not just use that? its a great case to add a medium/upper tier h2o cooling in it.

It's very doable. I don't think the PA120.2 will fit. The MCR220 would fit, even with 2 fans. Don't see how it couldn't use both. (Ihave an mcr320 up top with three fans) I made my own brackets for mounting the rad to the fan bracket tabs. You can also buy silverstone made brackets now I believe, only for dual 120mm rads.



I'll see if I can get some pictures going to see how I did it (don't expect too much, first time watercooling =D)

spacing between fans on the mcr = non exisistant. Thats why second hole wont allign.

spacing on the PA between fans is clearly seen. hence why should fit with almost no modding.


however difference between a mcr and a PA is very small once you add more powerful fans. the mcr is also less then half the price of the PA unless your in UK.

 

[Sheninat0r]

Mountainmods U2-UFO can fit 120.3 on the front panel and 120.3 on the back. They have versions that can fit more, or you can get them to make custom panels that will let you put EVEN more rads and stuff on.

 

[ChefJoe]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
The Antec P182 is on sale today at Frys for $50 AR. Not sure how good it is for water cooling but it does have two gromits in the back for the tubes.

Yeah, the 182 is kinda restrictive on the inside for radiators. 1x120 is doable, maybe even 2 120mm radiators, but double fan (120.2) isn't going to fit inside the case without modding.

If you were to mod a 180 to fit a 120.2 radiator I would try hacking off the lower end of 5.25" bays and doing a front mounted radiator. It'd be kind of wierd exhausting out the front but that may be doable with the dual chamber design.

That or just set it up so that the radiator is in the removable side panel.

 

[Rodknock]

I'm not really into the odd-design cases like the Mountainmods stuff. While I'm sure they're great for cooling performance, in my opinion they're not exactly pleasing to the eye. No, I think I'm going to stick with my TJ09, or at least with a standard desktop mid/full tower.

After reading these posts I'm more confused than ever. Do I need more than one radiator for cooling a q6600, 8800GTX, and the northbridge? Will one dual 120mm rad suffice? I looked up the specs of the Silverstone TJ09/TJ10 top bracket, and the radiator needs to have a width no greater than 31mm, which severely limits my options. My uncle is a welder/metal worker, however, so as a last resort I may ask him to fabricate a bracket to accomodate a bit bigger of a radiator. I'd rather not go down that road unless I have to, however.

Is a top mounted exhaust-oriented radiator the ideal setup? Would something like the Danger Den Black Ice GT Stealth 240 dual 120mm be enough, or no? I'm trying to get a ballpark idea of what I need, but since I have absolutely no prior watercooling experience, it's a bit difficult and I apologize in advance if my questions are a bit on the...mundane side. Is it normal to have one radiator cooling the CPU and another handling other components? (For example, a dual 120 at the top exhaust port and a single 120 at the rear exhaust port). What's a common radiator choice for a setup like mine?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: Rodknock
I'm not really into the odd-design cases like the Mountainmods stuff. While I'm sure they're great for cooling performance, in my opinion they're not exactly pleasing to the eye. No, I think I'm going to stick with my TJ09, or at least with a standard desktop mid/full tower.

After reading these posts I'm more confused than ever. Do I need more than one radiator for cooling a q6600, 8800GTX, and the northbridge? Will one dual 120mm rad suffice? I looked up the specs of the Silverstone TJ09/TJ10 top bracket, and the radiator needs to have a width no greater than 31mm, which severely limits my options. My uncle is a welder/metal worker, however, so as a last resort I may ask him to fabricate a bracket to accomodate a bit bigger of a radiator. I'd rather not go down that road unless I have to, however.

Is a top mounted exhaust-oriented radiator the ideal setup? Would something like the Danger Den Black Ice GT Stealth 240 dual 120mm be enough, or no? I'm trying to get a ballpark idea of what I need, but since I have absolutely no prior watercooling experience, it's a bit difficult and I apologize in advance if my questions are a bit on the...mundane side. Is it normal to have one radiator cooling the CPU and another handling other components? (For example, a dual 120 at the top exhaust port and a single 120 at the rear exhaust port). What's a common radiator choice for a setup like mine?

With your 8800GTX i wouldn't trust cooling to a single 120mm radiator, it may get the job done but, I can't say how well if you start to overclock it. With a 120.2 you should be able to run the CPU and NB on a single loop. The 8800GTx puts out a lot of watts of heat so I would have to suggest getting a complete second loop for it with another 120.2.

I agree with aigmora you'd be best off just making your own brackets and mounting an MCR220 up top for your CPU and NB. I would not put a 120.1 on the rear, i would flip the fan around and use it to feed cool air into the case to help feed the top mounted dual 120mm. As for a second dual 120mm for your GTX I'm out of ideas. The only place I can think of to put it in that case is in the bottom in place of your HDD racks.

 

[Nemesis 1]

I also thought the cubes were ugly. Until I seen Lian-Li PC 343B Set up for water cooling .

Than I seen the case I am getting with My new Pc . But I don't know when I can show it. As I don't know what to do now. Mywife is buying top of the line Mac. She has been killing me in Benchies Everysince She Got the Dam C2D 6800ES chip when they came out. I even got a 6800 now. On whats suppose to be a better mother board. Still can't beat her. My daughter has computer science degree. So their ganging up on me .

So I have to make sure this next one kicks her ass.

Anyway back to the case. Honest to God this think is cool. But if you want to build one . I can tell you what this guy did. Pretty sure you could do it fairly cheap.

BE a modder. I will tell you material lengths because I do know the case HxDxW


1) 1 piece anodized 4mm aluminium sheet 18" Wide x 49" long .

4x piecis anodized 4mm aluminium sheet 18" long x 13" wide.

1 piece anodized 2 mm aluminium sheet 13" wide x 18" long

2). Bend long piece at a 90 degree angle using a small radius die so as not to crack the aluminium 18" from 1 edge. Now make same bend on other edge same !8"

So it will be U shaped 18x13x18. Any good sheet metal shop in your town will bend these cheap.



Now take the 4xpieces cut them to fit inside that U shape so that the back edges are flush. You will have to radius the 2 front corners on each piece so they fit nice. Inside the U shaped radius bends.. You do this yourself. Than have same sheet metal shop cut so back edges are all even. (flush).


You now have your pc box . NOW as a Modder . OK . This is what YOU have to do.

1) BUY Mother board Tray from MM or if you can get a Lian Li Tray somewhere get that. Than you need to buy switces. . THIS is basic .



Now this is a 3 chamber Case . With mother board laying flat. . This is all I know. How he put it together I won't know till I take it Apart.


But that don't matter because your the modder. The lower chamber is where The Pumps and Rads were. 2 pumps and 2 rads. Again your doing. It so you mount those Rads however you want. You do what ever. Install pumps and Tubing . Now install the next 18x13 sheet 6" up from Bottom edge were you installed the 1st Sheet.Fix it in place by whatever means you choose as long as its removeable. Now take that M/B tray put inside the case s. its 1/2 from the Lefside of case as you look at it from the front. Now intall 4 1/2 " stands so mother board Tray is 1/2" off of the 2 sheet. You can use a 4 bolts 3/4"x 1/8 Drill and Tap 4 holes in the second sheet . presto 4 m/b tray stands. Or what ever YOU want.

The reason you offset the M/B to one side is so you could run Tubing threw second sheet From the Rads and back to the pumps Use Grummets. Dual loop drill four holes in second sheet so that The tubing goes to and from the water blocks the best.

Now 3rd sheet. The upper chamber has The PS unit . Install 3rd sheet 4" from top. Now the M/B chamber should measure About 7 1/2. The optic drives are in the PS chamber . 2 optic bays. I dont know which chamber HD are in . Lots of room anywhere I guess. . Now mount top sheet so its flush with Top edge of case..

There ya go you have a basic kick ass box.. Befor you bend that first piece . Have all your optic drive placement switches and what ever else you do to the case to jazz it up laid out and cut before you bind.


My case is really cool Sight tube flow control to 6 loops . An oval shaped window to M/B chamber on bothsides . M/B chamber shines like a mirror it cool . And custom paint job with air brushing . I added that. I just couldn't help myself .


The point is! Here is a design you can do fairly cheap. And it is slick . Cant believe I haven't seen anyone else do it. I do wish I knew how he put it together because its slick You just can't tell from the outside looking in. But you do something like this and do it well. Your more than just a PC modder. A lot more.
Oh I forgot the 2mm aluminiun sheet thats your back sheet.

Cut to fit Case edges along with all other necessary cuts. Attach using your method.

 

[aigomorla]

you wanna kill your wife in benchies heres the config needed. And i promise you, you'll spank anything she builds. Ummm its going to cost a lot tho... just be warned:

Intel SkullTrail 600-800 dollars
2 x QX9775 1500 x 2 3000 dollars
4 x 2gig ECC FC-DIMM 800 Expensive....
4 x 8800GTX 600 x 4 2400 dollars
2 x ETASIS 850W 149.99 x 2 300 dollars
6 x Raptor 150 250 x 6 1500 dollrs
Mountain Mods Dualy 400 dollars

Add another 1000 dollars in h2o gear.

Total: *Sigh* A LOT :X and im fairly sure about the price on the board and cpus

Watch that skulltrail rig pull 4.6ghz easily and rip everything in its path.

 

[Nemesis 1]

That what I was going to do. But Nehalem shock me up.

I will buy the highend nehalem . They know nothing about it. or USB 3 or larrabee . I being sneaky.

I just hope larrabbe is out . so don't have to by an ati card. but I will if it isn't.


Than I will open a can of wope ass on them with a 4core processor vs. her 8. Cause I can O/C LOL.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Rodknock
I'm not really into the odd-design cases like the Mountainmods stuff. While I'm sure they're great for cooling performance, in my opinion they're not exactly pleasing to the eye. No, I think I'm going to stick with my TJ09, or at least with a standard desktop mid/full tower.

After reading these posts I'm more confused than ever. Do I need more than one radiator for cooling a q6600, 8800GTX, and the northbridge? Will one dual 120mm rad suffice?

I was running a modded heatercore (essentially the same as a good dual rad) and it cooled my E6600@3.6Ghz and a pair of voltmodded X1900XT's just fine. A Q6600 and 8800GTX will require the same or less cooling than my old setup so I'd say a good dual rad would be fine. If you're looking for super silent operation, however, I'd go for the triple rad.

I honestly wouldn't worry about cooling the northbridge unless you have some unquenchable need to. Performance isn't enhanced all that much for the big flow inhibitor they are.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Elfear

Originally posted by: Rodknock
I'm not really into the odd-design cases like the Mountainmods stuff. While I'm sure they're great for cooling performance, in my opinion they're not exactly pleasing to the eye. No, I think I'm going to stick with my TJ09, or at least with a standard desktop mid/full tower.

After reading these posts I'm more confused than ever. Do I need more than one radiator for cooling a q6600, 8800GTX, and the northbridge? Will one dual 120mm rad suffice?

I was running a modded heatercore (essentially the same as a good dual rad) and it cooled my E6600@3.6Ghz and a pair of voltmodded X1900XT's just fine. A Q6600 and 8800GTX will require the same or less cooling than my old setup so I'd say a good dual rad would be fine. If you're looking for super silent operation, however, I'd go for the triple rad.

I honestly wouldn't worry about cooling the northbridge unless you have some unquenchable need to. Performance isn't enhanced all that much for the big flow inhibitor they are.

E6600 Tops at 120W as heat load
X1900XT probably a little near or slightly higher. Assume 130W


Q6600 200W @ 1.45V 300W @ 1.55 So 1.5 ~ 250W
8800GTX 170-180W of heat.

Sorry Elfear your rig is nothing compared to what the OP posted. Not even close.

Depending on how high you load your processor you may need a dual radiator.

MCR320 will have a stress point at around 450-500W
PA120.3 has a stess point near 500-600W

On the quad + 8800GTX your going to need to disapate around 430W of heat at peak. So that means if you play a game like supreme commander, you're system will push out 430W of heat or near it.

Typically you'll be alright on a MCR320, temps maybe near or on par with air due to the massive hardware. But id would recomend to see the true benifits of H2O cooling, that you split this kind of head load up.

Unless you can reduce your CPU to around 1.375 ~ 160W of heat @ 3400 or 425x8 OR just grab a G92 or a 8800GT instead of the GTX.

Then a MCR320 might hold its pace.

 

[Deathawk]

Elfear said he has a pair(2) of X1900XTs, voltmodded too.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

E6600 Tops at 120W as heat load
X1900XT probably a little near or slightly higher. Assume 130W


Q6600 200W @ 1.45V 300W @ 1.55 So 1.5 ~ 250W
8800GTX 170-180W of heat.

Sorry Elfear your rig is nothing compared to what the OP posted. Not even close.

According to the Extreme PSU Calculator (not the be-all and end-all resource but does a pretty fair job) I get the following values:

E6600@3.6GHz 1.45V = 131W

Q6600@3.6GHz 1.5V = 205W

Both (i.e. two) of my X1900XTs were running at 710/840 1.525/1.15/1.15/1.5V

I compared those two cards against an 8800GTX with every other component remaining the same and measured the following values at the wallplate:

X1900XT Crossfire

4.89A
586.7W at the wallplate
~440W draw from the components

8800GTX

3.28A
394W at the wallplate
~292W draw from the components

Even if you add 74W to the GTX numbers to account for the Q6600, you still wouldn't draw as much power as the E6600/X1900XT combo.

aigomorla- You seem like a fairly knowledgeable fellow and you seem willing to help people a lot of the time, but you really rub people the wrong way sometimes with your posting style.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Elfear

Originally posted by: aigomorla

E6600 Tops at 120W as heat load
X1900XT probably a little near or slightly higher. Assume 130W


Q6600 200W @ 1.45V 300W @ 1.55 So 1.5 ~ 250W
8800GTX 170-180W of heat.

Sorry Elfear your rig is nothing compared to what the OP posted. Not even close.

According to the Extreme PSU Calculator (not the end all be all resource but does a pretty fair job) I get the following values:

E6600@3.6GHz 1.45V = 131W

Q6600@3.6GHz 1.5V = 205W

Both (i.e. two) of my X1900XTs were running at 710/840 1.525/1.15/1.15/1.5V

I compared those two cards against an 8800GTX with every other component remaining the same and measured the following values at the wallplate:

X1900XT Crossfire

4.89A
586.7W at the wallplate
~440W draw from the components

8800GTX

3.28A
394W at the wallplate
~292W draw from the components

Even if you add 74W to the GTX numbers to account for the Q6600, you still wouldn't draw as much power as the E6600/X1900XT combo.

aigomorla- You seem like a fairly knowledgeable fellow and you seem willing to help people a lot of the time, but you really rub people the wrong way sometimes with your posting style.

okey i missed the pair, so im sorry about that. Thanks for the correction. Im flashing back and forth at work. Didnt mean any offense, just your hardware wasnt on PAR with his cuz i missed the 2nd xfire card.

Also, one of my peeves is when people compare dual cores with quadcores expecially in aspect to heat and overclocking.

Still your overshooting your system. I gave you the number estimates for the radiator and class. If you have 440W just on your gpu, and your CPU is another 130W your system's entire load is around 570W!

Holy cow thats a lot of heat....

I honestly think you'd see better results if your cards were on air and you watered the CPU only.


Also true you wont load up your CPU And GPU's at the same time unless your playing an insane game, or your a DCer. But im willing to guess your temps are near on or on PAR to air. Which isnt what the OP wants. Unless he's looking at just silencing the machine.


If i ment offense my bad.... sometimes i cant express what i mean in the way i want when i type things. And im glad you called me on it.


Also if you want to test why i mean your overshooting your system. Run RTHDRIBL + Prime95 on your machine.