GPU liquid cooling opinions

[NAVI_Z]

Hey Ya'll. Gonna take the plunge and liquid cool my twin XFX HD 5870's.

I would like an opinion or two from those who have liquid cooling

in their rigs. I put together a list of stuff i'm looking at:

Any and all comments are welcome.Thanx to everyone who has helped me out in the past.

you know who are.

 

[MT Alex]

Well, if the MCW80 is around $50, and the heatsinks are around $30, if it were me I'd pony up the extra $10 per card and get a full coverage block. Much more effective, although they are a touch more restrictive than the little swifty. They also crossfire much cleaner, since the bridge tube just goes straight to the other card. I have a full coverage block from Danger Den for my 5870 and it idles at room temp (26), and never goes above 38 degrees, usually 36. I think you would need a dual rad to get anywhere near those temps with two cards.

 

[NAVI_Z]

@Alex:

thanx. i'm thinking dual 120 rads in stacked form with three 120mm fans push pull.i looked at the full blocks but are out of my "budget" range.

 

[robal]

Just one comment:

I used to run a reservoir with integrated pump, but had to return it and go for plain res + separate pump instead.
The reason: noise and vibration.

You'll never get the pump suspended well in a combo reservoir.
Better go for a really cheap reservoir (no pump), and place pump on gel/rubber suspension at the bottom of the case. It's way better this way. Fewer bubbles, noise and vibration.

Cheers,

 

[robal]

Ow.. one more thing... since you're buying from XSPC (I've got XSPC based loop)...
Better go for a smaller RX (thick) rad than a larger RS (thin).
Unless you can't fit RX in your case.

The performance of RX is incredible. I've got only a dual one (RX240) and it's enough to keep overclocked PII 955 and overclocked HD4890 very cool.
And that uses low rpm Scythe Typhoons.

Cheers,

 

[MT Alex]

@Alex:

thanx. i'm thinking dual 120 rads in stacked form with three 120mm fans push pull.i looked at the full blocks but are out of my "budget" range.

You bet. Here's a little fuel for the fire. Check out these babies. Can't be much more, unless you found a smokin' deal. $80 each, plus $14 for the bridge. http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/hegp58.html

 

[timta2]

And skip the Feser One Coolant. I've heard that those coolants are bad news unless you like your stuff all gunked up. Distilled water works awesome and is so much cheaper.

Another pro not mentioned for the MCW80 is that these waterblocks can often times be used on future cards, sometimes over and over. I bought a $8 adapter and I'm using an old MCW60 on a GTX 480. Can't do that with a full coverage block.

 

[mstenholm]

You don't need a reservoir, a tee will do if you have the patience. My 1½ cents (limited experience, just started water cooling myself).

 

[Loosenut]

You don't need a reservoir, a tee will do if you have the patience. My 1½ cents (limited experience, just started water cooling myself).

Rservoirs are good as they allow trapped air in your lines to be evacuated.

 

[mstenholm]

Rservoirs are good as they allow trapped air in your lines to be evacuated.

Sure, but for the price of the combined solution he could get a good pump and as I mentioned "if you have the patience".

 

[NAVI_Z]

how about this monsta.

just curious. my case is at a premium for space as you can see.

not much room.

 

[sneekypeet]

move bottom drive to top bay set, remove lower drive assembly, plenty of room.

Look into a 355 or 655 pump and a res top, they will fit quite nicely down there

 

[NAVI_Z]

@sneeky:

where would i put the double stacked 120mm rads? behind the pump??

 

[sneekypeet]

hang it off the back, outside the case with a radbox or similar product.

 

[NAVI_Z]

@sneeky:

i'm really trying to keep everything inside the case. I'm not a big fan of exterior rads n such.

 

[sneekypeet]

I didnt look too deep but it seems the roof of the case has room for 2 120mm fans. Get a dual rad and hang it up there? That is the Tempest right?

 

[NAVI_Z]

And skip the Feser One Coolant. I've heard that those coolants are bad news unless you like your stuff all gunked up. Distilled water works awesome and is so much cheaper.

Another pro not mentioned for the MCW80 is that these waterblocks can often times be used on future cards, sometimes over and over. I bought a $8 adapter and I'm using an old MCW60 on a GTX 480. Can't do that with a full coverage block.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwQDLeCz9FI



as far as using these blocks on other cards is exactly why i'm lookin at the MCW80.

 

[NAVI_Z]

I didnt look too deep but it seems the roof of the case has room for 2 120mm fans. Get a dual rad and hang it up there? That is the Tempest right?

yes its the tempest.it seems like the the ram cooler and the H50 would be in the way of a dual 120mm rad up top?

 

[JrRacinFan]

Get rid of the H50 and add it to the loop then. Nice little project but just put a 3rd party air cooler on your GPU and be merry.

 

[NAVI_Z]

Get rid of the H50 and add it to the loop then. Nice little project but just put a 3rd party air cooler on your GPU and be merry.

air coolers are just too loud. my 5870's oc to 900&1200!! they sound like hair dryers for cryin out loud!!!...lol

anyways, thats the whole reason for liquid cooling them. low temps and no noise.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Way too loud?
GELID Solutions GC-VGA02-01 1 Ball, 1 Sleeve VGA C...

26dba is too loud? That's just as quiet as your H50.

 

[DrunkenMafia]

I am about to buy one of those MCW80's for my HD5870 as well. I cannot go for a full coverage block because of my case (Antec fusion) as the cards height is already at the top of my case and all (as far as I know) full coverage blocks have the in/out lines on top edge of card.

I can't get my hands on the swiftech heatsink so was just going to use a set of arctic cooling sinks.

I am also tossing up on an XSPC setup. As space is a premium in my case I was thinking of buying the new swiftech drive radiator with integrated pump/res:

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=207_160_297_919&products_id=13304

Its expensive but will suit my purpose well..

I will keep an eye on this thread and contribute when I get my bit organised.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Swiftech MCp355 pump w/ a XSPC Res top is a awesome setup and should be more then enough for a pump and res combo

Also ditch the colored coolant and get colored tubing and then go to the store and get some distilled water and order some PT nuke off petrastechshop. Feser coolant scums up your blocks, pump and tubing while the distilled water runs cooler and much cleaner

 

[NAVI_Z]

PT Nuke?? I've even read sumtin bout water wetter or some other additives n such.

so in other words. use distilled and add a dye,anticorrosion,and some other agents?

 

[NAVI_Z]

Way too loud?
GELID Solutions GC-VGA02-01 1 Ball, 1 Sleeve VGA C...

26dba is too loud? That's just as quiet as your H50.

what kind of temps would i get from that vga cooler??