Liquid Cooling Newbie Help

The Indomitable · May 12, 2013

So I recently built a new gaming PC and the problem lately is it's been very loud under load due to the graphics card fans.
So I'm looking to water cool my processor and graphics card to quiet it down a bit using quieter fans.
Under load, the graphics card fans spin at 3k RPM, which sounds a lot like a hair dryer.
PC Specs: AMD 8350
Sapphire Radeon 7970 Vapor-X Ghz edition (3GB)
Cooler Master HAF-X (I can mount a 360 mm radiator in the top and there's one 140mm slot in the back)
Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 motherboard
And I think that's all of importance.
So: What radiator(s) should I get, should I do separate loops for graphics card and processor respectively, quiet fans for the radiators (Was looking at Noctua and a few others)
So how should I go about this whole endeavor? I hear the 7970 I have has a non-reference PCB, but blocks can still be mounted even though they won't reach some parts of the card (VRM I believe)

redeemer · May 12, 2013

A 360 rad can efficiently cool your CPU and GPU with one loop, EK or XSPC would be my choice for blocks and radiators. For barbs and fittings I prefer Monsoon http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=59_346_1026.

The problem is you GPU since its non-reference you cannot go full block therefore those important VRM's will not be cooled effectively. I suggest you sell your Vapor X and grab a reference or even an MSI lightning 7970 variant.

For fans I would for AP-15's

manofchalk · May 13, 2013

First place for an endeavoring water-cooler to stop by, the water-cooling sticky.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/277130-29-read-first-watercooling-sticky
It will explain a lot of what you need to know, and give you a general idea on what to do from there.

From there, pull together a loop that you think will work and we'l give feedback on it.

Your right that your card is not reference design, so your limited to Universal blocks. Which only cool the GPU itself, not surrounding VRAM or VRM's. You get around this by using heatsinks on those parts, you will need airflow over the card for them to work.

I also have a HAF-X with water-cooling in it, the link to my build log is in my sig.
Might help you be able to visualize how it will all work together, as it seems your after a similar loop to what I have.

The Indomitable · May 13, 2013

Oh also, I forgot, but anything past around 1230 mhz is unstable and results in driver crashes. I can run the card safely at 1220mhz and 1600 or so on the VRAM, but anything past that results in random driver crashes and I'm looking to push this card as far as it can go

There is air moving over the card through the 200mm side intake fan, will that be enough if I keep the VRM heatsinks on?

The Indomitable · May 16, 2013

Okay so I'm stuck on deciding a cooler for my GPU. Any recommendations? Also, for any open-loop coolers that I can use for both the CPU and GPU? Fluid, tubing, etc.? Or should I wait until this winter when the 9000 series comes out and get a liquid cooler for that?
Otherwise, I would stick a heatsink http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=35-708-008&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=5&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29#scrollFullInfo on the VRM in addition to the liquid cooler.

rubix_1011 · May 17, 2013

What have you looked at so far that meets your needs and budget? What have you determined to be the TDP you should be looking to dissipate? When you say 'liquid cooler' are you meaning a watercooling loop or one of those all in one units?

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