Water cooling 3570k + crossfire 7970 with XSPC RS360 750/D5 - Is this is a good plan?

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krishy

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Jun 1, 2013
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Hiya,

Okay so I have read the watercooling sticky notes, and would like to thank rubix_1011 for his great work! I have also watched many tutorials on Youtube about this - It does not make me a pro, but i believe I can put it all together now, i just need some advice on parts etc.

Now I am good with building computers, this would be my first water cooling project (90% for fun/experience, 10% OC potential)

My current rig is:

3570k @ 4.2ghz using a cooler master evo
MSI G43 z77 motherboard
8GB corsair vengeance 1600mhz ram
Zalman z11 pro case
2 x powercolor 7970 (stock speeds)
3tb hdd + 60gb ssd - both sata 3
1000w psu 80+ (cant remember the brand, i think its corsair or ocz)


Please understand i have the non-reference 7970's, hence why a full vga block is not an option for me. (Also the EK blocks are not exactly designed for this GPU, but i have found the copper adapter to fill the gap)

My system is fine as it is.. but i want to try something new, and i would love to make my system look even better by watercooling.

After much thought, i have decided to choose the following parts:

1. RayStorm 750 RS360 WaterCooling Kit
2. 2 x EK 7970 ek supremacy + shin adapters
3. The liquid.. not decided but will be blue
4. The crossfire bridge adapters/switch (not sure on the exact terminology, but to make it look cleaner)
5. passive cooling for the vram + mofsets (i will also ensure their is enough circulation inside the case)


My question is, can this all-in-one kit support my cpu AND the two crossfire cards? I mean will the pump/rad struggle with this?

The reason why i choose the rs360 kit is because its slightly cheaper than buying all parts seperately - also, it has some good reviews - however none with crossfire which is why im a little confused.


Do you think this rs360 kit + 2 water blocks will work okay - or will it stress the pump?

Also, if this does seem like a fantastic idea to you, could you let me know what extra threads / tubing /barbs i would need for the EK supremecy blocks.

Also, there is a 750 and d5 version of the pump... i believe the d5 version has a better pump, is this more suitable for my needs?

Many thanks in advance :)
 
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krishy

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Ah i forgot to mention, If the 2 GPU's are too much, I can add another rad (maybe a 240 one)

But im not sure if the pump would be able to handle this (i hope it would..)
 
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kogut

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That kit will work alright for you. The issue with the kit is that you kind of have to adapt to it, instead of adapting individual parts to you. (if that makes any sense)

The radiator is smaller than you think, as that's a pretty thin model. I'd be hesitant to advise adding another radiator to the loop due to the pump handling the flow properly, as you stated.

Overall, the setup you described can be handled by the kit. You'll get a much cooler looking rig, and your noise level should drop dramatically.

Regarding fluid, I use a clear EK fluid and UV-blue tubing. Tube color and fluid color are a personal choice. I had green fluid additive stain copper blocks and vinyl tubing years ago when watercooling was in its infancy, and I've been afraid of the stuff ever since. Pick one you like and give it a shot.

As a side note, I have been placing my orders for liquid cooling products through FrozenCPU for over 10 years now. Things have come a long way, but what hasn't changed is their exceptional level of customer service. If you give them a call, and ask to speak to someone about your specific needs, they can often give you invaluable advice.
I rebuilt my rig with a custom dual loop system in a Corsair 800D a few months back. I talked to Joe at FCPU, and he made sure that what arrived in a giant box on my doorstep later that week was exactly what I was looking for.

Best of luck, and be sure to let us know how it turns out if you do take the plunge!
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Add another radiator to the loop, absolutely! The loss in flow will be NOTHING in comparison to what you get from having two GPU waterblocks, and you need more surface area to dissipate the amount of heat you're talking about.

Is this for looks or for performance? If it's for looks, then absolutely nothing beats pure distilled water with a silver kill-coil in terms of ease of use and heat dissipation.
 
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krishy

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Jun 1, 2013
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Kogut and Darkstable thanks for your replies,
I would definitely be adding another 240 rad to this setup then, just to be safe.

I have read on a few forums that the XSPC 750 pump is not variable and can be loud... whereas the XSPC D5 pump is variable and much more powerful (also has a seperate res).

Which would you reccomend? Would the D5 be overkill? I would prefer silence, but the cost is approx £80 more and would take some more space.

This project sounds so exciting :D
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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The D5 pumps are nigh on legendary around here - they're some of the best you can get. I don't have first hand experience with them, but for two GPU blocks and a CPU block (seriously, radiators don't hardly block the flow at all), I'd be inclined to go with the more reliable, proven pump.
 
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kogut

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No such thing as overkill on your pump. A good pump can make all the difference in the world. If you're going to go with a 120.3 and a 120.2, the upgraded pump is a very wise choice. Variable pump speeds are like variable fan speeds. Not necessary, but a luxury many would gladly pay extra for. Being able to run a near-silent system during normal conditions is one of the amazing things about going to liquid. Cranking everything way up to hit fantastic overclocks and stable temps during gaming (when you have sound going, and maybe some headphones on) is an excellent option to have.

Keep in mind that when it comes to initial investoment, you'll be keeping these parts for many years after purchase, since you can reuse critical elements like pump, res, rads on future builds by just replacing some tubing and waterblocks (if yours stops supporting new hardware mounts).
 
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krishy

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Thanks again guys.

Okay so, Im definately looking at the XSPC D5 kit 120.3 and 120.2.

One final question - about the GPU blocks which i am considering (the EK supremecy)

This is the link: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-282-EK&groupid=962&catid=1520


Is this a good block? It looks very basic, i chose this one based simply on the price.. the best one i can find is the XSPC Raystorm one (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-094-XS)

However the XSPC is £17 (or £34 in total) more than the EK ones.

Would the EK ones be adequate (at stock and if i was to overclock in the future)

Also, do you know if this adapter for the block is good? Reviews seem to think so, but your thoughts would be appreciated (link: http://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-vga-supreme-hf-hd7970-cu-adapter.html)

Thanks again
 
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kogut

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I don't have personal experience with GPU-only blocks in the past several years. However, I have yet to come across an EK product that hasn't been wonderful. I use their Supremacy block on my 3770k.

The adapter looks fine, but made me think...

Do you have a solution for cooling the rest of the cards? I had an ATI 9800 that I cooled with a single GPU block 10 years ago. Back then, I had to purchase little copper-finned heatsinks that I stuck to the individual RAM chips. Not sure how the modern cards handle voltage regulators without a full-block solution. Just be sure you have something setup for the other chips on your boards. They get toasty, too!
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Those are adequate if you have to have universal GPU blocks - I personally would much rather have full-cover blocks. Even though you aren't able to swap them to a different model card, they just perform better and make sure that everything that needs cooling, gets it.
 
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krishy

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My ideal plan was to add these to the vrm +mofsets: http://www.crazypc.com/images/coolers/chip/mc14/mc14full.jpg

I have loads of these spare, which are good quality (arctic i believe)

However, these are probably not the best option - I could also modify the current fans (although this eliminates the point of air cooling)

Would these be enough? Or would these heatsinks cause an eventual fry-up?





I do agree with you, its unfortunate that full cover blocks do not cover non-ref cards.

What do you think about using heatsinks on the vrms?

Thanks
 
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kogut

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I used those little sticky copper guys 10 years ago. They worked great for me, but they started to lose adhesion after a year or so. Is there really no full waterblock that will fit on those cards of yours?

The only thing to consider with the passive method of cooling RAM/VRM is airflow. Be sure you are getting enough air to those cards (typically not a concern on liquid). I once had a tricky little fan that mounted to a motherboard screw, and I could bend and point the fan anywhere I wanted. Maybe try to find something like that?
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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If you look around, you might be able to find a waterblock for your specific PCB - it's worth looking at, anyways.

As for heatsinks, you definitely want something; I've never used those stick-on heatsinks and can't vouch for their ability to dissipate heat, but it's worth a try.
 
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krishy

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There doesnt appear to be any full cover blocks, no - strange as the 7970 is a very popular card, possibly not popular for water coolers though.

I will give it a shot with the heatsinks, i will do lots of stress tests to make sure it doesnt fall off, and i will ensure air circulation is high inside.



I will keep looking, but even if i do find one - the price will probably be excessive and put me off. I will give the heatsinks a try :)


Thank you both for your help,

very much appreciated

 
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