Cooling Setup for Overclocking, All Thoughts and Opinions Welcome.

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 23, 2013

Hi everyone,

I am looking to water cool a GTX 580 dual SLi setup, this is a first attempt at water cooling my system so opinions and experiences with these parts, or perhaps even suggestions or amendments would be greatly appreciated.

All parts from http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk apart from the distilled water

Water block (for a GTX 580 Nvidia Reference PCB Design)

EK Water Blocks EK-FC580 GTX - Acetal + Nickel
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-FC580-GTX-Acetal--Nickel_38301.html
or
Watercool HEATKILLER® GPU-X³ GTX 570/580 Hole Edition Ni-Bl
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Watercool-HEATKILLERreg;-GPU-Xsup3;-GTX-570580-Hole-Edition-Ni-Bl_25679.html

Pump/Res Combo

XSPC Dual 750lph Bay Pump Reservoir Rev2 Multi Fascia
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/XSPC-Dual-750lph-Bay-Pump-Reservoir-Rev2-Multi-Fascia_939.html
or
XSPC Dual 750lph Bay Pump Reservoir V4 - Black
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/XSPC-Dual-750lph-Bay-Pump-Reservoir-V4-Black_35511.html

Radiator

XSPC AX360 Triple Fan Radiator (Black)
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/XSPC-AX360-Triple-Fan-Radiator-Black_33649.html

Hose and Fittings

Primochill PrimoFlex LRT Advanced hose 16/11 mm - Crystal Clear, 1m (x3 incase of mistakes when cutting) - smaller by one size for a snug fit
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Primochill-PrimoFlex-LRT-Advanced-hose-1611-mm-Crystal-Clear-1m_38447.html

Phobya Hose Clamp Hexagonal Socket 13 - 14.3mm black (for peace of mind only)
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Phobya-Hose-Clamp-Hexagonal-Socket-13-143mm-black_22799.html

13mm (1/2") Barbed Fitting G1/4 With O-Ring (High-Flow SLI) (x6)
http://www.aquatuning.de/product_info.php/language/en/info/p2537_13mm--1-2---barbed-fitting-G1-4-with-O-Ring--High-Flow-SLI-.html

EK Water Blocks EK-PSC Adapter 45° G1/4 Nickel EN (x2)
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-PSC-Adapter-45-G14-Nickel-EN_38318.html

EK Water Blocks EK-PSC Adapter 90° G1/4 Nickel EN
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-PSC-Adapter-90-G14-Nickel-EN_38319.html

1/4" BSPP Variable SLI VID Connector 3 Slot
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/14andquot;-BSPP-Variable-SLI-VID-Connector-3-Slot_497.html

Coolant & Extras

Distilled Water
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bobbys-Healthy-Shop-Distilled-Water/dp/B0035FF28M

Silver Anti Algae Kill Coil by Pulse Modding
http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Silver-Anti-Algae-Kill-Coil-by-Pulse-Modding_1173.html

Many Thanks

P.S.

I would like to apologies if this thread is in the wrong section at all, if anyone can advise on how to move this post I will move it to the relevant section.

namdlo · Sep 23, 2013

Just to make sure - you're just watercooling the video cards - I see nothing mentioned about the cpu.

A 360 should be able to handle it depending on the fans you're going to use - I see no mention of them.

I didn't review your fitting sizes - sorry short on time.

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 23, 2013

Yeah, I am just looking to cool the video cards, I already have a Corsair H60 cooling my CPU.

The fans I'm using are 6 coolermaster jetflo 120mm fans in a push-pull configuration.

The fittings and sizes are what I'm most concerned about with this setup, if you have time at a later stage advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

namdlo · Sep 23, 2013

Just remember you're investing that much $ in 2 generation old video cards.

When you go to change out video cards you're also going to have to change out water blocks on them. That's over $200 wasted every time you replace them.

I'd suggest upgrading your video cards to something newer before investing that much $ for waterblocks.

I'll still try to look at the fittings later.

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 23, 2013

You make an exceptionally valid point regarding the fact that they are 2 generations old, however, while I would like very much to buy new cards the ones I would like are just out of my price range at the moment, so with water cooling I am hoping to prolong the life of my current cards.

Thanks for taking your time to respond to this thread.

toolmaker_03 · Sep 23, 2013

Well i have a SLI GTX580 setup loop and with two thin 360mm radiators it stays cool.

I have two loops one for the CPU and the other for the video cards but i think that one thick 360mm radiator would be able to cool two cards.

With the right setup on it.

toolmaker_03 · Sep 23, 2013

this is the inside of the case

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 24, 2013

Thank you for images of your 580 SLi setup toolmaker_03.

May I ask what sort of temperatures you are getting on your cards with that setup?

Could I ask your opinion on the variable SLi connector I have chosen, would that suffice or would you recommend something different?

Once again, thanks for taking the time to reply to this thread.

4Ryan6 · Sep 24, 2013

NoobPCBuilder_18 :

You're asking a lot as most post the individual parts linked independently, but you're asking us not only to advise you but go look up the parts individually ourselves?

As one that has actually run 2 580GTX water cooled in an SLI setup, a 360 rad will give you about a 40c load, and probably more on the plus side of 40c, which is still not bad as stock load was 80c.

I see no mention of the exact 580GTXs cards you'll be putting the Full coverage water blocks on, but FYI EVGAs 580GTX reference design cards came in a IHS and Non IHS version, so if it's not an EVGA card you'll be OK going with reference water blocks.

With all due respect if you need fitting advice or any other component advice supply a direct link to what you have questions about.

toolmaker_03 · Sep 24, 2013

well for short connections that is basiclly what i am using for longer extenshions i use the solid tubing it provides some support for the two cards

toolmaker_03 · Sep 24, 2013

as far as temps go, the hottest that i have ever gotten the video cards is 43C, but i have no dought that one day a game will be made that heats these cards up.

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 24, 2013

HI 4Ryan6,

I have updated the thread to include links to all of the individual parts.

Thanks for posting your previous experience with 580's in SLi and the temperatures you achieved. The exact card I am looking to use is the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 [ZT-50101-10P].

The main area I am looking for advice is the Hose and Fittings I have chosen for my setup.

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 24, 2013

Hi toolmaker_03

Those sound like some great temperatures, what games and settings where you using when getting these temperatures if you don't mind me asking?

toolmaker_03 · Sep 24, 2013

I play games currently at 2048X1536 but i plan to upgrade my monitor to a 4K as my next upgrade.
I play lots of games, all of them, with everything on, otherwise what is the point, if i cant play the way the designers intended, than I would need to do somthing to my system that would fix that issue.

toolmaker_03 · Sep 25, 2013

When it comes to tubing I have used a lot of diffrent types, and out of all of them, I like norprene tubing the best. The thick wall 3/8ID X 5/8OD norprene tubing will last for years. so the compression fittings to match would be 3/8ID 5/8OD fittings. a few triple rotery 90's will make the build easy to tube.

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 25, 2013

Hi toolmaker_03

with your experience with different types of tubing, would you say that the tubing and barbs I have gone for will work? after reading the sticky on "hose and fittings" I thought the route to take would be a 7/16 ID tubing with a 1/2 I/D barb for as secure a fit as possible.

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Primochill-PrimoFlex-LRT-Advanced-hose-1611-mm-Crystal-Clear-1m_38447.html

http://www.aquatuning.de/product_info.php/language/en/info/p2537_13mm--1-2---barbed-fitting-G1-4-with-O-Ring--High-Flow-SLI-.html

i've also decided to add in a couple of angled fittings to reduce any possible stress on the tubing:

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-PSC-Adapter-45-G14-Nickel-EN_38318.html (x2)

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-PSC-Adapter-90-G14-Nickel-EN_38319.html

toolmaker_03 · Sep 25, 2013

I use compression fittings, but with any tubing that is being attached to barbs, I would use some type of clamping system to secure the tubing to the barb.

toolmaker_03 · Sep 25, 2013

small zip ties work well for this

that is how i did my pumps

toolmaker_03 · Sep 25, 2013

here is a close up of what i mean

NoobPCBuilder_18 · Sep 25, 2013

Decided to go with the following just for peace of mind to really secure the tubing over the barbs:

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Phobya-Hose-Clamp-Hexagonal-Socket-13-143mm-black_22799.html

toolmaker_03 · Sep 25, 2013

Yea thoese are nice, they should do the job.

Cooling Setup for Overclocking, All Thoughts and Opinions Welcome.

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