water cool - Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme, pls advise

[Guest]

Hi there,

I am going to build myself a water cooled PC, I quite new to this method, and would very much appreciate an experts opinion.


The CPU is a Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme Edition QX9650 "LGA775 Yorkfield" 3.00GHz 1333FSB……

And to keep it cooled I am thinking of using:

1 x XSPC RS360 120mm Radiator (attached to the top of Coolermaster RC-1100 case - http://www.twenga.co.uk/prices-Cosmos-S-COOLER-MASTER-PC-tower-case-411263-0)


3 Fans attached to Radiator (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-022-XS)
- Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25mm
- Rated speed: 2200 RPM ±10%
- Air flow: 88.00 CFM

and water pump + tank: 750 lph:
(http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-011-XS)

Do you think a single radiator would be enough? Would stacking 2 layers of 3 120mm fans onto the single radiator make much difference?

I have considered using external cooling methods, but wanted to try and keep all the cooling contained within the single case.

Many Thanks.

 

[phreejak]

Well, a few questions here to help you out:

What are your o'clocking tendencies?
Exactly what components do you intend on including in your cooling loop? (i.e. CPU, GPU (s), NB, etc.)
If you are only going to cool the CPU right now, do you plan on expanding your loop in the near future to include other components?

A triple 120mm rad is plenty to cool a single component (and is enough to cool additional components provided that your o'clocking tendencies are not "aggressive"). In the case of cooling a single component, you could do with just using a double 120mm rad (even if you o'clock).

The pump/tank combo is alright. While it is more powerful than the MCP350 type it is not as powerful as the more popular Swiftech MCP655/Laing D5 pump which is rated at twice the capabilities of the pump you mentioned (it is offered for sale at the same site as your pump/res combo). With the pump that you are planning on getting it will be tasked if you add too many more components to the loop. As it stands, however, if you are planning on just cooling the one component then it should do fine.

 

[Guest]

Hiya,

The complete cooling loop will consist of the CPU and two x 2gb Memory chips: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-111-OC,

The CPU block at present is (Flow Performance CPU Block (Socket AM2 and LGA 775), until I find a better one at a reasonable price.

I play a lot of graphic intense games, although hopefully the BFG GeForce GTX 280 OC 1024MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) will help with that.

I also plan to make the system raid 5, just for fun really.

I have not yet decided if should cool the memory after the CPU or split the loop into two so that CPU and memory has an equal share of cool liquid, anyway I’ll leave that for another day to work out.

I had browsed so many screen shots of other peoples water cooling builds to get some idea’s, and I noticed many have external cooling systems the size of portable fridges, so I and began to get a little concerned if my one little radiator is going to be enough for my system.

Anyway thanks for your help, I’ll defiantly investigate the Swiftech MCP655/Laing D5 pump you mentioned.

Regards,
A

 

[iluvgillgill]

that cooler will be perfectly fine for the job. because the memory doesnt actually produce that much heat in comparison to NB or GPU if you had it in the same loop.you can mount both side of the radiator with 3 fans,dont stack them one on top of another.

 

[fedtmusen]

Hej adriangb
The danish firm: http://www.danamics.com/
should arrive this months wiith their new cooler.
No I dont work there. I am on their mailing list, and waiting for the mail.
I am building myself another computer, and like you wanted watercooling.
Has now changed my mind after reading on their site. (Very small site)
Liquid metel cools far better than water, but dont drink it!
Have anice build

 

[rubix_1011]

You are going to need at least a 2x120mm radiator...a 3x120mm would allow you to add your GPU in if you wanted without another upgrade (other than GPU block. You always want to gauge what you need by taking each component to be cooled (CPU/GPU/NB/etc) and allocate at LEAST a 1x120mm radiator surface area just for that. 1.5 surface area to 1 component would be even better. And no, stacking 3 rans on each other would do little to help. If anything, one on each side (push/pull like Phreejak suggested) would do far more than 3 stackers.

Also, I don't think that RAM has got to the point where it requires watercooling yet. DDR did get pretty hot, but DDR2 and DDR3 stays pretty cool. You would do better to just get one of those RAM air coolers for ~$20 and use it. Save some money and save your water flow rates...those things would kill your flow.