Building new liquid cooled pc need some finishing suggestions please

aiRWaLKRe

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I have a little knowledge of liquid cooling from past experience, just cooling a CPU. Well now it's time to build good PC that has liquid cooling for an i7 980x and 3 probably nvidia gtx 480's, maybe the 580's, and most likely liquid cool the RAM too. I will do some overclocking in the future, but I want it liquid cooled now. Budget not much of a concern :)

Here is a list of parts for the PC and cooling I am looking at for my build then after-wards I'll list a few questions to help finish up the build:

CASE:
SILVERSTONE TJ07 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163067
or Corsair Obsidian Series 800D - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001

PSU:
SILVERSTONE ST1500 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256054

MB:
ASUS P6T7 WS Supercomputer - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131390

RAM: 12GB brand TBD later

CPU:
i7 980X

GPU:
GTX 580 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121409
GTX 480 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121373

HDD: already bought a SSD or two by the time of this posting :)

BLURAY: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135234

OTHER FANS DEPENDING ON CASE AND WATER COOLING SETUP : ???

WATER COOLING:
CPU: HEATKILLER CPU Rev3.0 - http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25218
GPU: 480 GTX VGA Liquid Cooling Block - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10943/ex-blc-748/EK_GeForce_480_GTX_VGA_Liquid_Cooling_Block_-_NickelAcetal_EK-FC480_GTX-NickelAcetal_Hot_Item.html
gpu liquid link bridge - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10971/ex-blc-758/EK_FC_Bridge_Triple_Parallel_-_SLI_Connection_EK-FC_Bridge_Triple_Parallel.html?tl=g30c101s873#blank
RAM: ???
PUMP: Laing DDC Rev. 3.25 - http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9495/ex-pmp-84/Danger_Den_Laing_DDC_Rev_325_Liquid_Cooling_Pump_-_12_Volt_-18_Watt.html
RAD: Thermochill PA120.4 - http://www.jab-tech.com/Thermochill-PA120.4-pr-4502.html
or Thermochill TA120.4 - http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/tahipera15.html
RES: T-line or http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCRES-Micro-Rev-2-pr-4312.html

Now for the questions:

1. I have researched that a 120.4 can do a cpu and a gpu plus maybe something else but since I cooling 3 gpu and cpu and maybe even the ram being liquid cooled leads me to ask: Should I get 2 thermochill 120.4? Which leads to next question

2. If I need two rads in the loop would I need a second pump to ensure good flow?

3. Depending on the number of pumps and rads the loop would look like ( feel free to tell me a good loop as I never liquid cooled more than a cpu )
one pump: ( 1rad - RES>PUMP>RAD>CPU>RAM>GPU's ) or ( 2rad - RES>PUMP>RAD>CPU>RAM>RAD>GPU's )
two pump: ( 1rad .- RES>PUMP>RAD>CPU>RAM>GPU's ) or ( 2rad - RES>PUMP>CPU>RAM>PUMP>RAD>GPU's )

4. Would you buy the thermochill TA 120.x over the thermochill PA 120.x? quoted from their website "The TA series features the same great build quality you have come to expect from the PA series, but with an improved core, G1/4" ports and 15mm spacing to ensure full compatibility."

5. Now the case comes into question the silvertone tj07 seems to have good amount of room for a couple 120.3's. But I was looking at http://www.mountainmods.com/CYO_picker.php and might get an extended u2ufo case made to ensure enough room for two rads pumps and res and everything else in the pc :)

6. Anyone know of any front panel drive bay type of flow displays that have an auto shutdown function incase im not at home and my flow stops it can shut off my pc befor things get too hot?

7. Haven't decided totally on the liquid cooling of the RAM but I think I want to just for the heck of saying I have it cooled too what would you suggest to cool it the thermal take http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1446&ID=1622 or koolance http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9208/ex-blc-622/Koolance_RAM-33_Ram_Liquid_Block_-_Single_DDRDDR2DDR3SD_and91no_nozzles.html ( I like the look of this koolance one ) or some other liquid ram cooler?

8. While looking at the u2ufo case modding I see I can that I can have the MB horizontal instead of vertical would this have much affect to the flow through the GPU liquid parallel block and the CPU? I wouldn't think it would make much a different since its about liquid pressure and not much gravity ( I know about max height for the pumps loop ) for the fluid dynamics of the loop

I do believe that is all the questions I have for now until more come up from what people say in this discussion
 

rubix_1011

Contributing Writer
Moderator
1. I have researched that a 120.4 can do a cpu and a gpu plus maybe something else but since I cooling 3 gpu and cpu and maybe even the ram being liquid cooled leads me to ask: Should I get 2 thermochill 120.4? Which leads to next question

A 4x120 rad would barely be enough to cool a CPU and 1 GPU. Rule of thumb: a single 2x120 worth of radiator per CPU or GPU or larger rads that equal this (which is commonly how it is done.) You are looking at the ballpark equivalent of two 3x120's and one 2x120...or two 4x120's.

2. If I need two rads in the loop would I need a second pump to ensure good flow?

No, but in a 3X SLI + CPU loop, you might consider dual loops or a big pump like the MCP655 or MCP35x. Dual loops could run a smaller pump like the MCP355's, but even those are very powerful, especially with an aftermarket top.

3. Depending on the number of pumps and rads the loop would look like ( feel free to tell me a good loop as I never liquid cooled more than a cpu )
one pump: ( 1rad - RES>PUMP>RAD>CPU>RAM>GPU's ) or ( 2rad - RES>PUMP>RAD>CPU>RAM>RAD>GPU's )
two pump: ( 1rad .- RES>PUMP>RAD>CPU>RAM>GPU's ) or ( 2rad - RES>PUMP>CPU>RAM>PUMP>RAD>GPU's )

Loop order doesn't matter as long as the reservoir (if you have one) is above and feeds into the pump...the rest of the loop order doesn't matter...your temps will only be a few degrees Celsius different at any point in the loop, provided you have adequate flow and enough radiators to dissipate heat.

Don't WC your RAM...its a waste of money and won't benefit your overclocking at all. (See comments/suggestions below on RAM cooling...response to #7)

4. Would you buy the thermochill TA 120.x over the thermochill PA 120.x? quoted from their website "The TA series features the same great build quality you have come to expect from the PA series, but with an improved core, G1/4" ports and 15mm spacing to ensure full compatibility."

It's in your best interest for you to learn what is good for your setup and budget.

I think this is what you are looking for:http://skinneelabs.com/ta120.3.html?page=1
and: http://skinneelabs.com/triplesv2.html

5. Now the case comes into question the silvertone tj07 seems to have good amount of room for a couple 120.3's. But I was looking at http://www.mountainmods.com/CYO_picker.php and might get an extended u2ufo case made to ensure enough room for two rads pumps and res and everything else in the pc

MountainMods cases are awesome...and have a ton of space for big water loops, depending on the case and application. You are going to need more than 2 triple radiators for your loop, regardless if its a single or dual loop setup.

6. Anyone know of any front panel drive bay type of flow displays that have an auto shutdown function incase im not at home and my flow stops it can shut off my pc befor things get too hot?

I've had the same MCP655 for 5+ years and its still running...in fact, I'm using the PC now.

If you are concerned about temps+shutdown, most thermal monitoring software like RealTemp and CoreTemp have the ability to shut down the PC if your CPU reaches a certain threshold. Consider that (free) before buying anything. Plus, most motherboards have the ability to shutdown due to thermal issues.

(You sound like you don't have much trust in water pumps...maybe you are considering the wrong hobby.......?)

7. Haven't decided totally on the liquid cooling of the RAM but I think I want to just for the heck of saying I have it cooled too what would you suggest to cool it the thermal take http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Prod [...] 46&ID=1622 or koolance http://www.frozencpu.com/products/ [...] zzles.html ( I like the look of this koolance one ) or some other liquid ram cooler?

Don't watercool RAM or MOSFETs. The blocks are incredibly restrictive and you don't gain anything from it. DDR2 and DDR3 run very cool as-is. If you want a cooler, consider a fan cooler like these: http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g40...eatsinksCoolers-Active_RAM_Coolers-Page1.html

8. While looking at the u2ufo case modding I see I can that I can have the MB horizontal instead of vertical would this have much affect to the flow through the GPU liquid parallel block and the CPU? I wouldn't think it would make much a different since its about liquid pressure and not much gravity ( I know about max height for the pumps loop ) for the fluid dynamics of the loop

No, doesn't matter. Once you have a filled loop, the gravity has no bearing on water since it is in a constant state of push/pull by the pump. Consider a train that goes in a circle; and the engine loops around to couple to the caboose, forming a single, complete train...it is both pushing and pulling at the same time, uniformly.
 

stingstang

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I agree with the above, except that RAM runs cool. It doesn't run cool, just water cooling it won't yield any significant results... But we're not looking for results, we're looking for cool points, am I right? Go over to koolance.com and check out their RAM blocks, if they are still available.
 

aiRWaLKRe

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Thanks for the info




Thanks for those reviews I was looking for something like that. And I was already considering I would need two 120.4's, hence why I want that mountainmod case :) Maybe do the two 120.3 with a 120.2 or the 2 120.4 it will all depend on how I want my mountainmod case to look

I did look a bit at the 655 pump you mentioned after I had posted so I want that one now.

And I did say near the beginning of my message that the budget is not much of a concern so I can get the good stuff and do it right.

I looked at those ram coolers you listed from frozenpc and I like the corsair dominator.

I guess now I have to decide how I want the setup inside a u2ufo mountainmod :)
 

ortoklaz

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why not Ascension CYO / 3x triple PA-TA or XSPS RX/ single loop~single MCP35x/ ?
or U2-UFO DUALITY/2x triple
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/xsrx3xrare2.html
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmc12vdcpu1.html

here is one of the bast ram air coolers;
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9717/vid-131/Arctic_Cooling_RC_Turbo_Module_Active_RAM_Cooler_Attachment_AC-RC-TM.html?tl=g40c18
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9718/vid-132/Arctic_Cooling_RC_Pro_Thermodynamic_RAM_Spreaders_-_DDR2_DDR3_SDRAM.html?tl=g40c18
Note;you buy this separate
 

rubix_1011

Contributing Writer
Moderator
I agree with the above, except that RAM runs cool. It doesn't run cool, just water cooling it won't yield any significant results... But we're not looking for results, we're looking for cool points, am I right? Go over to koolance.com and check out their RAM blocks, if they are still available.

Explain how RAM doesn't run cool? I can touch my sticks of RAM in my machines (DDR3 and another with DDR2) and both barely register as being warm to the touch. I'm not certain you are providing valid input with this suggestion...especially with the lack of explanation for the rebuttal.

Like I said before, RAM and MOSFET waterblocks are highly restrictive to flow rates and will do little more than slow the entire loop's flow and hinder cooling.

You will not gain any kind of overclocking value by watercooling RAM. MOSFET watercooling is highly questionable for results as well. In the days prior to DDR, RAM did run a little warm when compared to DDR and especially to DDR2/3.