Watercooling core i7 GTX 580 tri SLI rig

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660
Hi everyone,

As the title says I am looking to watercool my rig. My rigs main components are:

Core i7 930 @ 4.0 ghz
Corsair Obsidian 800d Case
ASUS P6X58D-E Mobo
EVGA GTX 580 x 3 in tri sli

I have decided that I want to get the hydro copper blocks from EVGA.

What I want to know is what water cooling loop would suffice for this rig (radiators, pumps, kits etc). I do not intend to overclock the 580's very much. All I am looking for is a kit/loop that will give me pretty good temps (not necissarely the best) but above all be quiet.

I have also considered just running my cpu on air and running the 580's off of this kit alone.

I have taken a look at the XSPC RX360 kit and others. My main concern is whether the 360 rad would be enough for this rig or not.

Your advice will be greatly appreciated. I am completely new to water cooling so I need all the advice I can get.

Thanks
 

Homeboy2

Distinguished
Mar 21, 2006
736
0
18,990

No, a single 360 won't be able to handle 3 580's and an I7. Would you consider external rads or do you want everything to fit in your case?
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Well i appreciate the suggestion. I have heard that EK waterblocks are good but I just love the look of the evga version and that they cool the entire card (kinda an evga fanboy i know). So my mind is already made up on that.


 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Thanks for the reply.

Well I want everything to fit internally. That is the main reason I got the 800d case. I just hate the look of external radiators.

Do you think that a 360 rad like the rx360 in the top and an rx120 in the back would be enough? They would all be internal.

I have also seen a mod where there is a 240 rad mounted inside on the bottom of the 800d. Do you think that a 360 + 240 would be enough?
 

Homeboy2

Distinguished
Mar 21, 2006
736
0
18,990


The 360+ 240 would be enough for the 580's. If I were you, I would put a Silver Arrow on the Cpu, and watercool the 580's with the 360 + 240.
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Yeah that is definitely an option. Would be a great way to get just a little bit more radiator to keep everything cool.
 

Homeboy2

Distinguished
Mar 21, 2006
736
0
18,990

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Well I was thinking of using this kit:

http://dazmode.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=178_179&products_id=1079

with this 240 rad:

http://dazmode.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=154_69&products_id=1006

I am trying to keep everything black. Do you think this setup would work well?
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


I just took a look inside my case and I think it might take a little more work than I want it to to make the 240 rad fit in the bottom. If I removed the CPU from the loop and just cooled the graphics cards, do you think that RX360 would be enough to cool just the GPUs? Along as it will be quieter than running them on air and be reasonably cool, I will be happy. I already have a cpu cooler that I am happy with and its really the GPUs that I want to water cool.
 

Homeboy2

Distinguished
Mar 21, 2006
736
0
18,990


Should work as long as you aren't expecting really low temps.
 

rubix_1011

Contributing Writer
Moderator
GTX 580's put out around 244 watts @ 100% load. You are going to run 3...that's 732 watts. The RX360 really only handles about 575 watts or so with 2000 rpm fans.

Where is the other 157 watts going to go? You may likely see better temps than air cooling, but your delta is going to suffer (possibly a great deal) by running more watts into your loop than it has the ability to dissipate out.
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Well i know that running more watts than capacity is not good. Having said that, what would you suggest? Keep in mind i dont want any external rads or do any modding to my case.
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Sorry for the noob question but do you mean the thickness of the radiator?
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Well there isnt really much more room. I have heard of a mod in the bottom of the 800d case but that is not something i want to do. I would have room for an rx120 rad at the back in place of the pre-installed case fan.
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Also keep in mind that I am not looking for really low temps. All that I want is something that will be reasonlby cooler than air (10 degress or so), but much quieter than air cooling.
 

jonathann1818

Distinguished
Nov 5, 2011
69
0
18,660


Well that invloves removing the rivets (not screws) and cutting a hole in the bootom for air flow. I understand that a 240 would really help but i just dont have the tools or the interest in doing that.