core i5 750 + hd 5970 water cooling build [in the process of ordering]

[dustin1706]

Check out these links for quiet fans and radiator comparisons.

Be Cool: Ultimate 120/140 mm Fans Roundup (page 28) - X-bit labs

Skinnee Labs | Triple Radiator Comparison V2

[kenshin1987]

Will I get decent temperatures (not worse than air cooling) if I go with a single loop solution to cool my current i5 750 + hd 5970 (likely to get a hd 5870 in the future)? Would a 120.3 size rad be enough?

[Levesque]

Originally Posted by kenshin1987

Will I get decent temperatures (not worse than air cooling) if I go with a single loop solution to cool my current i5 750 + hd 5970 (likely to get a hd 5870 in the future)? Would a 120.3 size rad be enough?

I think you will be pushing it a little bit with a Tri-Crossfire set-up and an i5, all on a single triple rad. You could always put a second triple rad down the road when getting the 5870.

It depends on alot of things... What do you want to do with your system? If you like ''playing'' Furmark in extreme burning mode for hours, then those VRMs on the 5970 will get toasty pretty fast in a single triple rad loop (the 5870 VRMs are alot better and colder then those on the 5970...).

The other question is how much do you want to OC and push your voltages on your GPUs and your CPU? If your aiming for 1000/1300 on the 3 GPUs and 4.4-4.5 on your CPU, then 1 triple rad will not be enough.

But for regular gaming and the usual PC things, with mild/average OC, then there will be no problems. So it depends on your needs, and what you're planning to do with your system.

[kenshin1987]

Originally Posted by Levesque

I think you will be pushing it a little bit with a Tri-Crossfire set-up and an i5, all on a single triple rad. You could always put a second triple rad down the road when getting the 5870.

It depends on alot of things... What do you want to do with your system? If you like ''playing'' Furmark in extreme burning mode for hours, then those VRMs on the 5970 will get toasty pretty fast in a single triple rad loop (the 5870 VRMs are alot better and colder then those on the 5970...).

The other question is how much do you want to OC and push your voltages on your GPUs and your CPU? If your aiming for 1000/1300 on the 3 GPUs and 4.4-4.5 on your CPU, then 1 triple rad will not be enough.

But for regular gaming and the usual PC things, with mild/average OC, then there will be no problems. So it depends on your needs, and what you're planning to do with your system.

Yea, I definitely won't be stressing the hardware anywhere near furmark stress test levels. I will be doing some overclocking (nothing too insane). Basically, I am not looking for ground breaking idle/load temps but I want them to be at least the same if not better than air cooling.

Based on what you said, I guess I will stick with a single loop triple rad setup for both my cpu + gpu, and will either add an extra rad or if I have to, setup a second loop when I go trifire.

Here's what my loop is looking like right now, please comment:

RAD:Thermochill PA120.3 Triple 120MM Fan Water Cooling Radiator with 15MM Spacing *No Barbs*
PUMP: Swiftech MCP655-B 12V Industrial Water Cooling Pump *Without Speed Adjustment* 1/2" Barbs
RES: Swiftech MCRES-MICRO REV2 Clear HI-FLOW Water Cooling Reservoir 3/8IN & 1/2IN Barb Fittings
TUBING: Swiftech 7/16IN ID Vinyl Tubing 10 Feet
BARBS: Bitspower 1/2IN High Flow Nickel Plated Thermochill G3/8 Barb Fittings (2 Pack)
GPU BLOCK: Ek Water Blocks EK-FC 5970 Nickel Plated Full Cover Radeon HD 5970 GPU Block G1/4
CPU BLOCK: Apogee XT

[Dazmode]

Originally Posted by kenshin1987

Based on what you said, I guess I will stick with a single loop triple rad setup for both my cpu + gpu, and will either add an extra rad or if I have to, setup a second loop when I go trifire.

Here's what my loop is looking like right now, please comment:

RAD:Thermochill PA120.3 Triple 120MM Fan Water Cooling Radiator with 15MM Spacing *No Barbs*
PUMP: Swiftech MCP655-B 12V Industrial Water Cooling Pump *Without Speed Adjustment* 1/2" Barbs
RES: Swiftech MCRES-MICRO REV2 Clear HI-FLOW Water Cooling Reservoir 3/8IN & 1/2IN Barb Fittings
TUBING: Swiftech 7/16IN ID Vinyl Tubing 10 Feet
BARBS: Bitspower 1/2IN High Flow Nickel Plated Thermochill G3/8 Barb Fittings (2 Pack)
GPU BLOCK: Ek Water Blocks EK-FC 5970 Nickel Plated Full Cover Radeon HD 5970 GPU Block G1/4
CPU BLOCK: Apogee XT

Sounds as good plan.


I would switch from XT as you plan to have several blocks in the same loop. Xt is the most restrictive out all blocks at the moment, so you performance will suffer. Look at Supreme HF, Koolance or Heatkiller as alternative.

[Liu Kang]

Originally Posted by lowfat

He can easily get a system for under $400.

All of the equipment you quoted added up to ~$360 before taxes and shipping... just saying

[Liu Kang]

Kenshin, don't get hung up on the loop design too much... my new rig has 2 CPUs, 4 GPUs and a chipset block that will all run on a single loop. Multiple loops are over-rated, and can add a couple hundred bucks to your build (2nd reservoir, 2nd pump, more fittings & tubing, etc.).

[kenshin1987]

Originally Posted by Liu Kang

All of the equipment you quoted added up to ~$360 before taxes and shipping... just saying

Below $400 won't be possible lol The total cost of everything I need for this build will come to $489. I can probably save like $30 if I get a swiftech mcr320 rad instead of the thermochill but i'm not sure how well the swiftech will perform.

I'll see what kind of temps I get with these components and than decide whether it's worth it to add a second loop. If I can, I would rather simply add on another dual 120mm rad when I go trifire than to start a whole new loop.

Damn this is such an expensive hobby LOL

[lowfat]

Originally Posted by Liu Kang

All of the equipment you quoted added up to ~$360 before taxes and shipping... just saying

Buy the tubing and res @ dazmode instead of DC and it would still be under $400 shipped to Alberta

[gomer]

if you want low noise black ice sr1 series is probably the way to go there abit more expensive but they perform better then a a normal rad with low flow fans. i just found a 480 sr1 at ncix as well 129.99 got it yesterday.