External radiator

[gaz_az]

I am new to watercooling and have just built my first system. I have two 92mm radiators in the case, since that is all I could fit. When gaming the water temp runs as high as 60-65C, would this be normal or is the cooling inadequate ??

(I am cooling two 8800 ultras, the northbridge and southbridge). I plan to phase cool the processor.

If I need a larger radiator it will have to be external. What would anyone recommend ?? What is the the best way to mount a radiator externally ??

:)

[kevinbo03]

That is very very inadequate. :eek:

I'd suggest at the very least and MCR 320 wit a Radbox:

http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcqposerab1.html
http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcrre2raho.html

If possible, have 2 220's, Or a 320 and a 220. But again, Nothing less then a 320.

Its not that you risk killing your GPUs (Yet), But your temps are likely close to if not worse then stock air cooling. So its worth it to spend $100 and get some real performance out of your loop.

What does your loop consist of Btw?

[Sideroxylon]

IWhen gaming the water temp runs as high as 60-65C, would this be normal or is the cooling inadequate ??

60-65c water temps?!?!?! Holy cow!! That's pretty high. I'm only cooling an oc'd quad core but mine never get past 36c. You need some better radiator action.

[Jedda]

How are you getting that temp reading?

[gaz_az]

How are you getting that temp reading?

Temperature reading with a "Thermosensor G1/4 fitting" seen on this page ...

http://www.candccentral.co.uk/acatalog/Monitoring.html

The loop uses 1/2" tubing and consists of ....

EK-Multioption RES 250mm rev.2 reservoir
Laing D5 Vario 1/2" pump
x2 92mm radiators
x2 EK-FC8800 8800 GTX - Acetal black
Evga 680i board with northbridge and southbridge cooling

When idle it does sit around 45C , but around 60-65C under load !!

The CPU is currently cooled with a Coolit Freezone, but I am going to use phase !

I am really going to have to get more external cooling, there is just no space left inside my case for anything else ! Has anyone any pics of the Radbox fitted externally with a 320 radiator ??


:)

[Jedda]

Yeah, you're going to need a 120mm per card if you're over-c'ing them. A 220 for the sli pair would be the least, I'd do.
But you're on a much better track getting a three fan rad going. There's no substitute for capacity.

[kevinbo03]

Wells, That a very nice loop, And once you get a new Rad, You will LOVE it, I promise.:D


Here's the Radbox diagram for rear mounting:
http://www.swiftnets.com/assets/images/products/MCB-120/radbox-installation-mockup-.gif

And here is the first pic I found of a top mount, Albeit its very ghetto and its using a 480 rad :shakes:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/cooling/1797-top-mount-radiator-what-would-i-need.html#post14318

luckily, I found a better one in the Water Cooled Cases sticky:
http://666kb.com/i/anae6i39cp6spfr94.jpg

[gaz_az]

Thanks again ! I have found this external system from Koolance. Has anyone tried it ?? Wonder if it can be converted to use 1/2" tubing ??


http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=352


:)

[Grafton]

lol you said a dirty word, before some of the forums more active koolance haters get here, here's a list of reasons
1. they use alu. in there rads not a great idea to mix metals in a wc loop
2. they preform worse than almost every other rad on market ( i think i could be wrong but they are on the lower rung of the "ladder")
3. trust me

get a mrc320/220 or a thermochill 120.2/120.3 one of those will yield better results

[jarman]

koolance gear is "ok" if you want something that is slightly better than air, quieter and gets the main sources of heat (gpu/cpu) straight out of the case.

i have an opty 165 running on the original exos @ 3GHz with a 7900GT in the same loop with no problems

[gaz_az]

lol you said a dirty word, before some of the forums more active koolance haters get here, here's a list of reasons
1. they use alu. in there rads not a great idea to mix metals in a wc loop
2. they preform worse than almost every other rad on market ( i think i could be wrong but they are on the lower rung of the "ladder")
3. trust me

get a mrc320/220 or a thermochill 120.2/120.3 one of those will yield better results



OK ! Thanks for the heads up. I am going to go for the Thermochill 120.3 . Any ideas of how to mount it externally at the back of the case ?? I don't want to use a Radbox. I would like some sort of brackets similar to those used in the Koolance system !!

Any links would be appreciated !


:)

[gaz_az]

Ok - I have ordered the 120.3 and 6 good fans for it. WIll that alone be enough for the northbridge/southbridge/mofsets and two overclocked 8800Ultras ??

I could easily keep the two 92mm radiators as well, but they might resitrict my flow. I am not sure :)

[nugzo]

Ok - I have ordered the 120.3 and 6 good fans for it. WIll that alone be enough for the northbridge/southbridge/mofsets and two overclocked 8800Ultras ??

I could easily keep the two 92mm radiators as well, but they might resitrict my flow. I am not sure :)

That should be plenty good. Check out what i just tested to cool my 2 SLI OC'd Ultras. (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=157885) The cheapest lowest flow external i've seen. Temps peaked at 58c looping 3dmark06 @ 2560x1600 4xAA and 4xAF. It really doesn't take as much to cool ultras as i previously thought. I do not have anything else in the loop but temps are still great for what it is. I'm going to mod it maybe change the rad but definitely changing the tubing and pump to 3/8 and mcp355. You should be plenty cool with a pa120.3. 3 fans would be sufficient. Pa's do not need much air. Maybe check out a waterkegIII from newls1 (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=144974&highlight=waterkegIII). Since you already have the rad comin, i believe he'll just send you what you need. great pricing as well. Here is the link to main keg site. (http://www.externalpccooling.net/default.htm)

[gaz_az]

Just to let you guys know. I have added a 120.3 to my setup and all I can say is WOW !!

Water temp around 30oC under load (previously 55). Ultras at 40oC idle (previously 68) and 45-47oC under load (previously 75). Well worth the investment !!

Thanks for all the advice, my case no longer feels like a furnace !

:)