Is 1 loop enough?

[Darxide]

I need some advice. This is my first watercooled rig.
It's a Thermaltake Armor+ LCS with a full WC setup built in. ( It's a 3 bay setup similar to the bigwater model ).

Anyway, I'm only using it to cool the CPU, a Phenom II 940.
It performs very well, idle around 29/30c, and under heavy load hits around 40-ish.

Do you think this setup would manage if I added 2 graphics cards into the loop?

I'm gonna buy 2 HD4890's for Xfire, and would like to use waterblocks on them.

Will this be OK, or would a second loop be needed?

Thanks.

[MomijiTMO]

The 4890s are hot. Maybe also add another radiator if you want to keep similar cpu temps.

[Waterlogged]

*sigh*I guess ppl have stopped reading my sig.

[zeroibis]

Maybe you should add this: "Just because it can cool a 60W light bulb does not mean it can cool a nuclear reactor."

In short, your going to need a better system to cool that with water...

[ILikeCosmosS]

if you dont use much of your bays you could easily put a 240/360 rad up at the front and i think you would be fine as long as you dont overclock the 4890s to much to keep those same temps

[millertime359]

*sigh*I guess ppl have stopped reading my sig.

:ROTF:

[Junimrox]

OMG, i thought it was only me that was disgusted by thermaltake. all their products are for noobs... i had one thermaltake case and even modding it to the limit is still sucked.

[MpG]

You're not going to put a couple of video cards into that loop without your temperatures getting severely worse. The pump doesn't have the power to keep a good flowrate through multiple blocks, and a single radiator unit isn't going to be able to get rid of that much heat without getting into some unhealthy fluid temperatures.

[BringerOdeath]

Get and XSPC and RX240 or 360, hang it off the back of the case and get adecnt pump for it to cool the graphics cards! at least the Thermaltake rads are only aluminum on the fins and the tubes are still copper...So it could be worse....:(

[Waterlogged]

Get and XSPC and RX240 or 360, hang it off the back of the case and get adecnt pump for it to cool the graphics cards! at least the Thermaltake rads are only aluminum on the fins and the tubes are still copper...So it could be worse....:(

Actually, there was a change in rad design where they switched to a full aluminum rad for LCS cases. The Bigwater's and addons are still the older design though.

[shazza]

Hey guys, let's not bash the setup too badly - Darxide already owns it and is asking a legitimate question.

My thoughts (given no experience with the Thermaltake pump, etc.): I think you'd be pushing it to add 2 x 4890s - you might get by at stock settings, but iffy. You could always add the 4890s, and if you're not happy with the temps, then you could look at doing a separate loop for them.

I've limited experience with AMD, but so far the Phenom II appears to run much cooler than comparable Intel systems. Just not sure how it will scale with 2 x 4890s.

Let us know what you decide to do.

[BringerOdeath]

Actually, there was a change in rad design where they switched to a full aluminum rad for LCS cases. The Bigwater's and addons are still the older design though.

Really? I have a friend who had that Kandalf LCs case a couple of year ago and it had the copper tubing with the aluminum fins. Did they start making it all aluminum recently??:confused:

[kinzaru]

One loop?? One loop is NEVER enough :D

[Sn@ke:~]

I need some advice. This is my first watercooled rig.
It's a Thermaltake Armor+ LCS with a full WC setup built in. ( It's a 3 bay setup similar to the bigwater model ).

Anyway, I'm only using it to cool the CPU, a Phenom II 940.
It performs very well, idle around 29/30c, and under heavy load hits around 40-ish.

Do you think this setup would manage if I added 2 graphics cards into the loop?

I'm gonna buy 2 HD4890's for Xfire, and would like to use waterblocks on them.

Will this be OK, or would a second loop be needed?

Thanks.

Please make yourself a favor and at least get a better CPU block.

You will need a better pump and an extra radiator to make it worth while I would get a 360.

[Waterlogged]

Really? I have a friend who had that Kandalf LCs case a couple of year ago and it had the copper tubing with the aluminum fins. Did they start making it all aluminum recently??:confused:

Not sure when the change took place exactly. There also, from their site anyways, seems to be only 1 model sporting the new rad.

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1161&ID=1410#Tab0

Their site is very carefully crafted so they avoid mentioning the materials used in their LCS case loop components but the rad they show it the link is definitely a "conventional 2 pass" style rad (although it might be a 4 pass :shrug:). Here is an "upgrade" version of that same rad.

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1162&ID=1843

[Darxide]

Wow, wasn't expecting that. I can feel the love for Tt in the room.

I'm just gonna do it and see what happens. The Armor+ has lots of room if I do need to add a second loop, so thanks for the replies.

And regarding the CPU block, why?
As I write this, coretemp is flicking between 26/27 C.
How much better do you want?

[Darxide]

Just been looking into the second loop option, and please remember that when it comes to watercooling, I AM a noob....

The Armor+ case has push-out holes on the back, I assume to run tubes outside the case, and there is a good amount of space on the back to mount a rad.

So what I would like to know now, if I keep the Tt inbuilt just to cool the CPU, what options do I have for the 4890's?

Obviously I'm looking for a rad that I can mount on the back of the case, and would prefer a reservoir with the pump already inside.

What do you guys think of the XSPC stuff, like the 5 1/4 bay res?

And what blocks would you suggest for the 4890's?

And before you answer, remember, NOOB ;)

EDIT, BringerOdeath , sorry, just saw your post about the XSPC, is this the one you mean RAD (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-021-XS&groupid=701&catid=193&subcat=1041)

What about the XSPC RES with in-built pump? Are they OK?

[BringerOdeath]

You can get an mcp-355-ddc 3.2 and get an XSPC res top for it!! It would be much better that th res with the built in pump!

[millertime359]

@ Darxide

Here are some of the components the guys are talking about.

pump:http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=201&products_id=20655

res top: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=439&products_id=23357 (sold out on P-PC, but sidewinders has it: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/xsacreforlad.html)

Rad: I'm linking the Swiftech version, but there are other versions out there. This one one the less expensive options and seems to get the job done: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200&products_id=4309

mounting of rad: This allow you to space the rad off the back of your case. Swiftech version: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=335&products_id=1956 Bitspower version: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=335&products_id=24148

I don't have any AMD products myself, but it seems the guys on here that do are using these blocks and like them: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=240&products_id=25577

[OldnBold]

And regarding the CPU block, why?
As I write this, coretemp is flicking between 26/27 C.
How much better do you want?

Not when you add the graphics cards into the loop :rolleyes:

[Darxide]

Ah, now I like that res.
I assume it would be easy to mount that pump with that res top on the floor of the case?

Also, looking at those rads, I may be limited to a single, as I think a double 'might' conflict with the DVI out on my graphics card.

Thanks, I've got a better idea now of what I need. 2 loops it is :)

[millertime359]

Those rad supports are 35 mm wide. If you need more room, you can even use standoff screws to push it out more. If you are really concerned, Koolance has an expensive adjustable bracket: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25631

Here is a photo from the watercooling gallery of that Swiftech bracket mounted:




http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/Adicto/CIMG1352.jpg



From what I have been hearing from these guys on those cards (I am new to this myself) You may regret not getting a double or triple rad for cooling them. The dimensions are all listed for the products, do some measurements of the back of your case before you decide.

[faster3200]

If you buy new parts just make sure you keep them in a different loop from the TT stuff. Alu + Copper doesn't mix well and you will just end up ruining all your parts.

Darxide, what settings are your proc at?

[Darxide]

If you buy new parts just make sure you keep them in a different loop from the TT stuff. Alu + Copper doesn't mix well and you will just end up ruining all your parts.

Darxide, what settings are your proc at?

Yeah, I'm thinking of keeping the Tt on the CPU only, and the new loop for the 2 4890's.
The proc is running at stock 3Ghz right now, but I will be pushing it up a bit. I just have no need to atm. ( Have tested it up to 4Ghz ).

[Waterlogged]

Darxide, Just a warning, I suspect the Armour+ also uses the new aluminum rad design. The pic they use on their site is rather small (I'm guessing it's to prevent ppl from properly identifying it) but, it does appear to be the same construction. Make sure you use quality anti-corrosion fluids if you continue to use it.

The reason there is so little love for Tt liquid cooling gear here is it can easily be beaten by quality air cooling gear and has cost some of the ppl here that started out using it a great deal of money by breaking down or failing miserably and taking the rest of the system with it.