New WC Build Jekyll & Hyde

[Wolfsburg18]

Case - Mountain Mods U2 UFO Duality Black Wrinkle Coat – Original Top
Case Cooling – Yate D12SM-12 X8
Yate D80SM-12 X4

Hardware (Hyde): New gaming platform
MB – Asus Maximus Extreme
CPU – Intel QX9650
Mem – Corsair Twin3x2048-1800C7dfin G (2 Gig)
GPU – Sapphire HD3870 x2 XFire
PSU - Thermaltake W0133RU (1200W)
HDD - Seagate ST3250410AS X2
Seagate ST3500641AS X1

Watercooling (Hyde): All ½” ID tube
RAD - Thermochill PA120.3 W/ shroud
Pump – Laing DDC 3.2
Pump top – Debating Alphacool or XSPC
Blocks – CPU – EK Supreme
NB – EK NB S-Max
Mosfets – EK Mosfet ASUS 3a-X38
GPU – EK FC3870
SB/XLink – EK SB MAX EX

Proposed Loop T-Line > Pump > Rad > CPU > GPU1 > GPU2 > NB > SB > Mosfets > Return

The order is not set in stone nor is the notion of running dual loops out of the question. See my concerns/questions below


Hardware (Jekyll): Really old components but good enough for my home network server running 2k3 Enterprise, Exchange 2k3, configured as DC, File, Print, Mail server
MB – Tyan Thunderbolt
CPU – PIII 850 Coppermine flipchip X2
Mem – Generic 4Gig
PSU – Can’t recall but sufficient for the board and HDD needs, I’m running one on the board and OS HDD’s and a second for the data raid
HDD - OS part dual Seagate 20G Scsi2 Raid1
Data part 1.5TB various Seagate Scsi2 drives Raid5
GPU – Too old to remember

Questions:
1) Will a single 120.3 with three fans pushing air into the case be enough to cool all my components? Please bear in mind that the new 3870’s are 55nm process so they run much cooler then previous cards. The CPU is also a 45nm process and will also run much cooler. I’m a bit leery of running dual loops and rads and still have enough space for the file server’s HDD’s (If I go dual loop I’ll probably just run the drives in an external case)
2) Water makeup, change cycle, quantity? I plan on using just plain distilled water with a little bit of algae deterrent? Any other recommendations?
3) Waterblock backing plates? What is recommended to use? Do I need backing plates for the GPU, NB, SB, and Mosfets or just the CPU?
4) Thermal paste? AS5 or AS Ceramique

I’m sure I’ll have more questions as this system is torn apart but this initial post is already a long read.

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance

Grim

1. While some of the new components will run cooler I still think this is a bit much to tackle for a single loop. consider a 2nd loop and only use a 120.2 for it and have that cool your cpu. From experience, ditch the idea of cooling the NB/SB and mosfets for now, run with just cooling the main components then upgrade in 6 months or so.
2. Distilled water with PT nuke, add dye to desire. (Make sure you clean everything out per guides except leave the vinegar on the store shelf)
3. If the block for the GPU has a backing plate use it, as for the cpu I find it is about personal choice but I prefer it to keep from warping/bending the board.
4. I prefer ceramique but again this is about choice.

[Grimtas]

@ joecop120 $6K is a lot but it's been nearly 10 years since I built a custom system so I get my money's worth outta them. As for shareing my $$$ you'll have to make an appointment with my accountant. IE The Wife

@ Nate P. 7/16 it is then

@ Wolfsburg18 Thanks for the input to my questions. The only reason I'm looking at cooling the entire board off the bat is I've seen some very bad damage done to these boards after they have been powered up trying to remove the stock cooling setup. I think Asus uses thermal epoxy to put it together. - maybe just removeing the heatpipe and cleaning that garbage off and reinstalling and go from there. It would save a bunch. Nah that's no fun...

Two loops will probably be the route I take in the end 120.2 on the CPU and the 120.3 for the GPU's and MB. Time to start thinking about a case to house all my HDD's for the server.