Possible SLI setup?

[Reflex1]

Well ...im planning ahead and getting my main rigs watercooling ready for SLI (when DFI board comes out im changing).

I'm just wondering which one of the following layouts would be better (before i order parts).

also what are the choices in blocks for 6800gt's? ...is it just that one danger den block which costs a lot? i have a mcw-50-t, does that no way fit on ANY of the 6800gt's?

[mushk1n]

1/2" tubes, go for 2nd.... 3/8" or any less... go for 1st... make sure u got a powerful pump and a triple/double fan'd rad if u want good performance...

[CrimeDog]

I'd do the series setup for simplicity, get the new maze4 blocks for 6800 series when they come out, and use 7/16" masterkleer tubing from mcmaster.com

[Reflex1]

im not sure the tubing would bend from block to block in series, maybe with good tubing. there also wont be any cpu block or so (prommie cooled). i was thinking of upgrading my pump eheim 1250 to a swiftech 650, but the rad will be a BIX ...i wud use a bigger one, but i want everything to stay in the case.

got link to that new maze4 block? its not that really expensive one is it...

[Psyche911]

It isn't out yet for the 6800 series. You can see it at DD though:
http://dangerden.com/
There's pics of the new one all over the front page.

I think it will be $50. Not sure though.

[MaxxxRacer]

go for series. 1/2inch tygon will do it nicely..

and get a heatercore with a shroud to cool those babies down.

as for pump go with the mcp600. its the same size as the 650 but more powerful and drains less power and puts less heat into the system.

[Torin]

I'd do them in series, except you might want the outlet of block #1 going into inlet of block #2, instead of outlet of block #2. The new maze4 GPU blocks with brass tops that fit the 6800 would do nicely. I agree with the others, 1/2" tubing, and I definitely recommend the AquaXtreme 50Z. Wondefully quiet pump.

[slayher]

you dont think that series flow would cause the second card to become less stable than the first? The main reason to watercool these badboys is to oc them right? I would think the parallel flow would be better for maximum clocks on both..

Thanks my .02 anyway

[Torin]

Not really, parallel flow would give them equal flow, but at 1/2 the flow to each block, the rise in temps would be a lot higher total on both cards than the second card would experience in series. The water temp is not going to go up significantly at all between the first and second block, especially in comparison to how much temps will go up by cutting your flow in half to each block.

[Holst]

Not really, parallel flow would give them equal flow, but at 1/2 the flow to each block, the rise in temps would be a lot higher total on both cards than the second card would experience in series. The water temp is not going to go up significantly at all between the first and second block, especially in comparison to how much temps will go up by cutting your flow in half to each block.

Thats not entirely true.

The flow in the paralell setup will be higher overall as there is less restriction in the system (depending on rad)

With my own system where my rad isnt very restrictive I got 75% of the flow running in paralell compared to series. So it was less per block, but not as low as 50% as the total flow was up 50%.

This will depend somewhat on what blocks you are using. My experiments where using two identical OCPC blocks and eheim 1250 (low head) pump.
More powerfull pumps and different blocks may act differently.

I tested the flow by filling up a 2L coke bottle and timing it, not super accurate but it demonstrated the differences pretty well.

When you get the blocks I would quickly test flowrate on paralell and series setups and choose the best one. I dont think there will be allot in it temp wize. Ease of tube routing will be important as well.

[MaxxxRacer]

oh, as for the blocks, as the other are reccomending, go with the maze4's or two silverprop hls or sl's depending on height restrictions.

i would think any gain in overal flow would be canceled out by the annoyance of tubing and the decreased flow to each block to make having a parrallel setup worht while..

just use the 50z and u wont have flow problems with ur setup.

[CrimeDog]

i recommend to everyone that you try out the 7/16" tubing. Cathar initially introduced it and it's fantastic. I've used 1/2" tygon and clearflex before and this just beats the snot out of it. Not to mention I paid about $20 for 50' of it. It does 3" circles with ease, so that sli set up should be a breeze with it.

[Reflex1]

those new maze4's looks great ...i'm gonna be going with 2 of them, i hope TEC versions will come out too. btw, do 6800gt's have problems with TEC cooled blocks? (they have a problem with sub zero temps )...but i doubt a 90w TEC would cool a 6800 to sub zero anyways, right/wrong?

i agree that ease of tubing layout will be most important, becuz everything will be in the case, and my case is small.

i wish i cud get the AquaXtreme 50Z here or silverprop hls ...but they aren't avaiable here

[jikdoc]

have to second the recommendations on the 50z pump and the 7/16" mcmaster tubing. i used both with my fusionHL and they work great. 1 more suggestion if you're low on space in your case is a radbox mounted in the rear of your computer. in addition to saving space, it keeps takes cool room air instead of warm case air to cool your rad.

[Reflex1]

thing is i have already got a rad. mounted in my case (top) ...and only a 1x120 mm rad. will fit, so i cant fit a bigger one in, the BIX should be ok tho for only 2 GPU blocks... its doing fine atm cooling a 90w TEC and chipset block.

[MaxxxRacer]

i dont think u would be able to fit dual tec blocks onto the boards with the sli setup. its possible, but unlicly if you consider mounting hardware and everything.