Need assistance with first-time watercooling setup. Micro ATX.
Need assistance with first-time watercooling setup. Micro ATX.
It's my initial experience with watercooling. I'm considering cooling my processor and graphics card, possibly the northbridge as well. I have two 240mm and one 280mm radiator, and maybe a 120mm option too. I want to know if 5 meters of tubing is sufficient and what type of pump would be best.
It's important to identify which parts are being cooled within the loop—CPU, GPU, or both. Both? Or possibly two GPUs? You should consider the TDP values to determine the necessary radiator space and plan accordingly. The watercooling sticky and a radiator TDP estimator sheet are available in my signature line below.
15 feet of tubing usually covers any build, particularly in a compact micro ATX area. D5 and DDC pumps are quite popular, yet there are many options available. I found this link for some information to explore: http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g30/c107...Pumps.html. It’s a good starting point to check out.
With such a limited flow restriction, adding two pumps in series could improve performance and provide backup if one fails. A single pump might suffice, or you could set up separate loops—one for the CPU and another for the GPUs. However, space will likely be your main challenge in a micro ATX setup.
You’ll also need a reservoir, fittings, blocks, and so on. It would be wise to include a drain port at the lowest point in the system.
To get a clearer picture of the situation, I recommend checking out Jaystwocents on YouTube. His watercooling videos helped me gain confidence and gave me a solid reference: http://www.overclock.net/t/1415725/a-gui...tiple-gpus
It's important to identify which parts are being cooled within the loop—CPU, GPU, or both. Both? Or possibly two GPUs? You should consider the TDP values to determine the necessary radiator space and plan accordingly. The watercooling sticky and a radiator TDP estimator sheet are available in my signature line below.