New gaming setup with cooling and all the components – what do you need help with?
New gaming setup with cooling and all the components – what do you need help with?
I have a question I cannot find answers for:
If I get a GTX 1080 TI, which one makes sense? Is it a good idea to take the FE? Some information mentioned power caps where the Asus Strix was not as limited as the FE. Since all the cooling is replaced by a waterblock, what is the main difference?
I also checked different cases and read that the PC-O11 Dynamics might have trouble fitting a 1080 TI with the cooling tubes due to height restrictions—anyone confirm this issue?
Founders Edition cards are meant to be Nvidia reference boards. I believe ASUS doesn't adhere to reference boards, so you'd have to locate the exact full cover for each card type.
When employing water cooling, the distinctions between FE and i.E. the FTW3 or Strix in terms of performance and temperature would be clear. Additionally, I need to find a pump and reservoir that match my preferences: the CPU should light up blue, the GPU blue, the reservoir blue, and the tubes black (hard tubes). I’m considering a glacier R220 with a Bitspower D5 MOD TOP S-Model. My current list can be found here: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/user/heissim/saved/mjv6sY. Also, I’m curious about VRM cooling for the Maximus X Hero.
heise.simon
I have a question I can't find answers for:
If I get a GTX 1080 TI, which one makes more sense? Should I take the FE? I read about power limits where the Asus Strix wasn't as restricted as the FE. Is there a big difference without the waterblock?
I also checked various cases and saw that the PC-O11 Dynamics might struggle to fit a 1080 TI because of height constraints. Anyone confirm this issue?
Simon
Check out this video—it reviews the case and discusses the fitting challenges, including a link to a PDF with compatible water blocks. From what I see, FTW3 has the most issues, though many other 1080 TIs should fit. He also mentions needing three 360-degree fans and suggests adding them in your PC part picker:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdsVU1i6Y_Q
when using water cooling, the differences between FE and i.E. the FTW3 or Strix in terms of performance and temperature are notable. Additionally, I'm searching for a pump and reservoir with specific requirements: the CPU should light up blue, the GPU should also glow blue, the reservoir needs blue illumination, and the tubes must be black (hard tubes). I’m planning to use a glacier R220 with a Bitspower D5 MOD TOP S-Model. My current selection can be found here: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/user/heissim/saved/mjv6sY. Regarding VRM cooling, it seems suitable for the Maximus X Hero; it handles 5.2Ghz on my i5 8600K without overheating, and the CPU/VRM water blocks look excellent. I’m considering purchasing one just for aesthetic appeal. The only drawback with the Maximus is that the internal USB 3.0 header is located at the bottom of the board, and the thick internal cable makes it tricky to fit the cable in, though alternatives exist. As for temperature performance, FTW3 or Strix should perform similarly, but the type of thermal paste or liquid used could affect results. Performance remains uncertain without knowing if a reference card was used versus FTW3 or Strix, and using a warranty card might offer a slight speed boost.
Hi everyone,
after long times of search I have come to certain conclusions but new questions:
My current list
PCPartPicker part list:
https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/N8fGxG
CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor (€320.00)
Motherboard: Asus - ROG MAXIMUS X HERO (WI-FI AC) ATX LGA1151 Motherboard (€300.00)
Memory: G.Skill - Trident Z RGB 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory (€170.00)
Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive (€155.00)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB FTW3 GAMING iCX Video Card (€550.00)
Case: Lian-Li - PC-O11DX ATX Full Tower Case (€130.00)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - PRIME Titanium 650W 80+ Titanium Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (€170.00)
Other: GPU-Waterblock - EK-FC1080 GTX Ti FTW3 RGB - Nickel (€130.00)
Other: CPU Waterblock - EK-Supremacy EVO RGB - Nickel (€70.00)
Other: Reservoir - HEATKILLER® Tube 200 D5 (€90.00)
Other: Pump - EK-D5 PWM G2 Motor (12V DC PWM Pump Motor) (€65.00)
Other: Radiator - Hardware Labs Nemesis Black Ice GTX 360 (€105.00)
Other: Mounting Bracket - HEATKILLER® Tube - basic mounting kit (€15.00)
Other: Fan Adapter - HEATKILLER® Tube - 120mm fan adapter (pair) (€10.00)
Other: 2xLED - HEATKILLER® LED Stripes - Size S - RGB (€25.00)
Other: 3x Fans - SP120 PWM High Performance Edition High Static Pressure (€50.00)
So basically I am having the following issues:
GPU:
The case has very limited (horizontal mount) support for GPU waterblocks, due to height restrictions.
- EVGA 1080 TI FTW3 with EKWB waterblock --> only fits vertically
- Asus GTX 1080 TI Strix with EKWB waterblock --> only fits horizontally but plastic parts need to be removed
- Founders Editions also work
So what should I do? Does the FE make a difference in performance when overclocking? Which are those plastic parts that Lian-Li talks about? Do you have any other Asus RGB sync compatible waterblocks with similar performance fitting this case?
Case:
Availability on the vertical mount bracket is horrible, it is not available anywhere
I would use one Radiator on the top of the case (Most likely a GTS360 or GTX360) - Would you recommend Push or Pull? I am currently opting for a pull-config that blows out of the case.
Since I am rather planning on vertical GPU mount I would use the the other radiator section with 3 fans as intake. On top of these fans the reservoir will be mounted.
Radiator:
Hardware Labs seem to have great radiators. There is only one slight drawback. It has its Ports (In and Out) only on one side which might make tubing a little harder. What do you think?
Tubing:
I will use hard tubes and bent them myself.
Coolant:
Since I want to use the Asus Aura RGB of my Mobo so I can switch colors and patterns whenever I feel like I was wondering if a UV reacting coolant would make sense for some cool glowing looks. Or will it be "cool" enough to have clear coolant with only the Aura Light? What will the tubes look like then? I guess they might not really fit into the rest if they are not light up. DO you have any suggestions to get a harmonic lighting in the case?
Fans:
Perfect would be Asus Aura RGB fans, but it might also be overkill so what do you think about these? For the other case fans I will find a solution.
General:
Do you see issues? Incompatibilites?
Best regards and thanks
Simon
It's quite literally a lot of text, so perhaps it was more than people wanted to read and process all at once. I have to admit, the list of components you picked is solid, so I don't think anyone can criticize you there. I'm not familiar with ASUS hardware (I used to be in the Pentium 3/4 days), so I wouldn't have chosen a different motherboard—just personal preference.
Asus Strix cards usually come with non-reference PCB layouts, which means they generally need a dedicated watercooling block tailored for them. EK often produces cards for these models, but the Founders Edition cards are Nvidia-based and follow their specifications. (I own an EVGA 1070 FE.) The FE cards tend to offer superior power delivery and cooling options compared to non-FE cards. Initially, it was believed that FE cards were used only with certain GPUs and memory modules, but I think that's not accurate. My advice is to opt for a FE card unless you find a Strix model with a waterblock specifically designed for your model number.
Following your suggestion would be wise—fans will run quieter and at lower speeds, and better cooling can be achieved with properly configured fan curves or a quality controller.
HW Labs produces excellent radiators, even though some models are quite old, they remain high-quality products. In the early days of watercooling, all radiators had only single in/out ports, positioned on the same end at a 90-degree angle. Many still use this design, though G1/4 ports are now common as well. Look for something that fits your requirements. There are many good options available, so don’t overthink it too much.
I’m ambitious about starting a watercooling build, but I recommend practicing your tube-bending skills first. Many people discover they need to try several prototypes before mastering the technique. It does involve a learning curve, just like anything else.
I don’t favor fancy coolants or colored tubing in my loop setup. I use colored tubing and pure distilled water with an antimicrobial additive. UV-reactive products usually lose their effect quickly due to reduced reactivity. You’ll also need adequate lighting to make the glow appear vibrant, and blacklights can enhance this effect.
I haven’t tried or used ASUS Aura fans, but you’re not restricted to using them with ASUS Aura RGB sync. You can explore options from Cooler Master, ThermalTake, and ID Cooling—especially their RGB fans. I particularly like the ID Cooling glow, though the newest Cooler Master models are also quite good. Look for compatible RGB fans (most should work if they’re 4-pin or 5-pin RGB) that suit your needs.
If you don’t have hardline fittings, ensure you have enough for all connections—typically two per component is a safe rule of thumb.