Newbie here requires assistance with custom water loop!
Newbie here requires assistance with custom water loop!
I recently purchased an EVGA GTX 1080 super clocked GPU. I’m only cooling this one now but plan to use SLI in the future. Could anyone share advice? Please include links for suitable waterblocks, fittings, tubing, and liquid colors. My setup is an NZXT H440 and I’m new to water loops. Thanks!
XSPC ion
+ slim 240 mm radiator + two or four 120 mm fans
soft tube (12.7 mm Inner Diameter / 16 mm OD)
+
four fittings
+ distilled water.
I have never worked with EVGA hydro copper before; if it isn’t included, you might need two of them.
Installation
■ Swap the ACX for HydroCopper, I thought you’re familiar with this. Just to be safe, you may want to open the HC to check for any residue in the water chambers—if you’re feeling lucky, you can skip that step.
■ Drain the radiator thoroughly, ensure no residue remains and it’s fully dry. Handle gently; the fins tend to get dirty, so you can inspect or use a hair dryer or air compressor to blow them clean.
■ If the H440 roof is empty, you can install the radiator there first, then mount the fans accordingly...
XSPC ion installation guide
+ slim 240 mm radiator + two or four 120 mm fans
soft tube (12.7 mm Inner Diameter / 16 mm OD)
+
four fittings
+ distilled water required.
I haven’t used EVGA hydro copper before; if it’s not included with a plug or stop fitting, you might need two.
Installation steps
■ Swap the ACX with HydroCopper, I’m assuming you’re familiar with this process. To be certain, you may want to open the HC to check for any residue in the water chambers—just for fun, you can skip that step.
■ Drain the radiator thoroughly, ensuring it’s completely dry before handling. The fins can get dirty easily, so you might want to use a hair dryer or air compressor to blow out any debris.
■ If the H440 roof is empty, install the radiator first, then attach the fans, connecting them via a Y split and linking the Y split to the CPU_Fan header. Ideally, use both fans as exhausts—don’t reverse one for intake and the other for exhaust. Avoid placing any components near the RAM heat sink, motherboard heat sink, or CPU cooler.
■ Locate an appropriate location for the Ion unit, since its pump isn’t as powerful as the D5 model you have. Prioritize spots with the shortest tube length, connect the power supply to the SATA power connector.
■ Ensure all fittings, adapters, and plugs are firmly in place. Measure the tubes carefully; avoid making them too short, as this will complicate future adjustments like bleeding or draining outside the case.
■ After cutting the tubes, consider sandblasting the cut ends for a smooth finish. Use #80 grit sandpaper to remove any rough edges and ensure residue-free loops. Attach the tubes to the fittings and secure the knuckle.
Priming the pump / first bleed procedure
■ Lay a paper towel under each connection point. Mix the coolant with sysPrep, pour it through the Ion fill port—whether the reservoir is under the radiator or not, simply fill the Ion until it reaches the full level.
■ Disconnect all power components from the PSU (motherboard, HDD, VGA, fans, etc.). We’ll connect a green pin to any black pin on the PSU’s 24-pin ATX connector using copper wire or a paper clip (see http://marcomiltenburg.com/2011/09/18/ho...er-supply/).
■ Keep the Ion connected to the SATA power supply while turning on the PSU. Gradually pour coolant into the Ion while the pump operates, filling it up to about an inch above the reservoir. Observe the coolant flow through the loop.
■ The goal is to remove any bubbles; typically, after 24 hours you should see no leaks.