Request for part selection in water cooling custom loop project
Request for part selection in water cooling custom loop project
Hello!
I’m planning to switch from air cooling to water cooling, focusing on the astetics for better heat dissipation and slightly lower temperatures. I’m aiming for a full EKWB upgrade to get top-tier performance, even if it doesn’t affect speed much—like replacing the bay spin reservoir. I’m not interested in extreme liquid nitrogen methods; I just want reliable liquid cooling. I’d prefer soft tubing over rigid ones until I gain more confidence in bending them.
My goal is for you and your team to recommend the best components for my build, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Here are the details I’ve noted for reference:
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII EXTREME
Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum 32GB (2 x 16GB)
Storage: Intel 750 Series 1.2TB PCI-E SSD
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 8GB AMP! Extreme (x2)
Case: be quiet! DARK BASE PRO 900 | BLACK ATX Full Tower Case
Power Supply: Corsair AX1500i
Budget: around £3,000 max, but keep it sensible.
Thanks a lot, everyone!
~Catalyst
CatalystGamez:
You're looking for a block that matches your CPU socket 1151. Since I have the same CPU, EK offers excellent options and you should be safe with your choice. Most of these blocks are variations of the Supremacy series, so compatibility is likely.
You'll need at least a DDC or D5 pump. If budget allows, dual pumps would be ideal. Reservoir selection depends mainly on holding extra water and simplifying loop filling.
Choose fittings that suit your tubing size. For 3/8"ID, 7/16"ID or 1/2"ID runs, verify your tubing ID/OD matches the compression fittings unless you're using barbs, in which case tubing selection is less critical.
I'm interested in knowing what you've reviewed previously. Could you share what's been on your agenda lately?
I'm wondering what you've already checked so far? What items are on your list?
Likely, I'm not sure about the purchases I can make or use in my system—I'm just starting out with water cooling.
According to what I know, there are tubes (TUBE PrimoChill PrimoFlex™ Advanced LRT™ 15,9 / 11,1mm - Crystal Clear RETAIL 3m), a reservoir (EK-DBAY Spin Reservoir), a pump (EK-XTOP Revo D5 PWM - Plexi (incl. pump)), fittings (EK-ACF Fitting 12/16mm - Blue), and the coolant (EK-Ekoolant EVO UV BLUE (premix 1L)).
For the fans, I'm searching for six 140's (one back, three tops, two fronts).
I hope this gives you a good start.
Have you gone through the watercooling guide? What is your loop TDP you plan to cool, and what temperature difference are you aiming for?
What is your watercooling cost estimate? It doesn’t have to be the full budget.
I’m here to assist as much as I can, but you’ll need to understand many of these details to make the best choices for your project and budget, so you won’t end up with an unsuitable component or miss something important.
Have you gone through the watercooling sticky? What is your loop TDP you plan to cool and what delta-T are you aiming for?
What is your watercooling budget? It doesn’t have to be the entire total.
I’m here to assist as much as I can, but you’ll need to understand many of these aspects so you can make informed choices for your build and budget, avoiding unnecessary purchases or missing essential parts.
Yeah... Urm... I tried reading through the following page, but I couldn’t grasp anything.
Money-wise, it’s not a big problem, which is why I set that random budget of £3,000. As long as it isn’t ridiculously cheap, I’ll go with it.
With water cooling, I’m completely unsure what I’m doing, so I came here to ask.
When setting up watercooling for the 1080 series, it's important to ensure compatibility with nVidia reference PCB designs so that full cover GPU enclosures can fit properly. The information from the EK site indicates that the cards listed are not expected to fit into these full cover/reference PCB blocks. For a CPU block, you should aim for a socket LGA 1151, which matches the physical dimensions of 1155/1156. If your GPUs and CPU have a loop TDP similar to the following:
180w + 180w + 65w = 425w at stock speed,
considering overclocking, refer to the spreadsheet provided below. A suitable radiator should manage around 130-150w per 120mm of space, though this remains a major variable due to differences in thickness, FPI, tube count, and construction. A 240 (two 120mm) radiator can handle approximately 300w, maintaining a 10C delta between 0.5 and 1.0 GPM with 1600+ RPM fans. Your current setup may be viable at stock speeds using a single 360mm radiator with adequate airflow. If you plan to overclock, you should adjust your calculations to include the extra heat generated.
If you're setting up a watercooling system for the 1080 series, it's important to verify that you have a NVIDIA reference PCB that accommodates full cover GPU blocks. Based on information from the EK site, the cards listed above may not fit into standard full cover/reference PCB slots.
For the CPU, you should aim for a component that matches the LGA 1151 socket, which should be comparable in size to 1155/1156 models.
Regarding your GPU and CPU thermal design power (TDP), if your current setup is around 180w+180w+65w at stock speed, you might need to adjust based on your overclocking plans. A spreadsheet I linked can help with this.
A suitable radiator should handle roughly 130-150w for every 120mm of space, though this can vary due to differences in thickness, FPI, tube count, or construction. A 240 (two 120mm) radiator could manage around 300w, maintaining a 10C delta between 0.5 and 1.0 GPM with 1600+ RPM fans. Your current configuration at stock speeds may work on a single 360mm radiator with adequate airflow.
If you plan to overclock, you'll need to factor in the extra heat generated into the loop.
For GPU options, consider the Zotac Arctic Storm 10 Year Anniversary or the EVGA Hydro Copper. Both include pre-installed custom water blocks, which could simplify your setup if you choose one. This would also eliminate the need for DIY installation.
Your fan configuration should allow for 140mm fans—1x back, 3x top, 2x front, and possibly 2x bottom.
It's probably just a matter of choice. There are definitely better options available. Thermaltake doesn't stand out much in the watercooling scene, which seems to be who designs the blocks for this card.
I'm not too familiar with purchasing cards where the block is already installed—giving up on performance and extra expense for convenience.
Most of those pre-installed blocks don't compare favorably to what's out there.
Setting up a water block on a GPU isn't overly complicated if you're comfortable with it.
It seems like you might be able to. It’s unclear why you’d choose that path when there are superior options available. Thermaltake isn’t the top choice in the watercooling space, and it appears the creator of the card is responsible for the block design.
I haven’t really grasped the idea of purchasing a card with a pre-installed block—giving up performance and extra expense for convenience.
Most of those built-in blocks don’t perform as well as alternatives on the market. Installing a water block on a GPU isn’t too complicated, if that’s what you’re concerned about.
I’ve checked reviews of the Zotac card, and it looked cooler, keeping temperatures under 40 degrees during overclocking (source – Jayztwocents video).
But if you prefer to get a GPU with a PCB matching the original size and then add a custom block myself, I’d consider it—since you’re aware of what you’re doing.