What or how many radiators are required for a custom loop?
What or how many radiators are required for a custom loop?
I haven't water-cooled since the GTX 580, so I'm unsure what I should use.
I have an i7-6800k with 4-4.2 ghz and 1.3-1.35V.
Two EVGA GTX 1070's are my only cooling needs.
I could fit two 360mm radiators up to 30mm each, or two 280mm ones.
I'm not sure what these parts require for cooling. I plan to overclock everything more than I currently am.
Please let me know the LPH needed based on the number of radiators.
the essential requirement is approximately 120x4 rad surface area (slim 30mm). past that the focus shifts to running fans at reduced RPM to lower noise levels. 2x360 would be ideal for your setup to keep fans below 1200RPM. the radials recommended are alphacool ST30 XFLow, offering flexible installation thanks to ports on both sides, simple fill and drain via the XFLow design, and minimal tubing or clutter because of the XFLow feature. you'll also need a strong pump to handle the flow through those many components at adequate speed—D5 is a great choice. the tubing diameter isn't critical; choose whatever suits your needs, but for intricate loops like yours, thinner tubing (7-9mm ID) tends to perform better.
Running one loop, the 2x360 setup performs well. The necessary components will vary based on tubing choice and setup, but this adhesive can assist: It functions as a plumbing item, so ensuring proper joints and fittings involves planning or drawing them according to your design. The EKWB configuration tool is also useful: https://www.ekwb.com/custom-loop-configurator/
Running a single loop, the 2x360 will function adequately. The specific components required (based on tubing choice and setup) are difficult to determine, but this adhesive can assist: It’s a plumbing item in essence, so ensuring the correct fittings is about planning and drawing them according to your setup (I suggest doing so). The EKWB configuration tool is also useful: https://www.ekwb.com/custom-loop-configurator/ Appreciate the advice. Still uncertain whether to revisit water-cooling after a while—2010 was quite some time ago. I had a good loop back then. Uncertain about the availability of parts now and whether they’re still usable, as they might be corroded. I appreciate the Magicool rads 27mm, but perhaps sticking with EK would be safer since their products are reliable.
Thanks for the update. I'm still unsure about getting back into water-cooling. It's been a while—2010 was a good time. I don't know what happened to those parts and they probably got corroded.
I like some Magicool rads 27mm, but maybe it's better to stick with EK since I trust their products will work.
It's nice to know you don't need water cooling anymore for top performance. Good air coolers get you over 90% of the way without any trouble.
Just did the annual on the dual loop last weekend, which was a long Saturday, but it looked great.
the essential requirement is approximately 120x4 rad surface (thin 30mm). Past that, the focus shifts to running fans at reduced RPM to minimize noise. A 2x360 configuration would be ideal for keeping fans below 1200RPM in your setup. The rads recommended are the Alphacool ST30 XFLow, which offer flexible mounting thanks to ports on both sides, simplified filling and draining due to the XFLow feature, and reduced clutter from tubing. A strong pump is necessary to maintain adequate flow through these many components—D5 serves as a great reference. The tube diameter isn’t critical; choose whatever suits your needs. For intricate loops, thinner tubing (7-9mm ID) works better, helping to eliminate air bubbles and making finalization easier. Avoid “up and down” paths in the loop, as they trap air and complicate filling/draining. Ideally, aim for a circular shape. Placing the drain port at the lowest point is convenient. Adding a flow meter and temperature sensors (for the liquid) would be beneficial; a T splitter or unused ports on the rads can handle this. The order of the loop doesn’t matter, but positioning the return path immediately before the pump is helpful for beginners. Linking GPU blocks in parallel improves flow efficiency and performance.
P.S.
Here’s a recent rework build I’ve completed that’s nearly ready:
https://goo.gl/photos/8Z5uAZ4CjZ8cVa1s8
You have these options available:
- A compatible GPU waterblock, such as the one from ekwb.com, if you prefer a full-coverage solution, or a universal GPU waterblock like EK FC Thermosphere (recommended for GTX 1070 PCB or similar short-tower models) or Supremacy VGA (ideal for custom tall PCBs with passive heatsink for VRM).
- Fittings that match the tube size, paying attention to inner and outer diameters.
Regarding the pump setup:
- The XSPC Ion combines reservoir and pump in one unit, offering adequate flow rate and static head; more details can be found at www.extremerigs.net regarding flow rate, static head, radiator, and fan.
- For two GTX 1070 units, the Founders Edition model has a 180-watt TDP. This power should be handled by a radiator with sufficient surface area and fast-spinning fans. If your GPU draws more than 180 watts, consider a series of 280 or 360mm radiators.
Recommended components:
- Two full-coverage waterblocks paired with matching PCIe slots, such as EK FC Terminal.
- Fittings compatible with tube sizes; note the differences between soft and rigid tubes. EK uses 10 ID/12 OD and 12 ID/16 OD rigid tubes, while Alphacool offers 10 ID/13 OD rigid tubes for other sizes. Ensure compatibility between your EKWB fittings and Alphacool tubes.
- XSPC Ion pump.
- Two 360mm radiators or one EK Coolstream XE 360 unit.
- Coolant with anti-corrosion and bio inhibitor; cheaper distilled water is an option, but algae growth could be a concern.
First steps for air bleeding and pump priming:
- Watching tutorial videos is the easiest method. Start with a soft tube, then progress to rigid options like PETG, brass, borosilicate glass, or carbon tubes once you're comfortable.
In addition to the watercooling sticky, I created an Excel page to assist in estimating radiator requirements using loop TDP.
I also suggest one loop for the entire system, which I think will reduce setup complexity and improve head pressure and cooling. I wouldn't choose the EK XE 360 since there are several factors to consider—it seems to be the top 360 model available.
I could opt for two HWLabs black ice nemesis 360GTS radiators, offering superior cooling with sub fans running under 800 RPM. I strongly recommend Corsair ML Pro 120mm fans—they outperform current models in static pressure and airflow, reaching peak performance at over 3000 RPM.
I have space for a reservoir, so I would definitely go for an EK pump/reservoir combo like the EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 PWM (including a sleeved pump). This pump is likely the best in its class, thanks to EK's redesign that enhances base performance. It will provide better flow and quieter operation.
Size of the tubes significantly impacts cooling efficiency. Using larger diameter tubes helps maintain optimal waterblock cooling, while excessive flow can reduce effectiveness.
Are you sure about this? 3000 RPM at 6 units? You're recommending seating next to them? It seems Corsair fans are pretty impressive, but they mostly just work well as nice-looking devices. Performance-wise, Noctua NF-F12 still stands out, and it can be used with GT. Regarding Nemesis, they look good. A GTS240 X-Flow is a solid choice for the finish. However, ST30 from alphacool is more compact and offers more ports, which is handy when you want to explore different setups.