Multi Block Flow Blows
 

Man I swear it looks like I have lost 15-30% flow with the addition of a GPU and NB Block, and all the hose that goes along with them. In you experience how will this affect my temps. If it is only marginal then I will leave it as is but because of the flow hit I am considering taking off the NB Block. What do you guys think? How much of a gain will this give me? 1 Degree? 2?

Oh and of course I know that there are alot of variables but I only want a guesstimate based on your real world experience. I would really prefer to keep all three but am concerned more about the effects of the reduced flow.

did your temps shoot up? if not it probabily doesnt matter either way.

Problem is I don't have a base line to measure against. New blocks, new rad, new setup, new hose....

Depends on the choice of blocks and pump. Performance curve of thick baseplate wbs (#rotor style, MCW5000A, AquaJoe, etc)is pretty flat; I'd think even adding fairly restrictive GPU and NB blocks would not affect CPU temp more than 1-2C as long as your pump can push 1GPM through it. That's the beauty of the Swiftech kits: small ID tubing for easy routing & the ability to add multiple blocks wihtout compromising CPU cooler performance.

With thin bp blocks like Dangerden RBX, DTek WW, and LR Cascade, there can be a much larger effect on performance when you lower flow rate. If you have a low power pump or 3/8" tubing and are using such a block with restrictive GPU and NB block then easily 4-5C difference in CPU temps. Choice in pump, and extra wbs becomes pretty important here! Best bet is to go with low resistance GPU and NB blocks. Going by JoeC's reviews (at 1GPM) Dangerden Maze4 chipset block looks to be an excellent choice for the NB; whereas either Swiftech MC50 or DDen Maze4 GPU work well for GPU.

Question would be "does 4-5C matter to you?" If so, then may (will) be cheaper possibly to upgrade CPU wb or pump than to pay for replacement nb and gpu blocks. Might be that you are getting enough benefit (quieter operation and lower GPU/nb temperatures) from the current setup to outweigh 4-5C anyway.

I am fairly obsessive and so perhaps not the best person to ask :)

Your the perfect guy to ask because I am obsessive also. I have a Dtek WW (may upgrade to the new TDX - I guy I respect alot has a proto and he says it gold), A Maze4 GPU, a Zchip NB running 1/2" ID hose with a MagDrive 3 and a caprice heatercore modded to single pass. 1 or 2 is acceptable to me but 4 or 5 is pushing it because that high will have an impact on my highest oc (only from a mindset of I don't like to see prime95 temps above 40c).

Mag3 is a pretty beefy pump; I think you'll be fine. Is your modded 1 pass core now set up to have 2 barbs on top and one on bottom then? If so you could try spliting the flow at the whitewater (use the 2 outlets to go 1 to nb and 1 to GPU) and then run them both to the chevette's dual inlet barbs. You'll lose a bit of cooling performance on GPU and NB but should increase flow rates on the CPU block a bit.

Yes the rad is exactly like that ( see bad pic here ). I have actually set it up kind of weird (to me at least) as I have been told that block order will have little to no affect of temps. It goes pump out > CPU Block > Dual outs to dual ins of rad > singe out of rad > gpu > nb > pump in. What do you think, good idea or bad idea?

That works but flow rates at CPU will be lower than the way I suggested. GPU and NB flow rates would be higher though. I'd say go to Home Depot or Lowe's, get 20 feet of vinyl hose for a couple bucks, plumb it both ways, and see. Then use my good tubing once everything's optimized. It's fun to fiddle anyway right?

Wow, pH I just read your swiftchill article and read about your under comp cooling box and was floored. If I could afford the monthly bill I would be on it like Flint on porn. Great work!

Will do, on the testing out thing, and yes fiddling is great, I just wish I had some sort of cpu simulator thing so that I could measure temps with my hardware out of harms way. Maybe you guys could do an article on how to make a fake die that generates heat like a cpu...ah I'd prolly just electicute myself :)

pH you kick ass!!!! I knew you were good but man you are good. With your simple change my flow is almost as good as it was when I only had the CPU block. May a gorgeous playboy bunny cross your path and do dirty nasty things to you again and again and again and again.....until you blow dust. You kick ass man.

haha good to hear