Pro/Forums - View Single Post - Need a Recommendation on a H2O setup for Dual NV6800's (SLI) and an AMD FX-55

Metzen · 02-10-2005, 01:47 AM

I use the SwiftTech 240x120mm rad + MCP350 + MCW50 (x2) + MCW6000 + a Zalman (GWB1) GPU cooler for the chipset all on a single loop. The hose totals 8' in length amoung all the blocks. The setup goes > MCRES-525 > Pump > CPU > GPU1 > GPU2 > Chipset > Rad > Res. Cooling the Rad is 2 - 14dBa SlienX fans. I believe performance is pretty good (going for quiet). Hottest measured CPU temp is 53-55C (measured in software) while running CPUBurn. Hotest recorded GPU temp is ~60C measured by the Nvidia control panel (running FarCry in a Window @ 1280 x 1024 with the "desktop" resolution @ 1600 x 1200). I suspect these temps are not accurate to any real degree as the GPU's get to their "peak" of around 60C the CPU still reads 53C. Unless that's to be expected? :shrug:

Idling both the CPU and GPU's read the same @ ~40-45C. I'll have to double check that though.

I admit I'm a pretty big noob at this and got a lot of help building this PC but I'm pretty satisifed.

System configuration is as follows:

6800U x 2
A8N-SLI Deluxe
FX-55 @ 2.7GHz w/default voltages.

I'll measure out the LPH tomorrow for interests sake.

As you've read above, there are big temp advantages for the GPU's in watercooling that I've observed. On air-cooling my 6800U's were hitting an ambient temp (measured directly opposite of the die IIRC) of ~100-105C with a GPU temp of 70-80C. With water-cooling ambient temp and die temp stay the same. GPU2 always seems to be hotter for some reason, around 5-10C air-cooled and 1-5C water-cooled (I don't know how Nvidia numbers their cards though, so I don't know which is top and which is bottom).

I'm looking to change the fans to something a little more powerful. I have heard SilenX has a bad reputation for giving out "optimistic" specs and trying to find a comparable fan confirms this. I don't know which fan would be best though to replace it. I've been reading good things about Globe or the Nexus (too ugly for me) but they're specs are loud (starting at 24dBa IIRC) and, unfortunately, SPCR has not reviewed any of the SilenX fans in their sound chamber nor recorded their CFM flow so it seems impossible to get a fair comparison going.

Edit
I chose the Zalman GWB1 waterblock because it's the only water-cooling block that fits with 6800 Ultra's. The MCW50 is too big, maybe even too big for the GT. The A8NSLI has PITA holes that your block has to line up against to mount it. Though the GWB1 waterblock works, I had to invert it's mounting gear to get it to fit correctly because the holes are so close together. IIRC, I had trouble with the MCW50 block because of this.

02-10-2005, 01:47 AM	#48
Metzen Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 18	I use the SwiftTech 240x120mm rad + MCP350 + MCW50 (x2) + MCW6000 + a Zalman (GWB1) GPU cooler for the chipset all on a single loop. The hose totals 8' in length amoung all the blocks. The setup goes > MCRES-525 > Pump > CPU > GPU1 > GPU2 > Chipset > Rad > Res. Cooling the Rad is 2 - 14dBa SlienX fans. I believe performance is pretty good (going for quiet). Hottest measured CPU temp is 53-55C (measured in software) while running CPUBurn. Hotest recorded GPU temp is ~60C measured by the Nvidia control panel (running FarCry in a Window @ 1280 x 1024 with the "desktop" resolution @ 1600 x 1200). I suspect these temps are not accurate to any real degree as the GPU's get to their "peak" of around 60C the CPU still reads 53C. Unless that's to be expected? :shrug: Idling both the CPU and GPU's read the same @ ~40-45C. I'll have to double check that though. I admit I'm a pretty big noob at this and got a lot of help building this PC but I'm pretty satisifed. System configuration is as follows: 6800U x 2 A8N-SLI Deluxe FX-55 @ 2.7GHz w/default voltages. I'll measure out the LPH tomorrow for interests sake. As you've read above, there are big temp advantages for the GPU's in watercooling that I've observed. On air-cooling my 6800U's were hitting an ambient temp (measured directly opposite of the die IIRC) of ~100-105C with a GPU temp of 70-80C. With water-cooling ambient temp and die temp stay the same. GPU2 always seems to be hotter for some reason, around 5-10C air-cooled and 1-5C water-cooled (I don't know how Nvidia numbers their cards though, so I don't know which is top and which is bottom). I'm looking to change the fans to something a little more powerful. I have heard SilenX has a bad reputation for giving out "optimistic" specs and trying to find a comparable fan confirms this. I don't know which fan would be best though to replace it. I've been reading good things about Globe or the Nexus (too ugly for me) but they're specs are loud (starting at 24dBa IIRC) and, unfortunately, SPCR has not reviewed any of the SilenX fans in their sound chamber nor recorded their CFM flow so it seems impossible to get a fair comparison going. Edit I chose the Zalman GWB1 waterblock because it's the only water-cooling block that fits with 6800 Ultra's. The MCW50 is too big, maybe even too big for the GT. The A8NSLI has PITA holes that your block has to line up against to mount it. Though the GWB1 waterblock works, I had to invert it's mounting gear to get it to fit correctly because the holes are so close together. IIRC, I had trouble with the MCW50 block because of this.