waterblock position......

[Steve-O]

I have a question.... If I have a Black Ice Prime rediator with a Delta 151CFM fan to blow thru the air and I want to cool the GPU, northbridge, and the CPU what is the best order for the blocks? I want to have everything overclocked as high as possible. I am thinking it should go:

Pump>Northbridge>CPU>GPU>Radiator then cycle agian........

Is this the correct config to get best temps for the CPU and GPU? I just didnt know if puttin that hot water on the GPU was a good idea but I dont want hot water on my CPU either.

[Cieprus]

Your CPU should be first...But its up to you.

You can run all 3 in parallel...

So cold goes in all 3, and hot exits all 3

[pHaestus]

Water temperature difference isn't likely to be more than +0.5C across any of the blocks (and much less over the northbridge). Issue will be more one of flow rate.

[orev]

Parallel is a bad idea as cooling in the block is more dependent on flow rate through the block than the small temp drop you'd get per block.

I've been grappling with this question myself - I think I'll be doing CPU-> CPU-> northbridge-> GFX -> rad

[Steve-O]

So I guess I want to make sure everything is 1/2" tubing AND that I have a powerful pump. I want to get a small pump that will fit in the case but be powerful for all that stuff. What is the best pump and is their a link where I can buy it online? The Eheim 1250 is a bit big for putting into a Chenbro Junior case. The radiator will mount on the back 120mm fan and I didnt want the pump blocking the front 120mm fan...... so yeah small and powerful?

[pHaestus]

Don't look at the GPH rating; also consider the pressure vs GPH curves. The Danner 350GPH or 500 GPH would be a good choice I think. They are I believe smaller than the 1250 by a fair amount.

[Brad]

Normally it's easiest to do CPU --> GPU --> NB simply due to bending the tubing. It's very hard to do CPU --> NB.

[bigben2k]

That's a good point Brad, about the tubing.

Overall, you have the choice of running in parallel, or in series (one after the other).

SERIES:
pro: the flow rate will be the same across every component. (good for rad)
con: creates a lot of flow resistance. (bad for cooling)

Summary: Use a bigger pump (and tighten up everything). Temp increase from component to component is negligeable.


PARALLEL:
pro: decreases flow resistance.
con: very difficult to control flow to each component, extensive setup in splitting feed.

summary: choose
a) tune your system with a flowmeter (if you have one)
or
b) guesstimate by clamping the hose to the other components, and watching for temp differences (don't clamp the CPU feed).

[V12|V12]

Hey, I was thinking about doing the same sort of water-network. I want to run it in parallel, but I've never seen a 3-way splitter before? I've seen the classic "Y" type 2way... What block are you planning on using to cool you're N-Bridge? ...Wait, I just got an idea, if you're pretty handy with soldering etc. you could make you're own 3 way splitting from copper tubing, which would add very minor to cooling. I've replaced the plastic head on my pump with a 3/4" copper in cap I drilled and soldered 1/2" nips to. I doubt it helps much, but you can feel the heat it conveys, so every little bit counts!

I'm running large 5/8" ID tubing and 1/2" nips... I need to get a higher pressured pump, but I just can't seen spending over $30 for a damn aquarium pump! Some people, I've notice'd are spending like $70+ for a pump?

Does anyone have any links or is selling a used pump for cheap? Good luck guy.

[bigben2k]

V12*2: Use multiple T's and lots of clamps... Copper tubing is good. (not flexible, but good!). Don't complain about the cost of a pump, we don't want to hear it! Try a Rio ($12+)

[V12|V12]

Originally posted by bigben2k
V12*2: Use multiple T's and lots of clamps... Copper tubing is good. (not flexible, but good!). Don't complain about the cost of a pump, we don't want to hear it! Try a Rio ($12+)

For the Splitter I was thinking maybe you could just make one from some tubing, just to server as a splitter... not as a whole tubing unit. Just like sorta a water rig's "router."

I don't wanna get into the cost thingy, but I will say this... There are "cheap" pumps out there as far as cost is concerned. Those are usually cheap in quality too. Then there's the Ehiem's, Danner's, Little Giant, etc... who make damn good pumps compared to Rio's etc, but the price they charge is sorta like the price that you pay for a pair of Jordan's... In that, the shoes cost about $10 to make, they don't need to advertise much at all cause they sell themselves (thanks to idiots, no offense) so, they charge $150, and higher outlandish prices b/c people are...S**P*D enough pay that much.

This goes hand in hand with a plastic molded, PWM Mag pump, which hardly cost anything to manufacture and I've NEVER seen an aquarium pump commercial, billboard, sign? Only a few links from OC'ing sites. WHich I doubt the makers even intended the pumps to be used exclusively for etc. So people are willing to pay (why? I know, I know, but nm) outlandish prices for a $5 pump that's selling for $70-150!

Again, no offense, I didn't and don't intend to start a long piece of mud slinging about it. I just wanted to say my peace and be done with it, and hope to find a nice Danner etc... laying around, ha! I'm NOT going to pay a lot for this muffl... PUMP!

[bigben2k]

You do have a choice... either run cheap pumps (you can even afford a dual system, for backup) or fork out the dough.

There's no billboard for pumps because the demand isn't there. Each pump manufacturer has his own niche market (low/medium/high cost/quality) which decreases the advertising need even further. There's just not a lot of competition.

We could sure use a price break on those Eheims though... I know how you feel, trust me

[Brad]

I'd actually do a parrallel/serial setup.

Have a Y, one end going to the CPU, the other going to the gpu + nb which are in series. then to another Y. This way there is two blocks in one loop, and one in the other loop. Logically much more water will go through the cpu loop, which is exactly what we want.

[jaani]

Originally posted by V12|V12
For the Splitter I was thinking maybe you could just make one from some tubing, just to server as a splitter... not as a whole tubing unit. Just like sorta a water rig's "router."

Brad's suggestion offers the best compromise between ease of routing the tubing, pressure drop, flow rate drop, and - for most setups - overall cooling. As for the "router" you were talking about, did you mean one of these?

[V12|V12]

Holy shit! That's what I'm talking about! Man, that is exactly why I would like to get some sort of machining drill press or something, so that I could make things just like! Wow... if only I had some money to waste and some skillz to apply it and a basement to work in!