Need Advice for Dual Loop Setup

[BrandonHum]

Hi all, I'm a reader of the forums, although now I have a specific question that I would like some advice concerning that hasn't been brought up before.

Currently I have a single loop watercooling setup. It consists of an Eheim 1048, Black Ice Xtreme (w/Vantec Stealth 120mm fan), and Swiftech MCW50 and MCW5000-P. Ever since adding the MCW50 to the loop, by temps have gone up a few degrees on load, enough that I want to make the setup a little cooler.

Basically, I decided to get some extra parts that wouldn't involve me having to make more modifications to my case. These parts were an Eheim 1250 and Criticool Powerplant res. In terms of adding to energy dissipation capabilities, I was thinking of adding 1 or two Black Ice Micro's. Basically I want them because they would fit easily on current 80mm blowholes in the case.

In addition, I wanted to add a chipset waterblock to the system.

What I was thinking of doing was having two loops that shared resevoirs. The following is my plan for each of the two loops:

Loop 1: (1/2 inch ID)
Resevoir -> Eheim 1250 -> Swiftech MCW5000-P -> Black Ice Xtreme -> Resevoir

Loop 2: (3/8 inch ID)
Resevoir -> Eheim 1048 -> Swiftech MCW50 -> Black Ice Micro -> Chipset Waterblock -> Black Ice Micro -> Resevoir

Would this plan work well? Or is there something better I should do. I was also wondering if two Black Ice Micro's would be necessary, or would one be sufficient. And which pumps should I use for each loop? I have two Eheims, a 1048 and a 1250.

My current hardware is as follows:

- Intel Pentium 4 1.8A
- MSI 845G MAX
- Visiontek Ti4600

I was planning on upgrading atleast the processor and motherboard to something Canterwood/Springdale based and a 800MHz FSB processor. So heat load would also be increased for the new system.

Basically I am looking to overclock as much as I can without much voltage bumping (<15%), but keep the system quiet. I'm running Seagate IV's, so you can get the picture of what I want.

Looking forward to see what you all write, Thanks!

[Skeptic]

I am still massively new to the watercooling trend....but why would you need two pumps? My watercooling setup goes like this:

Reservoir -> Radiator -> Y connector -> CPU/GPU (split off Y) -> Y connector -> Pump -> Back to Reservoir.

It works fine for me. Athlon XP 2600+ stable at 2505 with 1.70 voltage....still need to play around some but that yields a 39c temp.

[bigben2k]

Welcome to ProCooling!


You must have some money, to be willing to throw it around like that!

Your block selection is good. What you have to keep in mind, is your objective: lower the temps a little.

A simple upgrade to an Eheim 1250 won't do it. Adding any radiator will.

Now I never recomend buying a BIX, any BIX, because anyone can do better with the money, by buying a heatercore. In your case however, you clearly stated that you didn't want to get into case modding, so you really don't have any choices there.

But otherwise, I'd recomend that you sell the pump and BIX, and upgrade to an Iwaki pump, and heatercore. But hey, that's just me.


In your proposed setup, I think that only one microBIX would work just fine. If anything, I'd look at making one loop, and run everything in series, except the rads, and it would benefit from 1/2" tubing, so if you're not there yet, then stick to plan "A".

Good luck.

[BrandonHum]

..

[BrandonHum]

Originally posted by bigben2k
In your proposed setup, I think that only one microBIX would work just fine. If anything, I'd look at making one loop, and run everything in series, except the rads, and it would benefit from 1/2" tubing, so if you're not there yet, then stick to plan "A".

So would having one loop with everything on it be better than having two loops? I'm guessing when you say running everything in series, that I would only use the Eheim 1250 and not the 1048. I was also thinking of the infrastructure when considering having two loops. Some components have 1/2" and some have 3/8" fittings.

For the proposed Loop 2, everything in it has 3/8" fittings, so I wouldn't need to change anything there. For Loop 1, everything is 1/2" fittings except the waterblock, but I have provisions to change that one item.

But having two loops, would it provide better, equal, or less performance than one loop. If it's better or equal performance, I'd like to stick with it as it would require less changes to the hardware itself.

If I were to run in one loop, what watercooling system layout would you suggest?

Originally posted by bigben2k
Now I never recomend buying a BIX, any BIX, because anyone can do better with the money, by buying a heatercore. In your case however, you clearly stated that you didn't want to get into case modding, so you really don't have any choices there.

Yea, I didn't want to modify my case too much, and the BIX fit perfectly, especially with the standard 120mm blowhole in the front of my case. Size of the rad was also a consideration when I chose this, as I have a ClearPC.ca case and it's only slightly bigger than a standard mid-tower case.

Originally posted by Skeptic
I am still massively new to the watercooling trend....but why would you need two pumps? My watercooling setup goes like this:

Reservoir -> Radiator -> Y connector -> CPU/GPU (split off Y) -> Y connector -> Pump -> Back to Reservoir.

It works fine for me. Athlon XP 2600+ stable at 2505 with 1.70 voltage....still need to play around some but that yields a 39c temp.

Well, I was hoping to offset the loss of flow caused by adding more radiators to the system by adding more pumps as well. I know it adds heat, but I think the benefits of the extra rads would negate this.

I have the two pumps anyway, so in terms of the cost of buying them being a waste, well, it's stuff I already have.

[Skeptic]

Hey bigben....why not the BIX? I have that in my system, is something wrong with them?

[bigben2k]

Obviously, you'd bring your CPU temps back to what they were, before you added the MCW-50.

What I proposed, involves running both pumps in a single loop but if it's too much work, then stick to your plan: it'll work fine.

In a single loop, you should be seeing more performance than any other configuration.

[BrandonHum]

Originally posted by Skeptic
Hey bigben....why not the BIX? I have that in my system, is something wrong with them?

BIX juts doesn't have the same performance to cost ratio as other solutions available on the market...like heatercores you can buy for cars or motorcycles. BIX costs more than a bigger, better performing heatercore.

[BrandonHum]

Originally posted by bigben2k
Obviously, you'd bring your CPU temps back to what they were, before you added the MCW-50.

What I proposed, involves running both pumps in a single loop but if it's too much work, then stick to your plan: it'll work fine.

In a single loop, you should be seeing more performance than any other configuration.

So what order of components would you put? Wouldn't the higher flow of the 1250 damage the 1048?

[bigben2k]

Originally posted by BrandonHum
So what order of components would you put? Wouldn't the higher flow of the 1250 damage the 1048?

It doesn't matter. Both pumps will work just fine.

[BrandonHum]

Originally posted by bigben2k
It doesn't matter. Both pumps will work just fine.

Res -> BIX -> Eheim 1250 -> MCW5000-P -> microBIX -> Eheim 1048 -> MCW50 -> chipset block -> Res

??