Whats the best approach?

Waterbug · 10-10-2003, 06:12 AM

Im building my second watercooled PC, my first had only the cpu cooled, and now im going to cool the gpu as well, so here are my specs and my questions:

Spec: AMD XP2800, ATI 9500 Pro, Swiftech MCV462UH cpu cooler, Maze 4 Gpu cooler, Hydor L30 Pump, D-tek pro radiator, bay tank with 2 inlets and 2 outlets.

My questions:

1. Should i split the radiator outlet line with a Y-connector and chill both the cpu and gpu at the same time, with 2 separate inlets going to the bay tank?

2. Or should i cool the gpu with the warm cpu outlet water in the same loop, and have only one inlet to the tank?

What would be the best to do? Question 1 or 2?

Thanks

Zogthetroll · 10-10-2003, 07:57 AM

ok, not that you should take my advice as being really knowledgeable, (i'm still designing my system) but two things that i've seen stated on these forums, first, gpu blocks are usually much less flow restrictive than the cpu block, so from a flow resistance point you'd be losing a LOT of flow to the cpu block by splitting the flow, generally not a good thing. second, and i can't remember where i saw this, gpu blocks are spec'd to run at higher temps generally than cpu's and since you don't mention that you plan to use a pelt there shouldn't be a huge jump in water temp. after the cpu block so plumbing it in series should be ok. just my $0.02. anybody else??

MMZ_TimeLord · 10-10-2003, 09:21 AM

The "Series or Parallel" question usually boils down to your tube size/block restriction vs. your pump power. You should test both if you can to see what your flow and temps are and what works best. Stay AWAY from using "T" fittings. Use "Y" fittings only.

My current pump is overpowered for the 3/8" ID tube and high restriction on my GPU block. I just swapped out the CPU block with a new "experiment" that flows really well. I've also added in a HDD block which has good flow.

So, here's what I did.

I put the CPU on one parallel circuit from the raidiator and the GPU & HDD cooler on the other parallel circuit from the radiator.

They meet up just before returning to the reservior. Here's a picture before I added in the HDD block. The GPU is in parallel with the CPU. My temps are fine and my flow is good.

Waterbug · 10-10-2003, 12:55 PM

Thanks, thats what i suspected.

10-10-2003, 06:12 AM	#1
Waterbug Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 30	Whats the best approach? Im building my second watercooled PC, my first had only the cpu cooled, and now im going to cool the gpu as well, so here are my specs and my questions: Spec: AMD XP2800, ATI 9500 Pro, Swiftech MCV462UH cpu cooler, Maze 4 Gpu cooler, Hydor L30 Pump, D-tek pro radiator, bay tank with 2 inlets and 2 outlets. My questions: 1. Should i split the radiator outlet line with a Y-connector and chill both the cpu and gpu at the same time, with 2 separate inlets going to the bay tank? 2. Or should i cool the gpu with the warm cpu outlet water in the same loop, and have only one inlet to the tank? What would be the best to do? Question 1 or 2? Thanks

10-10-2003, 09:21 AM	#3
MMZ_TimeLord Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Mateo, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 433	The "Series or Parallel" question usually boils down to your tube size/block restriction vs. your pump power. You should test both if you can to see what your flow and temps are and what works best. Stay AWAY from using "T" fittings. Use "Y" fittings only. My current pump is overpowered for the 3/8" ID tube and high restriction on my GPU block. I just swapped out the CPU block with a new "experiment" that flows really well. I've also added in a HDD block which has good flow. So, here's what I did. I put the CPU on one parallel circuit from the raidiator and the GPU & HDD cooler on the other parallel circuit from the radiator. They meet up just before returning to the reservior. Here's a picture before I added in the HDD block. The GPU is in parallel with the CPU. My temps are fine and my flow is good. __________________ MMZ>TimeLord "Oooooooooh... that's gonna leave a mark!"

10-10-2003, 07:57 AM	#2
Zogthetroll Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio, U.S.A. Posts: 177	ok, not that you should take my advice as being really knowledgeable, (i'm still designing my system) but two things that i've seen stated on these forums, first, gpu blocks are usually much less flow restrictive than the cpu block, so from a flow resistance point you'd be losing a LOT of flow to the cpu block by splitting the flow, generally not a good thing. second, and i can't remember where i saw this, gpu blocks are spec'd to run at higher temps generally than cpu's and since you don't mention that you plan to use a pelt there shouldn't be a huge jump in water temp. after the cpu block so plumbing it in series should be ok. just my $0.02. anybody else??

10-10-2003, 12:55 PM	#4
Waterbug Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 30	Thanks, thats what i suspected.

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