HDD block opinions - will this work?

[PrinceXXX]

Currently I have my computer case in bits. Recently I bought a 3.5" Danger den bay reservior with plans of incorporating it into a loop consisting of: Small eheim pump from Reserator (maybe inside bayres) ---> GFX block (planning on Dangerden maze 4gpu or silverprop fusion) ---> HDD blocks ---> Res

As you can see, no radiator in this loop. Which brings me to the first set of questions, can this work? Any idea what sorta wattage the average gpu (or something like a 9800) will put out these days? I sorta want to future proof it for future cards. I realise a HDD will put out between 13w and say 28w.

Theoretically is there a way to calculate what sort of wattage value this setup is going to take away being passive?

Now, onto the HDD blocks. There are 2 different types of block, and 2 schools of thought. A lot of people think the sides are the best place to put blocks on a HDD, but I'm wanting to put them on the tops, as I have felt this area and it seems to get pretty hot.I'm wanting to make some blocks similar to the ones made by Bladerunners. except unlike his (where the layout resembles an 'M' mine will look more like an 'N' This will mean i can put 2 of the blocks, one under the other and create a bit more flow (as i realise this pump has a low flow rating and head)
I'm thinking of having 8mm inner portion of the block as opposed to BR's 6.

I have also read Bigbens thread on his HDD blocks, and looked at other blocks all over the web.

I have some airflow from a 120mm fan sitting on a radiator at the front of my case. This is a Silenx 11dBa Fan, so understandably its doesn't really have the same CFM or cooling properties as a normal 120mm fan. I will be holding it all together with 2 pieces of material, one on each side of the Harddrives. This is 20mm thick Acrylic pieces, which are in turn mounted to the bottom of my case. The water will come in one side (top HDD #1 is turned upside down) and be sandwiched between 2 HDDs. water flows through block and out the other side. I've thought about adding in straight copper pipes to connect it all up (with tubing on the curves. small Copper tubing a semi circle shape will allow water to pass from first block into second block, which is under HDD#2 and above HDD#3. I am relying on contact for the copper blocks to cool the HDD's slowly but effectively. BGA ramsinks are on the way and will be added to any other hotspots on the pcb side.

There will be quick connects on these blocks (probably) for easy connections, although other ways of connecting them have been considered also such as copper welding of bolts etc. Having as few bends as possible will be a goal, so as to keep flow loss restricted as it is returning back to the Res. I may also consider incorborating a spiralling copper pipe coming from top to bottom (to aid in flow with such a small pump)

Will this work?
Is there anything I should be adding?
Would it be better/suitable to have GFX after HDD blocks?
I have an account at fesco, which 3/8 connects should I be looking at to replace my 1/2" ones in my res? Part number?

Something to note is that I will only have two other fans in my system for the best part of operating time, which are both in the PSU. I also have a blowhole which will be on a switch (0v-5v) to remove excessive heat during those times it is needed.

It sounds like a lot of effort for not much gain, and very little point but I want it to be a learning curve for me. I'm sure you guys will be able to lend a hand.
Any thoughts, comments, suggestions or ideas will be greatly appreciated...

[PrinceXXX]

heres some pictures of my planned ideas.

/edit: please note that the blue loop is an existing loop and is connected to an external reservoir (reserator)

[Tempus]

I guess my brain is missing something this early. No radiator right? How do you plan on removing heat from the system?

I'm thinking that you'd have conduction with in the system, and all of the parts (tubing, pump, blocks, res, water, cpu, gpu, hdd) will attempt to stabilize to one (very high) temperature. Then, you'd be relying on air moving over the parts (convection) to move the heat out of the case.

The problem is that only a very small part of the heat will be leaving. Thats WHY you use a radiator and a fan. The radiator provides a very large surface area of (hopefully) a material that is very convective. Since a highly convective material essentially has an easier time moving heat uniformly across the material, a copper radiator gets one nice uniform temp. Then you force air over it (fans) and you get some nifty convection action going which takes all the heat away.

You need a radiator (or some other avenue for the heat to leave the system)

(Waiting a few minutes for someone to rip this apart.)

[AngryAlpaca]

He's right. You either need a HUGE reservoir (3.5" is tiny) or a radiator. You'd be better off with crappy passive cooling than with the system you have in mind.

[JamesAvery22]

Why not just put the HDD blocks and VGA block in series with your CPU might need a larger pump and maybe a larger radiator but wouldnt that be a lot easier than having two cooling loops? Not to mention your second loop wont be cooling anything, just heating up your HDDs, unless you get a second radiator.

[PrinceXXX]

The first poster got the plan wrong. Maybe I posted it in such a way that made it seem I knew NOTHING.
What I plan to do is run a system for my cpu. This loop currently consists of My reserator bundle and an added radiator with a 120mm fan (silenx). The rad is located at the bottom front of my case at the front. THIS IS A SEPERATE LOOP.

Using the air from the 120mm fans cooling properties, I want to fabrticate a HDD enclosure/rack from acrylic that will hold 3 HDDs and fit behind this fan to aid in cooling them.

I plan to use the pump from the reserator (replacing it with a 1046/1048) as it is a compact small quiet pump. This will hopefuilly fit in my 3.5 res. This res will pump water through copper pipes along to the hdd blocks and thenon to the gpu, finally returning back to the small res again.

I think it could work passive (well without fans anyway) but I have sourced a poseidon radiator for use in this second loop. I'm planning on purchasing an 80mm silenx quiet fan for this. This will probably be placed at the back of my case and be used as a small outlet.

Why 2 loops? ...Why not?
I'd rather keep them seperate as I don't think the reserator would handle too many heat producing parts added. Plus I think it's going to be a fun learning experience.

[JamesAvery22]

Originally Posted by PrinceXXX

The first poster got the plan wrong. Maybe I posted it in such a way that made it seem I knew NOTHING.
What I plan to do is run a system for my cpu. This loop currently consists of My reserator bundle and an added radiator with a 120mm fan (silenx). The rad is located at the bottom front of my case at the front. THIS IS A SEPERATE LOOP.

Using the air from the 120mm fans cooling properties, I want to fabrticate a HDD enclosure/rack from acrylic that will hold 3 HDDs and fit behind this fan to aid in cooling them.

I plan to use the pump from the reserator (replacing it with a 1046/1048) as it is a compact small quiet pump. This will hopefuilly fit in my 3.5 res. This res will pump water through copper pipes along to the hdd blocks and thenon to the gpu, finally returning back to the small res again.

I think it could work passive (well without fans anyway) but I have sourced a poseidon radiator for use in this second loop. I'm planning on purchasing an 80mm silenx quiet fan for this. This will probably be placed at the back of my case and be used as a small outlet.

Why 2 loops? ...Why not?
I'd rather keep them seperate as I don't think the reserator would handle too many heat producing parts added. Plus I think it's going to be a fun learning experience.

lol yeah that makes more sense =)

Now if it was me Id keep it simple and use one loop. But Id also improve the reserator. Do something like shroud a 120mm ontop of it blowing air over it. Bigger pump, plus make the inlet come in at the top and the outlet stay at the bottom... but thats just me =)

[PrinceXXX]

Originally Posted by JamesAvery22

lol yeah that makes more sense =)
Do something like shroud a 120mm ontop of it blowing air over it. Bigger pump, plus make the inlet come in at the top and the outlet stay at the bottom... but thats just me =)

i also plan to do this. I'm not going to add more fan noise, but I have some springflex tubing (spring reinforced) which i will put on the inside of the reserator for its inlet, effectively routing it back up so the water flows to the top of the res.
I'd imagine the water coming in (as it passed by cooler water) would cool the hotter watter on the way up (and vice versa) a little, but that shouldn't matter too much.

/Edit: also looking at adding a 1048 to replace the original pump, which is going into the second loop (as I've said already)

[JamesAvery22]

Originally Posted by PrinceXXX

i also plan to do this. I'm not going to add more fan noise, but I have some springflex tubing (spring reinforced) which i will put on the inside of the reserator for its inlet, effectively routing it back up so the water flows to the top of the res.
I'd imagine the water coming in (as it passed by cooler water) would cool the hotter watter on the way up (and vice versa) a little, but that shouldn't matter too much.

/Edit: also looking at adding a 1048 to replace the original pump, which is going into the second loop (as I've said already)

Doesnt hot water rise? Think it would be better to have the hot water come in at the top and have the outlet on the bottom. I think you were saying the opposite, correct? But since you wont have the pump in that thing any more try both and see which one works better Take pics though cause Id love to see.

I was just saying if you got rid of your heatercore and put a fan on the reserator youd have the same amount of fans and a simpler loop. Just an idea though. Take pics take pics