Optimum tubing layout - Overclock.net

Zero4549 · 03-06-09

Hi! I've been building computers for quite some time and have shied away from liquid for several reasons, however with my next rig I have decided air cooling is no longer practical and we all know that TEC/phase-change and practical computers just don't get along. I will therefore be building my first liquid system. I have spent several days in research and have decided on all but a single, albeit important, factor: tubing layout.

My liquid cooling system will consist of a single powerful external platform and 3/8 ID 5/8 OD tubing. I will be cooling my Core i7, mobo chipset, and a GTX295 (with plans for a future GTX295 in SLI).

I am curious as to your more experienced opinions on how to best route my tubing to best cool these components.

For the sake of relevance, please refrain from posting off topic or impractical comments. Thank you for your insight.

nafljhy · 03-06-09

well its hard to say what would be the best tubing layout since we don't know what case you are using, where the rad is, etc.

what we can tell you is a general idea of the order of your components.
most of us usually go from:

res/t-line-> pump-> rad-> cpu-> NB(optional)-> gpu(optional)-> back to res/t-line

not sure if that was what you meant.

Zero4549 · 03-06-09

I'm definitely going hooking up my cpu, northbridge, and gpu(s). The question is weather i should simply set them up in serial or try something fancy with splitters.

Keep in mind that both the Core i7 processor and the gtx 295(s) are extremely hot devices.

And yes, I intend on moderate to heavy overclocking.

nafljhy · 03-06-09

i would say series. splitters will kill your flow. and might cause uneven flow throughout the loop since the fluid will travel the path of least resistance.

Zero4549 · 03-06-09

Yes I was thinking the same things. The path of least resistance also makes sense, I hadn't thought of that one myself. However I am unsure if a single radiator can cool a second 295 in sli after already being heated by the core i7, chipset, and first 295. Would it be wise to add a second small radiator (mounted perhaps in a drive bay) between the chipset and the video cards or would the increased resistance deminish the preformance more than the partial cooling from a small radiator would help?

kimosabi · 03-06-09

With your future plans on adding a 295 I'd suggest you run a triple or double rad for the cpu/chipset and a triple for the two videocards and maybe even run two loops for better heat loss. And 3/8" ID for that big of a loop would definitely kill your flow anyways so go for atleast 7/16" ID or better still 1/2" ID.

I would run it like: Res>pump>rad>cpu>chipset>rad>videocard(s)>res

I'm not sure about your components or how "hardcore" you wanna go with this though. A list of components would help.

My 2cents

Zero4549 · 03-06-09

That's what I was thinking ( res pump rad cpu chipset rad gpu res) and I'm also begining to think that 1/2 ID tubing will be better. The reason I havnt specified much about the system is simply because I have not actually decided on several of my components. The reason I want an external platform is of course because of the added preformance due to having more space for larger radiators and such, however if you think it is possible to get good results internally without blocking all of the case airflow I would be more than willing to implement that instead. As for tubing, I had originaly prefered 1.2 ID tubing but after searching local retailers and various online shops, it appeared to me that 3/8 ID 5/8 OD tubing would provide better resistance against kinking and more options for fittings (I rather like the look of compressions and a quick release would of course be useful for any external). I can be a bit vain and rather dislike the look of writing on my tubing, fogged or colored tubing, and anti kink coils. Quick releases will of course not be necessary if the system can be internal and I can live with barbs if absolutly necessary but it is important the tubing be clear, unprinted, and kink resistant. One last complication is that the motherboard I will be using is equipted with 3/8 ID non removable barbs on its chipset so if I switched to 1/2 ID tubing I would need to implement a reducer. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

tofunater · 03-06-09

They make compression fittings for 1/2 id 3/4 od tubing. Bitspower is the maker and they are damn nice pieces of kit. As for the rest of your loop, why don't you tell us a little about what you are trying to do. Whats your budget for the components, what case are you gonna use, how much noise can you tolerete, ect..., and we can make some suggestions to help you along the way.

Zero4549 · 03-07-09

1/2 id 3/4 OD compression fittings? sounds great! you'll have to point me towards where to find them though all I've found in terms of 1/2 ID compressions are 5/8 OD which I assume is too thin a tube wall to support a 1/2 ID tube without kinking... and I'd really love to avoid anti-kink coils i think they're ugly.

Anyway I'm currently thinking of the following items:
Case: Thermaltake Spedo Advance Package
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-EXTREME
CPU: BX80601920 (2.66 GHz Intel Core i7)
RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR3 2000 12GB
GPU: BFGTech GTX 295 H2O (x2 when price drops and extra performance would be beneficial)
PSU: CORSAIR 1000HX
Hard Drives: PQI 32GB SSD, WD Velociraptor 300gb, WD Caviar Black (x2 in RAID 1)
Sound Card: AuzenTech X-Fi Forte 7.1
Disk Drives: Sony DRU865S DVD Burner, LG GGC-H20L Blu-ray player

Note that the motherboard requires 3/8 ID tubing. I would prefer to liquid cool this mobo but if it would be too much of a problem there is a heatsinked version I can pick up instead.

Were I to build an internal cooling system I would need some advice as to mounting. As you can tell there will be a large amount of internal hardware which is not connected to the liquid cooler, and as such I will require at least some of the air cooling to remain intact. There may also be issues in terms of space in which to mount the cooling hardware in the case due to the high component count and the Spedo's heat dividers (I'm still debating weather to actually use all of them or only the bottom one).

I'd prefer not to hear the liquid system over the sound of my case fans and drives, which should not prove to be too difficult. I would also prefer the system to be internal if you believe it would be practical to do so. I am willing to try more complicated ideas than a standard res pump rad series but keep in mind this will be my first liquid build. I would also very much appreciate any savings in cost - as you can tell my system is already quite expensive and I would prefer to not make it much higher. Most important of course if performance and safety. If it comes down to making it external, slightly louder, or even a few more bucks, I'm more than willing to in order insure smooth operation.

Take a stab at it and let me know what you come up with. Thanks for all your input thus far and anything to come in advance.

PS- I am extremely vain after investing a certain amount of time, effort, and cash into a project and this will easily cross all three thresholds. Nothing ugly please ;D

dr papadakalis · 03-07-09

i would say a good single or double for the cpu/chipset (believe me a good one will hold it down) and a good double or triple for the gpu's. a double will cool your single 295 right now, but you might want ot think about a triple for the future, or you could just add another when the time comes.

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Optimum tubing layout

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