360mm rad or 2x 240mm

Whiro · January 17, 2020

So I’m planning to do custom loop for my system (i5 3570k and gtx970). I know the components are quite old and not really generating as much heat but I want to push both cpu and gpu overclock as high as possible. Atm mu cpu is running at 4.5ghz @ 1.25v with temps under 70c , there is still quite lot of headroom to oc so I hope to hit 5ghz with water. Now my question, is 360mm rad will be enough for both gpu and cpu or is it better to do 2x 240mm rads?
If two I can go res-gpu-240rad-cpu-240rad-res.

Also hard tubing for first time is it good idea or a bit too much?

Tristerin · January 17, 2020

6 minutes ago, Whiro said:

So I’m planning to do custom loop for my system (i5 3570k and gtx970). I know the components are quite old and not really generating as much heat but I want to push both cpu and gpu overclock as high as possible. Atm mu cpu is running at 4.5ghz @ 1.25v with temps under 70c , there is still quite lot of headroom to oc so I hope to hit 5ghz with water. Now my question, is 360mm rad will be enough for both gpu and cpu or is it better to do 2x 240mm rads?
If two I can go res-gpu-240rad-cpu-240rad-res.

Also hard tubing for first time is it good idea or a bit too much?

Loop order doesn't matter unless you use two pumps - then you run them in series (the pumps).

360 might be enough, depends on the voltage. If you are trying to push it to its max I recommend going max. I have a radiator on each place it can so for me its 240x2 + 1x120mm radiators all in push pull. And that's just on the CPU.

If it were me, and I have looped old stuff (i5 3470 and R7 260X GPU) Id utilize Aliexpress and ebay, mixed metals (aluminum rads, copper blocks) and car radiator fluid to keep costs down since an expensive loop may as well just upgrade your mobo, ram and CPU and call it a day on air. I spend around $12 per radiator (120 or 240mm), $12 CPU block, $8 gpu block and strap, $4 on VRM heatsinks for the GPU, $5 brewery tubing, and $13 for 50/50 premix Prestone Antifreeze which will fill like 10 loops. My fav for affordability in fans is Arctic P12 value packs, 5 fans for $27 shipped usually.