Water Cooling GTX 1080 Tis

[aL_eX]

I'm planning on incorporating a custom water loop into my build and I have a few questions, as this is my first water cooling project.

 

Relevant specs:

- CPU: i7 6800K

- GPU: 2x GTX 1080 Ti FE

- PSU: 1000W EVGA G3

- Radiator support: 240mm top, and 240 front (could probably fit a thin 360mm or 420mm rad at the from though)

 

For the GPU blocks, I'm thinking of getting Phanteks Glacier GTX 1080 Ti blocks, as they are compatible with the NVIDIA HB SLI bridge. On the product page, it says that it has the following metals: Copper Base, Nickel plated, Acrylic Cover, Aluminum Covers Anodized / Chrome plated, Brass plug, Nickel plated / Anodized. I know that mixing metals in a custom loop is a bad idea, but there are so many metals on the block, I'm not sure which one to use for the rest of the loop.

 

For the CPU, I was thinking of either getting one of the Phanteks CPU blocks or an EKWB. Please let me know if you have any recommendations.

 

For the radiators, I'll definitely get a 240mm radiator on the top (possibly from Alphacool) and I'm debating what size to get on the front. The EKWB configurator recommends getting around 550W of heat dissipation for my setup, so that's a 240mm rad at the top with either a thick 240mm rad at the front, or a more thin 360/420mm rad at the front. Does anyone have any experience with a similar setup, and if so, what radiator configuration would you recommend?

 

I'm going with flexible tubing (again, because this is my first water cooling project), and possibly white pastel fluid with clear tubes. Would this be good idea, or is plain distilled water better for cooling?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Hip]

Short reply, I would pick the Phanteks blocks. But I'm sure there are some guys who maybe own them and reply more informative ;-)

[Oshino Shinobu]

The only metal on that block that the fluid will touch should be copper, maybe a little brass. The rest of the metal is plating, which doesn't matter. Mixing metals used to be a big issue, but honestly you're fine going with anything from a reputable manufacturer now days. Either go for a specialised fluid designed for watercooling, or add anti-algae and maybe a silver kill coil to distilled water. Mayhems fluid is good and doesn't clog up like other dyed/coloured fluids do/used to. 

 

A 240mm and 360mm rad will do well for two GPUs and a CPU, though more rad space doesn't hurt. I personally have a 240mm 40mm thick and 360mm 40mm thick with an i7 3770K and 2x Titan Blacks in my loop and the temps are good (and the 3770K is a pretty hot running chip). With the improved power consumption and heat output of newer components, you'll be fine with that rad space.