First custom loop complete but have questions

[Jesse221]

Ok so I just build my first compete custom loop pc ever and even used with hard line tubing so a first for everything.  I’m really happy with the results and proud how it came out but now I have some questions on tuning it, or at least making sure it’s safe.  So I used the lian li 011 dynamic case, ekwb cpu block, ekwb 360 cool stream SE (hoping I did ok there I followed ek configuration that said it would even be ok for OC and I’m staying stock cpu), 3 vardar fans, bitspower 011 side distro plate, bistpower GPU block.  PC specs are Asus Strix x570-e, Asus strix RTX 2060s, AMD Ryzen 3800x, 32 gb trident z and the rest doesn’t relate to my questions.

 

So for the water pump it can only be pwm controlled through asus ai suite (bios just has full speed).  So I’m doing all my tuning in ai suite and I think everything is ok, no crashes or fans spinning up to a high rpm so I’m assuming my temps are ok but I’m new to this so wanted to make sure.  I even installed a water temp plug in the distro plate at the water pump exit so I would know if source water is staying cold, so far I think the hottest that has read is 38c (is that ok?).  The fans are hooked to cpu fan header and as I said they seem to just run on and off and never go beyond about 1000 rpm (usually about 550-760 cycle) and cpu after a few hours gaming has hit about 60c avg.

 

So for the experts does this seem like I’m safe and tuned in?  Where does one find the allowable temps for the GPU and cpu to make sure I’m in a safe zone?

 

thanks for any input for anything I may be missing or doing wrong.

[Mick Naughty]

The allowable temps are the same as they were on air. 

 

Real concern is the actual fluid temp. 

 

Cpu temp depends on the speed and load. Normally people run something like prime95 to compare. 

 

Overclocks change that too. 

 

But if both parts are staying in the 50-60 range while doing what you normally do with the pc, such as gaming you’re fine. Especially if the temps are better than air and quieter. 

[Jesse221]

sorry I guess I wasn't clear what are the allowable temp ranges air or water?  I always see a range people try to stick to but I can never see where they are getting this information on what the designed temps are.  Also it varies cpu to cpu and gpu to gpu so there is no generic industry norm for all but I don't see where they get the info for the exact items used.  When I try to go to nvidia/amd/intel site etc I never see a designed temp range so I just always to stay as cool as I can without really knowing what the allowable or "red zone" is.  Also is 38c as a pump outlet temp when ambient is roughly 75f a good indication that fans and radiator are cooling adequately?  Sorry these are probably very noob questions but past pc builds you could just rely on the stock air cooled fan curves and now that I have to make my own pump and fan curves im not sure what temps I'm trying to stay in (kinda jumped in both feet first into custom loop but that's how I learn).

[Mick Naughty]

Still don’t get what you mean by allowable. 

 

Loop up the part and how it runs with a stock cooler at stock speeds and over clocked. Then see how it performs with better cooling. That should be your goal. Lower temps and less noise tends to be the benefit of this and what you should see. 

 

Anything is allowable if it’s below TJ max and high enough to boot. 

 

38c water temp is fine. As long as you’re under 50c under the max load you think the pc will see. 

[Jesse221]

I mean by allowable is the chip designer (in the case AMD) must have built the chip to work within a set temp range, for an extreme example is the chip ok to run at 900c?  I’m gonna say no.  So what is the chips max allowable temp? Where do you find this information?  I hear chips like the intel 8700k run hot so in their case what may seem hot compared to other chips is actually ok but again without knowing what is designed temp then it’s all just a guess.  As for air cooled temp I never ran it with stock cooler so I’m not sure what that would have been.  

[Mick Naughty]

Loop up the specs for it. It has the operating range in that info. TJ max, like I just said.

Use google and youtube. All the info is there. Plenty of videos with all hard ware being cooled in every scenario. 

[For Science!]

17 hours ago, Jesse221 said:

 

The only real consideration here is the pump health. I'm assuming you've using a D5 or DDC, but regardless, usually these pumps operate up to 60 degrees or so. Therefore as long as the fluid temp doesn't go beyond say, 55, you're in good shape. Therefore a sensible fan curve in a custom loop looks something like this:

 

Fan curve based on fluid temperature:

<45 degrees: maximum rpm that doesn't bother you (usually about 200-400 rpm for me)

45-50 degrees: an RPM that is perceivable but not absurdly loud 

50-55 degrees: Very loud

58+ degrees: Max rpm

 

Since water is good at holding its temperature there should not be sudden ramps and improve your pc experience 

[Jesse221]

Ok so tj max is what it’s called, that’s what I was trying to figure out.  I google and seems 95c is max so at 60c under load and water at 38c I guess I’m still in a good zone.  I’m using the bitspower s1 pump that comes with the distro plate.  After hours of gaming I can feel the heat off the radiator (as it should) but temps seem to be under control so it’s doing it’s job I’m just surprised how little the fans spin, I guess this whole water cooling thing is pretty dang efficient.  The asus ai suite had the option to control pump speed based off t sensor, GPU, CPU and one other option I forget what it was and you could choose up to 3 (so whichever hit thermal limit first) but after doing the fan calibration that option is now greyed out so I may have to contact asus and ask what happened to that option.