CPU + GPU loops with AIO?

[TheDigitalRealm]

So, after much deliberation, I've decided that I'd rather save some money than spend on what would be a £400+ custom W/C loop. I've started looking into the NZXT Kraken G10 paired with a H105 for cooling my GPU, and then either another H105 or a Swiftech H320 for the CPU? These will all be going into a Switch 810 which is why I have gone for the sizes I have. 

 

So, I've summed my options up into a poll for you fine people. 

[helping]

What GPU needs a h105?

[Imabigmac]

H105 cpu and H90 gpu

[TheDigitalRealm]

What GPU needs a h105?

What GPU needs a custom loop? 

[Cwazywazy]

Honestly, it would be much better to just stick with air cooling for the GPU or save up for a custom loop.

[TheDigitalRealm]

H105 cpu and H90 gpu

From the above options only. I'm filling up a Switch 810 so a H90 would look icky. 

[helping]

What GPU needs a custom loop? 

I think I'll just sit this one out

[TheDigitalRealm]

Honestly, it would be much better to just stick with air cooling for the GPU or save up for a custom loop.

I'd have the money for a custom loop by the time I build this, I'd just rather not spend double the amount when I could achieve similar results with AIOs. 

[TheDigitalRealm]

I think I'll just sit this one out

Need is the wrong word to use in the water cooling section. I have a Switch 810, and I'd like to fill it up as much as possible. 

[helping]

Need is the wrong word to use in the water cooling section. I have a Switch 810, and I'd like to fill it up as much as possible. 

I'm getting at the fact that no GPU will need more than a thick 120mm at most. 

 

Just put the GPU on the bottom intake or rear exhaust or something. 

[Cwazywazy]

I'd have the money for a custom loop by the time I build this, I'd just rather not spend double the amount when I could achieve similar results with AIOs. 

But it's much cooler and better for a custom loop. When did anyone say an AIO has the same performance as a custom loop? Plus most GPU blocks have VRAM cooling which (If I'm correct) the Kraken doesn't.

[TheDigitalRealm]

But it's much cooler and better for a custom loop. When did anyone say an AIO has the same performance as a custom loop? Plus most GPU blocks have VRAM cooling which (If I'm correct) the Kraken doesn't.

Nobody said they perform the same. That's why I said *similar* What I'm trying to get at is the price difference between an AIO set up and a custom loop isn't worth the temperature difference. 

That was something I was going to ask about with the Kraken, as far as I know it only has a single 80mm fan blowing onto the VRAM? That doesn't sound adequate...I haven't heard any complaints about it though.  

[Ashley]

Nobody said they perform the same. That's why I said *similar* What I'm trying to get at is the price difference between an AIO set up and a custom loop isn't worth the temperature difference. 

That was something I was going to ask about with the Kraken, as far as I know it only has a single 80mm fan blowing onto the VRAM? That doesn't sound adequate...I haven't heard any complaints about it though.  

I've seen a few complaints http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/NZXT-Kraken-G10-Review-527/#UnigineHeavenPro4_0Temperature&NoiseLevels http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Using-NZXT-Kraken-G10-Watercool-Radeon-R9-290/Performance-Results

 

However, as Pcper points out you can just get a few heatsinks for the VRM. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=vrm+heatsink&tag=pcper04-20&tag=pcper04-20

OR something I want to try with my 780 is velcroing or taping a 120mm fan onto the g10.

[TheDigitalRealm]

I've seen a few complaints http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/NZXT-Kraken-G10-Review-527/#UnigineHeavenPro4_0Temperature&NoiseLevels http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Using-NZXT-Kraken-G10-Watercool-Radeon-R9-290/Performance-Results

 

However, as Pcper points out you can just get a few heatsinks for the VRM. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=vrm+heatsink&tag=pcper04-20&tag=pcper04-20

OR something I want to try with my 780 is velcroing or taping a 120mm fan onto the g10.

So would I just use thermal adhesive to attach those to the GPU? Sounds like an easy fix. 

 

You think a larger 120mm fan will make a significant difference? 

[Ashley]

So would I just use thermal adhesive to attach those to the GPU? Sounds like an easy fix. 

 

You think a larger 120mm fan will make a significant difference? 

At the very least 120mm moves more air with the same or less noise. Not sure how much it would help. Possibly couple it with VRM aftermarket heatsinks?

[TheDigitalRealm]

At the very least 120mm moves more air with the same or less noise. Not sure how much it would help. Possibly couple it with VRM aftermarket heatsinks?

True, I forgot that any fan 80mm or smaller tend to suffer from whining noises at higher RPMS. It's just a little irritating that it won't look the most elegant solution. I think I'll try just the Heat sinks first and see what m temperatures are like then. If they're high enough to make me uncomfortable then I'll find a way to ghetto strap a 120mm fan to it. 

[Lays]

Have you thought about doing something like adding a loop for the GPU, and buying a h220/h320 for the CPU then adding in another 240? 

 

What GPU needs a custom loop? 

 

 

I think more GPU's deserve watercooling IMO.  The benefits of watercooling a GPU far outweigh the benefits of watercooling a CPU (custom loop or not) 

 

Air coolers like the nh-d14 are basically silent, but I have yet to see a review of a GPU with a reference or non-reference design that is "silent" 

 

Taking a CPU from 60-80C to 50-70c with a custom loop doesn't make much sense to spend like 400$ on a custom loop just for the CPU (I see people do this all the time and I'm so confused)

 

Doing a custom loop or g10 for a GPU makes so much more sense in my eyes, you go from 65-85C to 35-55c (depending on the loop+rad space+fans) 

 

 

@helping the rad size is a bit dependant on the fan speeds you wish it to run at too, a 240mm rad for a single GPU could easily have 40-60% fan speeds vs the 60-75% of a 120mm  ( and I think we can both agree, quieter is always better )

[Ashley]

True, I forgot that any fan 80mm or smaller tend to suffer from whining noises at higher RPMS. It's just a little irritating that it won't look the most elegant solution. I think I'll try just the Heat sinks first and see what m temperatures are like then. If they're high enough to make me uncomfortable then I'll find a way to ghetto strap a 120mm fan to it. 

Tell me how it goes! I'm honestly quite curious. I'd love to watercool my GPU to keep it quieter but is it worth the expense and (imo) a bit worse aesthetic? We'll see.

[helping]

Have you thought about doing something like adding a loop for the GPU, and buying a h220/h320 for the CPU then adding in another 240? 

 

 

 

I think more GPU's deserve watercooling IMO.  The benefits of watercooling a GPU far outweigh the benefits of watercooling a CPU (custom loop or not) 

 

Air coolers like the nh-d14 are basically silent, but I have yet to see a review of a GPU with a reference or non-reference design that is "silent" 

 

Taking a CPU from 60-80C to 50-70c with a custom loop doesn't make much sense to spend like 400$ on a custom loop just for the CPU (I see people do this all the time and I'm so confused)

 

Doing a custom loop or g10 for a GPU makes so much more sense in my eyes, you go from 65-85C to 35-55c (depending on the loop+rad space+fans) 

 

 

@helping the rad size is a bit dependant on the fan speeds you wish it to run at too, a 240mm rad for a single GPU could easily have 40-60% fan speeds vs the 60-75% of a 120mm  ( and I think we can both agree, quieter is always better )

No, a single 120mm AIO cooler will do plenty fine cooling a 7950.

 

Ramping fans will only have so big of an affect, a GPU under any arbitrary 120mm AIO with a decent fan, at say, 30%, will hit voltage limitations before temperature becomes an issue. 

[TheDigitalRealm]

Tell me how it goes! I'm honestly quite curious. I'd love to watercool my GPU to keep it quieter but is it worth the expense and (imo) a bit worse aesthetic? We'll see.

Exactly. I love the Stock Nvidia blower coolers, but they're definitely not quiet! I don't mind the look of the NZXT. G10 though. It's not ugly, and the bigger your case, the more room you have to route tubing more discretely and make a feature of the white metal bracket. 

[TheDigitalRealm]

No, a single 120mm AIO cooler will do plenty fine cooling a 7950.

 

Ramping fans will only have so big of an affect, a GPU under any arbitrary 120mm AIO with a decent fan, at say, 30%, will hit voltage limitations before temperature becomes an issue. 

This won't be for my 7950. Gawd, I'd have to be mad to water cool a card with a TRIPLE SLOT DCUII cooler on it. with fans @ 40% it never goes about 50 degrees centigrade at full load. No, this is going to be for my future GPU, when the 800 series come out. The equivalent to the 780 Ti. 

[helping]

This won't be for my 7950. Gawd, I'd have to be mad to water cool a card with a TRIPLE SLOT DCUII cooler on it. with fans @ 40% it never goes about 50 degrees centigrade at full load. No, this is going to be for my future GPU, when the 800 series come out. The equivalent to the 780 Ti. 

If an X40 can handle a 290X with plenty of room to spare, the limit of your noise will be measured by the VRM fan on the bracket rather than the AIO.

 

You didn't specify, but it doesn't really change anything. 

 

regardless, it's your choice anyway so do as you please. 

[TheDigitalRealm]

If an X40 can handle a 290X with plenty of room to spare, the limit of your noise will be measured by the VRM fan on the bracket rather than the AIO.

 

You didn't specify, but it doesn't really change anything. 

 

regardless, it's your choice anyway so do as you please. 

Sorry about not specifying. Choosing the H105 was more about aesthetics than functionality, if I'm honest. 

[helping]

Sorry about not specifying. Choosing the H105 was more about aesthetics than functionality, if I'm honest. 

if you do that just be sure to invest in a decent 80/92mm whatever fan and short sinks for the VRM as stated before.

 

The fans on the h105 won't matter since you can just leave them at 5v

[Ashley]

if you do that just be sure to invest in a decent 80/92mm whatever fan and short sinks for the VRM as stated before.

 

The fans on the h105 won't matter since you can just leave them at 5v

Like these?

http://www.amazon.com/Cosmos-Copper-Cooling-Heatsinks-cooler/dp/B00637X42A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396655317&sr=8-2&keywords=vrm+heatsink