How many pumps do I need?

[lloydyseetim]

I plan to do a custom loop including both my CPU and my GPU, with 360mm of rad space, will one EK DDC pump be powerful enough or should I get two?

[Oshino Shinobu]

One DDC would be enough. I would go for a Vario D5, though. Nice and quiet, reliable and more than powerful enough, even on the lowest speed setting.

[xgn]

One is enough   2 is for big projects when you have like 5 radiators and trippel sli there wont be any benefit at all to get another pump.

[Naeaes]

Yeah. one DDC (with a mod top, the original is crap) will suffice but like people pointed out, a D5 (again, with a modified top, the original is crap) is much better in every aspect. To be honest, DDC kind of lets you down in the longevity.

[Enderman]

one is fine

[lloydyseetim]

One DDC would be enough. I would go for a Vario D5, though. Nice and quiet, reliable and more than powerful enough, even on the lowest speed setting.

 

 

Yeah. one DDC (with a mod top, the original is crap) will suffice but like people pointed out, a D5 (again, with a modified top, the original is crap) is much better in every aspect. To be honest, DDC kind of lets you down in the longevity.

 

The reason I selected the DDC pump is because it's for a SFF build and so the ability to get a combination bay reservoir and pump that fits in a single 5.25 inch bay is very handy.

[B NEGATIVE]

Yeah. one DDC (with a mod top, the original is crap) will suffice but like people pointed out, a D5 (again, with a modified top, the original is crap) is much better in every aspect. To be honest, DDC kind of lets you down in the longevity.

 

 

Not true,the DDC has more pressure generation than a D5,a handy attribute for a complex loop.

 

And the stock tops are not crap,the Bitspower D5 top is actually worse than the stock unit.

[Naeaes]

 

The reason I selected the DDC pump is because it's for a SFF build and so the ability to get a combination bay reservoir and pump that fits in a single 5.25 inch bay is very handy.

 

Fair enough. If it's SFF, your best bet really is 5,25" I hate them myself since they usually sit above the rest of the circulation, which is like the opposite of where the pump should be. But you probably won't have the space for a tube res.

 

Edit: Oh, I forgot to mention, if you go for the 18W DDC, it has a habit of overheating. The flow of water doesn't cool it at all. You might want to look into heatsinks for it.

[Naeaes]

Not true,the DDC has more pressure generation than a D5,a handy attribute for a complex loop.

 

And the stock tops are not crap,the Bitspower D5 top is actually worse than the stock unit.

Sure, sure. Gotta love those hose barbs.

[lloydyseetim]

Fair enough. If it's SFF, your best bet really is 5,25" I hate them myself since they usually sit above the rest of the circulation, which is like the opposite of where the pump should be. But you probably won't have the space for a tube res.

 

Edit: Oh, I forgot to mention, if you go for the 18W DDC, it has a habit of overheating. The flow of water doesn't cool it at all. You might want to look into heatsinks for it.

So if http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-sbay-ddc-32-pwm-(incl-pump) that is the combo, I should remove the pump, replace the housing with something like https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-ddc-heatsink-cover-black that and then reinstall it in the 5.25" bay? Will the heatsink really make much difference in an area with such little airflow?

 

EDIT: Typo

[B NEGATIVE]

Sure, sure. Gotta love those hose barbs.

 

 

Performance and aesthetics are not the same thing.......

 

And the 18w DDC only overheats at full speed in a low restriction loop,ie CPU only.

[BrightCandle]

The ddc is pretty versatile with its different tops you can change its pressure and flow trade off. As you loop changes over time you can buy replacement tops if you change the restriction a lot. The d5 in a real loop with even low restriction CPU + GPU block always performs worse than either of the ddc pumps. It's really a single block targeted pump. It will work but be sub optimal.

[lloydyseetim]

Performance and aesthetics are not the same thing.......

And the 18w DDC only overheats at full speed in a low restriction loop,ie CPU only.

It's a pwm pump, so I doubt it'll ever be running at full speed.

[Naeaes]

So if http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-sbay-ddc-32-pwm-(incl-pump) that is the combo, I should remove the pump, replace the housing with something like https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-ddc-heatsink-cover-black that and then reinstall it in the 5.25" bay? Will the heatsink really make much difference in an area with such little airflow?

 

EDIT: Typo

Probably not. Also it sticks out a bit so it might get in the way. Are you going to be able to access it after installing? It gets hot to the touch even. I have no idea about any safe temperatures for it and couldn't find anything about someone testing. I've witnessed one blow a bit below sixty degrees housed in one of these. That particular unit was on it's way out anyway so the test we did, told nothing really.

[B NEGATIVE]

The ddc is pretty versatile with its different tops you can change its pressure and flow trade off. As you loop changes over time you can buy replacement tops if you change the restriction a lot. The d5 in a real loop with even low restriction CPU + GPU block always performs worse than either of the ddc pumps. It's really a single block targeted pump. It will work but be sub optimal.

 

 

Nope.

 

To put some context,my SR-2 had dual 24v D5 strongs....I blew the 24v controller and had it running on one D5 at 12v.....thru 7 blocks and 3 480's.

 

You know what difference it made? 3c at the CPU.

 

Performance is not the salient metric,silence and reliability are. Flow rates are massively overrated as any kind of performance metric.

[Benji_w]

Nope.

 

To put some context,my SR-2 had dual 24v D5 strongs....I blew the 24v controller and had it running on one D5 at 12v.....thru 7 blocks and 3 480's.

 

You know what difference it made? 3c at the CPU.

 

Performance is not the salient metric,silence and reliability are. Flow rates are massively overrated as any kind of performance metric.

 

Nice to see you back on here spreading some facts. I missed you x

[InfiniteZero0]

Yeah. one DDC (with a mod top, the original is crap) will suffice but like people pointed out, a D5 (again, with a modified top, the original is crap) is much better in every aspect. To be honest, DDC kind of lets you down in the longevity.

The D5 isn't a top dependant pump. The DDC is. We're talking slightly less pressure and flow rate on the D5, but it's the DDC which benefits off a better top.

[Goat]

One, powerful pump. Two or more pumps will add to the noise of the pc.

[Naeaes]

The D5 isn't a top dependant pump. The DDC is. We're talking slightly less pressure and flow rate on the D5, but it's the DDC which benefits off a better top.

Exactly! My issues with the D5 stock top revolve around the fact that it doesn't have G1/4 threads and the mounting isn't optimal either. Performance-wise the D5 stock top is as good as any. 

[Benji_w]

Exactly! My issues with the D5 stock top revolve around the fact that it doesn't have G1/4 threads and the mounting isn't optimal either. Performance-wise the D5 stock top is as good as any. 

 

I've seen people mod the stock top to allow fittings, you need more..