Custom loop viability questions.

[JerrBear]

Current build here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KfQvtJ

Note: I plan on upgrading to a GTX 1080 Ti over the summer. Selling my 980 to a friend. I'll go with a Poseidon if I choose to custom loop, and some Hybrid card if not.

 

1. Is my case big enough to fit a loop comfortably without sacrificing too much airflow due to the tubing?

2. I don't want to spend upwards of $400 on a loop that lasts on this PC for another couple years only (I plan to upgrade in 3-5 years). Is my processor future proof enough to make the loop worthwhile? X99 has a pretty bad upgrade path.

3. What's maintenance like? I love tinkering, but sometimes I just can't afford to spend 4 hours troubleshooting.

 

I would like to stop using AiO's and just custom loop, but man it's expensive.

 

 

[RadiatingLight]

 

[W-L]

3 minutes ago, JerrBear said:

Current build here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KfQvtJ

Note: I plan on upgrading to a GTX 1080 Ti over the summer. Selling my 980 to a friend. I'll go with a Poseidon if I choose to custom loop, and some Hybrid card if not.

1. Is my case big enough to fit a loop comfortably without sacrificing too much airflow due to the tubing?

2. I don't want to spend upwards of $400 on a loop that lasts on this PC for another couple years only (I plan to upgrade in 3-5 years). Is my processor future proof enough to make the loop worthwhile? X99 has a pretty bad upgrade path.

3. What's maintenance like? I love tinkering, but sometimes I just can't afford to spend 4 hours troubleshooting.

I would like to stop using AiO's and just custom loop, but man it's expensive.

Yes all of that is a good candidate to do a custom loop, however as for viability that is up to you and if you want the experience of building a loop. The starting cost will be around $500 USD for quality components and does require maintenance every 6- 12 months, usually I recommend 12months for fluid changes. 

[JerrBear]

13 minutes ago, RadiatingLight said:

 

I would like 2 rads on mine or at least one 360mm rad, it's a great bundle but I really would push for a bigger rad.

[RadiatingLight]

Just now, JerrBear said:

I would like 2 rads on mine or at least one 360mm rad, it's a great bundle but I really would push for a bigger rad.

well since it's a custom loop, all you have to do is find a 360mm aluminum rad to include as part of the loop, right?

not sure if the pump has enough power to do another rad though.

[ChalkChalkson]

30 minutes ago, JerrBear said:

3. What's maintenance like? I love tinkering, but sometimes I just can't afford to spend 4 hours troubleshooting.

If you go hardline 4h is very conservative... If you go softtubing it is sort of ok.. very comparable to an AIO, only that you can actually replace a dead pump.. I'd say most issues are solvable in about an hour, if you have everything you need on hand.

32 minutes ago, JerrBear said:

2. I don't want to spend upwards of $400 on a loop that lasts on this PC for another couple years only (I plan to upgrade in 3-5 years). Is my processor future proof enough to make the loop worthwhile? X99 has a pretty bad upgrade path.

That shouldn't be an issue, if you go softtubing just make sure all tubes are a centimeter or so longer than they need to be, and you can swap the mobo without any trouble. If you go hardline, you only have to bend 2 new pipes.

The blocks are usually compatible, but if not, you'd need to invest another 70 bucks for a new block.

34 minutes ago, JerrBear said:

1. Is my case big enough to fit a loop comfortably without sacrificing too much airflow due to the tubing?

Oh, by far... Do you remember the garage video, where Luke tested stuffed cases? it doesn't really matter much. And as long as you can fit a 360 or more, you'll be fine... I am currently rocking a 360 and a 240 and my results are only slightly better than with just the 240 (6700K+1080) [this makes all the difference though, since I can run passive now]

37 minutes ago, JerrBear said:

I would like to stop using AiO's and just custom loop, but man it's expensive.

I feel your pain... by pump crapped out on me a week ago, and man.. 100 bucks out of the window...

[tp95112]

37 minutes ago, W-L said:

Yes all of that is a good candidate to do a custom loop, however as for viability that is up to you and if you want the experience of building a loop. The starting cost will be around $500 USD for quality components and does require maintenance every 6- 12 months, usually I recommend 12months for fluid changes. 

Besides fluid change, what other maintenence are there?

[JerrBear]

1 hour ago, ChalkChalkson said:

-snip-

Which pump crashed? AiO or custom?

 

Also; I'm going with soft tubing. What I meant for maintenance is like the yearly checkups or whatever, not installation time.

[JerrBear]

1 hour ago, tp95112 said:

Besides fluid change, what other maintenence are there?

Not too sure but leak-checking is one for sure.

[RadiatingLight]

Just now, JerrBear said:

Not too sure but leak-checking is one for sure.

That's only the first time you set it up (and if you're insanely worried about water like me, every time you drain/fill the loop)

[W-L]

9 hours ago, tp95112 said:

Besides fluid change, what other maintenence are there?

If it's soft tubing after a while the tubing will degrade and need to be changed, for cleaning if things start to gunk up in the loop will require some disassembly of the blocks and cleaning. After every disassembly orings should also be checked and changed as needed. 

[ChalkChalkson]

8 hours ago, JerrBear said:

Which pump crashed? AiO or custom?

Custom, but that was sort of my fault, I had the PC running at another place and RDPed into it... The I lost some fluid (probably evaporation and diffusion) so one day the pump ran dry ...

8 hours ago, JerrBear said:

Also; I'm going with soft tubing.

Pretty god choice for a PC that is actually meant to be primarily a tool.

8 hours ago, JerrBear said:

What I meant for maintenance is like the yearly checkups or whatever, not installation time.

Jup... When I swapped my motherboard under hardline it was a few hours of work, same, when my first radiator leaked. Cleaning the pipes takes a few hours as well. And even swapping the thermal paste will set you back more than an hour.

With soft-tubing you don't need to dismantle and drain the loop, so you can pretty much pretend it is an AIO

[JerrBear]

2 hours ago, W-L said:

If it's soft tubing after a while the tubing will degrade and need to be changed, for cleaning if things start to gunk up in the loop will require some disassembly of the blocks and cleaning. After every disassembly orings should also be checked and changed as needed. 

How long do the custom loops usually last before needing to clean gunk? What's "oring"?

[RadiatingLight]

1 minute ago, JerrBear said:

How long do the custom loops usually last before needing to clean gunk? What's "oring"?

depends what you use.

if you use fluid with thick dye, then it will need cleaning very often. if you use fluid that's properly dyed, with nanoparticles that are dyed, then maybe once in a while. if you just use clean water, then never.*

 

*theoretically.

[W-L]

11 minutes ago, JerrBear said:

How long do the custom loops usually last before needing to clean gunk? What's "oring"?

o-rings are the seals used for fittings, blocks and such which need to be inspected every so often, usually during loop maintenance. Gunking is hard to say as it can vary from different fluid types and just loop conditions, sometimes a fluid change at 6-12 months is enough but other times it may require full disassembly and cleaning.