Quietly cool 2 GTX285s with a single 120 Rad/fan??

[EnergyFX]

Do you think it can be done and if so how would you do it? The video cards, rad, a pump, and perhaps a small res would be the only things in the loop.

[zithe]

I bet it could be done. Probably will just have higher temps. I'd guess about the same as air, but quieter.

Dunno, haven't played with watercooling yet.

[erocker]

Originally Posted by EnergyFX

Do you think it can be done and if so how would you do it? The video cards, rad, a pump, and perhaps a small res would be the only things in the loop.

I think it could be done. You will need a thick 120mm Radiator like a Thermochill, XSPC, etc. something with wide fin spacing. Then you'll need some higher CFM fans in a push/pull config. I'm currently using some Scythe slipstream 88cfm's. You might want to go for the 119cfm versions. Hopefully when they are under full load you won't saturate the loop with heat. You may want to go with GPU blocks instead of full coverage blocks to keep the temps down from the voltage componentry. Heatsink the mosfets and VRM's and keep them cool with a side fan if possible.

[TheShad0W]

It's probably technically possible, but it's borderline and a twin or triple rad would give you much better temps.

[mlee49]

Dude, seriously. A 120.1 can't cool anything decently. Well I take that back it could probably cool a e2100 undervolted to .9V.

No way would I EVER suggest anyone using a 120.1 rad, especially for two VERY hot G200 chips(if not full coverage blocks).

And as far as flow order:

pump->rad->gpu1->gpu2->res->pump.

[TheShad0W]

Originally Posted by mlee49

Dude, seriously. A 120.1 can't cool anything decently. Well I take that back it could probably cool a e2100 undervolted to .9V.

No way would I EVER suggest anyone using a 120.1 rad, especially for two VERY hot G200 chips(if not full coverage blocks).

And as far as flow order:

pump->rad->gpu1->gpu2->res->pump.

The H50 is a single rad, and I get load temps of about 70-72 degrees with an i5 @ 4Ghz.

That said, two Gtx285's will put out still more heat

[mlee49]

Exactly, and that H5O costs as much as a decent air cooler with the same amount of noise.

The cost alone of the waterblocks is nearly the cost of a 3rd party cooling solution.

A very cheap and inexpensive alternative to help cut temps would be a backplate if not already installed.

[erocker]

Originally Posted by mlee49

Dude, seriously. A 120.1 can't cool anything decently. Well I take that back it could probably cool a e2100 undervolted to .9V.

Sorry, no. My XSPC RX120 has cooled a Q6600 to 4ghz, an E8600 to 5ghz, and handles my PII 965 just fine. Never once have I had to pull back due to temps.

[mlee49]

You also have excellent case flow with two fans on your rad.

[erocker]

Originally Posted by mlee49

You also have excellent case flow with two fans on your rad.

Exactly. That's why I initially said he will need a thicker 120 radiator and a push pull fan setup of at least 88cfm.

[mrsemi]

Originally Posted by mlee49

Dude, seriously. A 120.1 can't cool anything decently. Well I take that back it could probably cool a e2100 undervolted to .9V.

No way would I EVER suggest anyone using a 120.1 rad, especially for two VERY hot G200 chips(if not full coverage blocks).

And as far as flow order:

pump->rad->gpu1->gpu2->res->pump.

Don't know why you say that, I've been gaming in aion for two hours straight, load temps on a 5870 are 45 c with a good silent pull only fan on a thicker 120.1, forgot the name bought it used here for like $40. I think maybe model was pa 120.1 by thermochill but I'm guessing.

Now I think pushing two 285's might be pushing it but I think it's doable.

My setup...

[EnergyFX]

Hey thanks for all the input thus far folks.

I'm no newbie to watercooling. I agree with what everyone is saying so far. I'm pretty sure if done right a 120.1 rad could do fine cooling two 285s, but probably not any quieter than the stock air HSFs. I just wanted to kind of confirm with the masses what I was already thinking.

I have a new setup in a relatively small case that doesn't afford much room for radiator installation. It would be easy to install a 120.1 but any more than that would require some creativity. With a bit of rearranging and some cutting here and there I could probably get a pair of 120.1 rads in... I just don't really want it to turn into a big project. I have too many other projects that need to get finished so starting another one would just be a mess.

[EnergyFX]

Originally Posted by mlee49

Dude, seriously. A 120.1 can't cool anything decently. Well I take that back it could probably cool a e2100 undervolted to .9V.

No way would I EVER suggest anyone using a 120.1 rad, especially for two VERY hot G200 chips(if not full coverage blocks).

And as far as flow order:

pump->rad->gpu1->gpu2->res->pump.

You're the only one I disagree with Mlee

A 120.1 rad is a very capable cooling device if implemented correctly. A 120.1 can cool an entire MB all by itself. It is also sufficient for cooling a CPU, and quietly I might add. And if I only had one GTX285 I would have no reservation cooling it on a 120.1 rad. The trick is it needs to be a good rad and needs to be fed from air outside the case.

But, all that said... 120.1 rads are best at supplementing a larger more elaborate cooling loop, like to help dissipate some heat between cooling blocks.

Also, if space allows, it is always better to plumb multiple GPUs in parallel, not in series. Series loops stack heat which means the second GPU will get slightly warmer coolant since the coolant has already absorbed heat from the first GPU in the series.

[Kantastic]

Originally Posted by erocker

I think it could be done. You will need a thick 120mm Radiator like a Thermochill, XSPC, etc. something with wide fin spacing. Then you'll need some higher CFM fans in a push/pull config. I'm currently using some Scythe slipstream 88cfm's. You might want to go for the 119cfm versions. Hopefully when they are under full load you won't saturate the loop with heat. You may want to go with GPU blocks instead of full coverage blocks to keep the temps down from the voltage componentry. Heatsink the mosfets and VRM's and keep them cool with a side fan if possible.

e, aren't SlipStreams one of the worst static pressure fans ever?

[Binge]

Originally Posted by TheShad0W

The H50 is a single rad, and I get load temps of about 70-72 degrees with an i5 @ 4Ghz.

That said, two Gtx285's will put out still more heat

Wow, that's worse than air cooling. i7 920 @ 4.2GHz with a lapped TRUE and push/pull cools to 68C under load.

[erocker]

Originally Posted by Kantastic

e, aren't SlipStreams one of the worst static pressure fans ever?

I don't even care what "static pressure" means. Explain this to me. They blow a lot of air, more than the three previous fans I had. They perform the best. So if "static pressure" equates to performance. No, these fans are superb. Wherever you heard that these fans aren't good (newegg review? ), it's a lie.

Really it makes no sense. Static pressure is pressure without motion. How does that relate to a spinning fan?

[TheShad0W]

Originally Posted by Binge

Wow, that's worse than air cooling. i7 920 @ 4.2GHz with a lapped TRUE and push/pull cools to 68C under load.

Tell me about it, have been considering swapping over to one of the new zalman coolers http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-041-ZA.

A TRUE here costs about £65/$100, whereas I got my H50 for £50

That said - I've got it sat at 3.85Ghz currently and the case is really quiet, and that's not too bad

Edit - Was looking at getting the Zalman CNPS10X Extreme, got reviewed as having better performance than the NH-D14 by guru3d.

[MKmods]

Originally Posted by Kantastic

e, aren't SlipStreams one of the worst static pressure fans ever?

Originally Posted by erocker

I don't even care what "static pressure" means. Explain this to me. They blow a lot of air, more than the three previous fans I had. They perform the best. So if "static pressure" equates to performance. No, these fans are superb. Wherever you heard that these fans aren't good (newegg review? ), it's a lie.

Really it makes no sense. Static pressure is pressure without motion. How does that relate to a spinning fan?

I think this means because the motor assembly is so small there is little torque of the motor so the fan dosent have as much oomph..(fan spins fine, blows air fine but if there is restriction (close spaced fins) they put out quite a bit less airflow)

The Slipstreams work fine (I have a bunch) but when compared to the SanyoDenki crazy fans (that seem to have 1000X more torque to them) they can seem to be a bit anemic.

And to the OP a very good single 120mm rad would work but barely (probably similar to the original air cooling). To cool one of them fine but 2 GPUs is pushing it. If you are going through all the added complexity/cost of water cooling may as well do it right and use a good double 120mm rad(at least).

[erocker]

Originally Posted by MKmods

I think this means because the motor assembly is so small there is little torque of the motor so the fan dosent have as much oomph..(fan spins fine, blows air fine but if there is restriction (close spaced fins) they put out quite a bit less airflow)

The Slipstreams work fine (I have a bunch) but when compared to the SanyoDenki crazy fans (that seem to have 1000X more torque to them) they can seem to be a bit anemic.

And to the OP a very good single 120mm rad would work but barely (probably similar to the original air cooling). To cool one of them fine but 2 GPUs is pushing it. If you are going through all the added complexity/cost of water cooling may as well do it right and use a good double 120mm rad(at least).

Ahh. Right! Hence why they are perfect for a widely spaced fin radiator. It's amazing how much air they push for being only 1900 rpm.

[MKmods]

to me appearance matters quite a bit and the Slipstream fans just "Look" really cool. For that aspect the makers did a great job with them.

[EnergyFX]

Look at it this way, some fans move a lot of air via velocity. They do a great job of creating a "slipstream", so to speak, of air and as long as there are no significant obstacles in the area immediately before and after the fan assembly then the slipstream continues to move at a nice steady fashion. The air moves at high velocity and the fan blades are designed to take full advantage of the steady high speed stream of air. But if you put any obstacles near these fans to disrupt the slipstream then their performance begins to suffer.

Other fans work off a high pressure concept. Think of them more as "high torque" fans. The fan blades are designed to grab a wad of air and ram it through regardless of any disruption in the flow. These are considered high "static pressure" fans.

It is a lot like the ol' power vs. torque debates. High power moves fast but stalls easy, torque doesn't stall but caps out quick once it gets moving.

Now... go back and re-read the last few posts, re-read this post... and ask yourself "Hmm, I wonder why Scythe named that model 'Slipstream'?" Shit makes sense, don't it!

[EnergyFX]

Originally Posted by MKmods

to me appearance matters quite a bit and the Slipstream fans just "Look" really cool. For that aspect the makers did a great job with them.

Hi Mark, haven't chatted with ya in a while.

I've been avoiding the build log section since I'm being lazy and not making any progress on the Soprano build. lol

[phanbuey]

you guys are icrazy... it will work just fine, and better than air. How do i know? they came out with a Uber OC'd watercooled 295 that got WAY lower temps than air and had a crappy coolit 120 built on to it, they have done the same with a 4870x2.

any decent 120 will cool dual gfx cards better than air, especially stock air...

now is it better to get an aftermarket air cooler? yes. because it is cheaper, and they are quiet as well, and honestly, unless you volt mod, you really dont get much out of watercooling the gfx. and even if you do voltmod, the 30% performance that you might get out of it is not worth the cost.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by phanbuey

you guys are icrazy... it will work just fine, and better than air. How do i know? they came out with a Uber OC'd watercooled 295 that got WAY lower temps than air and had a crappy coolit 120 built on to it, they have done the same with a 4870x2.

any decent 120 will cool dual gfx cards better than air, especially stock air...

now is it better to get an aftermarket air cooler? yes. because it is cheaper, and they are quiet as well, and honestly, unless you volt mod, you really dont get much out of watercooling the gfx. and even if you do voltmod, the 30% performance that you might get out of it is not worth the cost.

30% is worth the silence to many people. With something like a triple rad, he can use low speed, very silent fans, get better temps than ANY air, and still be more quiet than said air coolers.

[oily_17]

For me it would all depend if you have the parts already or not.

If you already have the RAD and blocks then give it a go.

If not then I would try and fit a double RAD into the case with quieter fans on it.