Pump and Radiator Question.

[The boy 4rm oz]

In my current mod (Project LEXA) I have been intending to water cool me ASUS EN8800GTX and Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (may become a Q6600 soon) with a Black Ice Xtreme 120mm radiator and a Black Ice Micro 80mm radiator all being powered by a Danger Den MAG II LE pump. It has been brought to my attention that this cooling may not be sufficient for my hardware so I was contemplating adding another radiator to the loop. The radiator in question is a Black Ice GT Stealth 240mm radiator.

The question I have for you is this. Will this pump (which I have already purchased) be powerful enough to move the coolant throughout the system efficiently and effectively?

My current loop was going to be as follows:
res-pump-CPU block-80mm rad-GPU block-120mm rad-res

The 80mm radiator is to be mounted on the top 80mm exhaust fan hole on my NZXT LEXA and the 120mm radiator will be mounted on the rear 120mm fan hole. I was contemplating mounting the 240mm radiator on the underside of the case and attaching it to the loop after the 80mm radiator. The only problem that may occur will be getting the tubing past my 8800GTX.

Please let me know what you think and check out my mod for a more in depth rundown of the loop.

The boy 4rm oz

[Scotty]

Use this to check ESTIMATED flow rates link doesn't show your pump so you might have to edit it. It gives my WC set-up about 0.85 GPM... not good apparently my temps are ok imo.

For the loop i would personally go like this (if possible)
Res>Pump>120mm>CPU>80mm>GPU>res

If you shove in a 240mm you should't need the 80mm. so you could have
Res>Pump>240mm>CPU>120mm>GPU>res or shove the 80mm in somewhere else if you wish.

I doubt the 8800GT will get in the way, unless you put the inlet/outlet end of the rad at the back of the case.

Ill check your mod out to examine

OK checked it out, looks like it will maybe need a better pump if you plan on doing it, right angles can add upto the same restriction as 4foot of 1/2" ID tubing and you have a few, albeit i have 3... and see no issues, in a (long) loop.

[Spawn-Inc]

^^awesome link! +rep.

[The boy 4rm oz]

The way I have set up the water cooling in my mod has been changed. I don't intend to use the right angles after considering the flow rates. I may still have to use them on my MCW-60 so the tubing isn't hitting the side window, I will make up my mind when I install the block onto the GTX and do a test install.

I was thinking of installing the 240mm radiator with the tubing coming from underneath the GTX on the drive bay side, it's the only way I can mount it unless I have tubing running on the outside of the case which I don't want.

Also the 80mm radiator I am using is an older one which I picked up brand new for $16AUD, it has built in barbs (can't remember size) but I needed to buy a pump adapter kit to convert it to 1/2". I know this will reduce the flow rate but will it also build up pressure in the system which could lead to some problems?

Thank you for the link and +rep

[The boy 4rm oz]

Was just wondering if anyone is using any of the Black Ice Stealth radiators, I know they don't cool as well as the Xtreme (that's why I went for the Xtreme) and just wanted some feed back before I decide whether to get one or not.

[dexaroni]

Black ice Stealth are complete crap, and that is coming from a black ice fanboy. I use a Black Ice GTXtreme 240, but that is one expensive radiator. I would look into a black ice pro 240 instead of a stealth, the stealth are complete flow killers, and have less surface area than the pro. If you can afford/ fit it, look into a 240mm Black Ice Xtreme.

[Spawn-Inc]

and over all of them i would recommend the Swiftech or if you can afford it a thermochill. you can use lower rated CFM fans and therefore have a quieter system with the same performance.

[The boy 4rm oz]

I got an Xtreme 120mm radiator and that set me back $125AUD, I will try to get sponsored a 240mm one ($150AUD) but they are damn thick and I don't want something that thick hanging from the bottom of my case. I am mounting the fans on the radiator on the underside of the case so by using another Xtreme radiator the fans will be touching the top of my desk. I should have gor a 240mm one to start with but didn't have the funds.

As for Swiftech and Thermochill radiators, I can't get them. I can get the Swiftech ones but only in kits and I don't want to pay for a whole kit just to get the radiator.