Water Cooling Question

Netskimmer

New Member
Greetings,

I have a thread going in the Desktop Computers forum about a rig I'm putting together, or rather trying to put together, anyway the card I have chosen is the MSI NX8800Ultra-T2D768E-HD-OC GeForce 8800Ultra 768MB. Unfortunately many people in the reviews are saying that the card is too powerful for its own good and actually needs to be under-clocked to get stable performance out of it.

I have a Danger Den water cooling kit for use with the new rig but it does not include a VGA block and I am thinking I'll need to invest in one for this card. My first choice would be the Danger Den DD-8800GTX, they say it is designed for both the GTX and Ultra, but they are out of stock. The Swiftech' Stealth VGA block reviews well but I am afraid it will bottleneck the coolant flow because the system I have uses 1/2" tubing and equipment and the Swiftech' Stealth only has 1/4" ports ,though it comes with 1/2" adapters.

This is my first WC build so any constructive input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

EDIT: If the bottleneck would be a problem could I not get some 1/4" tubing and split the 1/2" into two 1/4" lines? I could then send one line into the VGA block and bypass it with the other, then merge the two lines back into one 1/2". This would keep the coolant flow from being restricted and the hotter coolant from the card line would be mixed with the cooler liquid from the bypass line which would help keep the overall coolant temps down. What do you think?
 
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Netskimmer

New Member
Thanks for the reply but that is a CPU water block not a VGA water block, It may also work to cool the GPU chip but I would like a block that also covers the RAM, Voltage Regulators, and I/O Chip.
 

mep916

Administrator
Staff member
Thanks for the reply but that is a CPU water block not a VGA water block, It may also work to cool the GPU chip but I would like a block that also covers the RAM, Voltage Regulators, and I/O Chip.

OOPS...sorry. :eek:
 

The_Beast

New Member
How big is your rad??? Where are you shopping??? What kind of pump/kit do you have??? What is your block made of???

Swiftech and EK make some of the best blocks out there
 

Netskimmer

New Member
I'm not sure but I think the EK-FC8800 8800GTX also has 1/4" ports which can be adapted to 1/2" tubing if needed rather than 1/2" ports. Would the smaller ports reduce coolant flow or would it simply increase the psi? If it will increase the psi will the 12v pump my kit came with (see link above) be strong enough to handle it?
 

Netskimmer

New Member
No , responses? I'm normally not an impatient person but if I do need to return this kit I need to know ASAP. If Danger Den does let me return it I'm sure there is an ever shrinking time window involved. Thanks.
 

The_Beast

New Member
Why do you say that? Will a bigger rad fit in my COOLER MASTER COSMOS?


A single rad isn't enough going to cool a CPU and a power house like the 8800GTX

And sense the you have a bigger rad you might need a better pump


What is your CPU block made of??? You could mount the rads externally
 

Netskimmer

New Member
CPU block is copper with an acrylic top.

WCWB.jpg


Pump is the DD-CPX1 12V Pump rated at 500l (132 Gal) per hour. H-Max is 2 meters (6.6 feet)

Rad is the Black Ice Xtreme Radiator 2-pass Double-row Low Pressure Drop Radiator rated for 790KCal per hour (3134BTU per hour).
 
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Archangel

VIP Member
EDIT: If the bottleneck would be a problem could I not get some 1/4" tubing and split the 1/2" into two 1/4" lines? I could then send one line into the VGA block and bypass it with the other, then merge the two lines back into one 1/2". This would keep the coolant flow from being restricted and the hotter coolant from the card line would be mixed with the cooler liquid from the bypass line which would help keep the overall coolant temps down. What do you think?

I think thats what you should do. i mean, if you put the VGA cooler and CPU cooler in series, one of them is definately going to get the hot water from the other, wich I dont think is what you'd want.
 

Netskimmer

New Member
I think thats what you should do. i mean, if you put the VGA cooler and CPU cooler in series, one of them is definately going to get the hot water from the other, wich I dont think is what you'd want.

Will the water kit I have be able to handle cooling both the CPU and VGA card or should I just use it to cool the CPU and get this for the card?

Thermalright HR-03 Plus VGA Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835109136
$54.99

SILVERSTONE RL-FN91 92mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999347
$5.99
 

The_Beast

New Member
I think thats what you should do. i mean, if you put the VGA cooler and CPU cooler in series, one of them is definately going to get the hot water from the other, wich I dont think is what you'd want.

that's why I suggested a bigger rad

when you make your loop make sure not to mix metal
 

Netskimmer

New Member
that's why I suggested a bigger rad

when you make your loop make sure not to mix metal

Unless I put the rad in the loop between the CPU and VGA card it would not help in the situation he is talking about because the heat from the first block would flow though the second one before it got to the rad. I'm assuming that running two independant loops with two rads would be even more stressful on the pump than getting a single larger rad would be. Does anyone know if my current pump can handle two rads or a larger rad becuase if I have to replace the rad AND the pump then the whole kit is pretty much a write off and my only options are to either return the kit and pay a $20~$30 restocking fee (not even sure this is an option) and get a bigger setup or use my current kit for the CPU and get a good air cooler for the card as I mentioned above.
 
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