richaemry Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Hi guys, I've been reading these forums for a while now, and I can usually find what I'm looking for that way, but this one I can't really figure out on my own. I have 3 MSI reference 6950's unlocked into 6970's and with the terrible stock cooler that AMD saw fit to use they get HOT and LOUD. As I am sitting here they are all between 41C-61C with the fans at 45%. The way I see it I need to "take the plunge" so to speak and go to liquid, but I don't have a clue on God's green earth as to how to go about do that. I'm an engineer by training so the technical part of actually doing it I'll be fine at, but I don't know what are the best water blocks or radiators or pumps or even what all exactly I will need. Here is my current setup (the MOBO and CPU will be swapped out for an AMD FX-8130P and a 990FX Crosshair V extreme set the day they come out) 3x MSI reference 6950's Unlocked into 6970's at 1GHz 4x2GB DDR3 1333 Patriot sector 5 2x 500GB Momentus XTs in Icy Docks in RAID 0 Hitachi Deskstar 2TB 7200RPM Creative soundblaster X-FI Titanium Fatl1ty Pro ASRockj (M3A785GXH/128M) Socket AM3/ AMD 785G/ 3-Way CrossFireX/ A&V&GbE/ ATX Motherboard with all the heatsinks replaced with low profile fansinks AMD 1055t @ 3.93GHz Under a Hyper 212 plus with zalman thermal grease HP 12060i DVDRAM (Not that that matters) Corsair HX850W Cooler Master HAF932 with just stock fans (I will be adding a small SATA 6B/s SSD with a sandforce controller when I get the new board and putting it in an icy dock as well) Then I have the standard junk like gaming keyboard, mouse, gamepad, controller, speakers, headset, printer. I run eyefinity too if that matters. I'd like to keep my case if at all possible, I think I may need a second PSU for the cooling system and my case supports 2 PSUs. I'd rather do 2 PSUs than buy a new main one since I run thourgh a pair of UPSes and I'll just get another one for the 2nd PSU and UPses for 1200w-1500w PSUs are 1.5k while 850w ones are $130. The real question is what do I need? Do I need to run a dual loop? Can I buy a pair of kits? What water blocks do I need and which are the best for your money? What liquid should I run? How many radiators should I have? Do I need a new case to shove this all in? And will I need a new PSU just for the cooling system? What pumps should I get? What fans should I get? I'm clueless as to what I should buy, so help me out please. I know this is going to cost money is an object, but I'm will to spend enough that I don't get junk. This is the last time in my life I will have both the time and the money to build a top of the live gaming PC and I want to do it right. Thanks alot guys. This forum has been great to read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
camaro_dude15 Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) that case is water cooling friendly you can mount a 3x120 radiator in the top, stay away from kits, and i leave the rest of the advice to the guys that do this all the time, ive done research for it but it was not wallet friendly in my sitiuation start with this list, cpu water block gpu water block x3 pump radiator resivoir tubing fittings, best go with compression fittings, wont have to worry about leaks Edited March 16, 2011 by camaro_dude15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smduff Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 In all hoenesty I would wait until they release the new stuff before buying anything, I'm sure the CPU blocks they have out now are going to work but I don'y know if you will need that type of cooling they may end up being like SB where air works just fine. My personal preferance is EK I have never had any issues with any of there blocks GPU, CPU or mobo ram runs cool enough that I wouldn't waste the money on the block. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
camaro_dude15 Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 so there you go, make a loop for your gpu's and wait, lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griever2003 Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Hi guys, The real question is what do I need? Do I need to run a dual loop? Can I buy a pair of kits? What water blocks do I need and which are the best for your money? What liquid should I run? How many radiators should I have? Do I need a new case to shove this all in? And will I need a new PSU just for the cooling system? What pumps should I get? What fans should I get? I'm clueless as to what I should buy, so help me out please. I know this is going to cost money is an object, but I'm will to spend enough that I don't get junk. This is the last time in my life I will have both the time and the money to build a top of the live gaming PC and I want to do it right. Thanks alot guys. This forum has been great to read. I have been wanting to post something up about the 6950s as well, but i was going to wait until i actually got to mess with the stuff before i really started asking questions. But i am also curious about water cooling these as well. I have done a few Google searches, and read some of the basics of water cooling the graphics cards, but it seems i just can grasp it. what kind of water block would be ideal, what kind would be just sufficient? can i run 1 loop on 2 6950s? any suggestions/advice would be very helpful. what i have found so far is you can get generic universal blocks, but are they going to be cost effective. and the other gear i am going to need, should i just go to a Lowes and buy some tubing and what not to hook it up, or should i stick with computer manufacturer parts. just kinda overloaded with the info and need a guiding hand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigball1 Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Danger Den & EK make good GPU waterblocks. I would go with a Swifttech radiator a 3x120 will work and there is a very different flavors of that size. Frozencpu has a very good selection of water cooling parts. Look for some of the parts you need and just do some shopping around for the best prices. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
El_Capitan Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 The real question is what do I need? Whoa, lol easy there. Take it one step at a time. That's a very good question. What do you NEED? For one, you don't really to cool your Northbridge and/or Southbridge chipset with watercooling. Do I need to run a dual loop? No, you don't. Can I buy a pair of kits? Kits are good for beginners, but it's better if you don't buy kits. What water blocks do I need and which are the best for your money? You can get full water blocks for your HD 6950's, but once they become outdated, it's very likely won't be able to fit them on any newer graphics cards. What I do instead is buy universal GPU blocks, then drill holes in the backplate to fit the GPU and find a fan to push air into the power regulators and memory. You can also buy ramsinks, but sometimes they'll get in the way. What liquid should I run? PrimoChill PC Pure How many radiators should I have? A single 120.3 radiator will do (meaning it will fit three 120mm fans). Do I need a new case to shove this all in? Not really, the HAF 932 will do wonders. You can put the radiator on the inside top of your case. And will I need a new PSU just for the cooling system? No. What pumps should I get? Swiftech MCP-655 What fans should I get? Fans are all up to you. I personally use Noctua NF-P12's, but they'll cost you $18 per fan. They're quiet and move a good amount of air is why. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richaemry Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Can I do all 3 of these at 1GHz on a single loop with one radiator? Sounds iffy to me, but I'd love to know. I want to at least cool the GPUs now. It sounds like a wind tunnel in here................... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
El_Capitan Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Can I do all 3 of these at 1GHz on a single loop with one radiator? Sounds iffy to me, but I'd love to know. I want to at least cool the GPUs now. It sounds like a wind tunnel in here................... Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richaemry Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Should I get more than one radiator? One in the top and another in a drive bay or on the back or even in the external radiator slot (though that sound like I'm asking to burn the dog or the cat)? Thanks a lot guy! you are being so helpful! Is it better to use a one-size-fits all GPU block? Or one made for my exact card? Also do I need backplates? Sorry about the flood of questions LOL, but I can be a little impulsive (i.e. 3 6950s) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griever2003 Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) El_Captain wow +1 for such a good answer. now i am curious as to what reeds to be cooled on a GPU this is the pic i am looking at . ***EDIT :well the pic i got lied to me it is actually a 68(50) card... looking to replace it but ya get the idea llokin to see what parts need cooling what doesn't*** because i know some people who do A LOT of metal work, and if i was to see if they could build me the copper block for cheap what would it need to cool on custom ones Edited March 16, 2011 by Griever2003 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griever2003 Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 Sorry about the flood of questions LOL, but I can be a little impulsive (i.e. 3 6950s) i know the feeling.. cept i only got two LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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