Watercooling 1xGTX285 with 1 Rad?

[thatguyx]

Just curious, but is it possible to cool a GTX285 quietly. Based on the reviews for the new BFG GTX285DD, I know that a single 120 rad can handle it with a high flow fan. However, my goal is to quiet my system.

I've decided to start with just the GPU as that's the only thing annoying me at the moment. I want to try to cool my eVGA GTX285 SC (675Mhz) using a 120mm Feser X-changer, Swiftech MCP-350 and EK FC-GTX 285 block (Nickel and acetal with window). The only constriction is that I want to use 2 low speed fans (<25dBA, guessing around 50CFM) in a push/pull config. Is it possible to cool the GTX alone (maybe overclock it later--don't really need to now though)?

Before you ask, "why not a bigger rad," I would prefer to work with the single 120mm Rad because I want to mount it in a Lian Li HD enclosure designed to replace three 5.25" bays. If I decide to add another GTX or add the CPU to the loop, I will most likely go with the Feser 360 in conjunction with the 120. But as of now I'm looking for a single rad setup.

 

[masteryoda34]

I think a 120 feser should do a fine job cooling one GTX 285.

 

[thatguyx]

Any idea what it may be at load (not full benchmark just long gaming sessions)? I believe the GTX should survive up to 100C (not that anyone would want it there). Can I do this quietly and safely without ruining a new graphics card?

Currently the highest I've seen my GPU temp was at 80C playing CoD:WaW (max settings at 1900x1200). That temp was measured using the evga tool which puts the some info in the corner of the screen.

 

[masteryoda34]

I would bet it would be much better than the stock cooler.

I would suggest looking around at xtremesystems.org but the site has been down a few days.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
I would bet it would be much better than the stock cooler.

I would suggest looking around at xtremesystems.org but the site has been down a few days.

i bet it would spank the stock cooler and some.

120x1 rad can handle around 150-200W of heat while maintaining a nice coolant to ambient delta.

The 285GTX does not put out that much heat.

Rough estimate with your proposed setup, assuming your ambients are around 20-24C, id say somewhere between mid 40 to 50ish on load, and idle should be around 30ish.

 

[Phew]

Skinee tested the XSPC RX120 rad (which performs nearly identically to the Feser for a little cheaper), and was able to dissipate about 200W with the fan at 1500 RPM (pretty quiet) and the coolant being 10C above ambient (high, but OK for a GPU loop). PLOT

Considering it would take something like Furmark to make a GTX 285 pump out that much heat, I say you are more than fine.

 

[thatguyx]

ambient temperature seems to be kinda off for me. The room temp is probably around 35C, however after some use (gaming for about an hour) the SYS temp will go from 40C to around 50-55C, settling then at 45C. I've read somewhere though, that Asus AI Suite temps can be off. I'm convinced that the GPU exhaust is somewhere too close to the MB Temp sensor; would the GPU loop still increase SYS/ambient temp too much? Can I still do this without frying the pump? (Rated up to 60C) I'm planning on mounting whichever rad I get towards the front of the case, so with fresh air (35C) and 2 fans I think it'll be adequate air flow.

 

[masteryoda34]

35C is 95F. Is it really that warm?

 

[TidusZ]

35c room temp?? Dude don't worry about computer cooling, worry about house cooling, getting some air conditioning going on there. Your idle/load temps will drop way down, and you wont stick to your chair/couch anymore.

 

[thatguyx]

lol sorry, i should've put 25C (atleast the thermostat is set to 75F). sorry not used to reporting things in C. I keep thinking about the high SYS temp and maybe I'm averaging i dunno, lol.

 

[masteryoda34]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
35c room temp?? Dude don't worry about computer cooling, worry about house cooling, getting some air conditioning going on there. Your idle/load temps will drop way down, and you wont stick to your chair/couch anymore.

Haha +1.

 

[thatguyx]

Does anyone know if the reported System temp in Asus Suite is the NB or the actual air in the case? Also is it possible for a System IDLE temp at 42C to just be the GTX285 dumping out it's heat on temp sensor or whole case? I'm hoping with the water cooled card, the system temp will go down. Am I right in this assumption, or will the case be overall hotter?

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: thatguyx
I'm hoping with the water cooled card, the system temp will go down. Am I right in this assumption, or will the case be overall hotter?

No one but god can answer you that question.

Your room will get hotter faster tho, because water's more efficient at pulling heat. But how you setup your loop, and what parts are used, its hard to tell.

I dont recomend watercooling the GPU first. Because the tubing can get in the way of large class air sinks.

 

[Tweakin]

If it helps, I'm going to do a second loop with a dual TFC and use it to cool two GTX 285 SSC's Overclocked.

 

[thatguyx]

just an update.

I got a couple parts in the last couple days. So far i've got the following
-EK-FC285 GTX block (ooo shiny)
-XPSC RX120 Rad
-Swiftech MCP 350 with XSPC top
-(6) 3/8"ID Compression fittings
-3' of TFC Blue UV Tubing
-1L of TFC coolant
-Noctua 120mm Fan
-Aerocool 140mm fan with 120mm adapter

So far I have The XPSC rad with the 140mm Aero pushing and the 120mm Noctua pulling. This will be mounted in 4 5.25" Bays with a loose grill and some light sponge filter. I'm not going any further as the EK blocked shipped without 1mm thermal pads (only 0.5mm... the instructions recommend using 1mm on certain parts of the graphics card). Also I plan on cutting the case a bit to hide my wiring and I'm might order a Lian-Li pe-01 to move my powersupply back (no room for res/pump).

Does anoyne else have the EK-FC block and use the stand offs? I read somewhere that they are optional, but I also dont want to short out my card because of too close contact. I installed a few barbs. I learned that after putting a tube in a compression fitting, it can be a pain to take off :lol

another udpate:
Well I got the GPU loop up and running yesterday. GPU is idles around 37C as opposed to the 45 it was on the stock cooler. System temp and CPU temps went up a few degrees, which is understandable because the intake now has a rad heating up incoming air. Asulc, if you're going to be doing WC in that small case, try to optimize your air flow or add another rad (internally if you can fit it or externally, if you're going to cool a CPU and 2GPUs.

I'm working on trying to get the temps in an acceptable range (they are stable so far, no real stress testing just a few hour gaming sessions) and keep the noise down. There's a significan't improvement over the stock GPU cooler noise. New problems now are Zalman CNPS 9900 feels louder and harddrive placement took out the harddrive cage to mount the rad. I should just replace the Zalman 9900 with a Noctua, but I may decide to add a 240 or 320 rad and just WC that too.

Currently GPU/CPU/SYS at idle is 41/38/41C before WC idle would be 46/38/40C, So far at "load" i've seen 52/50/46. The CPU fan is probably just starving for cooler air.