$600 to spend

[Dimsumlol]

Here's where I'm currently at:

I have a semi-custom loop using an expanded H220X. GPU temps under load are amazing, never above 45c with 1136 base clock, boosts to 1279. BUT, since I'm in an itx case and I literally have no room, my loop goes from H220X to GPU, GPU straight to CPU, CPU to rad.
So my idle temps on the CPU went up 20c, and the load temps went up about 13c. MAX LOAD, 4.9ghz at 1.33v I hit 79c. I don't like that at all. I don't like that I don't have a radiator between GPU and CPU.
I'm currently using a Lian Li PC-Q36. Given the space constraints, there is nowhere I can put even a 120mm rad. If you think you can, I'd love to hear your ideas.

That being said, I have 600 bucks to spend on something.

What would you do in this situation? Buy a bigger case and expand the loop to include a rad between GPU and CPU? Dial back the OC (kinda defeats the purpose) so that I get CPU temps I'm more comfortable with? Buy a 1tb Samsung 850 PRO? Buy a better monitor? Buy a TV? Buy a lot of fire crackers and throw them at people on the streets?

Hashtag looking for ideas.

[Lathais]

I would probably get a new case if it were me. Then again, I can not stand those tiny cases, just me though. With the rest of the money, your last option sounds fun. A steak dinner is always a nice too though.

[Dimsumlol]

I would probably get a new case if it were me. Then again, I can not stand those tiny cases, just me though. With the rest of the money, your last option sounds fun. A steak dinner is always a nice too though.

I feel you. I was looking at http://www.caselabs-store.com/mercury-s3-case/ - Total comes out to 304 shipped with options.

I'll see if I can price out some radiators, pump, res etc.

[Kagthul]

New case may be in order, but it doesnt mean you have to jump straight to full ATX massiveness.

BitFenix makes several mITX cases that end up being about the size of a small mid-tower or a little smaller that have a LOT of room for mITX builds - the Prodigy/Prodigy M are good, as is the Colossus/M.

[Deleted]

Do yourself a favour if you are building / built / expanding a custom waterloop. Get yourself the biggest, roomiest quality case you can find.
I have not long finished the first part of my loop (Pump->Rad->CPU->Res->Pump) which would not have been possible in my old case due to the layout so bough a HAF 935

Research, Research more, and watch as many videos as possible to find the case which you like the looks of and has the room to build your loop in. It is so much easier to work and cable manage in full tower case than it is and ITX case.

[Dimsumlol]

Decided to ditch water cooling the gpu and instead pick up a titan x. I'm dreading tearing down the loop though. It was a pain in the ass to fit everything in the itx case.

X should be here tomorrow morning though so that's pretty exciting.

[Kadil]

Having a rad between the cpu and the gpu won't make any difference. You will lower your overall temps adding another rad to the system but it doesn't matter where in the loop you put it.

[Dimsumlol]

Having a rad between the cpu and the gpu won't make any difference. You will lower your overall temps adding another rad to the system but it doesn't matter where in the loop you put it.

It wouldn't? Right now it's Res>Pump>GPU>CPU>Rad
So you're saying that if it was Res>Pump>GPU>Rad>CPU>Rad that cpu temps wouldn't improve?

[Lathais]

Having a rad between the cpu and the gpu won't make any difference. You will lower your overall temps adding another rad to the system but it doesn't matter where in the loop you put it.

Yes it will. The radiator is what cools the water. If the hot water from the CPU goes directly to the GPU without being cooled first, it can not cool as effectively. Running cooler water across the surface cools better then having hot water run across the surface. Pretty simple concept there.

[Deleted]

It could improve slightly but not by much. Because esentially you would be sending the hot water from the gpu to cpu. The pump in between doesn't provide any cooling.

[Lathais]

It could improve slightly but not by much. Because esentially you would be sending the hot water from the gpu to cpu. The pump in between doesn't provide any cooling.

Except that he already has a radiator in between the CPU and and the GPU and is talking about adding an additional one between the CPU and the GPU.

From what I understand anyway, he currently has:

CPU>GPU>Radiator>CPU

What he is looking at doing

CPU>Radiator1>GPU>Radiator2>CPU

How would adding that additional radiator NOT keep the GPU Cooler?

Unless he was talking about moving the radiator from:

CPU>GPU>Radiator>CPU

to

CPU>Radiator>GPU>CPU

then yes, there would be little difference.

[Ealyssa]

It wouldn't? Right now it's Res>Pump>GPU>CPU>Rad
So you're saying that if it was Res>Pump>GPU>Rad>CPU>Rad that cpu temps wouldn't improve?

You'll notice the addition of a second rad to a certain degree, obviously. But the order don't matter. Water just flow too fast to gain/loose that much temp (and that's how it should be).

Get a bigger rad or a second rad will be the same gain. The place on the loop doesn't matter.

[Kadil]

Yes it will. The radiator is what cools the water. If the hot water from the CPU goes directly to the GPU without being cooled first, it can not cool as effectively. Running cooler water across the surface cools better then having hot water run across the surface. Pretty simple concept there.

It doesn't make any difference the order in which you place your components in the loop. You could put for example res>pump>rad>gpu>rad>cpu>rad>res or res>pump>gpu>cpu>rad>rad>res and there won't be any significant changes between them.

When you sit and think about it the "hot" water from the gpu should go to a rad before going to the cpu or it will not cool it enough but in practise it doesn't make any real difference. The water will get an overall temp that will be the same regardless of the order of the components.

[Lathais]

It doesn't make any difference the order in which you place your components in the loop. You could put for example res>pump>rad>gpu>rad>cpu>rad>res or res>pump>gpu>cpu>rad>rad>res and there won't be any significant changes between them.

When you sit and think about it the "hot" water from the gpu should go to a rad before going to the cpu or it will not cool it enough but in practise it doesn't make any real difference. The water will get an overall temp that will be the same regardless of the order of the components.

So adding an additional radiator will help, it just does not matter where? Good to know. I don't have too much experience with water coolers and have not done a lot of research on them either. Thanks for the info.

Thinking about it that way does make sense though. The water will be the temperature it is regardless of where the radiators are. It's gonna reach a temp and stay at that temp no matter where in the system it is.

[Kadil]

So adding an additional radiator will help, it just does not matter where? Good to know. I don't have too much experience with water coolers and have not done a lot of research on them either. Thanks for the info.

Thinking about it that way does make sense though. The water will be the temperature it is regardless of where the radiators are. It's gonna reach a temp and stay at that temp no matter where in the system it is.

Exactly. Adding another rad will lower the overall temp, where in the loop you put it makes no real difference. The only thing you must do when putting things in order is make sure the pump is first in the loop after the res otherwise you could get air in the pump which will destroy it.

[Dimsumlol]

Exactly. Adding another rad will lower the overall temp, where in the loop you put it makes no real difference. The only thing you must do when putting things in order is make sure the pump is first in the loop after the res otherwise you could get air in the pump which will destroy it.

Gotcha. Makes sense. Titan X arrived today so it's a moot point but good to know when I throw a block on the new gpu. Pics up tomorrow.

[Deleted]

Gotcha. Makes sense. Titan X arrived today so it's a moot point but good to know when I throw a block on the new gpu. Pics up tomorrow.

TBH, I would send it back.... Useless card.... Better of waiting for the 390x and get that or wait and see if Nvidia will release a 980ti (as a response to the 390x) with similar gaming performance for less money than the titan X.