3/8" Dia. GPU Heatsink inlet/Outlet

[Goudman]

I am planning to build a watercooled system using 1/2" ID tubing for all lines and I am concerned about the smaller 3/8" fittings on the GPU heatsink ( BFG 6800 Utlra OC watercooled). Will the 3/8" fittings create a huge headloss in the system and drastically effect the cooling efficiency of the system? Or is this just a faily normal thing that one of your cooling heatsinks will have a restiction? I intend to use a Swifttech pump, heat sinks for CPU and Chipset along with a dual 120mm sized radiator mounted externally on the case with 4 ea 120 mm fans arranged in a push pull orientation. I will be using external air for cooling only.

Your input and experiences are requested...

Thanks

[Google]

[Silicon Skum]

IF you are planning to put this directly inline with the block for the CPU I would add a bypass hose to allow the CPU block to get the maximum flow. You will probably need to add a small amount of restriction to the bypass to force an good flow around the GPU block, while still letting some past. This will ensure that here is minimal flow restriction to the CPU. The GPU will not require as much flow due to the lower radiated wattage.

Basically both the inlet and out flow of the GPU block are added in line to the SAME hose at a few inches seperation, then a small clamp or tap is used to restrict the flow of the main hose BETWEEN the inlet and outlet of the GPU connections. This will give flow a good flow to both blocks.
It's simple and works well for me.

BTW, Flow rate is not ALL important, as long as there is a large suface area, a lower flow rate can be just the same effective cooling that a high flow rate gives.

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[[KoG]^weaZel]

actually with the testing I have done the best ID is 3/8". I also use an external dual 120 rad with push-pulls fans. I use a L20 Hydor pump with 3/8th inch tygon tubing. A swiftech MCw6000 cpu block, a dangerden Z-chip chipset block and a swiftech MCw50 video card block. I would also suggest using all swiftech blocks as I have had some of my dangerden blocks leak.

So with your video card block being 3/8ths shouldnt be a problem at all.
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[Goudman]

Weaz,

I Got you on most of what your saying. I would love to use theSwiftech heatsink on the videocard, however being a BFG 6800 Ultra OC with a factory attached waterblock I think there may be a problem removing it. What do you know about the BFG heatsinks that come with the cards? Heck, I will take the factory one off if there is not a problem. I have heard that they put some kind of epoxy on the heatsink, not the thermal paste !?! Is this true ? I do know that if I substitute a different heatsink (i.e Swiftech HS of course) I could void the factory warranteeon the videocard, but I am confident in my ability to install the components correctly.
Whats you thoughts Weaz, and anyone else of course?

Thanks

[JayDubya]

Your stock video card waterblock should do fine. We'll confirm this from Weaz b/c he knows his watercooling.
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