Part 4
Dive Dive Dive!
Mostly Alphacool in this loop, except for the GPU-Block:
I was weeks late with ordering, Alphacool used to have two Sapphire 7900xt blocks. Since the 9070 they dont.
Step 1: Remove the peasantly air cooler.
Paste-Coverage from the GN-method of applying it to TR has worked perfectly.
Step 2: Read the instructions on the CPU-Block (because it can’t be that easy?!)
Step 3: Radiator
Disobeyed the manual and flushed it three times. Then discovered the fan screws Noiseblocker uses on the ELoops and Pro’s fits the Alphacool screw holes. Fittings also installed.
This off course went super easy with no hickups…
OH!
Because VRM-heatsinks, and case-bits, and the front fan hitting something else…
Step 4: GPU
Take the perfectly functional (albeit a bit dusty) GPU and remove any screw that looks important.
Then embrace your inner NZXT and “Yank Harder”
Having done this with a Bykski block, which was 50-ish € cheaper than the Alphacool block would have been, I think I know why it was cheaper. Nothing is precut, and everything is spare, or not needed at all! And the manual included was for a CPU block for an Intel CPU…
I also took the creative freedom to factory-delete the RGB-strip. I want full-RGB on my monitor, not my GPU!
Having been coached through this by a friend who has done this before, I got it done:
Step 5: Res and Pump and Toooobs!
First 2 tubes are in. Buying a hose cutter for this was the right choice.
Yes, this reservoir perfectly fits in the system, why do you even ask?
Off course it does not! It is screwed directly from the back of the case and is at a roughly 5 degree angle, but it is the best spot to put it and I was told vertical is the way to go by the friend who coached me through the GPU-block install
And just like that (and some minor cable-management on the back), done!
DONE!
In 5-ish hours, the air-pump leak-test thing was a good purchase as the fitting feeding the GPU from the pump was not screwed in all the way. Found the air hissing from there instantly.
Loop layout from the Res:
- Pump-Res combo, into a splitter with the drain valve and temp sensor.
- CPU and GPU are in parallel.
- They reunite back at the radiator
- Radiator back to pump inlet
Fan and Pump are controlled by the mainboard. Coolant temp is used for deciding on Fan and Pump speed, the rear-exhaust is tied to the VRM-temps.
The Temps
Room temp 22°C
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CPU on air was 45-ish at idle and 80-ish °C at full all core, single cores would frequently spike into the 90’s Idle at 40°C, Load spikes into the 60’s on single cores.
Idle:
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GPU on air was anywhere from 35 to 50 at idle (yay fan stop), load temps in the low 70’s. GPU idle is now 35°C at idle, 40 under load.
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The Intel E810 was sitting at 45 at idle, 55 at system load. This card is not part of the loop! With the loop installed, it now idles at 43 and 47-ish at load.
Conclusion
Worth it!
System under load is now at the same noise level as it used to be at idle. Huge success!