Serial water loop VS Parallel water loop 9.6LPM

a detailed parts list, of the two water loops used in this test setup.
2 MCR320-QP 360mm radiators


2 EVGA GeForce GTX 580 FTW Hydro Copper 2

1 XSPC raystorm CPU block
http://www.xs-pc.com/waterblocks-cpu/raystorm-cpu-water...
1 swiftech MPC655 pumps
http://www.swiftech.com/mcp655.aspx
6 corsair SP fans
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/air-series-sp120-high-perf...
6 bits power 3 way 90's
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12084/ex-tub-744/Bits...
1 Y blocks
http://bitspowerwork.com/html/product/pro_show.php?prod...
1 250mm reservoir
http://bitspowerwork.com/html/product/pro_show.php?prod...
8 3/8ID 1/2OD compression fittings
http://bitspowerwork.com/html/product/pro_show.php?prod...
2 T's
http://www.xs-pc.com/hose-fittings/g14-t-fitting-black-...
5 male to male fittings of varying sizes
http://www.xs-pc.com/hose-fittings/g14-5mm-male-to-male...
4 female to female fittings of varying sizes
http://www.xs-pc.com/hose-fittings/g14-18mm-female-to-f...
2 koolance flow meters with display
http://koolance.com/ins-fm19-coolant-flow-meter
http://koolance.com/dcb-fm01-flow-meter-adapter-with-di...
1 loop filter
http://koolance.com/ins-fltr03-inline-coolant-filter
2 temp sensors
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10373/ex-tub-620/Bits...
1 alphacool bubble down
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17333/ex-tub-1558/Alphacool_Bubble_Down_G14_Thread_Reservoir_Flow_Regulator_-_Deep_Black.html?tl=g30c97s169
1 bitspower aqua pipe
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11863/ex-tub-713/Bitspower_G_14_Silver_Shining_Aqua-Pipe_I_BP-WTP-C17.html?tl=g30c97s169

This system is overclocked, on both the serial and parallel test setups.
CPU overclock @ 4Ghz
GPU1 overclock @ 850Mhz
GPU2 overclock @ 850Mhz
Memory overclock @ 1600Mhz
CPU stock @ 3.2Ghz
GPU1 stock @ 772Mhz
GPU2 stock @ 772Mhz
Memory stock @ 1333Mhz
this is the serial loop setup and what it looks like, and here are the hardware temps at idol, ambient temp of the room is at 28.6C
CPU 43C
GPU1 37C
GPU2 37C
the water temps at idol are
29C-30C
the hardware temps at load are
CPU 61C
GPU1 51C
GPU2 51C
the water temps at load are
37C-38C
the delta t of the system at load is 10C
http://imgur.com/Gi4wFZO,G1Mte0g,Pb8ot4j,k8LlLK5



this is the parallel loop setup and what it looks like, and here are the hardware temps at idol, ambient temp of the room is at 28.6C
CPU 43C
GPU1 35C
GPU2 35C
the water temps at idol are
29C-30C
the hardware temps at load are
CPU 57C
GPU1 46C
GPU2 46C
the water temps at load are
34C-35C
the delta t of the system at load is 7C
http://imgur.com/pBZY5ne,yIT8rwA,CgNlfyH


this is the difference between the hardware used on the serial loop, and the hardware that needed to be added to the parallel loop.

http://imgur.com/U3yYYJl

[SIZE=3][/SIZE]

serial loop
http://imgur.com/RxZGdWG,KAPjdJ8,TFC62xb,6pKBBiq,wzGMlwW,7TWMe5C,6r6rhB3


parallel loop
http://imgur.com/uElbcxQ,Ir22WaC,rMsjSDu,yQZeo5t,ijliSzM,HoXHIMM

ok, I built the full parallel loop with two pumps, and in my opinion it is a little better. the total flow rate of the system after install is 9.6LPM.


ambient air temp of the room is at 28.6
idle temps of the hardware are
CPU - 41C
GPU 1 - 33C
GPU 2 - 33C

the water temps at idle are
29-30C
the load temps of the hardware are
CPU - 54C
GPU 1 - 45C
GPU 2 - 45C

the water temps at load are
33-34C
the delta t of the system at load is 4C
Link to Gallery

ok so this is my theory on how I lowered the delta t of my system with each new configuration of my water loop.
fist thing is that I did need to have enough radiator space to remove most of the heat being generated, by the components on the water loop.
than it is my opinion that the delta t of my water loop could be directly related to the flow rate through the radiators on my system.

this is how I came to that opinion.
on my serial loop setup with one pump, and a lower flow rate through the radiators of 1.2LPM it will have a delta t of 13C
on my serial loop test setup with one pump, the total flow rate through the radiators was 2.4LPM and I had a delta t of 10C
on my parallel loop test setup with one pump, the total flow rate was 6.8LPM so half that is 3.4LPM and that is the flow rate through one of the radiators on that loop and I had a delta t of 7C
on my parallel loop final build with two pumps, the total flow rate was 9.6LPM so half that is 4.8LPM and that is the flow rate through one of the radiators on that loop and I had a delta t of 4C
well that is my theory anyway, it seems to work.

so for some practical application of this theory it seems that for about every 1LPM increase of flow rate through the radiators, the delta t of the loop goes down by 3C.
I would like to test this theory further by seeing if a flow rate of 5.8LPM through one of the radiators will continue to lower the delta t of my loop by 3C if so, it would bring the total delta t of my water loop down to 1C :lol: I don't think that is going to happen, but I would still like to see what does happen to the delta t of my system at the 5.8LPM flow rate through one of the radiators.

cost of the serial loop test setup
$1003
cost of the parallel loop test setup
$1168
difference in cost of the parts to convert the loop from serial to parallel
$165
IMO it is worth the extra $165 to lower my load temps.

here are some screen shots of game play with CPU and GPU temps

http://imgur.com/fwQrkbp,eJGW3tV