Description

Added second GTX980 to a previous build http://pcpartpicker.com/b/HH3Ff7 and part of my long term goal was to do a custom water loop, so here it is.

Went the easy path with the expandable Swiftech H240-X, added two VGA full cover blocks from XSPC and an XSPC 120-V3 radiator.

Previous GPU temps would hit the low 80s. Highest I have seen since the loop was installed is 41C while running Witcher 3 at 1920x1080 maximum settings. Next on the list is new monitor to utilize the available performance.

Swiftech H240-X: Instructions were straight forward for installation. Draining the radiator and replacing the outlet fitting on the pump was a little challenging, but again the instructions were quite clear. Filling required putting the machine on the back and running a hose out the 5-1/4 bay. So far the included Apogee XL cooler is keeping the CPU to the same temperatures as my h80i, but that max temperature was under the latest Prime95, and there are two GPUs in the loop. So I can only say, so far so good.

XSPC Razor GTX980: These came with somewhat incomplete instructions, but they have some helpful videos posted. Included instructions make no mention of the backplate screws or two screws that hold the heatsink onto the reference cooler that must be removed. Not a big deal but thought I would point it out. Cooling potential is amazing and should overclock quite well. EVGA SC are at stock settings so far. I have no need for the performance level they can achieve at the moment. I do have a 4K TV I can hook it up to, so I may try that at some point or I can use DSR to throw the hammer at them.

Update, ran them at full tilt for about two hours and the GPUs managed to hit 50C

Didn't include the price of the hose or clamps, but that was somewhat minor. Automotive heater hose was used in place of the hosing I purchased online. Wouldn't make the corners I needed without collapsing. This much thicker tubing certainly works, though I had to rearrange a few fittings on the GPU blocks.

I don't have a windowed case, so, for all you people that want to see the light show, sorry. Not going to try and shove any more cables in there. The ghost is not the best when it comes to having space behind the tray. It is quite the struggle to get the side panel on.

Everything else in the build was purchased at various points, so some of the prices will seem high.

Comments

  • 51 months ago
  • 2 points

Is it not possible to have the storage devices the other way so it hides those cables?

Anyways, not complaining it looks quite nice, it was just a though about that case's design.

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

That was an attempt to make the cables a little 'shorter' without putting more behind the tray. Also makes it a lot easier to swap drives by only having to take off the 'easy' side panel. The other one requires several minutes to replace. ATX cable barely fits back there. And the accessories up top create a huge bundle as well. Add all the fan and pump wires. I more or less ran out of room for the second set of PCIe cables. They used to be behind the tray.

I've been thinking about the layout and looking to see what changes I can make. I think I need to buy or make one more fan extension then I can move a few things around.

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

Cool build, loving the custom water cooling, especially on the GPUs!

I think it would be a pain to do, but with a new case, like the NZXT h440, you would be able to hide all that wiring and the hard drives to make it look more tidy. Plus you could have bigger radiators to keep everything cooler. But I wouldn't want to move all that to a new case.

Too scared to open up my GTX 970 to water cool it. Was it easy to do on the 980s? Or was it just straight forward un-screwing it and putting the water block on it?

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

A new case was plan B if I couldn't cram it in there, and you hit the nail on the head. The NZXT H440 Black with red highlights would have been the one I would get. I may do it anyway when it comes to the first loop drain/maintenance.

At this point I don't think more radiators would gain me much. I should have roughly 600W of capacity now, and I don't think I can push the GTX980 far enough to generate that much heat. Assuming 150W or so for the CPU I would have to reach the recommended maximum for the two 6-pins to each card.

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

Fair enough. If you ever do swap and get the h440, maybe spend a bit more and swap to hard acrylic tubing rather than the chunky flexible tubes. I wish I could but I don't have enough money!

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

great looking PC

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

holy crap those pictures are so amazing, anyways awesome watercooled gtx 980s, did amazing job!

1+

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

Awesome. Brave man ripping those 980s apart for custom water cooling. But that garden hose..... ;-)

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

Many a GPU I have disassembled over the years. Usually just for maintenance though. Zero GPU failures on any I have ever owned since the early 90s. Motherboards seem to be my Achilles heel. Though nothing significant with the last several boards. (Though I think the memory controller in my X58 board on loan to a friend is on its way out)

Bit of a collector of old computers actually. If it weren't for the effort involved in dusting them all off and arranging for pictures I might do a build overview for each of them.

  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

Thats a mess

  • 51 months ago
  • 0 points

great build. Although that tubing is ugly as hell no offense XD>

  • 51 months ago
  • 2 points

Not my first choice, but I rather like it. It wasn't intended to remain in sight from the start, so I am not complaining.

[comment deleted by staff]
  • 51 months ago
  • 1 point

I suppose it depends on the person in question. I've never been one for flashy LEDs and cases. Much more mechanically inclined myself.

As for component temperature. Hard to argue against halving the maximum GPU temperatures.