Decisions...

[polobunny]

I second what Blake said. It's nowhere near idle, and while it's not necessarily near 100% for certain games, I know the latest games CAN and WILL take advantage of your CPU and video card. Else, tell me why you would get a better FPS with a Core 2 Duo compared to an Athlon X2?
As for adding a GPU to the loop, it's not doubling, but frankly why take risks? This all seems very ridiculous to me, it's like someone buying a 400W power supply when they're gonna run a X1950XTX. Sure, works, would I do it? No. It's too close, you're just asking for problems.
There's plenty of ways to fit rads around your box, even the funkiest cases can be outfitted. A bit of creativity is all you need. I've been thinkering with the idea of water-cooling my Antec 900 (CPU + GPU), just because a lot of people think it would be hard to do and make it look good.

[Stormcrow]

Depends alot on the game. Bioshock rarely stresses my CPU while most of the grunt work is handled by the GPU. SupCom makes my CPU gag and stress while the GPU asks for more. World in Conflict likes to make ample use of both. Older games tend to stress the GPU far more then the CPU as the physics rendering is relatively light, as opposed to the realtime on the fly physics used today. While technologies like Quantum Effects are starting to offload physics calculations onto the GPU, the processor is still having to calculate and predict the myriad of events going on and of course becomes more stressed and generates heat. Also don't forget that the G80 is a small nuclear reactor and likes to bake. R600 is even worse.
With water cooling, don't take a shortcut and try to get away with the cheapest setup you can grab. Make sure the loop can adequately handle the heat at full load comfortably, this is safety and stability of your system at stake. If you can't afford getting a loop powerful enough to keep the processors and 8800's nice and chilly, just go with a smaller kit for the CPU only, keep the video cards on air and upgrade as time goes on. Personally the water loop I'm planning costs 200 bucks and doesn't have a GPU block in it, but I'm adding in a radiator that can handle the extra heat easily later on when I do add one.

[frostybrad]

OKay, looking at individually piecing a watercooling system together. What do you guys think of these items.....

Radiator..
Swiftech MCR320 Quiet Power Water Cooling Radiator Black G1/4 Threaded


Cpu block..
Swiftech APOGEE GTX LGA775 CPU Water Block 1/2IN Chrome HI-FLOW Barb Fittings

Pump..
Swiftech MCP655 12V Industrial Water Cooling Pump 1/2IN Barbs

Cpu mosfits...
Swiftech MC14 BGA Memory Heatsinks (8 Pack)

Reservoir...
Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Clear HI-FLOW Water Cooling Reservoir 3/8IN & 1/2IN Barb Fittings

Gpu Blocks...x2
Swiftech Stealth REV.2 NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GPU/MEMORY Water Block 1/2IN G1/4 Barb Fittings

Fluid..
Fluid XP+ Extreme Blue NON-CONDUCTIVE Water Replacement

[Elysium]

Lookin' good man! But with a CPU, and TWO GPU's in the loop, I strongly think you should get this rad instead: Thermochill PA120.3 It offers much better cooling performance than the Swiftech.

Also I think you should skip the Fluid XP and use distilled water and the Swiftech Hydrx additive. All of the so called "non-conductive" water replacements generally decrease performance and increase the temps 2-3C compared to distilled water.

[frostybrad]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Lookin' good man! But with a CPU, and TWO GPU's in the loop, I strongly think you should get this rad instead: Thermochill PA120.3 It offers much better cooling performance than the Swiftech.

Also I think you should skip the Fluid XP and use distilled water and the Swiftech Hydrx additive. All of the so called "non-conductive" water replacements generally decrease performance and increase the temps 2-3C compared to distilled water.

ill look into the rad right now!!! thanks.... and for the fluid, I was only looking at that for the colour...... thanks...

[frostybrad]

Seems to be out of stock everywhere!!!!

[Elysium]

You'l have to wait two weeks of you order it here: http://www.ncixus.com/products/21454/35063/Thermochill/ and you'll also have to get barbs: http://www.ncixus.com/products/25389/63018/Thermochill/

How about here: http://www.mountainmods.com/thermoch...tor-p-306.html

[simple_inhibition]

you can go with THIS additive instead of the hydrix if you really want your loop to be blue. either additive plus distilled water will give you the best performance.

[frostybrad]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

You'l have to wait two weeks of you order it here: http://www.ncixus.com/products/21454/35063/Thermochill/ and you'll also have to get barbs: http://www.ncixus.com/products/25389/63018/Thermochill/

How about here: http://www.mountainmods.com/thermoch...tor-p-306.html

do I need to buy the shroud for the triple 120mm fans or do they mount right to the rad?
http://www.ncixus.com/products/produ...er=1&sku=21457

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by frostybrad

do I need to buy the shroud for the triple 120mm fans or do they mount right to the rad?
http://www.ncixus.com/products/produ...er=1&sku=21457

You can mount the fans directly to the rad without the shroud. I think the shroud is mainly for looks, but I'm sure. I DO know that it's NOT necessary to mount the fans to the rad.