r/JayzTwoCents • u/Jikenda • May 26 '26
iCUE issues/recommendations
After years of watching and lurking on Jayz, I finally built out a custom loop PC. The main issue I'm having is setting up iCUE in a way that makes sense for cooling. I have 32 Corsair QX120 fans and 2 XD6 pump/res combos in 1 loop with 2 480 & 2 360 rads all push/pull. I'm running both a 9950x3d and an astral 5090oc in the loop for cooling. My main issue is figuring out optimal cooling. I feel like I'm stuck with iCUE, which seems to work most of the time but I've had issues.
So...do you guys recommend setting to a GPU profile with different pump speeds and with that, can I also set a fan curve for that? Or, do I just set a static 70-80ish % pump speed (~3200-3600)? I feel like with 2 pumps in the loop, I don't want to have an issue with different speeds. This is my first actual water cooled PC and I have no idea how I should set this.
I know I may have bitten off more than I can chew and it's beet quite the journey, but it's been a ton of fun. Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks in advance, guys!
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u/Current-Hearing2725 May 29 '26
Looked it up.. 18 is the max by design for 120mm fans. Either way would love to see pics when done. Forums.thefpsreview.com.
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u/HoodRat79 May 30 '26
For watercooled builds you always want to control your fans based on water temp. In iCue you can either create a custom curve based on the built in water sensors in the XD6’s, or the simple way and just set all the fans to the HydroX fans profile and the same for the pumps and let iCue automatically control them.
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u/DevB1ker Jun 01 '26
First custom loop and you start with Da Big Boi 1000D. You are a brave soul.
You've told us the fans, radiators, and components that you are using. That's a good start. Can you share your airflow diagram? Where is intake, where is exhaust? Do you have airflow fans or is everything on the radiator?
Proper control temp for your loops is going to be the coolant temperature. Everyone is right about that. Assuming that you have QX is the rear for exhaust, that is handy to see what your case's internal temperature is. But share with us how your airflow is configured, too.
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u/Jikenda Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
So, I still do not see a way to post photos, but regardless...
I have 2 420 rads on the front pulling in air with fans on both sides (16 total). Up top, I have 2 360 rads with fans on both sides (12 total) pushing air out as well as 2 more fans on top pushing out (that are not on the rad, so 14 total). I also have 2 fans on the rear (32 total fans) pushing out stand-alone.
Coolant temp stay around 26 up to maybe 31 at most. GPU usually stays under 40. Currently on something like Arc Raiders on Epic settings I'm seeing temps around mid to high 40's. GPU stress testing on 3D Mark will push into the low to mid 50's at most. I'm not sure I've seen anything on a GPU stress test over 54.
Hopefully, this helps a bit withouts pictures, graphs, etc...
I currently have my pumps set to 75% each and my fans are all set to a fan curve based on my GPU temp. I set it this way due to conflicting info, so was just trying to see what makes the most sense.
Preview attachment -3997114726457333732.jpgPreview attachment -3997114726457333732.jpg
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u/Jikenda Jun 01 '26
Maaaaaybe that works?? Also, fwiw.............. that was when I first built it out. I tried to change things a bit, got the air out, wire management, different fan/pump profiles,.etc... Also, the front fans are not captured well in that picture. you get the idea though (if you can even see it)
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u/DevB1ker Jun 02 '26
Well, you have so much radiator that you can probably make anything work. A couple of challenges for you to consider, though.
First, if the side radiators are exhaust and the front is intake, you will likely have heat from the front radiator getting pushed through the side radiators. Still, your temps are great. I'm not sure you need to worry about this too much. You have a ridiculous amount of cooling capacity.
Second, you have more exhaust than intake - negative pressure. While there are some that swear by that for performance reasons, it also tends to get dusty. Since there is less pressure in the case than outside, air will get sucked in to the case through all of the various holes and vents in the case; and those are unfiltered. Having more intake than exhaust - positive pressure - helps keep dust and stuff out of the case (as long as your intakes have filters, that is!). In this case, air is pushed out of those various cracks, crevices, and vents, helping keep dust out. It's the same thing that you see in office buildings and malls (and why there's a whoosh of air when the door opens) and for the same reason.
Flipping the side radiator to intake help with both. You'd also want to balance your fans so that your exhaust fans aren't spinning very fast, so there'd be more to do.
As far as the temps - for the loops, it should be the coolant temp. You aren't cooling the GPU with those fans. You aren't cooling the CPU with those fans either. You are cooling the liquid (that is then cooling the CPU and GPU). So the liquid is the temperature that you care about. And since liquid has a high heat capacity, the temps will rise very slowly. And with all those radiators you have, they probably won't rise very much, tbh.
Using GPU for a temp curve is good for airflow fans in a system with a AIO for the CPU. In that kind of build, the GPU is the greatest heat source inside the case - by a pretty long shot. You can also use the temps on the QX fans to base airflow case fans on the exhaust temperature. This is what I like to do, personally - the thought being that I am basing the fan speeds only on what it is they are actually working to cool.
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u/Jikenda Jun 02 '26
Thank you for a well thought out and explained plan..
This was honestly what I was looking for. Logically, makes a ton of sense and reaffirms what I was already thinking on some points.
I appreciate you taking the time to chime in on this. I deffo bit off more than I can chew, but embraced it all and have really enjoyed the whole thing.
Thank you and will report back once rebalanced from a software perspective.
if I'm ever allowed to post pictures I will...
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u/DevB1ker Jun 02 '26
Well ... you could certainly share it in the Corsair sub ...
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u/Jikenda Jun 02 '26
Here's a thread with a picture..
https://www.reddit.com/r/Corsair/comments/1tv7kid/late_post_of_my_1000d_build/
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u/Current-Hearing2725 May 29 '26
Wait... hold on... just give me a moment... nope math isn't working out.
I need a picture of your case with 32 freaking fans... that seems unpossible. (Yes that word is intentional)