Hardware pr0n...w00t!

**clocker** · 05-19-2005, 02:06 AM

Well yeah, there is that, but I think it's a very rare occurance really.

My loop has been temporarily removed.
DangerDen has kindly consented to modify my NV-68 block to SLI-spec.
Basically this entails adding two drilled/tapped holes to the upper Plexi cover.

I'll be able to leave the intake barb as is, but replace the outflow straight up, which should make bleeding much easier.
The entire layout will change as a result.
The radiator will be moved to the lower front, the pump moves to the lower back and the reservoir (under construction) will occupy the space where the harddrives were.
The drives have moved to the front 5.25" bays.

I'll have everything in place by the time the block comes back from Oregon (hopefully within a week or so).

Then we can continue.

**clocker** · 05-26-2005, 12:34 PM

I'm baaaack!
Got my waterblock back.
Kudos to DangerDen for superior customer service (thank you Kathi!).
They modified my NV-68 with upper and lower outlets...I got a whole new topplate, fittings (including mounting screws) and even shipping for only $15...quite a bargain in my opinion.
I assembled and leaktested it so that is ready to go.
The Typhoon reservoir came in after I left work so tonight I can begin.

The entire layout of the loop will change (hopefully for the better) and now that I have my camera back, pics will follow.
I have painted ( well, cut, actually) myself into a corner re:HDD mounting, but I'll figure that out later.

Stay tuned.

**S!X** · 05-26-2005, 06:24 PM

We need some more hardware pr0n pics!!!

**clocker** · 05-27-2005, 12:32 PM

Here are a few (typically crappy) shots of the new (ish) parts...

The pump, mounted onto a 120mm fan grill and ready to bolt in.
As much as possible I'm trying to use already existing holes/cutouts.

The DD NV-68 block with the modified topplate installed.
As you can see, I now have options for intake/outlet that should help a lot.

I've got the Polarflo set up with one 1/2" inlet and two 3/8" outlets...hopefully this will balance the flow through the block.

This time round the flow from the radiator will be split and both blocks will recieve water direct from the radiator rather than being daisychained.
Each block will also have a seperate output direct to the reservoir ( no pics of that yet...it's still covered in it's protective wrapper and will stay that way till it's installed).
Although this approach requires more tubing, I hope that the improvement in flowrate will compensate and be worth it.

I have to strip the case naked to install all this stuff and I'd like to solve my HDD mounting dilemma at the same time (just in case there is drilling/cutting involved) so I won't start till Sat night/Sun morning.
Hopefully, I'll have something in mind by then...

**S!X** · 05-30-2005, 07:35 AM

Hey clocker how does that cpu freezer work? It looks offley big, but like they say bigger is better....

EDIT: Since you got this water cooling setup, What did you do with that freezer?

**clocker** · 05-30-2005, 12:10 PM

I would recommend the AC Freezer64 over any HSF...including the much hyped Thermalright units.

Mine is now sitting on the shelf along with it's brothers (Zalman 7700 &7000, Aerocool DP-102, TR XP-90, TT Silent Tower (sorry VB...never did get around to shipping that up, did I?), and several OEMs).

God, I love the smell of hardware in the morning....

**clocker** · 05-30-2005, 01:53 PM

Speaking of smelly hardware....

Sprocket is up and running on her new waterloop.
With one major (and one minor) exception, things have never been better.

The minor exception is my experimental radiator fan assembly.
Works great, but makes a moaning noise that is just not gonna cut it.
Oh well, easy to fix.
I have lots of fans.

The real problem is the new reservoir.
I had problems with the fittings leaking, but Goop solved those...the real issue is the noise.
There is a gurgling sound, not unlike a small fountain, that makes me want to pee all the time.
THIS is a big problem, one I cannot see a fix for.
I've tried varying the waterlevel and that helps a bit, but room for air/water expansion must be left and that's where the gurgle comes from.

For the past two hours Sprocket has been running Prime95 ( max. heat and power consumption) with no fan, totally passive.
Temps seem to have stabilized at @ 14C over ambient, which is not bad.
After I refit the radiator fan I hope to drop to 10C over ambient.

When I do that I'll take some pics.

Edit:
Replaced fan with stock Silverstone case fan (it is dead silent) and added a bit more water to the rez.
The added water submerged the inlet port completely which has almost completely eliminated the water noise.
Almost, but not quite.
Unfortunately, adding more water is not a viable option as the level would then be higher than the fill port.
Although I could tilt the case to add/remove coolant, I don't trust the rubber seals and would prefer not to do this.

This is the reservoir I am currently using.
It is cheap and easily mounted, but the included fittings are total junk.
They use flat rubber washers as sealing and, unlike round o-rings, the flat washers are prone to twisting and deforming when tightened.
I may go searching for a suitably sized o-ring for the fill port, but the situation is much improved already and I may just learn to cope.
Or I might just replace the rez altogether.
These guys look very interesting, with any luck I can find an American importer.

Edit:edit....

Semi-boring, but it does prove a point.
Note the CPU temp of 30C.
Prime has been running almost three hours at this point.
Pics tonight, I have a lot of grilling to do first.

**clocker** · 05-30-2005, 09:43 PM

Screw it...I may not be in any shape to take pics later, so here is a quick and dirty shot.

Current loop:
Pump (lower right)>radiator (lower left)>CPU>vid card>rez (upper left, hanging off the backplane)>pump.

I really wanted to split the flow from the radiator and feed the CPU and GPU seperately.
I also wanted to use my three barb Polarflo CPU block, but all those hoses were just too much, I didn't have the room to route them.

I think that when my new case comes ( did I mention that? Lian-li v2000 in black, on the way) I may be able to squeeze all that in.
Even better, I might just ditch this whole setup and go with Aqua-computer small bore stuff.
It's very tempting, but also very expensive.

OK.
Enough.
There is a filet and sweet corn with my name on it...