Sprocket Gets Wet

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12-29-2003, 03:34 AM
clocker

Well, I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday season so far.
I certainly have.

I have had family staying with me since Tuesday evening (they leave in two more days...*sigh*) and it's been a pleasure talking to my two nieces ( aged 20 & 17). I'm not sure that the pleasure was mutual, I probably bored them to death rambling on about my new obsession- computers.
And my plans to water cool my baby, Sprocket.

So much so in fact, that (probably to shut me up) while out shopping today they saw a H2O kit on sale at CompUSA and in a moment of sheer generousity they bought it for good ole Unka Clocker.
When they came back and gave it to me I was speechless....for two reasons.

Firstly, I thought it was incredibly sweet that they thought enough of me to get it and secondly, because it is the most reviled and despised water cooling kit on Earth...the infamous Thermaltake Aquarius II.
What's an old man to do?
Not wanting to kick a gift horse in the mouth, I grinned and thanked them and tucked it away, planning on trying to return it on Wednesday.
But noooo....
"Aren't you going to put it in? We wanna see it!"
" We're going out to see Mona Lisa Smile ( which neither hell nor high water could convince ME to see :P ), why don't you put it in while we're gone?"
Weeeellll, okay.
So much for returning it.

So I'm now a part of the watercooled elite.
The kit is definately low end...small radiator, low-flow pump ( take note Abu- the pump reservoir has a blue LED in it!) and cheesy waterblock, but it all was relatively easy to fit. TT wants you to mount all the components (pump, reservoir and radiator) using high-strength magnets, which I simply could not force myself to do, so I had to improvise a bit.
Fortunately I'm a very clever boy and she's up and running as I type( obviously).
I need to run her in some and cycle the thermal paste a few times, but initial results are fairly amazing.
After 1 1/2 hours of Folding (100%) temps are stable at 31c.
I realize that these aren't trustworthy stats after such a short time, but I'm still surprised- I expected much worse.
Makes me want to find out what a real set up will do.

I have a family dinner coming up and probably won't do much more tonight ( well, at least for a hour or two) so I'll post pics tomorrow AM.
12-29-2003, 03:39 AM
abu_has_the_power

bout time ur finally getting a wc system. time to toss those fans and ducts and stuff. btw, if u don't want them, u can send a few to me. i'm being serious. i could really use a good case fan, or better yet, save me $30 by sending me ur hsf, that u won't be using cuz u have wc now
12-29-2003, 03:42 AM
Virtualbody1234

Well that's quite interesting there, clocker. I'm looking forward to seeing those pics.

Is it really quiet?

http://www.thermaltake.com/images/pr.../xaseriii1.jpg http://www.thermaltake.com/images/pr.../xaseriii2.jpg

@abu, that post just sounded bad (begging).

Sprocket. :lol:

http://www.thermaltake.com/products/Aquari.../aquariusII.htm
12-29-2003, 03:58 AM
abu_has_the_power

Quote:

Originally posted by Virtualbody1234@28 December 2003 - 22:42
Well that's quite interesting there, clocker. I'm looking forward to seeing those pics.

Is it really quiet?

http://www.thermaltake.com/images/pr.../xaseriii1.jpg http://www.thermaltake.com/images/pr.../xaseriii2.jpg

@abu, that post just sounded bad (begging).

Sprocket. :lol:

http://www.thermaltake.com/products/Aquari.../aquariusII.htm

well, if's he's throwing them away...
12-29-2003, 04:47 AM
bigdawgfoxx

Um...Clocker, why are you so made about getting a watercooling system?? lol...arent those things like $200?

Nvm...looked on newegg, its $100. Got pretty bad reviews too lol. But 31...thats niceee.

You should have told them that it would take you at least 2 weeks to install it man! lolol
12-29-2003, 05:51 AM
sparsely

groovy...and nice temps too.

also, now your computer can double as a bong!

you'll perch on your mushroom-shaped chair, blowing pink and green rings of sureallism on the lost & bewildered in techo-wonderland.

http://mushroom.dk/svampe/pictures/c...ndruff_202.jpg

A E I O U
12-29-2003, 05:54 AM
bigdawgfoxx

my temps are 31 when im just on the forum, listening to music, and talking on aim at the same time...impressive i think..lol
12-29-2003, 06:09 AM
bigdawgfoxx

Damn this whole forum shuts down at the same time haha
12-29-2003, 06:51 AM
bob_the_alien

Not completely shut down, I'm still here, lol.

That's really nice of them too do, and hey 31c isn't bad, hell that's a good temp, by no means the best I've seen from wc systems, but better than fan cooled systems.
You could possibly still take it back though, it is the holiday season, after Christmas most places will take back almost anything, opened up or not, as long as you have the receipt. You could try.
Of course I always refuse to shop at CompUSA, to damn expensive, so I can't really say how their return policy is.
12-29-2003, 01:17 PM
clocker

Morning all.
I was very interested to see how Sprocket was running after her first night of Folding.
Not too shabby...
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...2/h2otemp2.jpg
This is after nearly 11 hrs. of 100% CPU usage.
I can really see some great side benefits to this water cooling business.
I guess I hadn't realized what a giant heat source the old HS was, my case ambient and HDD/mobo temps have fallen dramatically (yes! the sidepanels are installed!) and my chip temp has dropped...don't know why, I've read that Arctic Silver has to normalize over time, but I would imagine that it would take longer.

Oh well, I'm not complaining.
I have come up with some ideas to improve my installation, but I need to go to the hardware store and it's only 5:15AM so I must sit tight for a few hours.
Fortunately the nieces, being teenagers, don't get up till round 11, so I'll have some time to work before social obligations intrude.
Pics posted when possible.
12-29-2003, 01:28 PM
DWk

lol.... after reading all this topic.... well i gotta say GJ....

but i still got a question.... since you call your computer a SHE....how the FUCK did you come up with such a name as Sprocket? just wondering... not critizicing
12-29-2003, 01:36 PM
clocker

A good friend of mine used to have an Airedale named Sprocket.
She was a fiesty bitch, too.

Plus, it's a fun word to say.
12-29-2003, 01:38 PM
muchspl2

would you like to touch my monkey
http://www.gawth.com/~desolate/dieter.jpg

BTW nice av one of my favorites shows, too bad they only play the last few seasons on scifi, I preferred the earlier shows with joel
12-29-2003, 01:49 PM
clocker

Quote:

Originally posted by muchspl2@29 December 2003 - 06:38

BTW nice av one of my favorites shows, too bad they only play the last few seasons on scifi, I preferred the earlier shows with joel

Me too.
12-29-2003, 03:16 PM
lynx

Quote:

Originally posted by clocker@29 December 2003 - 12:36
A good friend of mine used to have an Airedale named Sprocket.
She was a fiesty bitch, too.

Plus, it's a fun word to say.

Hope she didn't leak all over the place. :rolleyes:

Well, you've convinced me, water-cooling is on my list of upgrades. I only wish I had nieces like that. <s>Got any pictures?</s> :lol:
12-29-2003, 03:22 PM
clocker

Quote:

Originally posted by lynx@29 December 2003 - 08:16

Well, you've convinced me, water-cooling is on my list of upgrades. I only wish I had nieces like that. <s>Got any pictures?</s> :lol:

I have long known that watercooling was the direction in which I was headed, but was waiting to assemble a real kick-ass setup.
This cheapo rig is quite a revelation to me as it is easily superior to the aircooled config over which I've slaved/agonized for the past few months.

In fact yes, I do have pics.
They are real cuties, too.
My sister would gut me if I posted them. :lol:
12-29-2003, 03:27 PM
Mad Cat

Does your sister have to know?

:D
12-29-2003, 03:37 PM
clocker

Well, she does have a computer with an internet connection.
Hard to keep things secret, eh?
12-30-2003, 03:26 PM
clocker

Pics here...
Bloody hell!
I managed to lose a post that took me almost a hour to compose!
Poop.

Browse the pics of the watercooling setup and if you have any questions I'll be glad to answer them.

I'll be damned if I'm going to rewrite that whole post again.... :(
12-30-2003, 03:30 PM
muchspl2

you tricked me, I thought it would be your sister :b
shakes fist at monitor

j/k jealous of your setup actually
12-30-2003, 03:33 PM
clocker

It's not my sister you would be interested in, it's her daughters.

Sorry to disappoint.
12-30-2003, 03:54 PM
Mad Cat

Does your sister go on this forum then?

A pm wouldn't go amiss...
12-30-2003, 04:16 PM
clocker

Ain't gonna happen boys.
01-03-2004, 06:52 AM
clocker

Few slight updates to the water/fan cooling configuration...
http://server5.uploadit.org/files2/0...n%20layout.JPG
Added a fan for the RAM ( Who knows if this helps....who cares? I like the way it looks.) and put my chipset fan on a fan adaptor ( basically a funnel ) which should help focus the airflow on the stock Asus passive HS.
My 120mm floorfan has migrated up to one of the roof vents.

Folding* temps are stable at 32c for now although they have been as low as 29 and as high as 34c today. Don't know why, with luck the temps will settle down soon.

*Speaking of Folding...
Congratulations to those of you who have signed up.
Those who haven't, please consider it. It's a good way to test your system and a good cause in general.
Why the hell can't I seem to catch Livy? I am always one lousy point behind...
He must be cheating...that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :P
01-03-2004, 06:59 AM
bigdawgfoxx

Nice to hear it clocked, however your case is a mess! lol..at least it looks like it in the pic. ;) awesome temps tho. Congrats on all of your hard work.
01-03-2004, 07:03 AM
clocker

A mess?
I beg to differ.
Water cooling does add some unsightly hoses though, I must admit.
Hard lines are in the plan, but before I make them up I want to be sure that everything is where it's going to stay ( which would be a first in my case!)....
01-03-2004, 07:10 AM
bigdawgfoxx

I guess I take it back..It dont look very bad at all...wireing or anything. I just meant that you have SO much cooling stuff its just ALOT lol. Most people have WC only or Fan only..he has a TON of BOTH! lol

....Clocker..it wont stay in the same place...your not fulling any of us or yourself for a second :P
01-03-2004, 07:14 AM
clocker

:P :P :P
Oddly enough, even though she is now water cooled, Sprocket still has nine fans....

I find moving stuff around to be strangely relaxing....
01-03-2004, 07:17 AM
bigdawgfoxx

Haha...customizing my case was kinda fun too.
01-03-2004, 07:33 AM
Evil Gemini

Nice work Clocker :)

I guess this proves that you cant trust reviews unless you try it out for your self.
01-03-2004, 07:37 AM
clocker

Indeed. ;)
01-03-2004, 08:26 AM
_John_Lennon_

Quote:

Originally posted by clocker@3 January 2004 - 02:14
:P  :P  :P
Oddly enough, even though she is now water cooled, Sprocket still has nine fans....

I find moving stuff around to be strangely relaxing....

I can agree with that.

I spent last, friday I believe, relaxing in my room, taking apart my PSU, to wire in my LED fan for it, then running the 12V line for it back out of the PSU, to the mobo.

Felt very satisfied and happy after doing that, oh yeah!