Guess what?

**j2k4** · 02-18-2006, 05:16 PM

Bummer.

I'm having a bit more success with my projects, but with a nice new selection of improbables on the side.

Nothing proceeds in a straightforward fashion these days...

**clocker** · 02-20-2006, 12:35 PM

Greetings from frigid Denver.
Had a mass of bluecold Canadian air (thanks a whole bunch, eh?) squatting on us since last week, broke several longstanding records.
Saturday morning (-19F by my thermometer, officially -13F) my poor car just wasn't up to it and I damaged the starter- boneheadedly persisting when I should have quit.
She almost started...
Fortunately, it turned out to be the fusible link and not the solenoid that died. I carry a spare.
Still and all, trying to do anything involving manual dexterity in those temps is unpleasant to say the least.

This is more than peripherally germane to Sprocket's progress in that after Saturday's exertions (I had to work all day too) I was bushed and not eager to do much.
Still no vid block, so filling the loop wasn't feasable.
I considered installing the vid card as is and putting the Zalman 7700 on the CPU...just to get running...but was too lazy to do it.

Sometimes sloth is the best approach.
Got confirmation from Stasis that my block should arrive Tuesday...finally, a response (and good news! although I'm not getting too excited till I actually have it).

Soooo...what to do till then?
Well, I've been almost subliminally nagged by the way I installed the pump. Although I went ahead and did it anyway, it bothered me that the pump mounted to the harddrive cage- mostly because removing the cage meant fooling with the pump.
Also, the bare aluminum of the Lian-li cage was too visible behind the mesh front panel.
So I did this...

Drivecage is gone, replaced by the mounts I was using before and the pump is separately suspended on aluminum rods.
Didn't even have to drill any holes in the case.
Much better, methinks.

I also went ahead and made a trim piece I've been thinking about and decided to revisit my plans re: the sidepanels.
More on that later ( or not....I'm becoming a bit commitment-phobic. If I get around to actually doing what I'm thinking about we can discuss this again...)

**fkdup74** · 02-21-2006, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by clocker

Well, I've been almost subliminally nagged by the way I installed the pump. Although I went ahead and did it anyway, it bothered me that the pump mounted to the harddrive cage- mostly because removing the cage meant fooling with the pump.
Also, the bare aluminum of the Lian-li cage was too visible behind the mesh front panel....
...Drivecage is gone, replaced by the mounts I was using before and the pump is separately suspended on aluminum rods.
Didn't even have to drill any holes in the case.
Much better, methinks.

you know.....I thought of bringing that to attention, but.....

nice rework on the front screen,
looks about a thousand times better then the CM stock IMO

now I'm just gonna sit here and wait for the punnage regarding your roddage.....

**clocker** · 02-21-2006, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by fkdup74

now I'm just gonna sit here and wait for the punnage regarding your roddage.....

Today I'm in the same boat you sailed last week...eagerly awaiting parts in the mail.
It's no fun, is it?

I finally got around to adding a dedicated drain line to the loop.
I've always meant to do this, I've seen it done before and admired the foresight employed...it's one thing to safely add water but quite another to remove it.
In a perfect world, a drain at the bottom of the Thermochill rad would be ideal and viola!, guess what?...there is such a thing.
However, instead of being sized for a hose barb it's the size of a #6 screw- way too small and basically useless.
This left me to come up with a less desirable option and I did the only thing that made sense...added a t-fitting to the rad-out/CPU-in hose.
I'll point it out in a future pic...it doesn't warrant a shot of it's own.

Since I'll not be in RAID this time round I'll again be able to access HDD SMART info...specifically, temps.
To start, there will be no fannage for the HDDs...if necessary they can be added later.

Damn, getting close....

**clocker** · 02-23-2006, 04:30 PM

SHE RUNS!

Whew.

Naturally, she isn't exactly finished, but Sprocket fires on all cylinders and seems to be doing just hunky-dory.
The most pressing issue to address is the reservoir...this one is just too damn small and with the high flow rate loop, air just whizzes right through the air trap and back through to the pump.
It's very noisy.

Temps are as expected...i.e. low.

Too busy to go into more detail, just thought ya'll like to know.