What Northbridge waterblock?

[Nebulous]

I have an NF7-s Rev 1.2 on it's way and i wanted to watercool my NB. I have an MXL Miro WB i'm using now on my cpu, but goin with a D-Tek TC-4 which i already have for the NF7.

I'm looking for a decent NB wb. Which one should i go for? I really don't want one with the poly barbs. I bought the TC4 from a friend which shipped both tops and the clear top had poly barbs. When i opened the box one of the poly barbs broke which tells me it isn't a good idea to use them. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanx

-N-

[Vectrex]

I'd look into one of DangerDen.com's NB blocks, I always use Danger Den blocks.

[Nebulous]

Yeah, i was checking those out, especially the Zblock, But i'm worried since this Zblock has that thick poly top it would knock against the TC4 I'm gonna use. i was looking at this:

http://becooling.safeshopper.com/6/44.htm?546 It's mounting holes are lower so it won't knock against my WB. Also it's black with the chrome barbs which will match the D-Tek TC4 perfectly.

Thing is I'm not sure how this block will peform. Anybody out there used this particular NB block?

[Nebulous]

Well ordered the Motherboard Chipset Jacket From becooling.com. for the NF7-s' NB. Should be here in a few days. I also went to Home Depot and got some 1/2 barbs, male and female fittings. I have this idea similar to quick release. I'll drill 2 holes for the fittings I got from H.D. then with large washers thread them thru the back of the case. They'll be 4 barbs, 2 inside and 2 outside the case. They'll be a pair of large washers, one washer on each side so the barbs will be bolted in place and not move. Of course i'll add teflon tape before i bolt the barbs together then with some rubber caulking seal the gap that remains. I have done this before with an external pump for an aquarium. In 7 years it never leaked one drop! I'll hook up my internal lines to the internal barbs which will be somewhat permanent so to speak and clamp the lines. The external pair will run to my watercooler and if i ever need to move my rig and cooler around my house or LAN, all i do is unhook the lines from the external barbs. No need to unhook the lines from my waterblock to then put them back which evrybody knows is a tedious chore. The lines will never be fussed with since all the hooking and unhooking will be from the outside barbs.

Very similar to the quick release valves for air lines except these won't leak water. :D

I'll post pics when it's all done .

Well, what do you gents ( and ladies) think?

-N-

[zippyc]

I like your idea and believe it will work if the tolerances are right, particularly the gap between the inside and outside fittings.

I would simply hand tighten the compression fittings first (outside the box) and measure the gap between the collars. Use this as a starting point be sure the thickness of the two washers and the thickness of back wall of the computer to be sandwiched (combined) do not add up to more than your original measurement, minus 1 and ½ full turn's worth of distance.

These fittings are usually tapered and need to be screwed together as far as they can go (and beyond simply hand tight) to create a good seal.

At least that has been my experience.

Otherwise, this bulkhead setup allows for better flow than any but the very $$$ oversized quick disconnects allow, and a similar setup works just fine for me.

[Nohto]

I have done that before, but I used teflon fittings because of the condensation. (Low coolant temps) I just used fender washers on one side and the other side will butt against the case as long as you don't drill the hole to big.

[Nebulous]

Great, thanx gentlemen. The only thing i'm not to happy about is the washers i got are like 2" in diam and there's no place i can get them smaller with a 3/4" hole for the fittings. I've looked at autoparts stores with no success. Think i'm gonna have to grind the ones i have down on a grinding wheel so they'll be alittle smaller in diam.



-N-

[Nohto]

I used a unibit to open up the holes. That's a step down bit. Yeah they don't make them with a large enough hole for the fittings.

[Nebulous]

Ratz! That's what i was afraid of :( Oh well, it's to the grinding wheel i go.

Thanx Nohto :)


-N-