Project: Waterfish

[zoob]

Goal is to do something like this:
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-pa120-3_a.jpg

The first of many mods. It's late so I'll get into detail later:

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_b.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_0.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_c.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_d.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_a.jpg

Still need to drill out the remaining mounting holes. Didn't fit as well as I anticipated, even after measuring everything three times. :(

[ben333]

Nice :D I moved my PSU into the 5.25 bays and then I cut off the face plate and ran the AC cable to the 5.25 bays.

[zoob]

Yeah I saw your post and considered it but don't want the PSU dumping heat into the case along with the PA120.3

This case is slightly "off" in pretty much every way that I need it...

PA160 won't fit in the bottom front without modding
PSU doesn't fit at the top without modding
Almost no space behind the mobo tray for wires
"Front panel" connectors on the top
Wire fan grilles on the inside of the fan, stamped metal grill for the outside
Huge open grilles stamped into the case (for front fan), restrictive intake holes next to PCI slots and on front bezel

Eventual plan is to:
Wind tunnel PA120.3 in the bottom (we'll see how feasible this is)
Soft mount HDD in 5.25" bays
Find some nice feet
Try to cram a PA160 in there too

[zoob]

Back to the traditional PSU at the top!
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_e.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_f.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/01-psu_g.jpg

Borrowing someone else's mod, I also took out my drill to bore the holes larger.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/02-pci_vent.jpg

[Lurid]

Why did you drill the holes larger?

[ben333]

Why did you drill the holes larger?

Those are the holes for the side fan, he is trying to increase airflow.

[Lurid]

Oh nvm. I dunno what I was thinking, I thought you meant the 120mm fan holes.

If you don't mind me asking, how much space is behind the motherboard tray and is there enough room to modify the rear for a 140mm fan instead of a 120mm?

[Polizei]

No chance for a 140mm.

[Asgard_thor]

No chance for a 140mm.

I agree

the 120mm looks like it barely fits, looks like its border line right next to the I/o panel

[MINIz guy]

There is pretty much no room behind the motherboard tray. At most, there's 3/8" of space there.

[zoob]

Finally some more time to work on this case:

Drilled holes to flip the 3.5" drive cage:
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/03-drive_cage.jpg

Cut the fan holes for the PA120.3 rad with a jigsaw:
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/03-bottom_holes.jpg

It was hard to drill the mounting holes due to the existing vent holes in the bottom of the case :( It's OK though. I still need to drill them larger and cut more of the holes for when I end up getting the stupid fan grille. I can't find one for a 120.3.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/03-bottom_mount_holes.jpg

Also some other small things:
- Drilled out the last screw mount for the PSU

- Began cutting out the stock PSU hole to fit a 120mm fan. It came out rather horrible so I need to touch it up with some filing and drill out the holes to mount the fan.

[NaeKuh]

LOL @ waterfish.

Thats like saying a Land Elephant. :rofl:

Anyhow nice project keep the pictures coming!

[zoob]

:P

Reusing part of the case on itself:

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/03-bottom_120_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/03-bottom_120_b.jpg

[Friedchicken]

Can I ask why you didn't keep the PSU in the bottom and the rad up top exhausting hot air upwards? Fitment issues?

[heydo6]

Can I ask why you didn't keep the PSU in the bottom and the rad up top exhausting hot air upwards? Fitment issues?

downside to that is all the hott air from the rest of your hardware goes into your rad .

nice work there on your waterfish ... i was wondering what kinda plan do you have with that video card fan behind your psu ?

[zoob]

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/04-test.jpg

[Junimrox]

Whys is that radiator that thick?

I really liked the black fluid and the ways hoses are connected.
A also think you should put that T in other way, so that the flow goes straight to the cpu block instead of going straight to the unconnected hose

nice project man!

[Drunner611]

Whys is that radiator that thick?


Look's like a heat shroud if I'm not mistake (I probably am :p: )
Makes it more efficient air travel. Think wind tunnel.

[zoob]

Crappiest thing just happened. I hook up the PSU and it won't frigging turn on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Argh

[zoob]

OK there goes that. I toss in a different CPU and I see a little whiff of smoke come out from the top MOSFET area. The setup worked fine when it was sitting on my desk!

I'm pissed! 5 hours of work gone down the drain!!

[Lu523]

Ouch! I feel your pain.

[Yeknom]

That sucks.

[Swatrecon_]

Dang man. All that work. Think it's just a matter of Mobo? or are you thinking PSU, Mobo, and CPU?

[zoob]

I'm hoping ASUS RMA is fast. :(

In the mean time, I've done this:

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/05-test2.jpg

Parts:
Asus P5E-VM HDMI w/EK NB Block (from my dead Maxmius)
X3350 w/FuZion+Quad nozzle
8800GTX w/EK FC block
PA120.3+Shroud+SFlexF@5V
DDC3.2 w/Petra Top@7V

Needed to run my pump at full speed to get this sucker to bleed due to the changed loop layout -- the NB is closer to the GPU on this board

Did the pencil vdroop mod so now I get 1.344V load at 1.3875V BIOS set rather than 1.3360V load at 1.5250V BIOS set.

Just need to toss my X-Fi in there and I'm almost done...

Remaining on my priority/to do list:
- Find some case feet! I'm propping it up on two 120mm fans right now :rofl:
- Fan controller
- Dampen case with vinyl + foam
- Dampen HDD noise -- going to try modding my Scythe Quiet Drives
- Possibly swap back to my Enermax Modu82+ for higher efficiency -- 8800GTX sucks up a lot
- Tidy wires up -- zip ties, cable runners, whatever I can find.
- Possibly trade my 8800GTX for 8800GTS512MB + FC.. I have the card, just trying to convince myself to buy another FC block.
- Paint the interior black?
- Change out to DTEK DB-1 pump

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Sorry dude, that really sucks. The M-ATX board looks hilarious in there.

[zoob]

Still haven't heard back from Asus yet :(

mATX board looks out of place, but it also gives me a few ideas.. I might end up sectioning off the entire bottom for the rad.

Here's my latest mod -- Scythe Quiet Drives each containing a Samsung 1 TB HDD. Suspended on Stretch Magic, with a block of foam between so that they do not slide down towards each other. Velcro on the top and bottom to hold it in place.

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/06-hdd_mount_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/06-hdd_mount_b.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/06-hdd_mount_c.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/06-hdd_mount_d.jpg

Deadens most of the idle whoosh and the seek noise too.

[zoob]

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/07-dampening_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/07-dampening_b.jpg

Silicone caulking, linoleum flooring from my spare junk in the garage. Pressed and cured for a night.

Eggcrate foam from an Intel RMA stuck to the linoleum using double sided tape.

Similarly done for the other side, but only near the front as there's no space behind the motherboard tray.

[WiCKeD]

I've used that eggcrate foam on many cases. Does an amazing job. Just be careful to keep it away from any electronics - it's spectacularly flammable!

[MomijiTMO]

I can't believe you used lino . .. . lol. I know it will work but it's the thought.

How's the ASUS RMA going?

[Serpentarius]

funny you used this name "Water Fish" as your project name ... for english speaking chinese .. this word meant for soft shell turtles, but normally used to tease ppl for guilble fools .. as the ease way to caught those soft shell turtles ..

oh back to your setup .. down you think those foams might discourage heat dispersal for your HD?
on your polyurethane .. you could get it spray with design and still work with sound dampening

I can't believe you used lino . .. . lol. I know it will work but it's the thought.


well i dont understand why the purpose of placing ceramics on the pc???

[MomijiTMO]

Lino is a soft plastic like substance so I believe it would absorb sound quite well in conjunction with the foam.

[Serpentarius]

ohh i see ... it looks like ceramic here .. lol

any chance to use this? http://www.greengluecompany.com/

http://www.greengluecompany.com/images/index/greenGlueTubes.png

[philbrown23]

wow that really suck about your board dieng bro. everytime I have to take stuff all apart I get a tad nervous that something will go wrong, no matter what the precautions. I've had alot go wrong, you name it, it happened to me. anyway what I was going to say is that your setup is almost the exact opposite of mine, if you flipped my rocketfish upside down it would look like yours but a different color, lol. well good luck, and subscribed :D

[MasterChiefElmo]

that green glue makes me think of apple flavored jolly ranchers!!

[Serpentarius]

that green glue makes me think of apple flavored jolly ranchers!!

lol ... i came across this greenglue which checking out HTPC .. which then ventured to construction of home theatres

[zoob]

Thanks for all of the comments. I used whatever was readily available in my house. We had a roll of lineoleum in our garage sitting there for the past 10 years so I put it to some good use. The caulking was sitting there for 5 years and most of the tubes had dried up. :P

I received my board earlier this week. Pretty quick! Booted it up with a junk chip and PCI video card to make sure it turns on. Stole the heatsink for the SB from a dead nForce 2 board. I didn't have compressed gas so I took a hairdryer to my board for a good 15 minutes. Arcticlean a couple of times and it was all ready for the blocks!

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/08-maximus_blocks_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/08-maximus_blocks_b.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/08-maximus_blocks_c.jpg


Ghetto feet. 7.5" pieces of 2x2. Found some spare wood screws and some compression washers in spare parts jar. The holes for the feet are 1cm in diameter.

May or may not get a paint job... most likely not. I'm too lazy to go buy paint, and this will sit on the floor anyway (or get sold :P).

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/09-feet_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/09-feet_b.jpg

[zoob]

Wow such horrid luck with Asus.

This one was working fine for the whole day with my E8500 @ 9.5x453.

I decide to update to the latest BIOS and BAM it hangs at 81% writing BIOS That's fine I think to myself.. boot block wasn't erased.. reflash with the CD.
TESTCMOS error because of the old frigging version on the CD and wolfdale. Swap in a Pentium D 630, reflash to 1204.

Boots up with DET DRAM.. !!!!!!!!!

I swap in some OCZ DDR2-667 RAM, STILL no go. Eventually with enough fiddling it boots, I bump voltages for everything and it works for a bit, but I could no longer get past 425 FSB without immediate lock ups.. Thinking I should try the older versions of the BIOS, I reflash sucessfully a few times to 1004 and again to 1201 (or whtaever) because my CPU started saying it was Unknown! Leave it powered off for 1 hour so I can finish watching a movie, booted it up and it detects and hangs after 1 minute in BIOS.

So now I AGAIN swap in the 630.. nothing AT ALL!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing but troblems with a frigging Maximus Formula.

EDIT: I did test the E8500 in another board and it still clocks fine to 4.3 :|

EDIT 2: Yanked the mobo from my case, took off all the heatsinks and placed some crappy heatsinks over the NB + CPU. Boots up fine, but I don't have enough time to play with it today. Looks like another complete rebuild this week. At least the board isn't fried... going to put a decent heatsink on it to see if I can get back up to 4.3 with my E8500.

EDIT 3: Rebuilt the thing and it's booting up knock on wood. Hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................

[zoob]

FINALLY SOLVED.

My problem was:
- Touching the SB heatsink would cause my computer to reboot
- Take it out of the case, go back to air cooling, works fine
- Go to work think about it, figured it was shorting somewhere
- Come home, did some more air cooling testing, everything was fine
- Reassemble rig, but ensure that all backplates (MOSFET in particular) are properly insulated with a few layers of electrical tape.
- Screw everything in, touch the SB sink, EVERYTHING'S FINE.

Insulate those MOSFET back plates! Something so stupid I can't believe I overlooked this -- even though the rig was fine without insulation on it for 3 months+.

[zoob]

Pretty good temps so far. S-Flex F on rad @ 5V, DDC3.2 @ 7V.

http://individual.utoronto.ca/bzhou/images/rocketfish.JPG

Time to tidy up the wiring, get it a DVD drive and we're set.

[zoob]

Spent some time cable-tieing everything I could. Please forgive the over-exposure on the top right.

- Enermax Modu82 PCI-E power cable is too short so I had to run it along with some tubing.
- Folded the PATA cable for the DVD-ROM up top along the wall.
- Tied all the USB/firewire/audio/front panel cables together
- Stretch magic strategically tied to hold the 80mm fan over the RAM. Some neoprene is used on the fan cage to prevent it from rattling against the RAM.
- Some neoprene is also used on the pump to prevent rattling against the front case fan.


Next is to splice all three case fans onto the same power connector to reduce a little more clutter.

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/rocketfish/10-test_c.jpg