coupla upgrades to my setup... (pics)

[stormshadow]

here's my prior rig:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/Worklog/DSCN6217.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/Worklog/DSCN6043.jpg

I was actually quite pleased with it but just wanted some change.

Specs:
MSI Neo2 Platinum
Opteron 175 @ 3.0GHz
2GB Corsair XMS PC3200
300GB HD
(coupla external drives)
6800GT AGP(!)

Swiftech Apogee
MCW60
120mm Radiator
DDC Pump w/ acrylic top

I wanted to upgrade a few parts to my current setup. Namely, I wanted to bump up to
- 2x120 (240) Radiator
- 7/16" tubing
- 1/2" barbs
- chipset watercooling
- but do this all in a smaller case


the case i chose was the new Lian-Li A05B
shown here:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/pc-a05b.jpg


First step was to cut the top panel to make way for the radiator and radgrill:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000437.jpg


old chipset cooler:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000424.jpg


new chipset block:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000427.jpg


1/2" barb upgrade:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000464.jpg


Along w/ my 300GB OS Drive, I'll be mounting internally my 500GB documents drive:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000439.jpg


Drives test fitted:
(i wanted to flip them around to hide the cables but the front mounted 120mm fan was in the way. I still might flip them

around and externally mount the 120mm fan since there's enough room and put a radgrill in the front of the case)
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000459.jpg


Fan installed:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000457.jpg


initial test fit:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000442.jpg



test fit w/ video card:
(and as most watercooled neo2 owners know, the socket location and chipset location can prove to be difficult. Looks like tubing management is imperative here. But nothing new for me...)

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000467.jpg


hit a snag w/ the screws I use to mount the radiator. Including the radgriill and case wall, the screws come up a little short.

I'm going to have to pick up a new set at the hardware store and cut off excess length...


more to come :)

[stormshadow]

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000501.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000503.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000505.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000512.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000514.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/P1000519.jpg

[creidiki]

Not a big fan of those fans (pun not intended) myself, neat work otherwise.

Oh, and I would have used some kind of vibration dampening between pump & case.

[Solarfall]

personally i've allways liked bigger cases but your lianli looks really speceous and caple managment is great... well atleast if you whould see my caple work you whould ;)

[creidiki]

What is "cable management"? :lol2:

[Cyprio]

Very neat work but i hope you get some clamps on those barbs... is it worth the risk? :)

[Sideroxylon]

Good work. I like the way you've made use of the available space. Gotta tell you though, I think I like your old setup better.

[Solarfall]

What is "cable management"? :lol2:
i mean this : http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1142367&highlight=cable+management

[creidiki]

I only know this sytem for cable management:

1) take a bunch of cables you're not using.
2) bunch them up with your hands, or feet if you can't be bothered to bend down.
3) find nearest plastic bag.
3a) if bag is full, pull bag up to face height and upend contents all over room.
4) stuff previously bunched-up cables into bag. bonus points if you do it with your feet only.
5) kick bag towards nearest avaiable place of storage.
6) open the storage place with excessive force. throwing the cover of a box overhead counts.
7) slam bag into storage using basketball "slamdunk" move.
8) kick storage closed. kick it again.
9) your cables are now managed.

[UnreaL]

Very neat work but i hope you get some clamps on those barbs... is it worth the risk? :)

If your not moving you pc, i see very little reason to use hose clamps. Especially with 7/16 tubing. The fact you need hot water to get it on the barb generally means it has no plans of going anywhere.

Infact, my first loop was assembled with hose clamps. After a day or so I took it all to pieces again, re-did the loop order and never put a single clamp back on... Thermochill rad barbs are really long, perhaps it might be worth it on some blocks but I am confident in the seal created normally...

[Spawne32]

dude i can not tell you how much i love your setup, so much so that ive completely altered my plans for my new computer to include somthing similar to this, can you please give some more detailed instructions as to how you cut the top out and mounted the radiator? I quite frankly at a noob at case modification and i wouldnt want to destroy a 100 dollar case :D

[stormshadow]

Not a big fan of those fans (pun not intended) myself, neat work otherwise.

Oh, and I would have used some kind of vibration dampening between pump & case.
you know what... i'm starting to hate them myself.

yea they push a lot of air but they wail. even w/ rubber bushings, they are way loud. I guess I'm gonna have to see how they do on 7V... if they're still too loud, I'll have to look for a different set of fans...

[stormshadow]

Very neat work but i hope you get some clamps on those barbs... is it worth the risk? :)
normally i would agree... like with my last 3/8" setup... but let me tell you that putting these tubes on these barbs was absolute hell... which told me that leakage wasn't an issue... about 48 hours now and no signs of leaks...

[stormshadow]

dude i can not tell you how much i love your setup, so much so that ive completely altered my plans for my new computer to include somthing similar to this, can you please give some more detailed instructions as to how you cut the top out and mounted the radiator? I quite frankly at a noob at case modification and i wouldnt want to destroy a 100 dollar case :D
wow thanks.

one of my biggest goals of this project was to put a 240 rad AND a DVD ROM all on the top - without wasting any bays. It took a lot of planning and measuring. I specifically chose that DVD drive because its length would work with the MCR220.

I cut the top out with a dremel. Aluminum is way easier to cut than the steel cases I used to deal with.
Basically, tape off the surface using masking tape,
measure like a dozens times and then mark a stencil
then cut.
and don't rush.

don't forget to make sure all your USB / front panel etc connections are plugged in because it's a p.i.t.a. to try and go back and do it after the rad is installed.
also, realize that you will lose PCI slot(s)
oh yea- and post pics of your work as well :)

[Spawne32]

wow thanks.

one of my biggest goals of this project was to put a 240 rad AND a DVD ROM all on the top - without wasting any bays. It took a lot of planning and measuring. I specifically chose that DVD drive because its length would work with the MCR220.

I cut the top out with a dremel. Aluminum is way easier to cut than the steel cases I used to deal with.
Basically, tape off the surface using masking tape,
measure like a dozens times and then mark a stencil
then cut.
and don't rush.

don't forget to make sure all your USB / front panel etc connections are plugged in because it's a p.i.t.a. to try and go back and do it after the rad is installed.
also, realize that you will lose PCI slot(s)
oh yea- and post pics of your work as well :)

i would post pics but i think it would ruin the thread :rofl: theres some pics in the case section, the most ive done so far is paint this case in rubber which turned out to be a disaster in my opinion, and on my old case i had done some drilling for air flow which also turned out pretty crappy :rofl:

[creidiki]

There's only really 3 fans worth using, imo

Yate Loon D12SL-12 45CFM
Yate Loon D12SM-12 65-ish CFM IIRC
SanAce 100-ish CFM

[stormshadow]

i would post pics but i think it would ruin the thread :rofl: theres some pics in the case section, the most ive done so far is paint this case in rubber which turned out to be a disaster in my opinion, and on my old case i had done some drilling for air flow which also turned out pretty crappy :rofl:
haha - i'll have to take a look :)

("painted in rubber"?!) :banana:

[stormshadow]

There's only really 3 fans worth using, imo

Yate Loon D12SL-12 45CFM
Yate Loon D12SM-12 65-ish CFM IIRC
SanAce 100-ish CFM
y'know... i heard a lotta good things about the yate loons... but the damn sleeving on the AC fans swayed me to go down that route. And it was more than double the price too ... :mad:

sigh...

[Spawne32]

haha - i'll have to take a look :)

("painted in rubber"?!) :banana:

Where did you pick up that rad grill for the top at? and is the radiator mounted directly to that? Im curious as to how the cutout looks..

[Spawne32]

got your PM, checked out the AC RYAN site, FANTASTIC STUFF, they even have downloadable templates i can print out to cut out on the case!! AWESOME!

[stormshadow]

:toast:

[Sparky]

Quick Q: shouldn't the front fan in front of the HD's be an intake fan blowing into the case and not out the case?

[stormshadow]

Quick Q: shouldn't the front fan in front of the HD's be an intake fan blowing into the case and not out the case?
this case is designed with reverse airflow...

the back fan is an intake and the front fan (and now also the top fans) are exhausts

[Spawne32]

this case is designed with reverse airflow...

the back fan is an intake and the front fan (and now also the top fans) are exhausts

have you tested to see if you reversed all of that you get better temps? that being turning the two radiator fans blowing down into the radiator, the rear fan blowing as an exhaust and the front fan blowing intake.

[Sparky]

this case is designed with reverse airflow...

the back fan is an intake and the front fan (and now also the top fans) are exhausts
oh OK, but that brings up another question - with 3 fans blowing out and only 1 blowing in, won't that create a little negative air pressure inside the case and starve the fans for air? Would it maybe be better to have the rear and the front fans blowing in and the rad fans blowing out to even it up?

[stormshadow]

oh OK, but that brings up another question - with 3 fans blowing out and only 1 blowing in, won't that create a little negative air pressure inside the case and starve the fans for air? Would it maybe be better to have the rear and the front fans blowing in and the rad fans blowing out to even it up?
possibly... another route i was thinking of doing is having all three exhausts run at either 7V or 5V and keeping the intake at 12V...

[stormshadow]

sigh... just picked up a few things to add and replace...

i bought a swiftech ramcooler (1/4" tubing ram cooling thing - don't flame lol)
the "F" adapters are going to shoot off the 1/4" tubing to the ramcooler and the chipset.
I can't stand those stick-on ram coolers anymore... Plus, with the addition of my sound card, there's not much airflow there for those ramsinks.

I also picked up 4 new yate loon fans... i'm gonna ditch the AC one's...

PM me if you want them for a good price.

[BNDMOD]

Great Update!! jejeje Congratulations!!! (y)

[Psychotic Emu]

It looks really nice considering what a squeeze it must be.
Good choice of components.
I'm wondering what you're doing for a res/t-line. Might have missed it but I don't think you said.
It looks to me like you should get rid of that elbow at the pump inlet if possible. I know that a restriction at the inlet really limits performance. More so than an elbow somwhere else in the loop. Or even try get a more sweeping elbow to replace the mitre. Then again, its all low restriction blocks so....

[stormshadow]

It looks really nice considering what a squeeze it must be.
Good choice of components.
I'm wondering what you're doing for a res/t-line. Might have missed it but I don't think you said.
It looks to me like you should get rid of that elbow at the pump inlet if possible. I know that a restriction at the inlet really limits performance. More so than an elbow somwhere else in the loop. Or even try get a more sweeping elbow to replace the mitre. Then again, its all low restriction blocks so....
thx for the comments... because of the location of the reservoir (otherside of the hard drive bay) and the fact i could not elevate it because of the the 5.25 drive bays, that's as high as i could put it... warranting an elbow.

i'm still getting tons of flow - and i'm about to post pics of some changes that may make most of you shudder... but the changes were necessary...

let's just say i'm fed up with copper bga ramsinks popping off and not being able to just put them back on...

[stormshadow]

ibflamejob lol...

it works quite well...

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7292.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7299.jpg

with sound card:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7302.jpg

pending installation...

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7310.jpg

[Spawne32]

*shudders* FITTINGS! SO MANY FITTINGS! :eek:

[Spawne32]

lol to be totally honest with you it doesnt look that bad, did you notice an increase in temps and by how much if so?

[stormshadow]

lol to be totally honest with you it doesnt look that bad, did you notice an increase in temps and by how much if so?
thx... haven't temp-tested yet... finished that last night and had it running throughout the night for leaks - none...

i'll post temps tonight...

[Spawne32]

my head is spinning trying to figure out which way the flow goes on that thing, i may have to take some advil :rofl:

[phelan1777]

*shudders* FITTINGS! SO MANY FITTINGS! :eek:
HA.

I have........2X MCW60s, that is 4, MCW30 - 2 more, Res = 2, pump =2, CPU block =2, and RAD =2 that is 14 points of connection :-P. AND a bleeder tube, not to mention the RES has 2 more ports with caps, so that is........17 openings.

[Spawne32]

HA.

I have........2X MCW60s, that is 4, MCW30 - 2 more, Res = 2, pump =2, CPU block =2, and RAD =2 that is 14 points of connection :-P. AND a bleeder tube, not to mention the RES has 2 more ports with caps, so that is........17 openings.

http://www.lazyforums.net/uploadfiles/eek5big_________________.gif

[stormshadow]

lol


my head is spinning trying to figure out which way the flow goes on that thing, i may have to take some advil :rofl:

ok so lemme see if can lay it out...

.....pump........
..../.......\......
..CPU....BGA...
...|........|......
.GPU...chipset
...\......../......
....radiator......
......res........

[Spawne32]

lol



ok so lemme see if can lay it out...

.....pump........
..../.......\......
..CPU....BGA...
...|........|......
.GPU...chipset
...\......../......
....radiator......
......res........

ok thats better :D

[creidiki]

No, I'm afraid that's entirely wrong.

Never, EVER put blocks in parallel, especially if they're different blocks.

[stormshadow]

all wired up

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7367.jpg

[stormshadow]

No, I'm afraid that's entirely wrong.

Never, EVER put blocks in parallel, especially if they're different blocks.
not in this case. 1/4" offshoot to two different blocks may have a slight effect on the main 7/16" loop but there's no "NEVER EVER" situation here...


now a Y fitting w/ equal 7/16" tubing running parallel may be a different story... but in this case, the "F" barbs allow for a 1/4" offshoot loop... and it allows that loop to run at it's own pace. Meaning the water can enter and exit that loop at its own speed to join up with the main loop

[creidiki]

The 1/4 offshoot wont get any water.

Water follows the path of least resistance. It works (just about) with just the VRAM block on it...

[stormshadow]

The 1/4 offshoot wont get any water.

Water follows the path of least resistance. It works (just about) with just the VRAM block on it...
not under pressure though...

[phelan1777]

not under pressure though...


Still not a good idea, you won't get the performance you want or are thinking you could get.

Seperate pump/blocks/tubing.

[stormshadow]

nope.. not going down multiple pumps route with this setup...

it works. which is really all that matters...

it may not hit OPTIMAL flow rate or cool as good as a dual pump dual loop setup but then again PC building / modding / watercooling has a lot of compromises.

I could get me a G70 case and put the farm in there but I was looking for a squat compact box that does what I need it to do... so i built it.

[creidiki]

You will get *some* flow, because resistance goes up with flowrate, so a small % of the total will go through the 1/4 - as minimal flowrate through the 1/4 pipe encounters minimal resistance - but the curve for resistance/flowrate is far steeper and 1/4 tube is generally over 8 times as restrictive anyway, even in the most ideal conditions, so I really wonder if it'll be enough.

Pressure has nothing to do with it, water is basically incompressible, and anyway pressure above/below the pump only affects how much restriction the pump is able to push through (the impeller creates pressure against the volute which creates flow, and the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of the pump pulls liquid through your blocks)

The only thing that matters to the components in the loop themseleves is flowrate.

[stormshadow]

You will get *some* flow, because resistance goes up with flowrate, so a small % of the total will go through the 1/4 - as minimal flowrate through the 1/4 pipe encounters minimal resistance - but the curve for resistance/flowrate is far steeper and 1/4 tube is generally over 8 times as restrictive anyway, even in the most ideal conditions, so I really wonder if it'll be enough.

Pressure has nothing to do with it, water is basically incompressible, and anyway pressure above/below the pump only affects how much restriction the pump is able to push through (the impeller creates pressure against the volute which creates flow, and the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of the pump pulls liquid through your blocks)

The only thing that matters to the components in the loop themseleves is flowrate.
listen dude - i respect your information and all but hear me out.....

are "F" fittings the first thing people should choose to run in a setup needing multiple loops?
No.

Does it do the trick in a case that is barely taller than an ATX mobo?
Yes.

Am I getting good temps?
I'd say so.

My clock still stable?
Yes.

don't know why all the friction then...

[creidiki]

Keep a REALLY close eye on your NB temps.

[phelan1777]

nope.. not going down multiple pumps route with this setup...

it works. which is really all that matters...

it may not hit OPTIMAL flow rate or cool as good as a dual pump dual loop setup but then again PC building / modding / watercooling has a lot of compromises.

I could get me a G70 case and put the farm in there but I was looking for a squat compact box that does what I need it to do... so i built it.


Well yeah you can't argue that, well all do what we can, cause well most of us don't have a choice.

[Spawne32]

rather then splitting it parallel, why not just have it continuous, cpu>nb>gpu etc

[creidiki]

Separate VRAM blocks murder flow, even one as low-restriction as the swifty one.

*shrug* the point of those blocks is cooling the voltage regulators on cards anyway, they're the only thing that needs cooling GDDR3/4 runs just fine with no ramsinks whatsoever and secondary airflow.

The F-joints give those blocks feck-all flow, but that's enough for it, so it works well enough if you dont want to switch to a real fullcover or to a GPU-X.

The latest NBs however tend to get pretty toasty, so I'm wondering how that will hold up temp-wise after a long load.

[stormshadow]

rather then splitting it parallel, why not just have it continuous, cpu>nb>gpu etc
yeah - i had it that way before... then a coupla nights ago, my ramsinks started popping off from all the work i was doing on the card.
I debated whether i wanted to buy more [overpriced] copper ones with stickers on them or choose a different route...

not to mention that the CPU - GPU - Chipset block locations are extremely close on my setup...

so I figured I'd alleviate both issues w/ the swifty solution...

[creidiki]

Shoulda just bought some good thermal tape for a dollar or 2 on fleebay :)

SEKISUI #5760 ftw.

[JoeBar]

Shoulda just bought some good thermal tape for a dollar or 2 on fleebay :)

SEKISUI #5760 ftw.
I've used this tape. However i find 3M's one much better.

[Spawne32]

hey storm, the fans that came with the case, were they adda's? I seen in this review that a similar lian li case comes with adda's... http://www.systemcooling.com/lian_li_pc-7b-01.html

[creidiki]

Generally speaking LiLis always come with ADDA fans... they're not particularly good though.

[Spawne32]

Generally speaking LiLis always come with ADDA fans... they're not particularly good though.

ive always thought that adda's were supposed to be good fans :confused:

[UnreaL]

ive always thought that adda's were supposed to be good fans :confused:

There just 'ok', become poor fans once you find YateLoons ;)

[creidiki]

The airflow noise is pretty comparable to YLs @ the same RPM, but they tend to have very loud bearings, with rattling and ticking and all of that stuff, and they don't undervolt as well as YLs - not that I know any other 120mm fan that goes down to 3.5v.

[Spawne32]

and here i was gettin all excited :rofl:

[hopper]

did you put a freakin zip tie on your tube so it wont kink???????

[phelan1777]

did you put a freakin zip tie on your tube so it wont kink???????


Yes, actually some have done this, and it works, same as using a clamp, or the tubing coil.

[creidiki]

Aye, I uses zipties fer that too.

Also, nice... er... avatar :slobber:

[phelan1777]

Aye, I uses zipties fer that too.

Also, nice... er... avatar :slobber:


Who me?

she is a friend, but I want to get to be a real close friend ;-P

been talking for about two weeks now.

You should see her artistic talent on her deviant art page :slobber:

[Solarfall]

Who me?

she is a friend, but I want to get to be a real close friend ;-P

been talking for about two weeks now.

You should see her artistic talent on her deviant art page :slobber:


Ehh.... i agree, she looks VERY talented endeed :slobber:

[Spawne32]

Ehh.... i agree, she look VERY talented endeed :slobber:

*70's bass :banana::banana::banana::banana: music playing* bow chicka wow, bow chicka wow wow :D

[phelan1777]

*70's bass :banana::banana::banana::banana: music playing* bow chicka wow, bow chicka wow wow :D


Seriously the girl has artistic ability. She also makes and sells her own jewelery.

I don't go after a girl just for looks, cause usually they are very shallow and its not often you find a girl that looks good, has a brain in her cranium.

[Spawne32]

Seriously the girl has artistic ability. She also makes and sells her own jewelery.

I don't go after a girl just for looks, cause usually they are very shallow and its not often you find a girl that looks good, has a brain in her cranium.

Yes but....the pics arent loading. http://www.lazyforums.net/images/smilies/hsugh.gif

[phelan1777]

Yes but....the pics arent loading. http://www.lazyforums.net/images/smilies/hsugh.gif


i didn't post any pics, nor did I post her deviant art name, so your not going to find any unless you do ALOT of looking.

I would be an ass for just showing off her pics, that would not bode well for me talking to her.

Okay you pron surfing, no life geeks get back to talking about PCs and stop oggling the lady in my avatar,:nono: cause if anyone stands a chance with her, its me :-P.:woot:

[Spawne32]

i didn't post any pics, nor did I post her deviant art name, so your not going to find any unless you do ALOT of looking.

I would be an ass for just showing off her pics, that would not bode well for me talking to her.

Okay you pron surfing, no life geeks get back to talking about PCs and stop oggling the lady in my avatar,:nono: cause if anyone stands a chance with her, its me :-P.:woot:

:D so back to questions, do the Lian Li cases come with fan grills like i see in the pics too? Cus i was about to buy AC ryan meshx grills and then i saw that pic and was like...hmm i think they may come with grills.

[creidiki]

Okay you pron surfing, no life geeks
>.>

<.<

Quit spying on me dagnammit :P

[stormshadow]

latest addition:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7394.jpg

Matrix Orbital display...

[stormshadow]

I replaced two of the Arctic Cooling fans with the Yate Loons...

what a difference in noise.

[stormshadow]

ok - a little mini update...

completed the upgrade to Yate Loon fans all around. Night and day difference in sound.

I was going to 7V mod the AC fans with some zener diodes i picked up from radio shack but no need now...

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7403.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/stormshadow3500/DSCN7405.jpg

[Spawne32]

im curious to know if there was a rise in temps tho with the switch of the fans

[creidiki]

Aaaahhh, that little golden badge makes my heart go all warm & cuddly ^.^

[phelan1777]

Aaaahhh, that little golden badge makes my heart go all warm & cuddly ^.^


wow I didn't think anything could affect that ice block!


<<<<<Ducks and covers.:shoot: :sofa:

[stormshadow]

Aaaahhh, that little golden badge makes my heart go all warm & cuddly ^.^
haha.

thx for the suggestion.


wow I didn't think anything could affect that ice block!

lmao

[JoeBar]

latest addition:


Matrix Orbital display...
A very nice one... :up:

[ColonelCain]

Nice tube routing.

[SpaRat1k]

where did you get the fan grill for the radiator?

[fbmbirds]

i just hate those cases sorry man but im a coolermaster fan