Final Build. Project Done. Pics Up... But I warn ya, its not pretty.

[Kunaak]

I am not one for looks, only performance.

final results...
over a 20C drop in my load temps from my old watercooling set up.
use to regularly hit over 70+ Celcius.
now, almost never hit 52 with all 4 cores loaded.
much more stable too.
can now bench into the 3.8 ghz (8 x 475) with my Quad Core.
thats cool as hell.

2 seperate loops.

1/2 ID.

1: Swiftech MCP655 to Bix480 + 8 fans in push pull config to Dtek Fuzion to Dtek Chipsetblock (on southbridge) back to XSPC Res then back to Swiftech MCP655.

and 3/8 ID.

2: Via Aqua1300 to Coolingworks dual rad + 2 120mm antec fans to Swiftech MCW30 to Koolance PWM blocks to Dangerden Cylinder Res back to pump.

Notes:

Via 1300 was a last minute replacement for a pump I bought but cannot get to work right. it seems to be doing just fine.

XSPC Res is Aluminum, but I was assured they are fine for a long life time, if you dont go scratching it up inside... and it performs great. 7C loss in temps by activly cooling it.

Bix 480 was a last minute replacement to the Thermochill 120.3 which just wasnt anywhere in stock when I got the itch to do all this.
not disappointed with it at all.

Dtek chipset block is on the southbridge for no reason, other then the add length and slow the flow down to make it easier to bleed the bubbles out of the res. the XSPC res, has little to no flow restrictions, so its hard to get bubbles out of the loop, if you have a high flow system.

Koolance PWM blocks were chosen for 2 reasons. they are easy to find in america, and arent specifically matched to 1-2 boards.
so they offer me a higher chance of being able to re-use them on future boards.

[Hard H20]

20 Degree drop, who gives a :banana::banana::banana::banana: what it looks like, stellar results!

[Kunaak]

just for reference.

heres my first pic, from before I started all this upgrading.

original set up.

Storm, Dangerden Cylinder res, MCP655, BIX Extreme Pro... or Pro... (40 dollars last summer)

before, and after all upgrading, mods (making shrouds) and rebuild.

[MaxxxRacer]

I'm not gonna comment on the said results, but that is one rediculously overkil system.

Eric, you should slap a EK full cover block on that 8800 and put it in the 1/2" loop.

[[cTx] Nooc]

wow 20C off the charts, thats quite an improvement :)

[Kunaak]

believe me, I would put the EK block on there...

thing for me is, I dont want to invest in the 8800 GTX now.
its too close to the end of its lifespan, almost new and better cards on the market, so whenever they start to show up, this cards gonna be replaced.
and judging by the news I see everyday, they are only a few weeks away.

if anything, I'd rather put a MCW60 on there and make a ramsink.
then I have a block that has much more versatility.

ever see them blocks like the X1800 and 7900 blocks on the OC forums?

buy them for $150... sell them for $70 cause once the cards out of the top spot, the waterblocks demand falls...
a block like the MCW60 has a much more versatile life span for me.

[serialk11r]

Yay, another coolingworks user! :cheers:

[ign0]

i can't agree u more on the life span talk.
btw, your rig just kills the heat twice.

[eva2000]

sweet setup man.. very nicely done.. open desktop bench rig FTW :D

[MaxxxRacer]

believe me, I would put the EK block on there...

thing for me is, I dont want to invest in the 8800 GTX now.
its too close to the end of its lifespan, almost new and better cards on the market, so whenever they start to show up, this cards gonna be replaced.
and judging by the news I see everyday, they are only a few weeks away.

if anything, I'd rather put a MCW60 on there and make a ramsink.
then I have a block that has much more versatility.

ever see them blocks like the X1800 and 7900 blocks on the OC forums?

buy them for $150... sell them for $70 cause once the cards out of the top spot, the waterblocks demand falls...
a block like the MCW60 has a much more versatile life span for me.

I totaly agree with you.. i just thought u might like the EK block and that the price concern wasnt a big issue considering the amount of $ u put into your rig.

[freeloader]

So you're the SOB who's causing my lights to dim when you fire that thing up, aren't you? :D

Very good cooling there. That 4x4 looks incredible. I'm assuming they're in a push/pull configuration?

[Kunaak]

Very good cooling there. That 4x4 looks incredible. I'm assuming they're in a push/pull configuration?

yep, only way to do it isnt it?


sweet setup man.. very nicely done.. open desktop bench rig FTW

Thanks... :) but what does FTW mean?

heres something to make you guys laugh...

heres what didnt make it into the loop.
it would have been where the MCP655 is, and 655 where the via is...
if you notice, the room for it, is still there if I can ever get this leaky gasket seal fixed (its sucking in air on one side)

[eva2000]

FTW = for the win :)

[Mr. Peanut]

Sweet baby Jesus, it's beautiful! :D

On a side note, rofl @ ASprobe. Look at the temps it reports.

[Omastar]

Kunaak, what's that green connector north of the main 24 pin connector? (north if you were looking at the board with the I/O plate facing out toward your left).

[Kunaak]

Kunaak, what's that green connector north of the main 24 pin connector? (north if you were looking at the board with the I/O plate facing out toward your left).


I think your talking about the Hipro DDR2 Maximizer....

[Polizei]

Whats that?

[serialk11r]

Isn't it the thing that gives the memory more volts?

[masaville]

Very nice. I especially liked the garden of green hoses sprouting from the MB. lol

Nice 480 rad btw, got of those myself. They kick ass!

[Bun-Bun]

I dont know what you are talking about. I think it is very pretty ;)

[Pete]

LOL what size them barbs on that iwaki there!! Look like will blow off

[Kunaak]

3/4 to 1/2 id.

very solid on there.
rubber washer on the inside creates a great seal.

[stormshadow]

oh the huge manatee... :wth: