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View Full Version : Ultra MicroFly MX6 water cooling project


mat3891
09-12-2007, 09:39 PM
This is my first post in this forum and first time water cooling PC. Last couple of months I have been trying to find a case consider small form factor to water cool. Thermaltake got two case but the side panel can't remove. Shuttle is too small and expensive. Silverstone is expensive. Lian Li V300 have a weird design. Apevia X-Qpack is almost the same as Ultra MicroFly, but Microfly case is more sturdy and little bit longer. That's why I choose Microfly MX6 and it comes with 600 watt PSU.

The gear:
Gigabyte G965 Micro-Atx Motherboard
Core 2 Duo E6600
Geforce 8800 GTS 640MB
Ultra 600 Watts PSU
320 GB and 250 GB Hard drive
Lite-On 20X DVD-R optical drive
Corsair 2GB dual channel memory
Swiftech Apogee GT CPU Block
D-Tek GFX VGA Block
Swiftech Ram heatsink for video card
Swiftech MCP350 Pump
Swiftech Micro Reservior
Hardware Lab 1x120mm and 1x80mm Radiator
Tygon R3603 1/2" ID all around
2-120mm Yate Loon thin fan
1-120mm CoolJag fan
1-80mm CoolJag
1-80mm Evercool
1-60mm Sunon
Noise dampening material all around
2-black Vandal switch with blue and red ring around
Maybe a fan controller some sort in 5.25" bay
Both Radiator are going to be push pull configuration.

Here is start by take everything from the case, drill out all the rivets. Measure the chassis and cut the front. Time for dremel cutting.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02557.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02560.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02558.jpg
The left side bracket for 5.25" drive have to cut out a little bit for fit the big rad on the bottom.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02559.jpg
This is 1/16" aluminum sheet for the front of the chassis to reinforce the whole case and hold the big rad and a 80mm fan.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02561.jpg
Here come 12" manual shear
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02562.jpg
After cutting
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02564.jpg
Drill out hole for the plate
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02566.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02565.jpg
Check the plate to fit in the case, notice the circle for both fans on the plate have not been cut due to the fact that I'm an idiot. I bought the wrong size for hole saw. I have return two hole saw and get the right size the next day.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02567.jpg
Here the rad sit inside the case. It's very close to the drive bracket, and probably about 2mm.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02569.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02570.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02571.jpg
Planning put Sunon 60x60x20mm fan in front of the two hard drives bracket.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02572.jpg
Planning put 1x80mm Hardware Lab Rad where 120mm fan go.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02573.jpg
Front plastic face
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02575.jpg
Buy 2 new hole saw and here the result
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02577.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02578.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02579.jpg


Also I have two questions I need to ask. I have seen people mount their pump sideway, can I mount Swiftech MCP350 upsidedown. Does it affect flow rate, pressure or anything. I heard a lot people talk about 5% Zerex and 95% distilled water. Zerex is Valvoline Zerex Coolant at auto store right. Thank you guy. I will post more as I go.
Waterlogged
09-12-2007, 09:56 PM
Looking good:up: I've got a X-QPack I'll be putting on water shortly so I'll watch this with interest. ;)

If you completely bleed the loop before mounting the pump upside down, you should be OK. If not, a bubble of air could get trapped in the pump and not allow the water to lubricate the bearing, causing the pump to overheat.

Another method would probably be case acrobatics. This is turning the case upside down and on it's sides, front, back while bleeding to remove the air from the system.
mat3891
09-12-2007, 11:11 PM
I have X-Qpack then I change to this case. Motherboard tray hold down by only 2 screw, and PSU and optical drive is too close.
Kayin
09-12-2007, 11:24 PM
With the existing 120mm fan in the back, why not use it for the rad and keep the 80mm rad up front?
mat3891
09-13-2007, 12:44 AM
Kayin;2428876']With the existing 120mm fan in the back, why not use it for the rad and keep the 80mm rad up front?

If I use 120mm rad where 120mm fan in the back and inside the case. I have to take out the bracket below, and the case will become unstable. If I put the rad outside, bottom of the rad will in motherboard tray way. When remove motherboard, it's going to be difficult. The reason I want the rad in front is to provide a lot of air flow for Video card ram and NB and SB. My first attempt is 2x120mm radiator in front of the case, but it's really difficult.
dr4gon
09-13-2007, 07:18 AM
ooo very nice. I love this little case! Like it so much, I think I'm gonna get one for a HTPC build.

Great idea for the 120mm in front, I've always thought it was necessary.
Waterlogged
09-13-2007, 08:42 AM
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/1087/106uy2.jpg

This was my first attempt at trying to get water into the X-QP as I didn't really want to hack it to badly, being so thin. I may just take another look down the road and see how much I can hack it as I'd really rather have everything internal.
annaconda
09-13-2007, 09:06 AM
Nice
leo_bsb
09-13-2007, 05:17 PM
nice. Keep the thread updated! I like small cases projects.
mat3891
09-13-2007, 06:31 PM
Here come some more pics.


First attempt is to mount the pump upside down under those two CD Drive bracket. So after thinking through I decide make a bracket and mount the pump normal way.

This is 1/32" aluminum sheet begin to cut.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02581.jpg

After cutting

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02584.jpg

Time to bend with 12" pan box brake

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02585.jpg

Here what it is coming out

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02586.jpg

After align, drill, cut, sand, and file here the bracket with pump on it.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02587.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02588.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02592.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02593.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02595.jpg

This is all the hardware in X-Qpack, and see how close between the drive and PSU.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02596.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02598.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02599.jpg

Will update more soon, still waiting for D-Tek GFX VGA block, two radiator, and some accessories.
dr4gon
09-13-2007, 07:35 PM
Wow looking very good. That's a LOT of zip ties!!!

Qpack? I thought it was a MicroFly .... you know the microflys are a lot bigger than the qpacks and even a bit larger than the qpack2s!
mat3891
09-13-2007, 08:02 PM
Wow looking very good. That's a LOT of zip ties!!!

Qpack? I thought it was a MicroFly .... you know the microflys are a lot bigger than the qpacks and even a bit larger than the qpack2s!

All the hardware is in Qpack case right now. I'm modding the Microfly right now. Like you said, microfly is little bit big that's why I'm going to move all the hardware when finish.
dr4gon
09-13-2007, 08:08 PM
All the hardware is in Qpack case right now. I'm modding the Microfly right now. Like you said, microfly is little bit big that's why I'm going to move all the hardware when finish.

gotcha! :up: both very nice cases!
mat3891
09-14-2007, 05:58 PM
couple more pics:

bracket for res.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02602.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02603.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02604.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa180/ocseller24/DSC02605.jpg
FLMJIGGY
09-14-2007, 06:04 PM
the Qpack 2 is better than the 1st Gen and I like it a bit better than the Microfly. If it had removable side panels it would be a hands down for me over the microfly.
MegadetHCl
09-14-2007, 06:24 PM
I think holding the plexi reservoir in a metal clip with a bolt that puts pressure on the outer surfaces of reservoir mounting clips may result in cracks. I would connect each end of the metal clip to the reservoir clips with two individual bolts, this way there is no strain on the plastic.
mat3891
09-14-2007, 06:31 PM
I think holding the plexi reservoir in a metal clip with a bolt that puts pressure on the outer surfaces of reservoir mounting clips may result in cracks. I would connect each end of the metal clip to the reservoir clips with two individual bolts, this way there is no strain on the plastic.

Right now, I just put like that to see how it looks. Thank you for a great tip.:up:
bogg
09-14-2007, 11:48 PM
Isn't it advised not to mount the ddc on gel? does it not cause the pump to overheat and fail?