Cosmos 1000 WC rig

[gatorpilot]

Hello all,

First post (obviously.) I have been reading up on the forums. I just built a PC around an EVGA 780i mobo, dual 8800 GTXs, 4GB DDR2 RAM (Kingston), a QX9650 cooled by a Zalman 9700 and a Cosmos 1000 case.

The rig runs extraordinarily hot. At least, I feel it runs way too hot. The cores idle at 52-56 deg C while GPU #1 idles at 74 deg C and #2 idles at 86 deg C.

This is all okay if I was going to leave it stock, but the reason I got a Core 2 Extreme for the high price tag was for overclocking. I really want to get 4.0ghz out of this system.

So I'm turning to watercooling. I have read many FAQs and posts on the subject including the Guide to Watercooling here at XtremeSystems and the Water Cooling Parts Guide at another forum. I have slowly but surely assembled a list of parts.

My question is, does anyone see a way for me to run a 2-loop system in this Cosmos 1000? It's a big case but not a HUGE case. I really want to contain the entire system within the case if possible, and cutting is okay if need be, but ideally that would not be necessary. Coolermaster sells a complete WC rig (I know, they all suck, I'm not buying it) that includes a dual-120mm rad at the top of the case (inside) and most of the gear (pump, res, etc.) contained within the 5.25" drive bay.

I would love to see some Cosmos 1000 setups that are completely contained within the case and can get those idle temps down into the 30s for the CPU.

The Northbridge runs really hot on the 780i but I'm not sure I want to take on the challenge of watercooling it. It seems there are some reasonable air-cooling alternatives for the NB, SB and mosfets. Advice appreciated.

Can someone point me at some good rigs as described above? I'll attach my parts list. I think I can make this all fit in the case, but I'm not 100% sure.

Final question is, should I get an integrated Laing pump top w/ reservoir. Not sure if it will fit, it seems tall.

The parts I'm planning to buy:

cpu waterblock: http://www.jab-tech.com/D-tek-FuZion-CPU-Water-Block-pr-3667.html - $59.95
nozzle kit: http://www.jab-tech.com/D-Tek-FuZion-Accelerator-Nozzle-Kit-pr-3956.html $11.95
775 pro mount kit: http://www.jab-tech.com/Dtek-FuZion-Intel-775-Pro-Mount-set-pr-4048.html $11.95
pump: http://www.petrastechshop.com/ladd1mcin12p.html - $74.99
pump top: http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Laing-DDC-Top-pr-4124.html
pump stand: http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Laing-DDC-Stand-pr-4122.html - $10.95
rad: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5617/ex-rad-116/ThermoChill_PA1202_Dual_120mm_Radiator.html $119.95
rad shroud: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5620/ex-rad-119/ThermoChill_PA1202_Dual_120mm_Shroud.html?id=tSzCD n84 $22.99
reservoir: http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Acrylic-Reservoir-for-Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html - $44.95
tubing: http://www.jab-tech.com/Tygon-R-3603-1-2-ID-3-4-OD-Chemical-Tubing-pr-3874.html - $2.95 per foot (x 12 ft.?)

chipset cooling (air)
=====

mosfet sinks: http://www.jab-tech.com/Microcool-Mosfet-Sink-Silver-pr-3334.html
VGA heatsinks (stick-on): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835116020 $4.99 (x2?)

[Jamestuk]

It would probably be better if you said what each part as well as the link. I for one can't be arsed to click them all...

*edit* that wasn't meant to sound as nasty as it probably did :)

[YugenM]

It would probably be better if you said what each part as well as the link. I for one can't be arsed to click them all...

*edit* that wasn't meant to sound as nasty as it probably did :)

you could just mouse over them and scan the links, since they are more or less self explanatory ;)

@OP:

Parts list looks great! Go for it.

[afX]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/Sammo106/Tri-sliupdate004.jpg

I don't know if something like that will do you any good, I guess you could have a dual loop for your cards and cpu, but im no expert on rads so i don't know if a double would be enough.

btw: ditch the pump stand its hard to work with and is not good for the res top.

[Maxx103]

Nice setup AFX....what kind of WC parts are you running?

[gatorpilot]

Thanks for the pic. Yes, that does help. I've been wondering if a single dual rad would be enough for the cpu (and possibly the NB) on one loop and two GPUs on another. Probably not, I guess.

Is that your case? I see you removed the bottom HD bay. My problem is I have 4 500gb drives so the bay has to more or less stay put. That is a nice block for the lower rad. I noticed the front cover is off too -- do you have a fan drawing air in from the front?

I'd rather not remove the front door if I don't have to. I am actually considering a Cosmos S and swapping this 1000 out to an older asus I have for a "work" computer. Any thoughts on whether the S will give me a better WC rig experience?

[Big_Daddy]

pump top: http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Laing-DDC-Top-pr-4124.html - $24.95

reservoir: http://www.jab-tech.com/XSPC-Acrylic-Reservoir-for-Laing-DDC-pr-4123.html - $44.95



You know, you only need one or the other. The XSPC Reservoir that you have selected IS a pump top replacment. Get one or the other, but you don't need both.

If your going to run two loops, and space IS a concern, just get 2 of the pump tops, and get 2 of the swiftech microres's (http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCRES-Micro-pr-3093.html). They are compact, and can be stuck somewhere out of the way. Or run 2 t lines.

Now the XSPC with RES (2nd link) is a better performer. but it's size is a little ungainly.

[junkun13]

here

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=180663

[gatorpilot]

bugkalot: Perfect! That project includes almost precisely the same parts I'm using. Thank you.

I see many of my concerns echoed in that thread. When you're planning and conceptualizing with a 1000, it's hard not to think in the Cosmos S direction because that 360mm rad fits perfectly in the top. I'm new to cutting cases and physically modding them. I have a dremel and I'm halfway competent (most importantly have some family members who are really good at this stuff) but I'm a little nervous about wholesale cutting of a nice case.

The 1000 is oh-so-close to fitting a rad in the top space between the top of the case and the plastic stylized piece that fits in to complete the look of the case. But it doesn't fit.

The Cosmos S is actually a possibility for me because even though I have a Cosmos 1000, I have in addition to this new rig an old "work" computer" which has an old Asus A8V deluxe mobo and GeForce 7600 AGP, DDR400 RAM, etc. which I just upgraded the CPU on from a single-core AMD64 3500+ to an Opteron 180. It's all stuffed in an ANCIENT Alienware case (circa 2000) which doesn't provide even remotely close to a good airflow through the case. I'm thinking I'll install the Zalman 9700 I presently have on my QX9650 on that new chip, and maybe buying something like an Antec 900 for that machine and just sticking with air, overclocking it mildly from 2.4ghz to 2.8 or maybe 3.0ghz if I can pipe enough air through. But if I get the feeling that my watercooling project will be much easier with a different case (like the Cosmos S or any other recommended cases under say $250-$300-ish -- unfortunately the Mountain Mods UFO is not an option) then I can just swap out that 1000 and dedicate it to the "old" air-cooled computer.

Big_Daddy: you're right, that pump top should have been removed from the list but I wasn't sure if I could get that res-top to fit in the case. I'm still not sure where I'd mount it because I'm pretty sure the space I have in the 5.25" bay is too short for the res-top. For ease of installation I was actually thinking of going back towards a separate res+pump setup.

Thanks to all for the thoughts and suggestions...

[armeniandave]

I tried to get both radiators in the case but in the end I didn't want to completely cut the bottom out so I mounted the extra radiator in the top.
You could mod the top and go with a 120.3 that would cool both your CPU and GPU. Its not dual loop but it would work.
The biggest problem with both radiators inside is airflow. If both are exhausting then there wont be enough intake and if any one of them is intaking then the warm air is getting blown into the case. It's tricky with the cosmos as the air flow can get a little stingy.
Attached is some pics, I know it's not exactly what your looking for but maybe it will give you some ideas.

[gatorpilot]

Thanks. That does give me some good ideas.

As time goes on I'm getting more uncertain about remaining with the Cosmos 1000 as my case for this rig. I just had one of four brand new HDs fail and when I ran SeaTools I discovered that all 4 of them had exceed 70 deg C in temperature. For some reason hwmonitor will not give me temp output so I had no idea.

The Cosmos is really not a good case for airflow at all. It's big and quiet, but I feel as though not much thought went into making sure components like HDs get adequate cooling.

I'm thinking heavily on getting a new case and using the Cosmos 1000 for my "work" machine (Opty 180 slightly OC'd, air cooled) and going to a case which a) gives better airflow for components I don't want to water cool, like the hard drives, and b) is easier to fit dual rads in.

[armeniandave]

Well I agree that the cosmos is not the best for airflow out of the box, however with a little planning I think the airflow can be increased dramatically. I had the same problems with heat in the hard drive area, so I took out all the unused hard drive caddies and I used the optional fan on top of the hard drive area. Then I replaced the pathetic fans that come with the cosmos for some fans that actually move air.
Also a lot of people are taking out the bottom fan and putting there pump there. This restricts flow (obviously). You need to mount the pump somewhere else.
If you mount the rad in the top the fans should blow out. If you have the two fans coming in then the three going out the air moves fine.
All that being said I think the Cosmos S is an improvement and it does address some of the issues people are talking about. The Cosmos does work well though.

[daedality]

I had my heart set on the Cosmos 1000 to be honest with you, when I was first building my current rig. And then I read vr-zone's review of the TJ07 and I was overcome. xD

Either way, I think it's a nice little box and I hope it works out for you well.

[SabreSword]

How is the hard drive cooling with this case? I heard that is the only negative.

[armeniandave]

The hard drive cooling is fine if you remove the unused caddies and install the optional fan that goes in the top of the hard drive cage.

If you leave all the caddies in and don't put the fan in the top then the hard drives get way too hot.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

get Primochill PRO LRT instead of tygon, its more flexible and has a higher durometer (higher is better)

[atomic ferret]

How is the hard drive cooling with this case? I heard that is the only negative.

What are you doing browsing year old threads? Lol.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

gezze didnt see that hahahaha NECROTHREAD!!!!

[Tsaroth]

What are you doing browsing year old threads? Lol.

Someone's got to show them love :clap:

[xdrift0rx]

here is my system. i can run 4ghz and the temps idle around 35c, load @ 55-60 depending on ambient temps. specs in sig. also sorry for thsi :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty pictures, they were taken with my iphone

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v301/xninjararacerx/001.jpg


and i keep my hard drives cool by sticking a 92mm on top where the little grate is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v301/xninjararacerx/002.jpg

hope this is a hellp