Xilikon
08-10-2008, 07:27 AM
After lots of delays and real life stuff taking my time off the project, here is the whole project worklog with pictures.
I have a HTPC box housed in a Lian Li PC-A05B and with a Q6600 and 8800GTS 640MB, the limited airflow is a hindrance for me so I decided to watercool it. Another reason is that I need a new challenge now that my Xtreme WaveMaster project is basically done for now. I know lots of people is looking at how to fit a watercooling loop in such a small case and some of them did it successfully. Here is my own take at this challenge and my goal is to do it so it would be aimed at performance first and no bling (no window so there is no point blinging it out). It will also be a hands-me-down box with some parts coming from my main PC after my recent upgrades.
Here is the HTPC specifications :
Lian Li PC-A05B
Q6600 @ 3.2 GHz (8x400)
Asus P5E-VM HDMI
2x2GB Mushkin HP2-6400 5-4-4-12
BFG GeForce 8800GTS OC 640MB
Hauppauge HVR-1600 HDTV capture card
WD3200AAKS
Pioneer DVR-212D
Watercooling :
D-Tek Fuzion v1 with quad nozzle (old, from Xtreme WaveMaster)
EK FC8800 GTS (old, from Xtreme WaveMaster along with the video card)
Swiftech MCP355 with XSPC Reservoir Top
HWLabs Black Ice GTX 240
2x Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000rpm (133 CFM at top speed)
Scythe Kaze Master
D-Tek 3/8" High Flow barbs
BitsPower 3/8" barbs on XSPC ResTop
Primochill Pro LRT 3/8" ID 5/8" OD UV Blue
First of all, here is some pics with a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0071.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0072.jpg
My ordered parts :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0074.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0004.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0008.jpg
You will notice that some of the parts is being used in my Xtreme WaveMaster update (Fuzion v2, BitsPower barbs) or ditched like the 8800GT FC and T-line. I also ordered the Reservoir Top after I got a flash in my brain about the layout.
I disassembled the computer since I need to do some modding to house the radiator :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0003.jpg
Measured the top area to have the cutout for the radiator. It's tricky since I wanted to make sure the radiator will push on the back so I have clearance above for the DVD-RW drive or any future need. Here is the end result after cutting it with my trusty jigsaw :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0010.jpg
I mounted the radiator in the case (after installing the fans with the small M4 screws provided with the packaging) and it's a perfect fit :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0011.jpg
Here is the grill installed with some crappy screws (that's all I found in my local hardware store for M4x6mm, better screws will come here shortly). Notice the thermal sensor I placed it to monitor the temp of the air getting out of the radiator tied to the Kaze Master :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0020.jpg
I did some test fitting to make sure there is clearance. This is when I realized it's a clost fit with the HDTV card just 5 mm from the fan :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0012.jpg
View of the block and GPU installed :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0014.jpg
Pump assembled before leak testing :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0009.jpg
Since the pump will be installed on the bottom floor of the case, I need to dampen the noise and the neoprene cushion is a good way. However, we all know that covering the whole bottom is not a good idea since it will kill it. Here's my modded one to have the center free :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0013.jpg
This is where the pump will go, along with the tubing. This tubing layout is what I think is the most efficient in a small space and I used about 3.5 feets only :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0015.jpg
After installing zipties on all barbs and plugging everything together, I filled it then ran it for a small while to make sure there is no leaks :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0016.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0017.jpg
Now that it's running fine, I put the final touch by making the rat nest a bit more compact so I can close the side panel :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0018.jpg
After this, I installed 2 thermal sensors, 1 at the corner of a fan to record the case temp and another just below the grill (as seen above) to record the air output temp. I might order a water temp sensor later but I'm still pondering the usefulness :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0019.jpg
It's now running fine connected to my plasma TV with a HDMI-DVI cable :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0021.jpg
A picture showing the Kaze Master readings (sorry for the crappy flash pic) :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0022.jpg
I hope to please the Grinchville citizens with this project where bling have no place, just tasteful selection of parts based on performance first.
I have a HTPC box housed in a Lian Li PC-A05B and with a Q6600 and 8800GTS 640MB, the limited airflow is a hindrance for me so I decided to watercool it. Another reason is that I need a new challenge now that my Xtreme WaveMaster project is basically done for now. I know lots of people is looking at how to fit a watercooling loop in such a small case and some of them did it successfully. Here is my own take at this challenge and my goal is to do it so it would be aimed at performance first and no bling (no window so there is no point blinging it out). It will also be a hands-me-down box with some parts coming from my main PC after my recent upgrades.
Here is the HTPC specifications :
Lian Li PC-A05B
Q6600 @ 3.2 GHz (8x400)
Asus P5E-VM HDMI
2x2GB Mushkin HP2-6400 5-4-4-12
BFG GeForce 8800GTS OC 640MB
Hauppauge HVR-1600 HDTV capture card
WD3200AAKS
Pioneer DVR-212D
Watercooling :
D-Tek Fuzion v1 with quad nozzle (old, from Xtreme WaveMaster)
EK FC8800 GTS (old, from Xtreme WaveMaster along with the video card)
Swiftech MCP355 with XSPC Reservoir Top
HWLabs Black Ice GTX 240
2x Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000rpm (133 CFM at top speed)
Scythe Kaze Master
D-Tek 3/8" High Flow barbs
BitsPower 3/8" barbs on XSPC ResTop
Primochill Pro LRT 3/8" ID 5/8" OD UV Blue
First of all, here is some pics with a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0071.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0072.jpg
My ordered parts :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0074.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0004.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0008.jpg
You will notice that some of the parts is being used in my Xtreme WaveMaster update (Fuzion v2, BitsPower barbs) or ditched like the 8800GT FC and T-line. I also ordered the Reservoir Top after I got a flash in my brain about the layout.
I disassembled the computer since I need to do some modding to house the radiator :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0003.jpg
Measured the top area to have the cutout for the radiator. It's tricky since I wanted to make sure the radiator will push on the back so I have clearance above for the DVD-RW drive or any future need. Here is the end result after cutting it with my trusty jigsaw :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0010.jpg
I mounted the radiator in the case (after installing the fans with the small M4 screws provided with the packaging) and it's a perfect fit :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0011.jpg
Here is the grill installed with some crappy screws (that's all I found in my local hardware store for M4x6mm, better screws will come here shortly). Notice the thermal sensor I placed it to monitor the temp of the air getting out of the radiator tied to the Kaze Master :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0020.jpg
I did some test fitting to make sure there is clearance. This is when I realized it's a clost fit with the HDTV card just 5 mm from the fan :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0012.jpg
View of the block and GPU installed :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0014.jpg
Pump assembled before leak testing :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0009.jpg
Since the pump will be installed on the bottom floor of the case, I need to dampen the noise and the neoprene cushion is a good way. However, we all know that covering the whole bottom is not a good idea since it will kill it. Here's my modded one to have the center free :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0013.jpg
This is where the pump will go, along with the tubing. This tubing layout is what I think is the most efficient in a small space and I used about 3.5 feets only :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0015.jpg
After installing zipties on all barbs and plugging everything together, I filled it then ran it for a small while to make sure there is no leaks :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0016.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0017.jpg
Now that it's running fine, I put the final touch by making the rat nest a bit more compact so I can close the side panel :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0018.jpg
After this, I installed 2 thermal sensors, 1 at the corner of a fan to record the case temp and another just below the grill (as seen above) to record the air output temp. I might order a water temp sensor later but I'm still pondering the usefulness :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0019.jpg
It's now running fine connected to my plasma TV with a HDMI-DVI cable :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0021.jpg
A picture showing the Kaze Master readings (sorry for the crappy flash pic) :
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/Modding/DSCF0022.jpg
I hope to please the Grinchville citizens with this project where bling have no place, just tasteful selection of parts based on performance first.