Need a tester for my custom Water Block

[IronFire]

Just a bit of back ground for you, I started this project ages ago in autumn 2000 and research way before that. This was for my final A-level design project and the brief was to create the best watercooling block on the market.

I designed my first block and milled it out of moddeling waxed, aproached some users of other forums for feed back and it carried on from there. It was finaly finished after many design changes in Spring of 2002 and was submitted to the A-Level board. I never had time to test the actual block due to having no time to spare. I have only recenterly got the block back and since I have moved on and now use a Prometia I am looking for some one who wants to test it.

I am sure the block has probably been eclipsed by new developments but remeber when it was designed the water cooling scene wasnt huge and the main blocks in the arena was the Maze/Maxe 2/ Senfu and Swiftech.

So any feedback or peopel who would like to test it please post as I would love to see how it performs.

[IronFire]

The block had under gone many changes through the modelling process but this was the final design I settled on after much work.

Here is a Picture of the bottom layer of the block:

http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer1_arm.jpg
http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer1_centre.jpg
http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer1_flat.jpg
http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer1_sideon.jpg

The water comes into the centre of the block, which is directly over the CPU die. The block is at its thinnest here with the copper thickness over the die being only 2.5mm. Connected to this is to smaller channels that are 10mm deep from the top of the layer which spiral outwards in a smooth curve to help keep water flow levels high. This channel is 3mm from the base and moves out round the block in the bottom of the main channel. The water in the this channel will heat up quicker than at the side of the channel due to it having a base 1mm thinner and so will create convection currents. This will make the water move up in the block and bring cooler water from the sides down into this lower channel; this mixes the water in the main channel. The channel depth is 1mm and width 4mm.

The centre chamber in the block has a diameter of 20mm and this is filled with the fresh cold water from the inlet of the block.

Once the water has been in the main chamber it moves out through the arms spiralling into the main chamber. These main channels have diameter 6mm and depth of 9mm and together make a combined water channel out of the block of over 12mm width. Along the side of these main channels there are turbulence inducing "dimples" which are on both sides of the channels. These have a depth of 0.5mm and have chamfered corners of 0.25mm for smooth water in and out flow, they are 9mm in length not penetrating to the depth of the lower channel. These help create turbulence in the water flow as when the water hits them it goes into the dimple then directed out at angle into the main flow of water. These devices also increase the surface area of the inside of the block, which the water has contact to as well as increasing the volume of water that the block can hold.

Due to the "dimples" the need for pure 90 degree bends to induce water turbulence has been reduced. They have been partly eliminated with the bends in the blocks water channels being very smooth and wide with heavily chamfered ends. This reduces the effects of flow constriction caused by corners. The corners themselves also contain dimples.

The copper of the channels has not been machined to a smooth finish and has been left with a slightly rough finish again to help create more water turbulence and to increase the surface are of the copper in contact with the water

When the water comes to the end of the channels the lower channel stops forcing the water up into the main channel only. Above this the layer has a hole in its base at the start of its channel. The water is then forced up to the next level of the water block by the water below it.

[IronFire]

Here is a Picture of the second layer of the block:

http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer2_topdown.jpg
http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer2_channels.jpg
http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer2_holes.jpg
http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/layer2_base.jpg

The design of this layer is a simple due maze with each side of the block kept separate from the other. Again the same principles for the channels with a channel within a channel incorporated as well as dimples and smooth large corners.

I cam up with this idea when trying to work out a way to have as man channels as possible in the space I could use over the CPU described by AMD’s specifications for thermal dissipation devices. I tried using lots of small channels but the flow rate in the block and the difficulties of machining it would have made it useless. I then came up with the idea after some one said something to me and I remembered about new CPU architectures based on multiple layers linked through them middle.

The large hole that is not connected to the channels in this layer is for the water to pass through from the main inlet with out getting heated before it reaches the area over the core.

In my final ideas I had thought I would mirror the image of the layer below this one on the base of this second layer again increasing the height of the channels but it became to difficult due to inaccuracies in the machine that it was abandoned.

Picture of the top Layer:

http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/final1.jpg

This is the final layer of the block that has the connectors for water in and water out. These are barbed so that pipes can be used with out worm drive clips if wanted and to stop leaks or the pipe popping off. The centre inlet is a 5/8" internal diameter connector that has been bored out to give an even greater inlet size. The outlets are dual 3/8" internal diameter that also has been bored out. The top layer is 10mm thick where the connectors go in and 5mm ad the edges to help reduce the wait of the block.

Over all the wait of the block is over the AMD specifications of a maximum wait of 300g but is near the weight of the giant Swiftech MC 462A heatsink with a weight of around 726 grams.

[IronFire]

http://www.bentinck-cleeves.demon.co.uk/waterblock/blockmontage.jpg

[N8]

IronFire,

Welcome to Xtreme :)

I'm not sure I'd have the time to test it, but that is a very nice looking block!

[Marci]

I've got time to test and review... pm me if you want me to have a look at it...

[Dissolved]

Very nice. Those will be impressive if you make then nice and shinny :)

[wymjym]

unless you found some light weight copper that thing has some serious heft to it. Don't drop it on your toe.
wj

[NorthernYankee]

I am more than willing to give it a run and see how she performs.

--NY

[ppctx]

If you dont mind me asking, what did you use to solder the layers together?

[Cathar]

I personally think you should send it to Bill Adams (http://www.thermal-management-testing.com/) as he's doing a large DIY waterblock round-up, and the results will be published at www.overclockers.com