Water cooling Asus Striker II Formula . with Tri - Sli

Hi guys …

Have just finished an upgrade to a striker 2 board ….no chipset blocks were available when I started so I made my own…..
Here`s how it turned out….

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild024.jpg



http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild040.jpg


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild044.jpg


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild065.jpg


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...liBuild072.jpg



http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...iupdate004.jpg


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...iupdate003.jpg



I wanted the Tri sli because I use a 30”monitor and to date have never been able to use it to it`s full capability…

My preference is for smaller 8-10 mm pipework with compression fittings and the system was designed to use them ….
The temps are good….with watercooling the Northbridge has been brought under control at last

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Nice rig, how is the temps on the third card? one pump?

You might want to put a fan or two on the back of those cards near the power.

Amazing job on creating your own waterblocks. :yepp: Those look as good as the ones you can buy. What are your temps with everything in one loops (preferably load temps)? Are those 8800GTX cards or 8800Ultra cards?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FUGGER

Nice rig, how is the temps on the third card? one pump?

You might want to put a fan or two on the back of those cards near the power.

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Here`s a few temperatures

At Idle


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/Sammo106/001.jpg


With Load (Crysis) but no overclock…


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...iupdate001.jpg


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Here`s the temps on the 3 GPU`s…


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...6/CIMG0608.jpg


Interesting to note here that even though a single loop is used with 8 mm ID pipe work the temperature rise across the 3 units is only 2 C …..this is with a water temp of around 36 C ...though I can lower that by speeding up the fans....at the moment they are at about 1200 revs...I can go up to 1800..

The cards are 8800 GTX`s


still experimenting.




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Nice clean 1 pc block. Can you send me one ? My Striker II still in the box waiting for the WB to be available.

BTW, what GPU WB is that? Koolance or DD Ion?

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

He mentioned it was koolance just a couple of inches above your post.

Very nice, I've been waiting on some blocks for the Striker II before I take the plunge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by biglipzit

He mentioned it was koolance just a couple of inches above your post.

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Where? Please point that out. I just can't see it and im not on drug.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by QuadSLI

Where? Please point that out. I just can't see it and im not on drug.

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My fault Quad ....I edited it so I can give you the full spec...


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very nice work on those blocks and a great overall system

nice system :toast:

Yep…. Koolance ….as I already had 2 8800 GTX`s with the Koolance blocks on that I had on an Evga 680i for awhile I purchased another 8800 GTX (non retail in a bag) and then went looking for another Koolance water block…….everyone was out of stock here in the UK so I ended up getting it from Denmark….

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild020.jpg


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild022.jpg


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild049.jpg

By cutting the vent off the bottom card I was then able to fit my SB card.


Matter of interest…….I know the one about not mixing copper with alum so I split one of the Koolance blocks that had been in use for nearly a year to check for corrosion….it was clean as a whistle….

Sorry Quad ….but I used up to many favours getting it made (use of band saw…milling machine ect)….So it is strictly a one off….

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Do you have a drawing or photo of the internals of the blocks you made at all? Very very nice i like it.

I personly would of used 2 PA120.2's, get some better temps then

Very impressive on that one full coverage waterblock......can you post the what the inside layout of the water block looks like, is it safe to say it's set up in a maze like configuration?

Also what kind of tools did you use to create the waterblocks.

And finally, I have been thinking of using Koolance GPU blocks myself and I really like the clean set up that you have going on there. Are the GPU blocks that you have have Copper with an aluminum plate touching the coolant or is there acrillic (sp?) in between? I am only asking because of I i'm interested in galvanic corrosion.

If that's not ALU, 1000% i will get these Koolance Blocks

Anyone think that 3 EK FC will fit in there? EK one kind of thicker that the koolance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sammo

Sorry Quad ….but I used up to many favours getting it made (use of band saw…milling machine ect)….So it is strictly a one off….

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O , NP, thx man.:up:

I guess i had to wait a bit more

You have great skills Sammo, i would i could make my own waterblocks.

How much did the temps rise when you added the 3rd 8800GTX?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by QuadSLI

If that's not ALU, 1000% i will get these Koolance Blocks

Anyone think that 3 EK FC will fit in there? EK one kind of thicker that the koolance.

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It is alu.

I did however notice that Koolance is not using any alu in their new ATi blocks for 3850, 3870 and 3870x2. It's just gold(nickel for X2) plated copper, a thin piece of acrylic and a piece of steel to support/seal the acrylic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcoffey

great work man, very nice.

How much improvment did you see when adding the 3rd GPU in Crysis? I have a 30in also with 2 GTX's.

again, very nice work.

andyc

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Difficult to say as another double radiator was added to accommodate the Tri setup and the temp of the Cards fell by 14 C .

The material in the Koolance is alum and gold (plated) copper …there is no reaction between gold and Aluminium ……Any copper is a long way away and earthed…..I think they are the best ….as I said I have been using one for over a year now and so far there is no sign of any corrosion…should be alright for a bit longer…

Pete,,,,

I`m doing a drawing and description of the waterways …will post it soon.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sammo

Pete,,,,

I`m doing a drawing and description of the waterways …will post it soon.


…..

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Cheers dude, looking forward to it!

wow you much have some high ambient my NB is at a lower temp then yours. but the idea is awesome. im sure some company is going to steal it from you now :( lol

Wow, thats awesome, im suprised that a single pump can power this lot with over a GPM though, your custom NB block looks pretty restrictive too, but sexy, good job !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by evil-98

wow you much have some high ambient my NB is at a lower temp then yours. but the idea is awesome. im sure some company is going to steal it from you now :( lol

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It's cold in the UK at mo and i for one as most other probs do have the central heating on to keep warm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcoffey

great work man, very nice.

How much improvment did you see when adding the 3rd GPU in Crysis? I have a 30in also with 2 GTX's.

again, very nice work.

andyc

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Basically the resolutions all became more stable ….but then that might have been in some part due to the new patch……

When I hit the default button the game loaded everything `Very High` …

2560 x 1600 ran but only with NO antialiasing …..jerky

2048 x 1536 ran Ok but again with NO antialiasing …..ran smoothly

1920 x 1400 ran Ok with 4x antialiasing but it was jerky ….with 2x it was acceptable

1920 x 1200 ran Ok with full 16x antialiasing ….…..but could slow during intense action….


My personal preference is 1920 x 1200 … with 8x antialiasing….clear precise mouse action ……awesome graphics…..


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how about dual gtx's @ 650/2000 @ 1680 x 1050 2x aa?

Which reservoir are you using with your system?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pete

Do you have a drawing or photo of the internals of the blocks you made at all? Very very nice i like it.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxx103

Very impressive on that one full coverage waterblock......can you post the what the inside layout of the water block looks like, is it safe to say it's set up in a maze like configuration?

Also what kind of tools did you use to create the waterblocks.

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First using the original passive cooler as a template the base was cut out of a piece of 3 mm copper plate…..This was then placed in position on the motherboard and the clearance was taken between the baseplate and the graphics card ….it was 11 mm…..next the base plate was clamped to the stock cooler and the mounting holes drilled through…..

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild024.jpg

Again using the stock cooler as a pattern the main block of 10 mm copper was marked out (minus mounting tags) and cut out with a band saw…..then the block was mounted in a milling machine and the waterways were cut as per the drawing….

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...terblock01.png

the squares over the NB and SB were cut to a depth of 5 mm to leave 5 mm for the threads….the joining waterways were cut to 7 mm

Using a pillar drill the holes for the fittings were cut and threaded ¼ BSP and the whole thing was cleaned ready for soldering……

This was done with plumbers flux and solder …..first both faces were tinned with a small build up of solder……then the two halves were melted together…..

Next the unit was inflated with a tyre pump up to 60 psi and dropped into the sink for a couple of hours…..

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild038.jpg


Now it only remained for the edges to be squared off …again with a milling machine ….next the block was taken to a local plating shop and dipped to clean the inside..

Finally the base was lapped in with wet n dry on a piece of glass ….and the top and sides polished with lots of elbow grease…..

Finnished job was fitted to the board using the original fixings

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild044.jpg



http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild054.jpg



http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild042.jpg


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Very, very nice. :) :D

Very clean job and I love those waterblocks for the Striker II :D

Sammo,

Wow really impressive stuff. I like the block a lot. Nice idea on the presure test too. Will you make other little custom things over time for ya self? I got a feeling i could see some cool custom parts from you

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sammo

The material in the Koolance is alum and gold (plated) copper …there is no reaction between gold and Aluminium ……Any copper is a long way away and earthed…..I think they are the best ….as I said I have been using one for over a year now and so far there is no sign of any corrosion…should be alright for a bit longer…

…..

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WHat ya mean by earthed?

Thx..

I would really like a 3DMark 06 score!

Thank you for the information......very impressive. You said that you had to call in some favors to make this happen so I take it, that this is going to be the only one then. Too bad to, very nice.

Do the MOSFET's have the same foot print on the striker II as the striker?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cajer

Which reservoir are you using with your system?

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The reservoir is a XSPC Dual Eye Ball Bay unit from watercooling UK...


It comes with a separate light which is taped to the rear…

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...pdate009-1.jpg

The quick release buttons on the Cosmos case allow the reservoir to easily slide forward for topping up.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...iupdate010.jpg

I like it

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...libuild079.jpg

Perhaps a bit over the top as it takes up two drive bays …but I have never had any trouble with air or noise …..And of course its always reassuring to see the ripples…..



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Wow, very well done set up, I like it.
that must pack a punch, can't wait to see more....


great job

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Anemic

I would really like a 3DMark 06 score!

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Had a bit of bad luck with the original OCZ FLEX 9200 leaking so I have been running the memory without cooling ……

Have now put in 4 gig of sli-ready that I`ve had for a while with a spot cooler so I could try a bit of O/Clocking

Here`s the result


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60...erclock010.jpg

Just put one on the multiplier and switched on the sli-ready….

Could go higher with a bit of tweaking but this will do for now till the blocks bed in.



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