Project: Quad Insanity

The idea behind this was a cheap quad socket build, to give 16 cores dedicated to crunching for XS WCG. If you don't know what WCG is, take a look here :)

Well, I needed to cool these CPUs, but space between the sockets wasn't a lot for good sized air coolers. So I did the math for air coolers that would fit, vs water cooling with mostly used parts, and found for not much more I could watercool the entire thing. Thus the name "Quad Insanity" :D

Parts list:

2x MCR320-QP radiators (used)
1x Swiftech Apogee water block (used)
1x Swiftech Apogee GT water block (used)
1x Dtek Fuzion v1 (used)
1x Dtek Fuzion v2 (used)
1x Swiftech MCRES (used)
1x Swiftech MCP655-B (new)
2x Y fittings (new)
7/16" ID 5/8" OD Duralene tubing (new)
6x Yate Loon D12SM-12 fans (new)
1x Sunbeam Rheobus extreme (used)
1x Iandh killcoil (new)
a mix of new and used fittings

Hardware specs:
Arima quad socket F board
4x AMD Opteron 8347 quad core CPUs
8GB (4x2GB) DDR2 ECC memory
random SATA DVD-ROM
random SATA 80GB HD
Antec Truepower New 750W PSU

One issue was this board is not standard form factor, so I needed to come up with something. Well... in the WCG section, I was dubbed the "cardboard master" since at one point I had a stack of crunchers in cardboard boxes for cases :rofl: So this gave me the idea to use cardboard for design work :yepp: I don't think using cardboard is a good idea for a permanent solution this time...

OK, PICS of progress so far. First few were with my cell phone as my main camera's batteries were dead.

Board with the CPUs in it - as you can tell, this Arima board is not standard form factor, at all.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...0726002053.jpg

Stuff!
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...D/IMG_7317.jpg

Designing the design :yepp:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...181024x768.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...191024x768.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...241024x768.jpg

Radiator mount holes on the side. Not sure if I should go with the fans blowing out, or blowing in. The final chassis is going to be semi-open. I cut this by hand, using a 120mm fan grill, a pencil, and a box cutter :D
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...251024x768.jpg

Partly assembled with the motherboard standoffs mounted.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...261024x768.jpg

The hardware set in place, to see how it all fits together. Note the PSU in this pic is just a random one I have that I'm using for test fit purposes, and is not the Antec PSU I'm going to actually be using.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...271024x768.jpg

I'm now trying to visualize how much space I really need, once I get the tubing in place. Could I make the final thing narrower without making things too tight? What should I make the final chassis out of? How to fabricate the final chassis? These are all questions I have right now that I need to mull over.

Don't expect fast updates on this, I'm busy with work and other things going on in my life.

Comments and suggestions welcome, especially to my questions I have above :yepp:

Cardboard.... Nice! I just started using sketchup, really neat program.

Nice:up: Why not just use the cardboard:rofl: I kinda like it:ROTF:

Go Sparky Go!:up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OC Maximus

Cardboard.... Nice! I just started using sketchup, really neat program.

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I tinkered with that a while back, but couldn't get the dimensions and scales to work right. Probably just because I didn't tinker enough :p: But I can visualize and design better with the stuff in hand more than on the screen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slaveondope

Nice:up: Why not just use the cardboard:rofl: I kinda like it:ROTF:

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I've considered it! But, if I had a leak, there is a risk of chassis disintegration :eek: :lol2:

Very nice :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sparky

I've considered it! But, if I had a leak, there is a risk of chassis disintegration :eek: :lol2:

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:rofl:

I've been sitting here, staring at this thing, drinking a beer, and decided to narrow the chassis. It doesn't need to be this huge of a cube. I think narrowing it by 6 inches will be just about right. Also will probably shorten it by an inch.

Also pricing it out. About $40 for the angle aluminum to make the frame. Trying to find a thick enough sheet metal for supporting the weight of everything. I could easily have $80-100 in the chassis alone. Hmm... Need to look at alternatives I think.

I think you could make it a bit narrower and i would pull air in through the rad and make sure that air is hitting that chipset heatsink, it gets hot.

It may not look the best but plywood (or any thin wood) makes a very decent chassis. I got lucky and found an entertainment center on the curb and the arima board mounts on one of the shelves perfectly. i'll try to take a shot of it tomorrow so you can see what i'm saying and who knows maybe give you an idea or two

I've got a fan to mount to the chipset heatsink for dedicated cooling.

The plywood is definitely cheaper than the metal is. I think the metal would be "nicer" and a little lighter, but the plywood would work...

You need to put a warning in the thread title to prevent an accidental win overload.

What if you take your cardboard "template" to an A/C shop and have them fab you up something in sheet metal? It shouldn't cost too much and you can drill the holes for the mounting of everything yourself. But they'll have everything to bend the sheet metal however you want.

That's possible. I'm not sure where a shop like that is around here tho :shrug:

This build is both "WTF" and "OMG"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScottALot

This build is both "WTF" and "OMG"

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..and LOL, well put my friend. this board is just awesome on so many levels

Small update. I got curious how it would be narrowed. I think it is better.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...31683x1024.jpg

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A. CARDBOARD. BOX!!!!! LOOOLL!!!!!!!!

Man, why didn't I think of this, just spray paint some cardboard black...

Snake (Metal Gear Solid) would be proud. :up:

that must be one hell of STRONG cardbox ... those rads arent that light, you know .... without water, some rads can exceed 2kgs per piece ..
i'm seeing 2x360 rads on image! :eek:
careful it might collapse .... and dent it ... seriously :up:

They're not going anywhere right now, and that's only held on with 4 screws in the far corners, nothing in the middle. This cardboard came from a box that car body panels shipped in, so its a little tougher than you're average box. But, that's also why I don't think it is a good idea for long-term usage...

Looking into fiber board panels with a wood frame. That doesn't look like it'll cost too much, and would be more durable than the cardboard box.

I like it that narrow. Maybe center the fan controller, hdd, and psu. That would allow you to cut the height down some.

funny stuff, cardboard box ftw!!

subscribed :)

Will the pump be able to handle 4 blocks and 2 rads?

haha i should take some pics of the case im working on for a dual sossaman. as i have 1/2in cardboard its pretty fun :D

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...700/asdfss.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jaco

Will the pump be able to handle 4 blocks and 2 rads?

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Yep.

Dtek Fusion are pretty restrictive so not optimal mixed with the Apogee, but the pump can handle it :yepp:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tool_462

Yep.

Dtek Fusion are pretty restrictive so not optimal mixed with the Apogee, but the pump can handle it :yepp:

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Um, the fuzion is one of the least restrictive blocks out there.

I'm actually making a semi-parallel setup, 1 fuzion and one apogee per leg. Naekuh recommended that.

Which block comes first in each leg?

That is to be determined. I was planning on the Apogee first, then the Fuzion, but if the other way round works better I'll do that instead. Note this won't see any overclocking, given the type of board it is, so a couple degrees won't be a big deal either way. The whole aim of watercooling this was more for silence and the "cool" factor than anything else :D

Make sure to bling it up with UV tubing, UV lighting, and....n/m, it's in a cardboard box, man. ;)

You know, I think I have a green cold cathode around here someplace, I should stick that in there for the fun of it :rofl:

Why don't you go ahead and build a LEGO castle in there while you're at it!

Or... dude, a case made out of lego? :eek: :rofl:

Cool and innovative casing.

Phil

What's next, styrofoam? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UrbanSmooth

What's next, styrofoam? :D

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Thats messed up :rofl:

Got it plumbed tonight. For the record, plastic fittings suck. Getting the tubing on those Ys was a huge pain. Especially since it was 7/16" tubing over 1/2" plastic.
PSU is mounted too, and have the wires I need in there. Not pretty, but I'll organize the wires later.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...35683x1024.jpg

And in case you're wondering, yes, I am going to run in the cardboard "case" for a little while.

looks a bit weird to get all this expensive material in a card-board case... but i like it ;)

We can haz multiple angles of t3h cardboard case?

just put a little support piece across the top from one cardboard piece to the other. that will help the rigidity of the "case"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sparky

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...35683x1024.jpg

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You might be an addict ^^^^^ when this happens:rofl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shoota

just put a little support piece across the top from one cardboard piece to the other. that will help the rigidity of the "case"

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Yeah I have a piece I'm planning on using for that. Also going to add another layer to the bottom I think, with the "grain" going perpendicular to the current so as to help strengthen that part.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UrbanSmooth

We can haz multiple angles of t3h cardboard case?

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Ask, and ye shall receive :D

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...48683x1024.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...52683x1024.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...58683x1024.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...641024x683.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...681024x683.jpg

I'm hoping to get it filled up and running tonight, but if not then it should happen tomorrow :)

Go Sparky GO!!:clap::up::D

The pump won't stay running :confused: :( It runs a little bit, stops, restarts, stops, restarts.... It starts up and gradually revs to near full speed before stopping and restarting. Is the D5 supposed to gradually get up to speed or be near instant like the DDC?

*edit* hang on, I think I've got voltage drop on the 12V power supply I'm using...

*edit2* nope, not the power supply. It starts up, gets up to near full speed, stops, and tries again, with each try spinning less and less until it barely even tries. Crap.

*edit3* and to add insult to injury, my res is leaking :shakes:

yikes when it rains it pours. just don't let it pour on that board. stay with it!

So whats the latest?

Very interesting build :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sparky

I'm hoping to get it filled up and running tonight, but if not then it should happen tomorrow :)

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Ok! But fill it with careful :yepp:

Wtf is that!!!! :shocked::shocked::up:

Thats just awesome :shocked:

I'm sorry I totally forgot to update this. Hrm.

Basically, my pump was DOA :( Got that taken care of (well mostly, still need to send in the dead one for replacement, long story). Got it filled, got it running, and... well, it looks the same as the pics above, I left it open like that :rofl:

So, here it sits, on the desk, running :up:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...71683x1024.jpg

Crunching WCG
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...regoodness.png

I don't have a screenshot of the temps, but the CPUs run at the low temp of about 38C full load. I guess that is cool enough... :ROTF:

No, the hard drive and DVD drive are not mounted to anything yet. The SATA cables are too short to reach all the way from the top to the bottom.

Nice work Sparky, inspiring to say the least.

OCM :up:

Well done!

It's very funny, but I think it's cool too :)

This setup would look good in a Danger Den Double Wide Acrylic Case.

it would look great but the whole point of building this setup to crunch is that it's fairly inexpensive to get in to. a $380 case negates that and besides the DD case doesn't support this motherboard (proprietary form).

Nice! Functional case for all but free. haha. Like the creativity.

question to sparky what have been your longterm temps? Also did you stay with two rads, and btw are those rads 15mm ones ? you think I could get away with one big heater-core on an 8 cpu 2 motherboard setup?, or am I gonna need two or three? 4 cpu's are the 8347he's and well 4 more are gonna probably be 8354's cause I can get em for 65 a pop and well spending 150 bucks each for 4.5k PPD additional ($340 dollars more) is a bit of a waste I can build an i7 setup for that 340 bucks (well for the MB and cpu used) and get 30k points LOL

Anyways what do you think
terramir

terramir i think your mistaking wcg and F@H ....

Nicely done!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sn0wm@n

terramir i think your mistaking wcg and F@H ....

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huh nah quad barcy's give about 15.4ppd buying the 8360's would be 300mhz difference and also 85 bucks difference, so 15.4x300=4.5k PPD less but a heck of a lot of money less too.
Anyways
What are your temps sparky
terramir

Wow. Its crazy how it stays up without supports considering how heavy the water is.

all class sparky :D

love this build, allow me to send the pics in an email to all my contacts

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bobisgod

Wow. Its crazy how it stays up without supports considering how heavy the water is.

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It hasn't changed since the last pic, actually. The cardboard isn't bowed any more, and really the only reason for the bow in it is the pressure from the tubing, not the weight.

Running only distilled water + killcoil, everything still perfectly clear :up:

Loving the cardboard idea.

nice it turned to be so reliable despite our doubts :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sparky

It hasn't changed since the last pic, actually. The cardboard isn't bowed any more, and really the only reason for the bow in it is the pressure from the tubing, not the weight.

Running only distilled water + killcoil, everything still perfectly clear :up:

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Sparky, I am amazed at what you've done. It's truly inspiring.

It's nice to have an unlimited income so that you can buy $900.00+ cases and install everything to your heart's desire.

But cardboard, which can then be used as a template to make a case out of wood or even steel/aluminium.......who knows?

That's just way too smart. I have a new appreciation to cardboard, thanks to you.

Solid Snake called, he wants his sneaking box back. :D

I've laid my eyes on a feast of awesomeness... I'm a bit more enamored with Sparky, now :love: