Vega's Quad-SLI 3GB GTX580 sub-zero liquid cooled build

[Callsign_Vega]

This thread will be updated with build information, benchmarks, photos, and videos.

Goal: 60 FPS gaming on 3x 30" portrait displays in Surround with max in-game settings using a sub-zero liquid cooled system consisting of a 990x at 5.0+Ghz, Quad-SLI 3GB GTX580s at 1000+Mhz supported on a Gigabyte X58A-UD9 motherboard.


Screen setup:





Phase Change:





Some of the hardware:





Proposed water cooling block diagram (1 to 3 to 1 loops):





Can you guys see any issues with this loop setup?


For temperature monitoring and external emergency shutdown (hardware):



I will have a total of eight temperature probes that are good down to -40 C. Temp probes for the following components: CPU, 4x GPU, NB, SB, Mosfets. Also purchased the ATX power interrupt splice and relay for emergency shutdown as OS software based shutdowns are unreliable at best.


Some more photos of temporary setup:













Temporary ghetto fan setup to keep these cards temperatures from meltdown:




Custom built evaporator liquid tank (under construction):




Evaporator will sit in tank in the stock window air conditioning unit at the front (bottom of picture):




This makes a tidy self contained unit that looks good and is easy to move around. In the winter I can leave the unit inside the house to cool the computer and at the same time heat the home air. This saves my HVAC system some work.

In the summer I put the unit in the window to dump all of the computers heat outside. It also dumps the noise outside too and once again has the benefit of taking stress off of my home HVAC system.

Using an Iwaki RD-30 24v DC pump with a variable voltage regulator. Tygon Norprene tubing of 5/8, 1/2, and 3/8 ID to help control coolant temperature loss and lower condensation temperature:




Coolant will start out as distilled water + watter wetter to lower water surface tension and provide corrosion inhibitor as there will be mixed metals involved (aluminum, copper, nickel). As temperatures decrease during testing, propylene glycol will be added to lower liquid freezing point. I know propylene glycol gets slushy at real cold temperatures and doesn't have the best thermal characteristics. I want to keep a non-fuming and pet friendly non-toxic system. No methanol, ethylene glycol etc.

I'd also like to keep away from those engineered fluids by 3M and Dow that cost $200 a gallon. My setup will be 6-7 gallons so you could see that would be cost prohibitive! If anyone has any ideas on different coolant or about my setup design at all, I am all ears.

I also have to figure out a way to control the A/C unit thermistor sensor to properly cycle the compressor and much lower temperatures than it was designed for.

Build progress photos:

[Callsign_Vega]

- Screenshots / Videos will be posted here -

DCS-A10C:

To view full size image click here (make sure to click on the image to make full size if opened in a new window): http://www.deviantart.com/download/1...ga-d3adt3i.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrF960wFaw4


Crysis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ4L7lSrWPg


Crysis 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etfK2moRRwo


Heaven 2.5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kln4Hzt-7pk


Con-formant Coating:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLiiJ4k3nTA

[Callsign_Vega]

I also did have a question for you phase change gurus. Do you guys think the new 15000 btu unit I have will be able to cope with the heat load I will be putting it under? I am not looking for super cold but just sub-zero would be nice for some decent over clocks.

[TJ TRICHEESE]

What pump will you be using?

[[XC] Oj101]

What's that box between your CPU and motherboard, right at the front?

I'm in love with your setup, which game is that?

[Callsign_Vega]

What pump will you be using?

An Iwaki RD-30 with adjustable voltage control.

What's that box between your CPU and motherboard, right at the front?

I'm in love with your setup, which game is that?

That is a EK CPU water block. That is DCS:A-10C flight simulator. The sim just released its final version and the performance is amazing. You should check it out.

[Gunslinger]

My honest opinion is that the proposed setup will be a condensation/hardware death nightmare.

If it were me I'd minimize the risk by only going subzero on the CPU via a single stage, which will be much easier to manage the condensation issue.

With a proper ambient watercooling solution, you should be able to do 900-1000MHz on your video cards, which in quad SLI are going to be bottlenecked by your CPU speed. (probably even at stock speeds)

[Callsign_Vega]

My honest opinion is that the proposed setup will be a condensation/hardware death nightmare.

If it were me I'd minimize the risk by only going subzero on the CPU via a single stage, which will be much easier to manage the condensation issue.

With a proper ambient watercooling solution, you should be able to do 900-1000MHz on your video cards, which in quad SLI are going to be bottlenecked by your CPU speed. (probably even at stock speeds)

The entire MB and video cards will painstakingly be coated with DragonSkin FX-Pro. The goal is to seal her up tight to prevent condensation problems.

I think you might be underestimating the GPU requirement of pushing 12.3 mega-pixels. So far in testing I have all four GPUs at 90+% usage and the scaling is ridiculous.

I can see people calling Quad-SLI a "benchmark only" setup on say one 30", but when you kick it up to surround the benefits are superb.

[Hondacity]

does that gpu support 4way?

[Callsign_Vega]

does that gpu support 4way?

Sure does.

Original post updated.

[TJ TRICHEESE]

Are those palit cards non-reference pcb or just a different cooler and 3gb of mem, as palit's non reference pcb's don't have the best reputation and for a good reason, the palit 2gb gtx 285's i had were horrible clockers.... but hopefully palit have learned since then.

[Callsign_Vega]

Non-reference PCBs. I haven't had any issues as of yet but I haven't pushed them hard yet either. That won't happen until I get the water blocks.

[ScottALot]

Twice as much GPU RAM as what I have for CPU RAM... jealous.

[Wega52]

Non-reference PCBs. I haven't had any issues as of yet but I haven't pushed them hard yet either. That won't happen until I get the water blocks.

What waterblocks will you be using then? The the cards aren't reference then the full cover blocks might not fit on the cards...

[zalbard]

EK is going to make waterblocks specifically for these cards.

[Wega52]

EK is going to make waterblocks specifically for these cards.

Diddnt know that, thats pretty cool. I only mentioned it because I had that problem picking out a waterblock for a GTX460.

[Callsign_Vega]

Spent pretty much most of the day finishing building the liquid tank. A little light headed from all the silicon vapors. The tolerances on this build where much tighter than I thought they would be and it took a lot of time to get everything right. This thing was a nats ass off from not fitting.





Filter screws onto the bottom left connection:




Double layered therm insulation so hopefully the temps will hold for decent periods even with the compressor not running.













Hose connection areas and corners are strategically reinforced with aluminum and fiber "drywall" patch. This thing was pretty tough when I had to shoehorn it into the A/C window unit frame. I am just glad I got the evaporator in the tank without busting the connections! That was my largest worry as that occurring would have set back the project for weeks.

[Dumo]

Awesome setup

I'm happy to try benching with just one of those 3giger Palit

Just be carefull with condensation

[dinos22]

this is gonna be a crazy setup eeeeek

[miahallen]

I'll definitely be following this build, looks epic.....I love the 3-way portrait surround setup....totally droolin' all over my KB ATM

However, you're not gonna get that hex to 5.5GHz with this plan, even 5GHz will be tough

[Callsign_Vega]

First test of the cooling unit. It drew down the coolant from room temperature of 68F to 38F (no load, only pump operating) in just two minutes! Although my testing had to stop there as I found a small leak in the tank. I am going to patch it up and test some more tomorrow.

[Callsign_Vega]

I just got an email from EK saying the non-reference PCB water blocks for the Palit/Gainward 570s/580s will be available in 7-10 days! They make such nice products I am like a little boy in a candy store.

[Utnorris]

Awesome build. Look forward to seeing more.

[LeandroJVarini]

Hardware products, a chiller insane, I will monitor the project, I will do a DIY chiller tbm, will use some ideas from you in mine! hehehe
congrats!

[Callsign_Vega]

Just an update on the testing. Drew down 7-gallons worth of coolant to almost -30C in around ten minutes (no load besides pump) before I turned the compressor off. Starting about -15C the propylene glycol was slushing up. CPU block was really cold so I am thrilled.







I ran into another snag, which is the nature of the beast. The pressure of the liquid is making the side-walls of the tank bow out more than I expected. Bowing to a level I am uncomfortable with. This weekend I will have to take the tank out and reinforce it. Tons of work but I'd rather get it done right so it lasts a long time.

I am also going to have to super insulate all of the tubing. As you can see in the photo, even the Norprene tubing was sweating like a fat girl running after an ice-cream truck. My floor was covered in water from condensation.