New phase change system advice

[imdying]

Hi all,

A friend built a diy phase change system... had a block machined, rescued an old ice machines 1/2hp compressor. He's a fridgy so all of that went pretty smoothly.

The 2.4b and the crappy motherboard he has didn't much like it though. The motherboard sensor says '-' in the BIOS, and '-51' in speedfan. It also has no voltage control, and is generally crappy... without a 100% load it locks up pretty quick at that temp. But he brought it as a student so no biggy. A probe strapped on the side of the evap says '-43', so we're quite keen to try it out on a decent rig.

We're not made of money, but we appreciate that decent results need decent gear... we'd like to at see 5ghz out of a cpu, if only for the giggle factor. So after reading a bit about what others have used, we're after a little advice.

We've decided not to skimp on the motherboard, and another guy P5WD2 Premium on here has managed over 5gig on a standard one of these... seems a logical choice. However, we'd like a little advice on whether the P5ND2-SLI Deluxe would perform without needing crazy mods, as that obviously leaves a good upgrade path for another video card.

For now a single core cpu will have to suffice, so we're thinking 630 (3.4 2MB 775)

The RAM we can't decide on, so we'd like a little help deciding between:
- Corsair DDR2-667 4-4-4-12 TwinX DC memory kit pro
- Corsair DDR2-533 3-3-3-8 TwinX DC memory kit pro

We figure that a 17 multi X 300FSB = 5.1GHZ and a 600Mhz memory speed, so if the 533 would do that without relaxing the timings, perhaps that would be better? We've never played with gear like this (or DDR2 at all), so we need some advice from people who have.

We're also keen to hear if the northbridge will need extra cooling? Has any one put an extra evap in series in the suction line for a gfx card? Or two? Are we missing something obvious?

Last but not least, an Enermax 600w Noisetaker sound like a good choice?

[imdying]

Please, help end the suffering. Only your advice can save this little Northwood B from a fate worse than death.

[The Weedman]

I thought intel didnt have the cold bug, at least thats what the fanboys are always bragging about. Have you tried clockgen for changing the voltage?

[imdying]

Haven't, but will do.

[eliminate]

Well it looks like there may be a problem with cold bugs with the intel front too. You cannot use ClockGen to change the voltages. Go to your BIOS change the voltage, then use ClockGen to change the FSB

[eshbach]

i'm guessing your problem with locking up at cold temps is becuase you have condensation forming in or around the cpu socket. when you load the cpu the bottom of the cpu temperatue is probably above the dew point and you don't get the condensation.

anyway, the p5wd2 is definately the board you want and as for RAM i'd pick up the mushkin 4200 3-2-2.

the 630 is a good chip, but you should note that it's 3ghz stock not 3.4 (as you indicated in your first post).

5ghz on the 630 with a -40C single stage should be attainable. good luck.

[eliminate]

I really didnt think about the condensation level locking up the CPU. The Mushkin 4200 are great chips. Not very expensive either. Getting to 5 Ghz is all in the luck of the cards with your chip. Good Luck! Why are your -Rails all screwed up. They are very low. It seems like your PSU cannot handle the power very well.

[eshbach]

I really didnt think about the condensation level locking up the CPU. The Mushkin 4200 are great chips. Not very expensive either. Getting to 5 Ghz is all in the luck of the cards with your chip. Good Luck! Why are your -Rails all screwed up. They are very low. It seems like your PSU cannot handle the power very well.

what are you looking at? the rails are all above their rated voltage...

edit: oh, negative rails... missed that.

i think speedfan is just bad at reading them... wouldn't worry.

[Cr@sh_D1n3r]

eshbach got a really good point here, this appened to me with my first chiller few years ago when I didn't know how to insulate propertly Look at your -12v rail it should be at as near 12v as possible. either this is a bug or your psu isn't cutting it.

[imdying]

Hi, sorry, I did mean the 650 (3.4gig). There's a gap in the world records there... and as it is cheap enough, seemed like a good place to start

The board has no voltage control for anything, this is an extremely budget board. Phil was on an extremely tight budget as a student when he brought it, and it just ended up a guniea pig for the phase change project because we can afford to kill it.

He has done a seemingly pretty good job with the anti condensation prevention. The board has been conformal coated (some fridgy spray on stuff, he'll post what it is once his account is activated, not sure what he did wrong). Around the socket is all lagged up with some sort of self insulation lagging sheet. Finally, the socket (and RAM sockets, but we don't think we actualyl needed too) was packed with grease. Anything else worth adding to that list of methods? Perhaps a little square of insulation in the middle of the socket instead/as well as grease? In theory the conformal coating should allow us to squirt a hose on the board... or so we think :P

The psu is a 350w enermax unit, other than a 6600gt and two hdds, there's nothing else running off of it.

I'm guessing it's locking up because we need a bit more voltage, either for the oc's sake, or to keep the chip a little warmer. Interestingly, it used to lock up at about -35... it's almost like the chip is getting used to the idea

Can't find that Muskin for sale here in New Zealand... any other 533 up to the task? Or one of the Corsairs better than the other? In fact, better than the other isn't the real question, would the 533 Corsair clock to 600 ok, or would we be better off with the 667?

So many questions I know, but it took ages to get around to building the phase change, be nice to put it to good use.

[The Weedman]

Well it looks like there may be a problem with cold bugs with the intel front too. You cannot use ClockGen to change the voltages. Go to your BIOS change the voltage, then use ClockGen to change the FSB

I dont know about intels but with my a64 i can change voltage in clockgen

[imdying]

Can't find that Muskin for sale here in New Zealand... any other 533 up to the task? Or one of the Corsairs better than the other? In fact, better than the other isn't the real question, would the 533 Corsair clock to 600 ok, or would we be better off with the 667?

Well, after opening my eyes a little wider, I found this. Those the good ones?

[eshbach]

Well, after opening my eyes a little wider, I found this. Those the good ones?

yep, that's them.

you should get 5ghz pretty easily with the 650. maybe not 24/7 stable but definately for a screenshot.

[imdying]

This look ok for an insulation job? The other insulation is as posted above. The back of the board is totally insulated with self adhesive insulation. We haven't had any visible condensation anywhere we can see.

[{.bLanK} GoD]

Hi all.
I'm the person imdying mentioned with thr phase change.
Heres a photo. http://lickme.zapto.org/dagetto.jpg
I have now hacked my unit to bits and am in the the middle of fitting it all inside my case. Just finished making my new condensor and nearly done mounting it.
I am ordering my new pc bits probably tomorow, the sooner the better coz it is unlikely the mobo will go in after the compressor.
For those how are interested in the conformal coating i used on the mobo, here's a spec sheet. http://semicon.com.pl/_pdf/123.pdf

[runmc]

Very nice insulation job.

Intel doesn't have the cold bug.

[{.bLanK} GoD]

Very nice insulation job.

Intel doesn't have the cold bug.

Cheers dude.
The more i think about it and the more ppl that tell me it is more likely a condensation problem, the only thing i can think of is when i put the dielectric grease in the cpu slot, the way i did it was i squirted it out of the syringe onto the slot and then rubed it around a bit with my finger to get it into the holes.probably i should have squirted it straight into the holes?
But anyway, that was just a prototype setup, its all in bit atm and im ordering my new bits tomoro so i will make sure i get a good amount of dielectric grease on the slot.

Just finished mounting the new condensor its gonna look cool in the top of the case with maybe a bit of alloy mesh accross the coil so no dirty mongral sticks there finger in it when its at the LAN.

[{.bLanK} GoD]

Well, heres how i got on with mounting the new condensor. http://lickme.zapto.org/Condensor.jpg
Unfortunatly, i am still waiting on my new hardware to arrive so unless they all arrive this afternoon, there isn't much chance in having it ready for the lan thisweekend.

[imdying]

Well apparently 5gig wasn't much of a goal. Pics tomorrow with a bit of luck.

[Detract]

Good stuff mate, glad it worked out for ya.

Well apparently 5gig wasn't much of a goal. Pics tomorrow with a bit of luck.

[imdying]

She's looking pretty wicky now

[the_new_guy]

cool!!
really like those gauges

[Detract]

Awesome job guys, nice work on the gauges and insulation. Definately deserves a window with those gauges. Is there a removable motherboard tray on your case, I'd imagine you wouldn't want to replace your gear to often.

[imdying]

No motherboard tray, probably put one in the next one though. Could add one in this one by cutting out the right shaped hole, and mounting the board to a piece of perspex. I'd like to do a V1000, compressor in bottom, board up the top.

[jinu117]

Try V2000 V1000 bottom isn't too tall to accomodate much but v2000 do surely have good space