Water cooling the Asus Maximus SE X38

[Pete]

You got custom for them to get through 1st. USA being USA it'll have every test given to it, i'd say 7 days least for it

[Talonman]

Nothing new to report on the EK situaction on the Ohio front....

OK .. So recap on if you decide to change over from the stock cooling, there are lot's of options. These ended up being my final selections:

For cooling my CPU:
D-TEK FuZion CPU Waterblock, D-TEK quad nozzle installed with flow gasket, lapped CPU, mounted using Arctic Silver CMQ-22G The high-density, ceramic-based thermal compound.

For cooling my NB:
EK-NB S-MAX Acetal block, mounted using Arctic Silver CMQ-22G The high-density, ceramic-based thermal compound.

For cooling my SB:
The Enzotech Forged Copper Northbridge Low-Profile Heatsink (CNB-S1L), mounted using Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive. Chip turned 45 degrees from the norm to make tab room. (Stuck to the SB chip, playing for keeps!)

For cooling my Mosfet's:
My Thermalright's didn't work out, so I am sticking with the stock sink for now. I still dont know the best way to mount this....

We have the stock thermal tape, which was making contact with all the mosfets as an option.

I have the Thermalright's tape that was in their boxes, I could use on the MOSFETS.

I have some new thermal pads in my EK order that I could use and might be better quality, don't remember the brand right now...

I have heard some have used Arctic Silver ceramic-based thermal compound, but I don't know how to put it on thoes tiny chips...

If we are keeping the stock MOSFET sink, what is the best possible way to re-mount it?

[Darkatom]

Taloman, what raditator will you be using with this set up. Also, what gpu do you have? Are you thinking of WC it too ?

[Talonman]

ThermoChill PA120.3 in the WaterKegIII Xtreme.

Q6600 GO

GPU us looking like the GTS refresh available Dec 15th to 17th, then the 1TF monster card using the 90 day step up.

I will water cool my video card, but might not want to buy blocks for it until I use my step up program, and see the card I end up with.
I don't want to buy my GPU blocks twice.

[TheSamurai]

talonman has caught the WC'ing bug!!!

[Talonman]

You know it!!!

I was happy charting our stock temps, thinking we were doing pritty good...
But that was the pre-nikhsub1 post days!!
His data messed with my head bad:
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Reported stock ROG cooling temps so far:
ROG Member ----- NB volts -- NB Loaded --------------- CPU ------------------
Renegade5399 ---- 1.65v ------ 34°C ------------ Intel Core2Duo E6850 G0 @ 4GHz
bill d ------------- 1.30v ------ 34°C ----------------------------- Q6600 Stock
TheSamuri -------- 1.54v ------ 34°C ------------------------ Q6600 GO @ 3.9GHz (Reseated W/MX-2, was 48°C)
ragge86 ---------- 1.65v ------ 36°C ---------------------------- Q6600 @ 3.8GHz
BulldogPO -------- 1.65v ------ 40°C -24/7 QMC crunching clocks - Q6600 @ 3.8GHz
DerekFSE ---- Green setting --- 40°C -------- Running Orthos ----- e6400 @ 3.6GHz
Aldy402 ---------- 1.63v ------ 43°C ----------------------- Q6600 G0 @ 3.825GHz (Was 62-65°C loaded on air)
weescott --------- 1.74v ------ 43°C --------(Q9550 444x8.5) 1.49v 62c under load
j0nnyr0773n ------ 1.54v ------ 44°C ------------------------- Q6600 GO @ 3.6GHz
Clump ------------ 1.62v ------ 46°C (After 1HR or Prime 95) ----- Q6600 @ 3.6GHz
raju -------------- 1.65v ------ 49°C (Prime95 Torture Temp) ----- Q6600 @ 3.6GHz
Note: After Raju remounted, max temp went down to 39°C
Note: NB temps over 47°C are prone to failures during longer Prime torture test runs.

Reported temps using aftermarket blocks for contrast:
Aftermarket Block Member --- NB volts -- NB Loaded ----------- CPU -----------
Nikhsub1 ---------------------- 1.52v ------- 25°C ------------- Q6600 @ 3.7GHz (NB Loaded was 41°C-52°C before mod)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

25°C for a loaded NB temp is much better than what us ROG boys were getting.
My big fear of taking all my stock cooling off my $300 Maximus, lost to the thought of being in that °C of a neighborhood on my NB too.

I also found this post disturbing...

My expierience with previous boards, is that on high OC you need to active cool your motherboard NB and mosfets
The X38 can't be an exception. The vital settings are:
- C2D CPUs will never, even past 4GHz stress your mb like a quad will do
- CPU clock and vcore: on a quadcore overclocked above 50% (that is 3.6GHz and above) will make your mosfets burn. They will in all cases be lower performers (heat and electric stability are just opposed)
- Memory speed/timings, NB strap and NB voltage, CPU clock: these will burn your NB. Now, we're talking about the most sensitive part in an overclocked PC: RAM management

So, with all this in mind, the NB and mosfets should be the coolest to be stable. If 47°C limit meets Prime errors, I will say a 5-10°C lower temperature is needed for the long run (after all, it is just a chip like a CPU, so what applies to CPUs will apply to any chipset)
Personally, when I receive a motherboard, I remove its stock cooling and at least reapply thermal compound before first run. After all, we all do this for our CPUs and debate what is the best compound (AS5, MX-1, MX-2...). SO we should do it for our chips. Any gain in temperature will lead to better OC performance like with a CPU

Just an advice for future owners of this board: before mounting it, just tune your heatsinks, especially if you plan to get>50% OC from a quadcore

Also, like with CPUs, there are poor and bad overclockers in the motherboard department, as we OC the X38, some of them will be better than others (not all quads reach 4GHz stable OC, so not all X38 would be able to stabilize it)

I decided to go for the dreaded removal, and am not looking back!
Now my head is filled with possible EK NB temps I might be getting, shiny SB sinks, and how to best take care of my MOSFETS.

Do you have any thoughts on best way to install our stock MOSFET heat sink, or cool our MOSFET's in general Samurai?

I have been doing some reading on the net, and it seems some feel that individual sinks on each mosfet might do better than 1 big sink?

Not too sure what to think about that myself...

I figured my CPU, NB, and GPU will probably be enouigh for my 1 water loop?

I am up for about anything other than water for cooling, for cooling the MOSFET area I guess...

[Talonman]

Just so you have the correct info, for trying to cool your MOSFET's with Thermalright heat sinks.

I ordered the incorrect sizes from FrozenCPU.com
(1) HR-09U L84 x W17 x H48mm, and
(1) HR-09S L84 x W32.3 x H48mm

I think you'll find they won't fit mate. They are the Type 1 versions and the same as the ones I had. Its definately the Type 2 versions you need but as I have already said I can't get them in the UK. I have since refitted the original Asus mosfet cooler and its running cooler than it was before anyway! I can only assume this is because the rest of the board is better cooled and the mosfets aren't linked up to the NB via the heatpipe...

Here's where you can order type 2:
http://www.pc-cooling.de/VGA-Chipset...9S+Type+2.html
They are in stock and they ship in Europe

Judging from the link jonny provided, it looks like the correct Thermalright Type 2 sizes the Maximus SE would need would be these:
(1) HR-09U L87 x W15.5 x H48mm, and
(1) HR-09S L90 x W30 x H49mm

[Creek Tha Gray]

No Ek Waterblocks in today this is getting old its the only thing im waiting on.

[Talonman]

I called my wife from work today, and asked if we received any deliveries at the house. She replied YES! I asked what? (Hoping EK might have arrived) She said my Amazon DVD made it here.

DVD's!!!

LOL ..

I guess it is a long way from Slovenia, to Ohio!!

I have the faith it will be worth the weight for us...

It's gotta make it.. I joined PayPal just to order this NB block. Mabey my GPU block will come from EK too, and I will get more use out of PayPal?
I am a Visa fan myself. I have 1 card I am allowed to use on the internet. Actually a checking account visa that wont work unless there is money in my account. I only move money into that account, right before an online charge is made. I keep about 20 bucks in there normally, so that is the most I can get taken for on that card before it begins to reject all transactions. It is a good idea for the net. (No I don't work for Visa, just a caushious online customer)

[Creek Tha Gray]

I called my wife from work today, and asked if we received any deliveries at the house. She replied YES! I asked what? (Hoping EK might have arrived) She said my Amazon DVD made it here.

DVD's!!!

LOL ..

I guess it is a long way from Slovenia, to Ohio!!

I have the faith it will be worth the weight for us...

It's gotta make it.. I joined PayPal just to order this NB block. Mabey my GPU block will come from EK too, and I will get more use out of PayPal?
I am a Visa fan myself. I have 1 card I am allowed to use on the internet. Actually a checking account visa that wont work unless there is money in my account. I only move money into that account, right before an online charge is made. I keep about 20 bucks in there normally, so that is the most I can get taken for on that card before it begins to reject all transactions. It is a good idea for the net. (No I don't work for Visa, just a caushious online customer)

eddy from ek said it takes about 7 to 9 biz days to get to usa so today was my 6th biz day but 8th non biz day -sundays could be here tomorow.

[Scooby]

I just got my board and its in the prep stage right now. I have 2 Thermarght HR-09U Type2s on the mosfet with 70mmx15mm Evercool fans on them. The watercooling will be handled with a D-Tek FuZion block for the CPU and DangerDen DD-29XT block for my HD2900XT along with a Thermochill PA120.2, Swiftech MCP355 w/Custom Delrin DDC Pump Top and some black 1/2" Tygon tubing.



The HR-09U Type2s fit perfectlly, so to confirm, if you guys want an after market cooler for your mosfets on the Maximus the Thermarght HR-09U Type2 is the one you should get.

[Talonman]

Sweet setup Scooby!!

I had to work to get my Thermarght's installed, but I think I did OK?
They look like they do such a good job of cooling, I didn't want to just give up on them.
Using Ace'es info on his mod's posted in the Abit IP35-Pro thread, I baught Round Head Machine bolts #4-40 X 3/4", some 1/2", and one, full 1"er for the 'Power Bridge Fan Mount' too.
They didn't have his recomended Galvanized washers with the rubber gromet fused to the washer.
I baught metal washers, and rubber washers too. I have a rubber washer on the back of each bolt, to protect the motherboard, and give the mount a little spring to it. I wouldn't want to overtighten the mounts, and crack the mobo. The rubber washers help me insure I don't overtighten the nuts.
I also opted for brass.

Here is my wrong sized Thermarght's....


My custom drilling....


Mounted:

I made small squares of aluminum foil to put in the space the washer has to make contact with, on the top side of the sink.
I wanted to give the washer a better surface to lay flush againt, using the washers entire surface. I didn't want the washer just making contact on one of it's sides, and the other hanging in space.
You can see the foil in there...


I also made me a power SB cooler. 'PowerBridge Cooling now Online!'
It is hovering about 1/16th of an inch above the sink, but not touching it.

[~aoe~]

Nice mod on those HR-09s . I wish I'd have thought of that when I was trying to install them on my P5WDH

[Talonman]

Thanks!! They look like they are making decent contact with all the chips too.

I was thinking it was a total loss...

Sweet recovery.

[awhir]

hey guys when i was taking off my heatpipes i needed to use the hairdryer.after the heatpipe freely came off there was still some thermal pase(glue) left on the nb and sb i am unable on how do get it off with out damaging the core.

also i found it very hard to take the termal paste of the sb.first i tryed AC thermal remover and that did not work.so then i tryed a blade but it was just scraping the serface.i then tryed using 400 grit sandpaper and after about 30min i had a good bit of it off.any idea how i can fully clear it ?
here are some pics:

[safan80]

those pictures hurt my eyes!

[~aoe~]

those pictures hurt my eyes!

I was trying to think of a polite way of saying exactly that

[awhir]

those pictures hurt my eyes!

how

[Talonman]

Acetone, and a paper towl to remove the lions share.

I used my ArcticClean kit, using the both the Remover bottle (1), and the Purifier bottle(2), using Q-tips in the final stages.

My goop was still warm and semi-molten when I lightly wiped it with an Acetone paper towl, and it came right off.
I did it right when the sink slid free.

Better pictures... Thanks for the upgrade!

So how good of a heat sink are the Thermarght's anyway?
I was glad to see real Copper when I was drilling.

[Darkatom]

Taloman, which "Type" of HR-09 ,mosfet coolers did you get ?

[Talonman]

Type 1 I guess.....

The Type is not marked on the box in any location, nor on the web page when I ordered.

Only the measurements of the incorrect size is given for establishing a true ID:
(1) HR-09U L84 x W17 x H48mm http://www.frozencpu.com/products/57...ight_Type.html
(1) HR-09S L84 x W32.3 x H48mm http://www.frozencpu.com/products/57...lant_Type.html

Are you thinking of giving some Thermalright's a try?

[ReaperX]

hey guys when i was taking off my heatpipes i needed to use the hairdryer.after the heatpipe freely came off there was still some thermal pase(glue) left on the nb and sb i am unable on how do get it off with out damaging the core.

also i found it very hard to take the termal paste of the sb.first i tryed AC thermal remover and that did not work.so then i tryed a blade but it was just scraping the serface.i then tryed using 400 grit sandpaper and after about 30min i had a good bit of it off.any idea how i can fully clear it ?
here are some pics:

Try acetone or nail polish remover..

[awhir]

i tryed reheating it with no go.so any ideas on how to get it off the NB-SB ?

[Creek Tha Gray]

Acetone worked for me

[awhir]

thanks guys the nail varnish(actone) worked for taking off the gunk on the chip set but i was unable to remove the stuf from the sb cooler