Asus Maximus SE X38 WC with MIPS Mosfets, SB,NB

[Talonman]

Neo, So no mods to the stock NB backplate at all.... ? Wow!!

I am glad the removal process worked out well for you. I went kicking and screaming too. It was my first OC-able MOBO, and I didn't want to hurt it.

As soon as the stock stuff is off, and the replacement unit has been installed, nothing but total satisfaction ahead.

I am sure your NB will be enjoying cooler temps.

[neo_rtr]

CPU QX6700 at 2.6Ghz 1st run full load
CPU 33c
NB 29c
SB 31c
MB 38c
cpu vcore 1.28v
NB Core 1.39V
SB Core 1.10V
FSB VTT 1.26V
as per everest
Ambient 24C

Pls note that this is the 1st run.. nothing conclusive

[neo_rtr]

This is the 1st test with the MIPS on the QX6700 3.6Ghz NB Vcore 1.70

By neo_rtr at 2008-02-21
It landed at 33c for both SB NB and 44c for CPU
I did stopped it to take the picture reson the timer says 15secs only
Ambient 24c

[Snyxxx]

neo_rtr,

Thanks for taking the time to post all the pictures.

For future reference, I use these thermal pads from EK for my MOSFET block pads instead of the one big strip from Asus. One pad per MOSFET works nice.

http://www.petrastechshop.com/ekrevoretimp.html

[neo_rtr]

neo_rtr,

Thanks for taking the time to post all the pictures.

For future reference, I use these thermal pads from EK for my MOSFET block pads instead of the one big strip from Asus. One pad per MOSFET works nice.

http://www.petrastechshop.com/ekrevoretimp.html

I ordered the same, but Q was 1 and not 2 on my order, my misstake, so didnt care putting it on
Used the ones from the asus. but thanks

[neo_rtr]

About 30 mins with CRYSIS and staight After 30mins on EVEREST

NB 33 SB 33 MB 38 CPU 44 c

[MaXXimus]

How does one from the states get their hands on the mips freezers, they are outright beautiful? And how do they compare to the EK blocks?

[neo_rtr]

How does one from the states get their hands on the mips freezers, they are outright beautiful? And how do they compare to the EK blocks?

According to the 1st page of Water cooling the Asus Maximus SE X38

Members reported loaded NB temp's in the 'Aftermarket Block Club':
ABC Member ---- NB volts -- NB Loaded ------------------- CPU --------------- NB Block
Creek Tha Gray ---- 1.61v ------ 24°C -- OCCT at 30min ---- Q6700 @ 4.2GHz --- EK S-MAX (Vapor Phase Change user)
Nikhsub1 ---------- 1.52v ------ 25°C ---------------------- Q6600 @ 3.7GHz ---- MCW30
Talonman --------- 1.55v ------ 26°C ---1HR Prime95 --- Q6600 GO @ 3.8GHz ---- EK S-MAX Acetal
WFO -------------- 1.46v ------ 30°C -- Folding 48Hrs -- Q6600 GO @ 3.7GHz ---- EK S-MAX Acetal
Clunk ------------- 1.74v ------ 35°C -- Prime over night --- Q6600 @ 3.6GHz ---- DangerDen Maze4


Iam running 1.70v and getting 33C.. Will need ambient temp as well in order to compare as well the same loop. but i hope my install gives an indication

To Order from MIPS
goto http://www.mips-computer.de/
goto watercolling
goto MIPS
goto MAINBOARD SETS
goto ASUS Maximus Freezer
goto to the bottom "Bestellen" click it brings you to the shopping card
click on Zur KAsse
Click on Worldwide shipping for USA, or EU Shipement DHL for EU
Click on Weiter

Enter your details
Anrede: title
Vorname (*): First name
Nachname (*): Lastname
Firma: Firm-Company
Straße (*): Street
PLZ (*): ZIP
Ort: City
Land: Country
you can figure out the rest
Telefon etc.
http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/ is a dictionary site. give it a go

and click on Weiter

After than and once confirmed you will receive an email to pay via paypal.
Once done MIPS will let you know.
For me it was done same day, Monday and 3 days later i had the goods.
Any questions email the guys at MIPS, they have been very helpfull!!
hope this helps-

[TopherTony]

I got mine from an England based etailer, CandCCentral who shipped them over to the states exceedingly quickly.

http://www.candccentral.co.uk/

or sales@canccental.co.uk and ask for mick

[Mekrel]

I got mine from an England based etailer, CandCCentral who shipped them over to the states exceedingly quickly.

http://www.candccentral.co.uk/

or sales@canccental.co.uk and ask for mick

My home town supplier, Mick is a great bloke

[neo_rtr]

This is my test with the MIPS on the QX6700 3.6Ghz NB Vcore 1.70
I run it for 45mins, then stopped it and re run it for about 20mins

NB 28c


By neo_rtr at 2008-02-21ambient 19

[S1mon-]

How come your NB oscilliates from 1,47V to 1,70V ??

[neo_rtr]

How come your NB oscilliates from 1,47V to 1,70V ??

good point. didn't see that.

Will look into it.
From past observations i always had 1.70v

[neo_rtr]

I had to drain and redo the loop as iwas a victim of some strainge no boot up story. Although i had power the mb would not start. some times it did and sometimes not.
Further investigation reveald that the backplate for the SB was responcible.

So i i rebuild it with no backplate!

testing just now but so far so good

[neo_rtr]

Collective experience and thoughts regarding the installation / modification of the Asus Maximus with After Market Freezers

First of all I would like to thank the 'Aftermarket Block Club' and Talonman who started the thread and ignite me to start me own modification.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=162085
His thread has significant information and is a “must read “for all of the Asus Maximus SE owners.
Also many other users that provided valuable information and where the first ones to remove the fusion block, build WC blocks and posted several pictures with greate value to my self and others.

So with out further due,

Both my personal opinion and the opinions of others is that the Asus Maximus Formula SE and its variations Maximus Formula, MAximus Extreme, Maximus Formula SE, a motherboard based on the X38 chip with the highest degree of bios versatility, Over clocking capability and flexibility.
Several reviews grant it as best buy, best performance etc.
In regards to the Aftermarket Block Club there are few things you need to know before you decide to “enhance” your board. (There are several opinions for sure on this but here is mine)…
First off, what ever you do with your board revokes the warranty so you do this on your own risk.

The Removal of the Fusion Block and the selection of the so called freezers.

Removing the Fusion Block is the greatest challenge and subject to debate as to what method is suitable (not better than the other). Two methods so far: Hot air and Cooling the block. The hair dryer or solder iron on the NB & SB block to warm up and loosed up the thermal past underneath has proven to work for many users. It has been said that: preferably to do this before your start your motherboard for the first time as the burn in time will make the thermal paste to “mature” and make the disassembly difficult. This is logical as the thermal paste hardness over time and bonds to the surface of the chip making it difficult to remove. From my own experience (after the removal of the Fusion Block), the thermal paste was hard and I had to scrape it off with a plastic tool to remove it; it was so hard that it broke off (pieces of it) during the process.

The second is to freeze the surface of the NB, SB. This will make the thermal paste to cool “and contract to some level “ and loose some of its elasticity, grip onto the metal surface. (Probably some one can give a more correct explanation, but I think, in principle iam correct saying the above) . Compresses Air can/spray will have a cooling effect on the surface and it produces low temps. Friedge has been proven as well.

In my case, having running the fusion block for 3 months before taking the decision to remove it, 1st try the warm method. I could not get it to move and as the SB is surrounded by chips it was very hard for me to do it. NB same. Then I try the compressed air can. I had to invert, upside down, the motherboard and spray inside the NB block, and on the SB (was covered by towel to prevent the spray). I did that for about 10 secs and several times.

Starting with the Southbridge, I placed a plastic piece (5cmx1cm, cut out of a credit card) by the side of the heat sink and with the tip of the screwdriver twist it gently. A loud brake noise was heard and the thermal paste was removed from the chip surface as one piece. (lost 5 years of my life as I got scared by the terrible noise).

Any way my SB heart sink came off with all its thermal paste attached to the heat sink, with very few pieces on the SB chip it self. Now remember that the Fusion Block has to come out as one piece meaning both the SB, NB and the mosfets. One more quick spray on the NB and repeated the procedure, yes with the same loud noise and 5 more years gone. The majority of the thermal paste was on the heatsink with some residence on the NB chip it self. There plenty of pics for you to see on the previous page. Removing the mosfets is easy. With a bent long noise plier, press the plastic pins and push them. They come out nicely.

The NB had few spots of thermal paste, where I used coffee filter paper ArticClean 1,2 with no luck. After about 1hours used aceton and the remainings where removed in a seconds. One more sweep with ArticClean 1,2 and I was ready.

This brings me to the point. IF it was posible to put some aceton between the chips and the heatsink it would make life much easier to remove them. Just need a way to get it there.
PS: I used Arctic Cooling MX-2 for the NB, SB, CPU during the installation.

Time for ther freezers aka Chipset Water Blocks. The ones from EK are popular. If you want something different as the ones from MIPS copper or Nickel then http://www.mips-computer.de/ is the place to goto.
My self as you have seen used the copper ones part nr. MCH415 (set of 4 pcs 1x MCH034, 1x MCH003, 2x MCH150).
The Nickel Blocks should have the following part nr's:
ASUS MAXIMUS Chipset Freezer Nickel MCH1034. (NB block)
ASUS Chipset Freezer Nickel MCH1003. (SB Block)
ASUS Maximus Mosfet Freezer Nickel MCH1150. (MOSFET block, you need 2pcs) "SET" with part nr MCH1415

I used the backplates from EK thought as MIPS did not had any to offer at the time of the build.

My experience pre-order, order, delivery, installation.

First off the MIPS website is in German. I don’t know German but it was not difficult to understand and with an English german lexicon I was ready to go. I emailed MIPS my questions and where very prompt to reply and help me with my inquire order etc. The order process was not difficult and once completed I received email with paypal details where I transfer the money. Received confirmation and within 3 days I received the goods from Germany to Sweden. Excellent! The water blocks arrived in a well protected box, each one within its own envelop. Nothing extra arrived. The idea is simple. Use the original backplate of the NB, use the thermal pads of the mosfets. Simple and it works 100%.

The quality of the blocks is impressive, German quality at its best, they are shiny, heavy and robust. I would prefer a backplate for the Southbridge, and I tried to make one my self with disappointing results. So I didn’t use it.
The way the SB water block fits the MB is good and rock solid with only 2 screws. In comparison to other blocks it seats lower to the VGA card and there is enough clearance for the tubing to pass over the VGA card. Picture is attached to page 2 of my work log.

If I put a rate: 9,5 out of 10 for the reason no back plates where available (at this time of the order) from the source.

[Talonman]

Thanks for your kind words, and all the info you have posted to help us out too.

I am glad you figured out the 'no boot' issue....

Keep up the fine work!

[neo_rtr]

This is the side panel with the Revoltec Fan-Adapter 80-120mm
in the following config
top right by the vga card -> exhaust. The location of the fan adapter is by the out of the vga card so all the hot air goes striaght out. I have measure up to 30c+ while the bgf 8800 gtx oc shows 75c on load
the top left is intake
both bottom are intake. The one with the fan adapter has a significal air flow. I would like to have one more to the right but it hit on the tube. next time will fix it

By neo_rtr, shot with DiMAGE X1 at 2008-03-01


I have also 2 100mm bluw neo lamps ontop of the PA fans. just for show as i have two 300mm under the chassi for the glow.


By neo_rtr, shot with DiMAGE X1 at 2008-03-01

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Very impressive. Good work adding the MOSFET, Northbridge, and Southbridge waterblocks. Do you really thing it was worth 10 years of your life? The tubing looks really good considering almost everything is watercooled. Do you still have the problem with the northbridge voltage fluctuating?

[Talonman]

It is a sweet rig for sure.

[neo_rtr]

Do you really thing it was worth 10 years of your life? ?

You where not here to hear to breaking noise when the SB,NB made when they come off!!! it was pretty horible..

Do you still have the problem with the northbridge voltage fluctuating?

It was due to the fact that the SB backplate was sort circuiting the board causing it to a "no boot" situation. Since then i rebuild it and i been monitoring the voltage with everest and i dont see it any more. it always appears 1.70V no fluctuation..

[neo_rtr]

I was running Prime95 and i notice my Vcore was low. It turned out to be the LOADLINE CALIBRATION that was left as auto. When i run Prime95 it was failling on core 3. no mater what i did +/- volts etc.
Then i notice that loadline. Change it to ENABLE and voila!
Prime was working again
(PS this is not the 8h test but just the one snapshot. One more interesting thing was then i started everest and adobe just to grab the pic while running the test and the cpu temp jumped to 52c for a sec then back to 47c)


By neo_rtr at 2008-03-04

[neo_rtr]

Prime95 1 hour test

This test was performed with the following settings
QX6700, 3.6Ghz
CPU Voltage : 1,48125V
CPU PLL Voltage : auto
North Bridge Voltage : 1,57V (1,63V in everest)
DRAM Voltage : 2,18V (2,32V in everest)
FSB Termination Voltage : 1,54v
South Bridge Voltage : 1,075v
Loadline Calibration : enable
Ambient 18.1c NB 28c


By neo_rtr at 2008-03-05


By neo_rtr at 2008-03-05

[neo_rtr]

New Front


By neo_rtr at 2008-04-09

[neo_rtr]

put together the fan from the case with a 120mm fan and this
come up
what the ???????


By neo_rtr, shot with DiMAGE X1 at 2008-04-15

[yudicuba]

hi everybody,
I just start on water-cooling world so excuse me for my ignorance
But before to do something stupid I prefer to ask

@ neo_rtr

Ok, I have the same mips set for a maximus formula and
I need to use the Distance Rings that MIPS supplied
Do I have to keep the O-ring it comes on the barb too???
Or just the Distance Ring that MIPS supplied???
And the other is about silicone grease
Does someone have give it a try???
Can I use this???
Better than Teflon tape???
Thanks for help