Water Cooling Asus Maximus Extreme with Crosslinx

[Grimtas]

Giuliano,
Using the EK shorties are you stressing the cards any? That might be the way I go however looking at your pics it doesn't look like your using the spacers for the copper/nickle block side w/ the shorty. How far are the threads going in on the copper/nickle side?

[Giuliano]

Giuliano,
Using the EK shorties are you stressing the cards any? That might be the way I go however looking at your pics it doesn't look like your using the spacers for the copper/nickle block side w/ the shorty. How far are the threads going in on the copper/nickle side?

I don't think I'm stressing the cards any - the blocks were installed per the directions, so there's no bowing or bending.


The short barbs don't need the spacers - they're shorter.


However, the plugs do need the spacers for the copper side, as their threads are a bit longer.

[Grimtas]

I guess I'm ordering 2x EK shorties now thanks for the pic.

[Giuliano]

The initial impressions:

• The positioning of the mounting holes in the upper right and lower left is perfect.
• However, the position of the mounting screw hole in the middle (not shown here) is off by about 1/2mm to 1mm. The mounting hole is used to provide a tension point across from the SB chip.
• The paper gap test between the Crosslinx chip and the block is perfect - zero gap.
• However, the gap between the SB chip and the block has a very thin gap - I used a business card stock to check. The card was a loose fit towards the center of the block, but a tight fit towards the right edge.
• Also, the screw provided to anchor the middle mount point is a few mm long - it bottoms out in the block before the screw head reaches the motherboard.

Possible fixes:

1. Reduce the thickness of the block section that covers the Crosslinx chip (the raised part) by a few tenths of a mm (0.1-0.2mm).
2. Adjust the alignment of the mounting holes in the plexi top so that the screw hole in the copper bottom is aligned.
3. Find a shorter screw for the middle hole.. I believe the screws are M3 metric. Easy fix.

Fix #1 can most likely be accomplished by wet sanding the raised portion of the block with 800-1200 grit paper on a plate of glass.. the name for the technique escapes me at the moment.

Fix #2 may be accomplished by some slight dremeling, but this should also be an easy fix for EK to adjust. Much easier to adjust the plexi top than the copper bottom.



The bottom line right now is that the block is a decent fit right now, with only some minor changes required for a perfect fit.

The extra gap above the SB chip can easily be filled by the TIM - Ceramique or AS5 would do fine.

Update:

Fix #1 is not required - the step height on the bottom of the block is correct.

The thin gap (0.2 - 0.3 mm) is being caused by the spring tension forcing the board underneath to bow a tiny bit.

That should go away with use of the threaded hole in the middle.


A shorter M3 screw is requred for use with the hole underneath - any fine-thread computer screw (M3x0.5) will do, such as ones used with DVD drives, floppy drives, etc.. Thread length of about 5mm is ideal.


To correct the hole alignment problem, Eddy has suggested making the mounting holes in the plexi top slightly elongated so as to form a slot.

The block only needs to shift by about 1-2 mm to get the hole to align.


I'm going to take my block tonight and gently widen the holes with my Dremel tool.


For those of you who have ordered the block but haven't received it yet, the new top should come pre-modified for you as shown:

[smee]

Wow, I really like that EK block, EK's are always high quality!
Hows the flow with it?

Keep up the good work!

[Giuliano]

Wow, I really like that EK block, EK's are always high quality!
Hows the flow with it?

Keep up the good work!

Don't know how the flow is quite yet, but I'm assuming it's relatively free flowing like EK's NB and GPU blocks.

[Pete]

Thank you both ya self and Eddy. It's sad it took this amount of time but meh.

Looks like i'm going DDR3 now then! Whoop whoop

[Lloyd]

The gap between the sb and the block looks more like 1mm - i can see daylight through it.
I'm wondering if the centre screw will pull it down that much?

[Giuliano]

The gap between the sb and the block looks more like 1mm - i can see daylight through it.
I'm wondering if the centre screw will pull it down that much?

It won't, and it's not supposed to.

You'll see light underneath the block because there is free space between the two chips..


The gap between the SB chip and the block is slim - I was barely able to fit a strip of business card paper in there, which is no more than 0.2 - 0.3 mm thick.

[Lloyd]

no i'm talking about between the sb chip and the copper on the block, it looks more than 0.2 - 0.3mm, i can see daylight through it. lol

[Giuliano]

Is this with the screws / springs in place and the block tensioned down?

I was able to see daylight through mine as well..



I'll check it again tonight.

[Lloyd]

yeah everything was tight. Looking at it, i wouldn't feel comfortable putting a load of TIM on and hoping - it was that big, and i certainly will not use a pad - kinda defeats the point i think, lol
I don't see the new top fixing this, let me know what u find.

[Lloyd]

I don't see how that proposed mod will work - i need to move my block further toward the PCI-E slot to line the hole up -
Mod done and still no better - i just have a bodged top that looks aweful! i don't have the tools to do that kinda thing

[Lloyd]

there are capasitors in the way!
The top seemed fine - i think the bottom needs adjusting

[Giuliano]

I disassembled the block and mounted only the base plate to the board, using the screw hole from underneath.

When I did that, the block was completely flat over the SB chip, and there was only a very slight gap at the left edge of the Crosslinx chip.

I didn't even have to tighten the screw very much, so it should provide the tension required when used with the other two screws.





I was also unable to modify the top to make the slots longer, but I do have a planned fix to implement until EK can make a new top with the changes I recommended to him.

The plan I have is to cut two 1" x 1/4" brass strips to overlay the upper right and lower left sides of the top to allow the screws to mount and to provide reinforcement.




I should have something workable on that by tomorrow.

[Lloyd]

Even after this mod - it doesn't fit, there's not enough play or room, the arm with the screw holes need to be longer by 2 - 3 mm atleast, and possibly a step cut out under the left screw arm (next to the pci slots) so it doesn't hit the capasitors/whatever they are
I look forward to reading what u find out.
thanks for your help so far
Regards

[Grimtas]

Just got an email from EK they are going to delay my shipment 1 week on the SB-Max-EX block pending the mod. Looks like I'll be the ginny pig to test the modded block

Grim

[Eddy_EK]

Hi Guys, sorry for all the delays.
We'll find a solution for that, no worries.
The main problem is that we don't the board :S

[Lloyd]

erm - i can send u mine if u like?

Sent this evening (if not first thing in the morning)

[Grimtas]

In other news, ATI released Catalyst 8.3 with support for CrossfireX with 3 or 4 GPU's..

Should be interesting to see how that pans out.

Just got around to reading the release notes of Cat 8.3...

"Note: CrossFireX™ (Quad) is only supported under the Windows Vista operating system " That's a bit disapointing...

[polar bear]

Well, same with 3-SLI, isnt it? Vista only.

Got my crossfirex setup up n running yesterday - 2x3870x2. Just been through some quick benchmarks. So far disappointing results with 3DMark06: 19284 with one 3870x2 and *drumrolls* 17129 with crossfireX

Anyway driver just got out so expect to see improvement over the next few months, otherwise 3DMark score is no big deal as we know - with 3-sli got roughly 400 points scaling over regular sli.

Also - still waiting for those EK blocks... clearing customs for the last week and this has taken longer than the actual international shipment

[Grimtas]

Just got the shorties in yesterday and they do infact fit without flexing the cards, the barbs touch each other and you can fit worm clamps in between.

I too am waiting on my SB block, it was delayed by EK pending the fitment mod. The case is coming along nicely I'll post more pics on my build log this weekend. I finally figured out a way to fit everything into the cube running dual / horizontal. Down side is I need to order a new top, (Drilled a hole where I shouldn't have )

Last component for me to order is the Corsair DDR3 memory. No one in the U.S. has them in stock (For a price I'm willing to pay).

[lior307]

Just got around to reading the release notes of Cat 8.3...

"Note: CrossFireX™ (Quad) is only supported under the Windows Vista operating system " That's a bit disapointing...

Microsoft monopol again - foces us to buy Vista .
I belive that if they release DX10 for XP - they will loose at least 50 %
Upgrades ' so every new thing they do is only for Vista

[Grimtas]

I run both Vista and XP now on my systems. I just prefer XP over Vista.

[Grimtas]

Anyone have any recommendations to cool the SB and XLink chips while I wait for EK to finish the WB mod? I was thinking of just a couple of ram sinks and an 80mm fan as a stop gap solution to allow me to load the OS, Apps, and take initial temps. I'm not going to overclock my system until I finish off the GPU/MB loop, but as the other components are already underwater I only need to cool the last two chips.

I need to take another look at my Heatbridge to see if I can remove the stock SB/XLink heatsink without damaging the bridge, if I can't I'll need some other ideas..

Your ideas are welcomed.

Grim