Water cooling the Asus Maximus SE X38

[Waymon3X6]

Sorry to change the subject guys, but I have a major problem.

The barbs that I had cooling the NB on the SE, one of them cracked around the neck (small crack) and I noticed it almost right away, after there was a small puddle on my 3870. (I think it will be ok though)

Anyways, I cannot find a replacement 1/2" white barb anywhere!

Do you guys know where to find one? Could I PM one of you who might have an extra? I am using 1/2" tubing.

[Talonman]

pic updates still waiting on my new video card though

and if you go wT4 is the light its 60 UV led's on one side of case and 60 on the other side.

Looking good Creek!!

I think she should be plenty bright now to show off the innards!

[CaseMD]

Very nice cube.

I´ve one question:
I want to use the ek-mosfets. Do i have to use the backplates or can i use them without them? Can you give me some info for pro´s and contra´s?

Thanx

[deepcover]

I just wanted to further confirm that removal of the NB heatsink on the Maximus Formula (non-SE) was a snap with the circuit freeze spray as was stated earlier. I sprayed it on the SB and the heatsink came loose on its own. The NB I sprayed for about 3-4 minutes and pryed it gently with a screwdriver and it popped right off. I've been using my MB for a month prior to removal of the NB heatsink. The freeze spray costs 8 bucks at Radio Shack or Fry's electronics. I also reused the backplate of the NB by removing the bolts with a plyer and widening the holes a little with a drill. I used the SB heatsink as a backplate for the SB. I used the rubber washers that were allready on the SB and extra plastic washers to ensure that there was enough space between the backplate, the PCB, and the motherboard tray. The cement was removed easily from the NB and SB with acetone as someone stated earlier.

[Talonman]

Thanks for the post, and pictures deepcover...

OP Updated!

[Waymon3X6]

Is anyone going to answer my question??

[Creek Tha Gray]

Sorry to change the subject guys, but I have a major problem.

The barbs that I had cooling the NB on the SE, one of them cracked around the neck (small crack) and I noticed it almost right away, after there was a small puddle on my 3870. (I think it will be ok though)

Anyways, I cannot find a replacement 1/2" white barb anywhere!

Do you guys know where to find one? Could I PM one of you who might have an extra? I am using 1/2" tubing.

contact asus to get one should be easy.

[Creek Tha Gray]

Very nice cube.

I´ve one question:
I want to use the ek-mosfets. Do i have to use the backplates or can i use them without them? Can you give me some info for pro´s and contra´s?

Thanx

at first i had no backplates and it did work but the mobo has a little bend in it so I now have backplates and say they are the way to go.

[WFO]

at first i had no backplates and it did work but the mobo has a little bend in it so I now have backplates and say they are the way to go.

Did you make the backplates yourself?

Also, anyone that watercooled cpu, NB,SB and mosfets, would you post your OC results here? I just did CPU/NB and was wondering whether I should have gone further with my water-cooling. My rig will be coming apart soon for a 45nm chip. Sooo if it's worth the effort, I need to plan for it now.

[neo_rtr]

I just wanted to further confirm that removal of the NB heatsink on the Maximus Formula (non-SE) was a snap with the circuit freeze spray as was stated earlier.

Nice one mate..
hope you dont mind iam updating the removal page with your post as well
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...2&postcount=22

[crackbag]

i just upgraded to the maximus formula and i replaced the mosfet blocks with the thermalright hr-90u's on both sets, they dont get warm at all, the bottom one dose alittle but the side one is cool, they seam tight on there and my computer is still running. are there temp sensors that show the temps like in everest? if so wich ones are they? i just wanna see if anyones are the same, i over hauled my whole comp and will post my pics and test tomarrow. anyways thx in advance for any replies!

[zlojack]

Nice stuff crackbag!

I'm putting those on too...

[Xilikon]

After all, I might join the club myself since my P5K-E is crapping out and I'm awaiting to see if the store will accept a refund for the RMA (the store stopped doing exchanges recently so I'm in unchartered waters). If yes, I might jump on a Maximus Formula or even a Rampage Formula if timing is right (I heard it will be released this friday).

[Celoth]

Just ordered a set of EK blocks for my future Rampage. I will be using the swifttech F-fittings to have a parallel 6mm ID loop for the mosfets, SB, RAM and HD waterblocks and a aquacomputer 5.6mm flowsensor. The main 1/2" loop will have the CPU and GPU water blocks.

This leaves me with the NB block. Can I put it in the low-flow loop and still get good results, or would I better off sacrificing a bit of the CPU/GPU flow and add it to that loop instead? I am guessing it's probably best to add it to the main 1/2" loop.

The whole thing will be cooled by two Thermochill PA160s with Noctua NF-P12 fans. Pump is an Aquastream XT Ultra with up to 4.2m (13.78') head.

[neo_rtr]

The whole thing will be cooled by two Thermochill PA160s with Noctua NF-P12 fans. Pump is an Aquastream XT Ultra with up to 4.2m (13.78') head.

I think its not enough for all the things you want to cool down.
maybe iam misstaking..

[dogin]

Fianally got the correct NB block so ready to go (much delayed-Worse than Talonman). Used the cold removal method for the fusion. Hit it about 15 sec and nothing would not budge. Hit it again until fusion frosty and heard a snap and it was loose. Found the thermal glue they used went up the side of both heatsinks as they used too much and really sealed it down. The down side to freezing is a lot of frozen thermal glue chips to clean up. Acetone took the remaining glue off the chips easily. On my way if mobo survived the removal process.

Noticed some connectors surrounding one of the SB heatsink attachment holes so using an off set mount heatsink could short something. Contacted supplier of low pro fan/heatsink and they agreed that thermal glue may be the best attachment method for the SB. Got the original NB backplate modded to use as mentioned earlier in this thread. Will post back when up and running.

A lot of little things to do. Had to cut the reservoir mount I made to clear the new 28cm vid cards. My 8800GTX was about 26cm and I only had about another 1 1/2Cm clearance on the mount behind it (the reservoir itself is over far enough on the mount to clear.) Hope they do not make longer vid cards!!!

[Xilikon]

Can someone give the measures of the NB backplate, especially the 4 holes ? I would rather keep the backplate stock for warranty purposes and use some of my scrap aluminium panels from my case modding project (some are 2-3mm thick, great for a backplate) to make a custom one.

Would using electrical tape (2 layers all over the surface) be sufficient for insulating ?

[dogin]

Can someone give the measures of the NB backplate, especially the 4 holes ? I would rather keep the backplate stock for warranty purposes and use some of my scrap aluminium panels from my case modding project (some are 2-3mm thick, great for a backplate) to make a custom one.

Would using electrical tape (2 layers all over the surface) be sufficient for insulating ?

I would just use the water block and trace a pattern and mark the holes (ie have seen on these forums where measurements did not translate to a correct part). The stock one comes with 4 rubber rings that you could use on your backplate where the bolts go through that spaces it away from the board (although the stock one still has an insulating layer on the mount side). I would not use electrical tape in high heat areas????? Chilled PC or some other outlet could probably provide you with something like they use on their mosfet back plates (ie my mofset back plate came with a little extra so using it under the SB Heat sink pin attachment points as decided pin attachment better than thermal glue alone)???

[Xilikon]

I know what you are talking about the insulating layer. The problem is to find out where I can order it in Canada or USA ? That's the problem

About using the stock block to outline the backplate, that's a good idea and it's better than taking measures and risk being wrong.

[zlojack]

Finally got to work on my Maximus this week.

I put the board in the freezer overnight (couldn't find freeze spray anywhere!) on Monday and Tuesday morning the heatsink array popped off like nothing. Cold is definitely the way to go for this.

I mounted the Fuzion with the Pro Mount kit but instead of the Pro Mount backplate, I used the backplate from my Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme since it has posts that go through the holes in the mobo, making it easier to reseat the block without having to dismount the motherboard in the future.

The EK NB went on no problem once I drilled out the backplate (bye bye warranty, I hope my board works when I power back on!!!)

The SB was a bit of an issue as the Enzotech block I bought had to be modded slightly and still went on crooked... I had to drill an extra hole closer to the body of the block to get the pushpin to go all the way through....it's not pretty, but it's on there nicely, and can be removed should I decide to do so in the future.

Thermalright HR-09's went on the mosfets and now tonight I should be able to put the loop together!

Waiting to be violated


A night in the freezer and *POP*


Fuzion with Pro Mount and TRUE backplate (check the quad nozzle!)


CPU & NB partners in crime!


Here's my crooked SB cooler...still makes full contact!


All together


Gratuitous pr0n section:

Hate to see her go


EK work of art!


Partners in crime!

[neo_rtr]

Looks great. Nice work!

[IN7OX]

very nice thinking of going the same way parts ordered

[zlojack]

Thanks guys... here's the current status (let me know if too many pics or OT and I'll get rid of some)

The filling and bleeding went amazingly fast! I guess due to the reservoirs and the strong pumps, but I moved it all around to get any bubbles out of the blocks and there don't seem to be any more. I've topped up the reservoirs and now we're leak testing.

Tomorrow I'll do some cable management stuff and hopefully be ready to go in the evening!

Closeup of the Microes...love that velcro!



Drivebay res


Interior


All done


Ready for filling


I need to figure out what to do with the cathode controller and it's white cables


Leak testing

[Fitseries3]

why didn't you link the 2 blocks back 2 back?

looks pretty good. your the first i've seen with the x2 blocks.

[zlojack]

why didn't you link the 2 blocks back 2 back?

looks pretty good. your the first i've seen with the x2 blocks.

Thanks

Not clear what you mean by the X2 blocks back to back?
If I put them with one going down and one going up, they hit each other. This was the only way I could figure out to get it to fit, and even then it was a PITA.