Catastrophic Problem...

[itznfb]

i've given up on watercooling, but for different reasons. i've found that with these new 45nm chips it doesn't matter what i use to cool it, whether it be a $5 hsf or a $400 watercooled system i get the same temps. there's about a 20c difference between my arctic cooler and my water system when using my Q6600, when using a Q9450 or E8400 there is about 1-2c difference. consistently, after about 50 mounts, the only thing i can do to get temps lower is use LN2 or phase. so i just went back to my TRUE's that give me better OC than the water system anyway

[Xilikon]

While it's always sad to see someone toss the towel on watercooling, I can understand this. It's not for everyone and if you look at building as a chore instead of a fun experience, it's not really a good idea.

I hope that in the future, you come back to WC when the pain of damaging the radiator will be gone. In the meanwhile, good luke with the air cooling venture

[phelan1777]

Maxx,

my .000000000002

I killed my first PA, to long of a screw............it sucks...........so I took a torch to it, completely dissasembled it, and have a good idea of how they look inside :p.

I was frustrated, went through all the trouble, and............ended up screwing up the rad!.

But I still have my loop, and have parts for a second loop (waiting to buy block for GX2)

Just give it some time.

[IanY]

Second observation. Never watercool your only computer.

A person's got to at least have two computers, even if one is a notebook. Waiting for RMAs and shipments to arrive can be brutally painful.

[Clue69Less]

i've given up on watercooling, but for different reasons. i've found that with these new 45nm chips it doesn't matter what i use to cool it, whether it be a $5 hsf or a $400 watercooled system i get the same temps. there's about a 20c difference between my arctic cooler and my water system when using my Q6600, when using a Q9450 or E8400 there is about 1-2c difference. consistently, after about 50 mounts, the only thing i can do to get temps lower is use LN2 or phase. so i just went back to my TRUE's that give me better OC than the water system anyway

My experience is different. I've got a 45nm CPU that idles (stock clock) right around ambient (19 to 20C last night) and loads all four cores in the high 30s to low 40s on water. On air with great airflow and excellents heat sinks, it idles a few degrees higher and loads in the low 50C range. If I overclock it, the OC is significantly limited on air even with a TRUE or IFX - I have both and have tried. On water, I can bench in the 4.6 to 4.7GHz range and have run Prime at 4.2 with very reasonable temps. On air, 3.6 is the limit for Prime and 4.0 for benches. Granted, I only have the CPU in its own loop, GPUs in their own loops and only have the NB/SB/VRMs in their own loop so I get excellent water flow. But I don't ask my IFX to cool my GPUs either...

[madmaxx]

Second observation. Never watercool your only computer.

A person's got to at least have two computers, even if one is a notebook. Waiting for RMAs and shipments to arrive can be brutally painful.

not always possible but definately helps

preparation is KEY

[IanY]

not always possible but definately helps

preparation is KEY

Even if the second computer is a Celeron 600... Pentium II 300. Its a computer that gets you on the internet to check your e-mail and order whatever computer parts you need to restore your main machine. Windows 3.11 has an internet browser lol

[MaXXimus]

LOL, on the Windows 3.11... talk about bringing back memories, boy those were the days loading Windows off diskettes.

[TheSilence]

It took me 4 weeks to get my first WC setup working, mostly due to the fact that I work a 9-6ish job and try and took a few vacations that severely limited my weekend time. Didn't clock the hours but it probably was about 25-35 hours of work. Most of the four weeks was spent ordering parts I missed and getting an RMA for a dead mobo. Right after the mobo turned up dead I really started to regret my decision, but stuck with it and now I have a very nice WC PC that gets great compliments and I'm proud of.

It's definitely not a cheap hobby, but that's why I went to school, got a good paying job, and now can afford whatever I want

[phelan1777]

Second observation. Never watercool your only computer.

A person's got to at least have two computers, even if one is a notebook. Waiting for RMAs and shipments to arrive can be brutally painful.

Don't remind me............I learned my lesson........