Water cooling the Asus Maximus SE X38

[Talonman]

Thanks for the conformation Dangals.
That's good to know.

Did you guys see my tempature probe in my TJ09? It let's me monitor my room, and PC's case temp.
When I put them next to each other for an extended amount of time, the remote unit always reports about 1 degree fahrenheit above the base unit.
http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/9124/

Right now, room temp is 60.9F, and PC is reporting in at 63.5F.

[De_Cruelz]

Hey guys, thanks to everyone for putting their input into this thread making it so easy to water cool this board! I pretty much read through the whole 49 pages of info here and very soon, i'm looking to water cool my own Maximus Rampage X48 when it arrives. Stay tuned for a work log soon

These are the parts i'm going to include for my setup:

CPU: FuZion v2 CPU Block w/ Quad Core Mid Chamber Insert
NB + SB: EK-NB S-MAX + EK-NB/SB ASUS 4
GC: EK-FC8800 GTX/Ultra
Rad: Swiftech MCR-320 "Quiet Power" Series with 3 Sunon 100+cfm fans
Mosfets: 2 X EK Asus 3a
Tube: 1/2" ID all round

I've just got a few questions regarding this setup:

1. Which pump would be ideal for this setup to ensure maximum cooling? I currently have the Laing D5 vario but i'm thinking of replacing it with a DDC3.2 with a XSPC reservoir top. According to Martin's flow calculator the DDC3.2 with the XSPC res top outperforms the D5 miles away. I'm just curious if this would translate to similar real world situations and if it would be sufficient for my needs?

2. My other concern would be the rad. Will the Swiftech rad be sufficient for my loop or should I go for a thicker rad like the HW Labs? Running additional rads is not an option at this point as I'm planning to mount it at the top of my Lian Li V1200B and there's not much space left for another rad.

Thanks guys!

[Nuckin_Futs]

OK, a little insite or ideas form you other MAXIMUS FORMULA SE users. I have a 2nd mobo I want to just use as a quiet, mild OC'd unit.

I have the Thermal-Chill PA-120.2 RAD, a Swiftech Apogee GTX CU Extreme Performance block, w/ stock FuZion NB block for now cause it does the job till I get a new mobo and it will need the NB cooling more. My RAD & CPU block is set up for 0.50" but the Fussion NB integrated is only good for 0.375"

I am thinking of the Swiftech MCP655 12v DC Pump but was curious if anybody has used this series of pumps long enough to know how quiet it works over time and how well it performs for a daily user going in and out of S3 or S4. Who has any of the other big bois to compare it to in quietness, used w/ the parts I have in hand?

Thankx for your time!

[[O-CuK]MCRacer]

I use a DangerDen Vario D5 and a Swiftech MCP655; they are the exact same pump. I find that they are very quiet and stay that way. I tried Laing DCC Ultra's (3 of them) and found them to be unreliable. The D5/MCP655 is a larger pump, but far more reliable and also very quiet. I sit mine on blocks of vibration gel. Excellent pumps and would recommend them.

[SpuTnicK]

Hello to every one. Finaly i can make POST. Had to wait 3 days since registration.

I am beginer at water cooling and i am wandering about the EK waterblock on MF mobo.
I red about the problem of SB wb while using the stock coler on VGAs (Like 9800GTx) blocking part of SB.
Ek campatibility list says to use EK-NB/SB ASUS 4. But EK-NB/SB ASUS 1 would be perfect in this case.
The question: will it fit the holes of SB on this MOBO? If not Maybe so me drilling will help?

P.S. In any case excuse me for my bad english

[Malik]

So ... with asus 3, asus 4 type ek waterblock i won't be able to mount 9800gx2 on first pcie slot ?

Someone could that confirm ? Because i don't know can i buy asus 4 when i want mount 98gx2 on pcie port nr 1 on mobo

[Nuckin_Futs]

K, sounds like I will go w/ the D5 style (MCP655). Are there any feature differances added by DD if I use theirs? I wan tsome type of RPM sensor type monitoring by MOBO for a fail safe and start up protection if pump didn't start w/ mobo. So Is it better to get version w/ integrated sensor wire or model w/ manual speed control and integrate my own water flow sensor? I think I saw it is one or the other, sensor wire, no speed control switch, or speed control switch and no semsor wire. I do need to be able to run in at least 2 profiles, night time quiet low flow, quiet fans) and anytime hot summer day or media encoding (high flow, fast fans). is is cool to use the model w/ sensor wire and control speed via voltage through a digital fan speed contoller (any harm here)? For the model w/ "5" possition switch, how is it changing the speed, voltages or internal gearing or such?

[SpuTnicK]

Malik, using ek 4 on SB wont allow you to stick your vga into first pcie slot while using stock coolin on your vga. Therd are 2 ways in this case. First is to watecool your vga. It will surely make space for almost any sb waterblock. Second is to use different from ek watereblock. For example mips asus universal sb freezer. It has holes located in lower part of waterblock, and the are horizontaly oriented

[Malik]

First is to watecool your vga. It will surely make space for almost any sb waterblock. Second is to use different from ek watereblock. For example mips asus universal sb freezer. It has holes located in lower part of waterblock, and the are horizontaly oriented

Yes i know that. I thinking about 9800gx2 with waterblock - and with this i have problem. With my asus 3 block on SB i can't install 9800gx2 with or without waterblock. I must mount gx2 on second pcie slot.

[SpuTnicK]

Yes i know that. I thinking about 9800gx2 with waterblock - and with this i have problem. With my asus 3 block on SB i can't install 9800gx2 with or without waterblock. I must mount gx2 on second pcie slot.

Thats an od case. Never heard of such. What kind of waterblock are you using on yoar 9800x2? Probobly 2-slot one. I am not sure but i think there are 1-slot waterblock for your card. It can solve your problem, i Think

[SpuTnicK]

Got the same problem but with stock cooler on 8800gts.

[SpuTnicK]

can someone post pics of mobo with EK Water Blocks EK-ASUS NB/SB 3 Acetal installed on SB, please. Just cant imagine how it posibly can fit the mobo?

[zlojack]

The EK NB/SB Asus 4 fits on my board with CrossfireX 3870 X2's

I think I have some pics at home. I'll look when I get home this evening.

[SpuTnicK]

No doubt that ek asus 4 will fit the formula. I am talking about asus ek 3, couse there were a lot of posts on first 10 pages sayin about it being installed on sb well.
But bring your pics up anyway

[zlojack]

No doubt that ek asus 4 will fit the formula. I am talking about asus ek 3, couse there were a lot of posts on first 10 pages sayin about it being installed on sb well.
But bring your pics up anyway

THIS POST has a couple of pictures of the acetal EK NB/SB Asus 3 installed.

[Malik]

Something from me



And here more, in my gallery -> LINK

[SpuTnicK]

Big thanx to you guys. Those are realy good pics you have. And the systems too

[bigslappy]

sub'ed

;p

[crash2k]

hi guys, i need an information for a friend. he took his maximus formula on watercooling, removed the stock cooling on SB and NB but he left the mosfet's part. Now he must put the stock cooling back on his MF because he wants to resell it but he removed this thermal pad in the red circle:



the question is: someone knows the thickness of this thermal pad so he can look for one like that? thank you in advance

[HappyVirus]

North Bridge - EK-NB S-MAX, EK-NB S-MAX Acetal, DangerDen Maze4, Sixdesign sold by MIPS,
Swiftech MCW30 (Caution: Some have problems with the MCW30 being a tad too small.)

Well as for the Maze4, which Maze4 is it? there are 5 maze4's out

I'm about to Watercool my Maximus Formula (the vanilla version ) and I want to know what 'budget' option will be.

I will be using PA120.3, D5 Vario, Fuzion v1, and custom made "waterfall" reservoir. *those are the parts that are coming in tomorrow*

I would like to WC the NB with the used Maze4, as that would be one of the 'cheaper' option for me I found these:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/dadenmachbli.html
http://www.petrastechshop.com/dadenmachwad.html
http://www.petrastechshop.com/dadenmachwa9.html

or should I just use the NB/SB 5
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/ekwaek5ac.html

Oh and hello, I'm HappyVirus from OCN...

[Talonman]

Good question my friend. I didn't know there were that many versions myself.

[ChaosAD]

Finally i decided to watercool my NB. The block i am gonna use is EK S-MAX. My problem is that i dont realy know if i should also WC my SB. SB gets hot tbh but i guess with a plain aircooled HS i will have decent results. One more reason i want to aircool SB is not to restrict water flow more, in case i decide to WC my GFX later on. So what are my aircooling options for SB? Is it just TR one cause i dont want to permantely attach is on MB like Talonman did with Enzotech HS on his Asus.

[ShArKo]

hi people.....need some help please :s

I was working on my Maximus Formula, but by accident one of the double-pin socket CPU. As far as I could see only 1 of the pins.
Any suggestions on how to solve this?

[dasc]

I tried removing the NB/SB heat sink by putting the mobo in the refrigerator freezer. It stayed there for about 2 hours and 45 minutes and I after that I could not remove the HS with "any real force".

What would you suggest - placing the mobo for another freeze session, buy the circuitcity freeze spray or try the hair dryer?

[Dangals]

I tried removing the NB/SB heat sink by putting the mobo in the refrigerator freezer. It stayed there for about 2 hours and 45 minutes and I after that I could not remove the HS with "any real force".

What would you suggest - placing the mobo for another freeze session, buy the circuitcity freeze spray or try the hair dryer?

Mine came off after about 2 hrs in the freezer - i used a trick someone in this tread pointed out which was to take a piece of an old credit card and a screw driver and gently apply some leverage to the NB block and after working that for a minute or so in various positions on the block it came off with a "crack" that almost gave me a heart attack but it worked like a charm...

Try the freezer option again and you should be fine....good luck!