First Build

[Detract]

After many months of planning, I have finally got my first system running.

Main components are 1/4 HP Tecumseh Compressor, Herefishy condensor and a chilly1 Evap.

First unloaded charge with R404A got to -40ºC on the evap. Once I've figured out how to insulate the board and mounting this thing Im gonna fine tune with a load.

[chilly1]

Looks good .
What are you going to use for a mounting mechanism.

[Detract]

Not sure at the moment, probably the housing you supplied along with a plexi hold down plate. Still figuring how to attach it to the housing without hacking all the insulation to pieces.

[kayl]

very nice and well done.
you guys dont need licenses to buy refrigerant ya luck buggers.

[Detract]

Thanks. We do need licenses I believe, I just happen to have a fridgie for a neighbour.

[gkiing]

Thanks. We do need licenses I believe, I just happen to have a fridgie for a neighbour.

I I got a tank of r22 from the fridgie in my neighborhood because he thought it could be used to extend the life of old fridges, but it didnt so he had no use for it.

Gases are too expensive here, 404a is several hundred dollars for a smallish 13kg tank.

[Detract]

I I got a tank of r22 from the fridgie in my neighborhood because he thought it could be used to extend the life of old fridges, but it didnt so he had no use for it.

Gases are too expensive here, 404a is several hundred dollars for a smallish 13kg tank.

Wow thats quite expensive. The thing is your only using a few dollars refrigerant in these small sytems.

If I tuned this system properly what temps do you think I can expect?

[Hobocrow]

I can not guess at the loaded temps, but I would try to tune it so as to have capacity under a max load. Looping a bench ... no problem, sort of tuning!

[kayl]

I can not guess at the loaded temps, but I would try to tune it so as to have capacity under a max load. Looping a bench ... no problem, sort of tuning!

you can also put pc to sleep to pull down quicker after running loops and making a gas change

[Detract]

Still yet to mount this thing, so I've made a push to get it done ASAP.

Just need some advice on the insulation so far.

What do you think?

[runmc]

Nice work with the exacto knife... I think it will work like a charm.

Awesome job..

[blinky]

nice job

i love teh socket insulation, ... look real pro

[gkiing]

That insulation looks like it came factory like the stuff with a mach II, nice job. I think that once you get it tuned you should be able to get better temps than -40C. What's your lowside pressure unloaded? Cap tube lengths and diameter?

[Detract]

That insulation looks like it came factory like the stuff with a mach II, nice job. I think that once you get it tuned you should be able to get better temps than -40C. What's your lowside pressure unloaded? Cap tube lengths and diameter?

To be honest Ive forgoten the captube length, I can remember that it was 0.028" diameter.

Lowside pressure unloaded was around -5 in.Hg.

*Edit* 11Ft or 0.028" captube.

[Unseen]

i have done the same thing to my mobo for the cascade and it worked ok.

[Tonic]

Add shroud for condenser and wrap capillary tube around suction pipe.

You should get a few degrees *C

And please to post more photos - I want to see this unit from different perspectives

[Sons_of_Piru]

And please to post more photos - I want to see this unit from different perspectives

I second

[kayl]

To be honest Ive forgoten the captube length, I can remember that it was 0.028" diameter.

Lowside pressure unloaded was around -5 in.Hg.

*Edit* 11Ft or 0.028" captube.

i think thats a little long, supa heat will be through the roof.
try about 9-10'
nice job on the insulation. i have been wait for a while for this project.
have yuo still got your bottle of nitrogen?

[gkiing]

I agree with kayl, try 8' or so.

[Detract]

i think thats a little long, supa heat will be through the roof.
try about 9-10'
nice job on the insulation. i have been wait for a while for this project.
have yuo still got your bottle of nitrogen?

I'll try staying with 11' for now and I'll see how that goes first. The nitrogen bottle was a rental, only like $6US a month.

[gkiing]

11' won't deliver eneough refrigerant to the evap to reach lower temps at any load, but it will give lower temps unloaded which can be misleading.

[Detract]

Well, I finally decided to give the rig a run tonight.

I quickly put together a hold down system made of plywood and threaded rod.

Wasn't running a HD so this is all from the bios only.

I didnt have any thermal paste so I'm pretty sure the contact wasn't the greatest. However I managed to hit about 4.3Ghz on a 3.4E 775. That's 250FSB running BH5 at 1:1, which is about as far as it will go with 3.2vdimm. The dividers on the DFI board are useless so Im stuck with running the RAM at 1:1. So it looks like Im gonna need to find something that can run around 280FSB with loose timings.

With no thermometer at the moment Im stuck with the diode on the motherboard, which unfortunately is completely hopeless as it read the CPU temp was at 80ºC.


Will have another go after work tomorrow and hopefully I'll get some pics.

Other than that Im glad nothing went wrong, the insulation looks liked it did it's job.

[Detract]

First run got the rig you see in my signature up to 4.8Ghz, that wasn't to stable though and would ocassionally crash in the BIOS. I noticed on my second run that a lot of condensation was form above the socket at the top of the board. I can't understand why it would form there as it probably has the most insulation. Also I've noticed on other Xtreme members systems that their insulation didn't extend that far.

I experimented with plywood first. It did its job but the stuff I used was to thin and started to bend badly, and was made worst by the ice starting to form on it.

Here's what it looked like first time around.

[Detract]

After that I redesigned the insulation and came up with this.

[Russell_hq]

If you are going to use wood as a hold down, then I would suggest painting it or sealing it as it will absorbe any moisture that is about. Just a tip from my experience.