Watercooling in a small space

[Mac42]

Instead of doing the intelligent thing and buy a larger case, I decided to see if I couldn't fit my watercooling system inside my little mid-tower (H = 15.5", W = 8.5", L = 16.5"). The cpu, northbridge, and video core are all watercooled.

http://forums.xfactorclan.com/attachments/PIC00020.jpg


The cpu block is a DangerDen Maze2... the other two are homemade... I can post pics of them upclose if you want.

I've probably cut off 40% of the original case, including the lower HD bay so the radiator would fit. I also had to fit the power supply into the top two cd-rom bays, as it wouldn't fit anywhere else.

The back of the computer connects to my window radiator which dumps all the heat outside instead of into my non-airconditioned apartment... also makes overclocking in the winter soooo much nicer.

http://forums.xfactorclan.com/attachments/Back.jpg


Because the hoses on the back can disconnect, all I have to do is turn the shut-off valves and redirect the water flow through the internal radiator.

[Mac42]

Oh yea, I forgot about filling the system. I noticed that a lot of people who had built fully-contained systems like this always complained about filling the system and bleeding the air out. I managed to do both with one extra step.

http://forums.xfactorclan.com/attachments/Funnel.jpg


In order to fill the system I just stick in a funnel and pour it in. This tube also allows air in the reservoir to escape. I also made sure that the water flows up through all the waterblocks and the radiator, so the system bleeds itself in about 5 minutes after it is first filled. If I want to drain the water out I just open a valve on the back.

[[EG]~NaTz~]

wow man thats cool and kinda funny... ...could you maybe do me a favor and show me some pics of ur outside raidiator? i was wondering how u did that and type of rad ur using??? well anyway nice job u kinda jacked ur case over but oh well. why not just buy a wood box or a night stand and put ur comp in the furniture?

[rogerdugans]

Nice- I keep my rad out of the case and portable- in the window most of the time, inside for ac days and right ouside in the winter!

What I want to know is.....where did you get the valves?

I've been looking for valves that will fit well and not break the bank for a few months...

[SkiFletch]

AMEN to that, those valves look like they ROCK. where'd ya get em?:eek:

[SniperXX]

I think I've seen those @ my local Lowes Hardware store.

[MajinSSJVegetto]

Those are basic PVC ball valves.
Kinda expensive.
$3-5 for a 1/2" valve. Plus adapters...
The valves are also kinda hard to turn.

[Aswethinkweis]

Ive got a radiator out of a 65 dodge sitting in my garage...and a few others too, maybe ill climb the side of my house tommorow and bolt one of em on...hehehehe:beer:

[Mac42]

Here's the Gainward GeForce4 4200 128Mb with the waterblock and ramsinks (320/560).

http://forums.xfactorclan.com/attachments/GF4_after.jpg



The external radiator is just 40ft of copper coil tied to a dual window fan (one fan blows in and the other out, creating a circular flow). I put the cardboard box on there so that the outside air never enters my room (especially on those cold mountain winter nights). I'll see if I can scrounge up some old pics.


I got the valves at Home Depot for about $3 each. I thought about just having a external radiator, but the internal one is just less of a hassle when I move the computer.

This thing puts out an extrodinary amount of heat. To get the TBird 1333 up to it's current 1660Mhz I had to rais the voltage to 2.15v, plus the overclocked GF4 and the mobo chipset running at 175Mhz (350Mhz ddr with the fastest timings)... the internal radiator blows out very warm air all the time, so before I installed the window radiator I had to leave all the windows and doors open. :(

After finishing everything I managed to pull around 12000 in 3DMark2001se, not a bad improvement considering the 8500 points I got before the mods.

[Aswethinkweis]

nice block on that GeForce 4 ;) and nice idea with the radiator...i dont think my parents would let me do that though..:mad:

[petreza]

so I see putting stuff on the window is becomming a fashion hehehe

I have my pump, radiator, radiator fans (duh), and power supply all outside my window in an empty air-conditioner case. I said outside my window because the window is actually closed and there is a small board on the bottom with holes in it just for the tubes and power cables. The reservoir is right inside the window and so are the disconnect valves - exactly like yours (they get pretty expensive eh? 4 valves with two adapters each plus clips).
So the only thing inside my case are the water blocks - CLEAN!.

I have also removed the side pannel of my computer so it gets ventilated naturally - no need for fans. THIS MACHENE IS SILENT. It is about 7 feet from the my pillow and I who am very sensitive to noise at night have no problem sleeping. (Please note that in order to keep the noise down I use Barracuda IV 40GB HD which is practically silent even when actively writing.)

Phew!