My second system overhaul is complete, and it's time to post some pictures, and preliminary results
I really want to hear some feedback from all of you on my work, as well as any suggestions and comments about future improvements I could make
I've got a lot of pictures, as I've made a lot of changes since my last system, and I have no hosting off of the forums. So, there will be several posts below this one, each with a picture uploaded. I'll keep the entire description to this post to keep it simple.
I'll start with the case, in brief . It's a Chieftec Dragon Full-Tower, picked because of the low price and size, which has been powder-coated a Mirror-Black inside and out. The case is quite reflective, and the interior really shines when lighted, which doesn't come out in the pictures too well. The case has been chopped up and modified to accomodate two BIX radiators in the front, and a Chevette heatercore in the top, not to mention lots of discreet holes cut for cables, and tubing. A 120mm blowhole has also been added to the side-window. Because of the radiators, my Hard-drive is mounted in one of the 5.25" Drive bays. Wiring management is done using cable routing clamps, which are adhered to the inside of the case.
The watercooling system is actually two seperate circuits. I have two independant loops in there, with two pumps, three radiators, and two waterblocks. I have used T-Lines to save space.
The first circuit is for my GPU Waterblock/Peltier setup, with a Chevette Heatercore/Single Panaflo M1A mounted in the top of the case, a Maze 4-1 GPU Block, a 24V/172W Peltier being run on 22V, and an Iwaki MD6Z Pump. It goes PUMP -> TEE LINE -> HEATERCORE -> MAZE4-1. The video card being cooled is a BBA 9800 Pro, which I have completely voltage modified to take advantage of the cooling on it. I run the card overclocked at 459/378 (the second highest perfectly "even" clock speeds this card can do via the BIOS, with the highest being 530/414) for day to day gaming use, and at these speeds it idles at about 1 degree celcius with a normal (~26C) room temperature, with the fan on 12V. The card typically loads at about 8-10 degrees celcius at a normal room temperature at these speeds (stock voltages). I run the card up at 530/414 for benchmarking, the core requires 1.95V to run this stably, and the RAM needs 2.9V.
The second loop is for my processor, a Mobile Barton 2600+. I have two BIX radiators in this loop, currently in series (On Diehrd's advice ), although I'll test out a parallel setup when I find time. Series makes for *MUCH* easier routing, and supposedly better radiator-efficiency. It is more restrictive than a parallel setup would be, and it will be interesting to see how parallel does. The waterblock is a Copper Cascade block, and the pump is a Swiftech MCP600. The circuit goes PUMP -> BIX1 -> BIX2 -> TEE LINE -> CASCADE. The processor is running at 2700 MHz (200 X 13.5) right now, I'm working on more (always ). The processor is 24 hours Prime95 stable, and 3DMark stable, at this speed with a 1.9V average Vcore voltage. The processor loads at 41 degrees celcius with a room temperature around 26 degrees celcius, with the Evercool Aluminums on the BIX running on 12V. With the fans on 7V, the load temperature goes up to 45 degrees celcius, although stability is maintained (I did stability testing while the fans were on 7V so I could sleep overnight). I am unhappy about the need for an elbow fitting in this circuit, as I vowed to never use them again, but one is required to make the bend from one radiator to the other.
The GPU loop went in first, and takes up more space tubing-wise because of this. The routing between the two is pretty clean, but could be improved a good deal in my opinion. The Swiftech and Iwaki pumps are wonderfully small, and fit under the video card very snugly, with the fans on the BIX radiators blowing over them. The MCP600 pump head has been turned for sideways output, to make for cleaner routing.
I have used Coolsleeves, with 1/2" ID, 5/8" OD Clearflex60 Tubing, in the two loops, and the stuff makes for some really easy routing. I've also skipped hose clamps, because the Coolsleeves (I'm using the ones intended for 1/2" oD tubing, so it's very tight) seem to do an adequate job of gripping the barbed fitings.
Well, that's the boring part. The pictures are below .
This is a picture of the entire system. These full-shots always look really grainy with my crummy webcam, but it gives an idea of the system layout and routing.
I really want to hear some feedback from all of you on my work, as well as any suggestions and comments about future improvements I could make
I've got a lot of pictures, as I've made a lot of changes since my last system, and I have no hosting off of the forums. So, there will be several posts below this one, each with a picture uploaded. I'll keep the entire description to this post to keep it simple.
I'll start with the case, in brief . It's a Chieftec Dragon Full-Tower, picked because of the low price and size, which has been powder-coated a Mirror-Black inside and out. The case is quite reflective, and the interior really shines when lighted, which doesn't come out in the pictures too well. The case has been chopped up and modified to accomodate two BIX radiators in the front, and a Chevette heatercore in the top, not to mention lots of discreet holes cut for cables, and tubing. A 120mm blowhole has also been added to the side-window. Because of the radiators, my Hard-drive is mounted in one of the 5.25" Drive bays. Wiring management is done using cable routing clamps, which are adhered to the inside of the case.
The watercooling system is actually two seperate circuits. I have two independant loops in there, with two pumps, three radiators, and two waterblocks. I have used T-Lines to save space.
The first circuit is for my GPU Waterblock/Peltier setup, with a Chevette Heatercore/Single Panaflo M1A mounted in the top of the case, a Maze 4-1 GPU Block, a 24V/172W Peltier being run on 22V, and an Iwaki MD6Z Pump. It goes PUMP -> TEE LINE -> HEATERCORE -> MAZE4-1. The video card being cooled is a BBA 9800 Pro, which I have completely voltage modified to take advantage of the cooling on it. I run the card overclocked at 459/378 (the second highest perfectly "even" clock speeds this card can do via the BIOS, with the highest being 530/414) for day to day gaming use, and at these speeds it idles at about 1 degree celcius with a normal (~26C) room temperature, with the fan on 12V. The card typically loads at about 8-10 degrees celcius at a normal room temperature at these speeds (stock voltages). I run the card up at 530/414 for benchmarking, the core requires 1.95V to run this stably, and the RAM needs 2.9V.
The second loop is for my processor, a Mobile Barton 2600+. I have two BIX radiators in this loop, currently in series (On Diehrd's advice ), although I'll test out a parallel setup when I find time. Series makes for *MUCH* easier routing, and supposedly better radiator-efficiency. It is more restrictive than a parallel setup would be, and it will be interesting to see how parallel does. The waterblock is a Copper Cascade block, and the pump is a Swiftech MCP600. The circuit goes PUMP -> BIX1 -> BIX2 -> TEE LINE -> CASCADE. The processor is running at 2700 MHz (200 X 13.5) right now, I'm working on more (always ). The processor is 24 hours Prime95 stable, and 3DMark stable, at this speed with a 1.9V average Vcore voltage. The processor loads at 41 degrees celcius with a room temperature around 26 degrees celcius, with the Evercool Aluminums on the BIX running on 12V. With the fans on 7V, the load temperature goes up to 45 degrees celcius, although stability is maintained (I did stability testing while the fans were on 7V so I could sleep overnight). I am unhappy about the need for an elbow fitting in this circuit, as I vowed to never use them again, but one is required to make the bend from one radiator to the other.
The GPU loop went in first, and takes up more space tubing-wise because of this. The routing between the two is pretty clean, but could be improved a good deal in my opinion. The Swiftech and Iwaki pumps are wonderfully small, and fit under the video card very snugly, with the fans on the BIX radiators blowing over them. The MCP600 pump head has been turned for sideways output, to make for cleaner routing.
I have used Coolsleeves, with 1/2" ID, 5/8" OD Clearflex60 Tubing, in the two loops, and the stuff makes for some really easy routing. I've also skipped hose clamps, because the Coolsleeves (I'm using the ones intended for 1/2" oD tubing, so it's very tight) seem to do an adequate job of gripping the barbed fitings.
Well, that's the boring part. The pictures are below .
This is a picture of the entire system. These full-shots always look really grainy with my crummy webcam, but it gives an idea of the system layout and routing.