How close can H2O rig get to Ambient??

[joshiieeii]

I have a typical H2O rig as you can see from my sig. I have been running it for awhile (couple weeks) and have notice that I generally stay about 3 degrees above ambient at idle. (CPU 44, Ambient 41, no A/C:( )

Obviously I can't get the water any cooler than ambient (w/o modding some more), but is this a normal situation or am I doing pretty well?

I have 235 CFM going through my radiator!! So I know its not a function of not enough air through it.

[William]

doing extremely well. THose are good temps regardless, but excellent considering ambient. Don't see any way of getting them lower.

[Colin]

That's darn good, almost in bong cooler territory. What are the details of your cooling system?

[joshiieeii]

Well I have a Maze 2, DD cooling cube, a Rio 800 pump, a 6X6X4 resevoir, one huge C&R 235 CFM fan, the rest of my hardware is in my Sig.:D

Here are some pics of my Fan MOD (http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36346)

Some more pics of my system (pre fan mod) (http://home.coxnc.rr.com/dacoolputer/)

[Warlord2]

I think its time for you to go pelt

[Mad_Capr]

The ambient temp in your case is 41c?

That's unreal.

What is your room temp?

[fuzzba11]

You might want to try a water chiller...I just made one, haven't tested it out, yet, though. I'll let you know how well it works and maybe you can construct one to help with your really high ambient temps.

[joshiieeii]

Originally posted by Mad_Capr
The ambient temp in your case is 41c?

That's unreal.

What is your room temp?

Dunno what room temp is, my case is open on both sides so I am assuming the room temp is about 40ish. No AC sux, but nothing I can do, thank god Fall is coming :D :cool:

[joshiieeii]

Originally posted by fuzzba11
You might want to try a water chiller...I just made one, haven't tested it out, yet, though. I'll let you know how well it works and maybe you can construct one to help with your really high ambient temps.

Fuzzba11 Keep me posted on your progress, I have been ponder putting a water chiller together myself. I have heard they work better than pelters.

[fuzzba11]

I'm in basic testing right now, in about an inch of water in my trashcan(didn't measure, sorry) which isn't being used for cooling. Water temp is 18.5 C, right now, and slowly dropping.
Here's a pic of the actual chiller

[fuzzba11]

Down to 18.4...here's my setup

[joshiieeii]

**UPDATE** Ran a series of tests on CPU.
Ambient= 40C
IDLE: 43C

Please tell me if this is acceptable for my given conditions. Thank you.

Full Load on SiSoft Burn test, while I surf the net at the same time:

http://home.coxnc.rr.com/dacoolputer/temps.jpg

[Mad_Capr]

If the temp readings are accurate, then it sounds very acceptable. However, if you have been following my situation, and you are trusting a motherboard sensor, then you know that your temps may be nowhere near the readings you get.

[joshiieeii]

well, I have been following your situation. But logic dictates that if all the conditions remain relatively constant then the results can be trusted. Granted the actual temp might not be accurate, but the change will be. Plus it IS hot as hell in my room (40C-ish), No AC :(, and reading reviews where they tested my MB sensor vs. an installed one, the temps were right on the money, so I kinda trust the temps. I don't have any fan near my CPU, so that shouldn't be a concern.

Anyway, I am glad I am getting fairly decent results considering my ambient temps.:D

*edit* P.S. Sorry for getting all logical on you guys, hehe, its a habit:rolleyes:

[Mad_Capr]

That is true.. *IF* (BIG IF) everything else remains the same, then the change in temperature should be fairly accurate.

However, I have found out by personal experimentation that the socket temp monitor on my motherboard is EXTREMELY sensitive to ANY change in the amount of air movement. For example, when I close the side panel to my case with my watercooling system, the cpu temp actually drops by 3 or 4 degrees. This is caused by the 2 exhaust fans pulling air through the open hole in the side of my case which causes increased airflow around the socket sensor. The fact is that the real temperature is probably rising because there is less air flow through the radiator when the side panel is shut. (The waterblock gets hotter with the side panel shut.)

For others going from a hsf to a waterblock, the matter is even worse, since the fan on top of the heatsink will generate enough wind around the socket to skew the temps. In my situation, the aircooled readings were even more skewed because I had three 80mm intake fans (2 of which blew directly on the cpu/expansion card area). For future watercoolers, keep in mind that it is almost impossible to compare aircooled temps to watercooled temps using the built in motherboard sensors.

With watercooling, I currently have no intake fans and I leave the case open. I'm waiting on a bigger case to arrive along with my 120mm fans before I can setup a closed box.