Project: Passive Aggressive- silent overclocking

[datura3]

Project Passive Aggressive.

Passive cooling… AGGRESSIVE overclocking. A simple premise. The idea was spurred by looking back at a full decade of building and modding computers. I noticed a distinct trend over the years; I would build a fast, loud computer and eventually get annoyed by the sound of delta fans or an open case with house fans blowing on my naked computer (Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t done it). This inspired me to build a slower, quieter computer, but alas, I eventually got annoyed by getting fragged in Quake and waiting 20 minutes to resize a Photoshop image (remember those days?). I repeated this cycle about three times over the past decade.
This computer was designed to break that cycle. I wanted to make a computer that used completely passive cooling, but that could also satiate my overclocking needs. When I heard about the Dothan processor coupled with the CT-479 adapter and P4C800-E motherboard, I realized it was possible. The system uses an excessive amount of passive cooling that includes two Innovatek radiators, a custom radiator, and about 20 pounds of aluminum heatsink extrusion. The water is pushed through by a modified HPPS Eheim pump mounted on rubber stands for a completely silent solution. I disabled the powersupply fan, making this a completely fanless solution. However, you can feel convection currents that flow up through the open bottom/top design. How aggressive is it? This system is stable overclocked 75%.
As a poor graduate student, I’ve spent about a ¼ of my yearly income. I guess I’ll continue eating Ramen noodles and driving around my 1988 Ford EXP. Was it worth it? YES, Of course. Besides, it may actually help me get out of graduate school sooner, since I spend a lot of time using Project Passive Aggressive to analyze complex datasets.

[datura3]

The computer can be dismantled and reassembled in about 1.5 hours using a power screw driver. Bottom row: Two nexus silencing hard drive enclosures. Lian li cd-rom stealth covers. Matrix orbital with custom aluminum frame. Two passive innovatek radiators. Second row: Pump assembly with Fass-o-Matic resevoir. Plate with Vandal blue led switch. The one copper item is a swiftech mcw6000 block. Just to the left of that is a polarflo VGA water block. To the right of that is a custom passive radiatior. Top row: The motherboard tray cut from an old Skyhawk case. The large black heatsink extrusion side panels.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/datura3/parts2.jpg

[datura3]

The other components in image from left to right: Logitech z-5500 speaker system controller. The custom computer. Saitek illuminated keyboard. 24” dell monitor suspended by Ergotron arm. Center channel is attached to monitor. Monster Powercenter HTS 3500 power filter. Microsoft wireless mouse. Everything matches the blue, black, and silver color scheme.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/datura3/everythingcopy.jpg

[datura3]

Open radiators: Is it getting hot in here? To ensure that the computer does not overheat I made it possible to spread its wings. The computer never gets hot enough to require the open mode, but honestly, doesn’t itl look cool? It appears that three large passive radiators is far better at cooling than the dual
radiator I had in my previous system.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/datura3/spread.jpg

[pik4chu]

that is freaking sweet.

[synthetic_fenix]

That looks awesome, Only problem is you gotta keep the system in an airconditioned environment or in an environment where the ambient temp will allow the system to cool efficiently.

[datura3]

That looks awesome, Only problem is you gotta keep the system in an airconditioned environment or in an environment where the ambient temp will allow the system to cool efficiently.

Thanks! I actually don't keep it in an airconditioned room, nor is the ambient really that low. I've been running this system for about 6 months now and I've never had a problem with heat. It is suppose to get to 92F on Sunday and I'll check it again then using mbm or asus probe, but under normal summer heat it idles around 38C and primes around 47C. The convection cooling is pretty effient and these temps are lower than when I had a dual rad system in there. It's kinda sweet- you can feel the air currents coming out of the top of the computer. I'll post some more pics explaining how the power supply, hard drives, mosfets and northbridge etc are keept cool.

[RedDragonXXX]

Is that Monster Power Conditioner in the second pic?

[datura3]

Yup it's a HTS3500 MKII. I actually hate Monster Cable but Moster Power makes some of the best power filters for the price. 3 stage filtering for under 150 bucks.... hard to beat. Plus you can use it as a giant relay switch to turn off peltiers, since it has switched outlets that can be controlled by the 12v line. My last apartment was in this ancient house where the wiring was incredibly bad. Light bulbs only lasted about 2-4weeks before blowing. I was slight worried about the computer so I bought this.

[RedDragonXXX]

Yea those things are awesome. Not only do they protect your equipment but they eliminate all the noise and make picture and sound perfectly clear.

[Captain Slug]

Yummy

[datura3]

I put a passive 500W Antec phantom to provide robust, efficient power. At 86% efficiency, it produces less heat and keeps my electricity bill lower. The phantom has a safety fan built into it, but it never turns on. Why? Well, attaching the power supply to 20 lbs of aluminum heatsink using artic alumina compound is very effective. However, I had to void the warranty by removing all of the stickers/labels on the power supply since they were prohibiting efficient contact. As a safety measure, the computer is designed to properly vent if the fan does turn on. I'll explain how it does that later.

I’ve placed two 250GB samsung spinpoint hard drives in nexus hard drive silencers. The hard drives are sinked to the aluminum paneling keeping them quiet and cool. Unfortunately, since they are sinked directly to the case, the vibrations from the hard drives make a lot of noise, especially since there are no fans to drown out that sound. I recently fixed this problem and I'll post pics of the 5 dollar fix later.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/datura3/sidepanelinsidecopy.jpg

[Gautam]

Great to see you back!! Quite an "aggressive" project indeed, wouldn't mind having some more silence myself for sure. Top notch work as always. :thup:

[datura3]

Thanks Gautam. I've been off the scene for a while now, but I have some spare time once again.... this system is pretty old now, in computer years, but I figure the design is interesting enough to post thoroughly.

[datura3]

The large opening is actually the power supply. Behind that is an area to allow convection currents to flow and another passive radiator. So the if the fan turns on, in theory it will suck air out from around the motherboard area and push it out the small grill behind the matrix orbital display. I say in theory because I never had it turn on.

Extra details: All of the screws are sunken into the aluminum to provide a professional appearance. Blue anodized screws were used to attach the components and to match the other blue anodized components.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/datura3/Topviescopy.jpg

[datura3]

That looks awesome, Only problem is you gotta keep the system in an airconditioned environment or in an environment where the ambient temp will allow the system to cool efficiently.

I decided to test my temps again since it was my thermometer said it was 92F in my office today. The Cpu is now idling around 39C and full load priming around 49C. This is only slightly higher than when it was 85 in my office. The convection currents are stronger in these warmer temps, and it's much easier to feel the air flow. This may be why there is only a slight increase in temps compared to the relatively large increase in room temp. Can anyone confirm that convection currents are stronger when the temps are higher?

[RichardKemp]

DAMN that is a nice case!!!

In fact the whole desk setup is frickin sweet!!

[Octofister]

nice project subscribed

[Max0r]

Datura Inoxia?

Imagine what would happen if you pointed a fan at that thing =)

[datura3]

Datura Inoxia?

I was a horticulturist in a previous life.... that's where the datura inoxia comes from.

I actually thought about adding a fan to the system to see what it would do. I kinda like to do things a little extreme, so my idea was to hook it up to an air conditioner during the summer. Anyone have any design ideas for that?

[Max0r]

I was a horticulturist in a previous life.... that's where the datura inoxia comes from.

I actually thought about adding a fan to the system to see what it would do. I kinda like to do things a little extreme, so my idea was to hook it up to an air conditioner during the summer. Anyone have any design ideas for that?

There's more to datura than horticulture ;)

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut on another topic :rolleyes: ... I don't have any ideas for the ac thing (besides strapping a huge AC unit to the thing.. lol...)... I can imagine.. you point a big fan at the system (which of course is 1 giant heatsink) and your temps immediately go into the negatives... LOL.. yeah i know that's impossible but still... :D

You could always vent from an AC. What would really be fun is to shove a few monster deltas into the tubing in series... I don't know why.. it just would be.

[flamerail]

So...... does it......work? :D

[datura3]

So...... does it......work? :D
I'm not sure if we are talking about datura or the system anymore :D Both work awesome in multiple ways ;) For the cooling with a fan, I think it would have to be blowing from below, otherwise it would mess up the convection cooling. Maybe these would work.

COOLERMASTER STF-B01-E1

http://www.atacom.com/program/print_html_new.cgi?&USER_ID=www&cart_id=7820129_71_235_82_214&Item_code=CASX_COMX_CM_SL

[Acurax]

Just saw your project in Maximum PC's rig of the month, congrats!

[Seven]

Wow, really nice.

So tell me, is the whole case custom built? And where did you get those huge extruded aluminum heatsinks? This really inspires me for a future project, really nice job.