- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Location
- Upstate NY and NYC
Hello guys (and gals? ):
My previous build from back in 2004 was quite successful. I upgraded it over the years for chipset and GPU cooling, and it never flaunted. I was actually able to push an 800 Mhz Core2 to 1300 Mhz FSB. This time around, I have a new Dell XPS 730x case that I am a big fan of. So for longer than two years, I have been slowly planning this system show below.
I would love feedback from everyone here. [Attempt-at-Defending-Myself]But before flaming me on the decisions made, please read the detailed reasonings below where I attempted to address each and every concern that most here don't like about this kind of setup (parallel, sandwhich rads, etc). [/Attempt-at-Defending-Myself]
Objectives:
#1 Use of my awesome Dell XPS 730x case and ESA Master Control Board
#2 Dead silent operation (achieved, except for the noisy Corsair PSU, ugh).
#3 Ability to cool ~920 Watts of heat.
#4 Wanted the clean-look of the CPU in parallel to the GPUs, due to tight space restrictions.
#5 Control all devices (pumps, fans, LEDs) all via the OEM Dell MCB with software and firmware.
You can view my voltages and clock speeds on ModsRigs (give me a bump in score if ur a member).
See signature for internal components (waiting on EVGA's X79 next year).
So, here we go... This was the equivalent of stuffing a bigblock Rat motor into a 3rd Gen Camaro: it can be done, but with some significate cutting and tight tight clearences.
I wanted an "OEM, like it came from the factory" look. Didn't want to spend a lot of $$$ on items and color matching. Also, I had NO room for compression fittings in these tight spaces.
Starting off, the watercooling components are:
Dual Phobya 140.2 Rads using Koolance 2-slot SLI connectors in parallel.
^- Equal to 93% of the cooling of two 120.3 radiators!
Dual Phobya 140mm PWM Fans @ 60 CFM* (take note)
Koolance RP-401X2 w/Dual MCP35X PWM pumps in Series** (take note)
All GPUs and CPU running in 1 loop in Parallel.***
Those radiators are not big enough
Actually, after extremely diligent research on dozens of radiators, and a lot of careful planning using Martin's Liquid Labs spreadsheet, I determined that Dual 3x120 radiators will give me a DeltaT of about 16 C. That's a bit high, I know, but tollerable. My objectives is not for massive overclocking (it's not on my priority list).
Next issue is, I can't fit a single 3x120. Much less two of them in this case. I came up with the idea that 2x140 radiators actually has 91% of the surface area of 3x120 rads. When you actually factor in the dead space saved by using 2 fans instead of 3, you actually are looking at about 94%. So, to squeeze in two 2x140mm radiators, I needed to modify the case "a bit" by removing the 3.5" bays.
Not all radiators are made equal, we all know. So after careful planning with y'alls help here at ocforums, I decided on a medium density FPI radiator. The Phobya's are 12 FPI. After a lot of research (and translations from German to English), their sweet spot is from 900 to 1800 RPMs, at 0.75 GPM flow. More airflow works well too, but I considered it too loud. So that limited me to a lower FPI radiator.
To achieve this flow rate, it took a lot more planning with that spreadsheet. First, putting the GPUs in parallel achieved nearly what I was looking for. But with the radiators in parallel, that cuts the flow rate in half to each radiator.
To increate the flowrate to the target of 0.75 GPM each, that means I needed roughly 1.5 GPM flow. And how to achieve that? A single MCP35X gives me the flow rate of 1.2 GPM at full speed. But we know how loud these pumps are at full speed, which is unacceptable. With dual MCP35X pumps at 40% in series, the spreadsheet showed my target of 1.5 GPM! Now with the system running, 40% is tollerable for gaming. Most of the time (e.g. Folding or working), they are at 33% which you cannot hear. Perfect.
^- Wish I had a pipe bender...
This was most difficult part. I weighed dozens of options here, and was almost ready to cut up the bottom 5.25" bay to make room for me to run the tubing to the top of the tanks. But, I decided to use SLI connectors, 7mm shrouds, and 25mm fans to connect the tanks in parallel, and then go in and out from the top of the rear radiator.
To be continued...
The deltaT was just about dead on. I have a few problems with the temp probes, which I'll fix later and start recording data with. But until then, I have to go by the temps of the cores. As mentioned, the GPUs jump from 43C to 50C upon load. After about two hours, the calculated deltaT of 17C was just about dead on: the GPU cores rise to about 65C with 30C ambient inlet temps. I'm fine with that, for now.
I need more fans though... I was hoping the 1100rpm 59cfm Phobya PWM 140mm fans would surfice, but they just don't move enough air with the restrictions of the rads and filters to create positive case pressure - the case temps greatly heatup to well beyond acceptable. So, I'm planning a tear down for some upgrades. First, switching from PWM to standard 3-pin. I hate that idea, as the whole point of having PWM devices is to utilize Dell's Chassis ESA device (the Master Control Board). I just may have to let that go for the fans... Problem is, most 140mm fans I am finding only go to 100 CFM. Still need to investigate more. And I'll slap some 40mm and 120mm silent fans in the read to extract the case heat. It's just too high...
Thanks in advance!
My previous build from back in 2004 was quite successful. I upgraded it over the years for chipset and GPU cooling, and it never flaunted. I was actually able to push an 800 Mhz Core2 to 1300 Mhz FSB. This time around, I have a new Dell XPS 730x case that I am a big fan of. So for longer than two years, I have been slowly planning this system show below.
I would love feedback from everyone here. [Attempt-at-Defending-Myself]But before flaming me on the decisions made, please read the detailed reasonings below where I attempted to address each and every concern that most here don't like about this kind of setup (parallel, sandwhich rads, etc). [/Attempt-at-Defending-Myself]
Objectives:
#1 Use of my awesome Dell XPS 730x case and ESA Master Control Board
#2 Dead silent operation (achieved, except for the noisy Corsair PSU, ugh).
#3 Ability to cool ~920 Watts of heat.
#4 Wanted the clean-look of the CPU in parallel to the GPUs, due to tight space restrictions.
#5 Control all devices (pumps, fans, LEDs) all via the OEM Dell MCB with software and firmware.
You can view my voltages and clock speeds on ModsRigs (give me a bump in score if ur a member).
See signature for internal components (waiting on EVGA's X79 next year).
So, here we go... This was the equivalent of stuffing a bigblock Rat motor into a 3rd Gen Camaro: it can be done, but with some significate cutting and tight tight clearences.
I wanted an "OEM, like it came from the factory" look. Didn't want to spend a lot of $$$ on items and color matching. Also, I had NO room for compression fittings in these tight spaces.
Starting off, the watercooling components are:
Dual Phobya 140.2 Rads using Koolance 2-slot SLI connectors in parallel.
^- Equal to 93% of the cooling of two 120.3 radiators!
Dual Phobya 140mm PWM Fans @ 60 CFM* (take note)
Koolance RP-401X2 w/Dual MCP35X PWM pumps in Series** (take note)
All GPUs and CPU running in 1 loop in Parallel.***
Those radiators are not big enough
Actually, after extremely diligent research on dozens of radiators, and a lot of careful planning using Martin's Liquid Labs spreadsheet, I determined that Dual 3x120 radiators will give me a DeltaT of about 16 C. That's a bit high, I know, but tollerable. My objectives is not for massive overclocking (it's not on my priority list).
Next issue is, I can't fit a single 3x120. Much less two of them in this case. I came up with the idea that 2x140 radiators actually has 91% of the surface area of 3x120 rads. When you actually factor in the dead space saved by using 2 fans instead of 3, you actually are looking at about 94%. So, to squeeze in two 2x140mm radiators, I needed to modify the case "a bit" by removing the 3.5" bays.
Not all radiators are made equal, we all know. So after careful planning with y'alls help here at ocforums, I decided on a medium density FPI radiator. The Phobya's are 12 FPI. After a lot of research (and translations from German to English), their sweet spot is from 900 to 1800 RPMs, at 0.75 GPM flow. More airflow works well too, but I considered it too loud. So that limited me to a lower FPI radiator.
To achieve this flow rate, it took a lot more planning with that spreadsheet. First, putting the GPUs in parallel achieved nearly what I was looking for. But with the radiators in parallel, that cuts the flow rate in half to each radiator.
To increate the flowrate to the target of 0.75 GPM each, that means I needed roughly 1.5 GPM flow. And how to achieve that? A single MCP35X gives me the flow rate of 1.2 GPM at full speed. But we know how loud these pumps are at full speed, which is unacceptable. With dual MCP35X pumps at 40% in series, the spreadsheet showed my target of 1.5 GPM! Now with the system running, 40% is tollerable for gaming. Most of the time (e.g. Folding or working), they are at 33% which you cannot hear. Perfect.
^- Wish I had a pipe bender...
This was most difficult part. I weighed dozens of options here, and was almost ready to cut up the bottom 5.25" bay to make room for me to run the tubing to the top of the tanks. But, I decided to use SLI connectors, 7mm shrouds, and 25mm fans to connect the tanks in parallel, and then go in and out from the top of the rear radiator.
To be continued...
The deltaT was just about dead on. I have a few problems with the temp probes, which I'll fix later and start recording data with. But until then, I have to go by the temps of the cores. As mentioned, the GPUs jump from 43C to 50C upon load. After about two hours, the calculated deltaT of 17C was just about dead on: the GPU cores rise to about 65C with 30C ambient inlet temps. I'm fine with that, for now.
I need more fans though... I was hoping the 1100rpm 59cfm Phobya PWM 140mm fans would surfice, but they just don't move enough air with the restrictions of the rads and filters to create positive case pressure - the case temps greatly heatup to well beyond acceptable. So, I'm planning a tear down for some upgrades. First, switching from PWM to standard 3-pin. I hate that idea, as the whole point of having PWM devices is to utilize Dell's Chassis ESA device (the Master Control Board). I just may have to let that go for the fans... Problem is, most 140mm fans I am finding only go to 100 CFM. Still need to investigate more. And I'll slap some 40mm and 120mm silent fans in the read to extract the case heat. It's just too high...
Thanks in advance!
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