[proptronics]

Hello, new OCforums poster here.
I have a couple questions about water cooling. I'm quite experienced in building computer systems, but I have yet to attempt WC until now. I've read up on it quite a bit, but there are some things I still have to work out before I make the big purchase. (big for my budget, anyway)

First, my system specs.

Gigabyte GA-7n400pro2 Socket A mobo
Sempr0n 2400+ (1.66Ghz stock) @ 2.05Ghz & around 1.75v (set +10% in bios)
STOCK CPU HSF
BFG 7800gs @ 490/1490 (STOCK HSF)
cheapass mid-tower with a fair amount of room
Antec Truepower 430
a couple case fans

Hey, quit laughing!

Now, puhleeze don't post just to tell me to upgrade this or that first. I'm rolling with this mobo and proc for now. I just need to cool the stuff down a bit....I'm sitting at mid-50s at idle and mid-70s full load on the CPU ...yeah, whoa. It is prime95/3dmark/bf2 stable, though. I haven't looked into the 7800's temp under load yet, but I would imagine it could stand to come down some.

My two big dilemmas are this:

1: lack of 7800gs AGP WC setup....This guy- http://forums.bit-tech.net/showpost....1&postcount=99 appears to have the "Radiical" block working on his GS, but are those glue-on heatsinks going to be enough for the HSI and mem chips?? Is that Radiical block any good?

2: lack of CPU HSF mounting holes on my mobo.....didn't think it would be an issue when I bought the board, but times change and I want better cooling now! Also, I guess one of the caps on this board is pretty close to the CPU socket..... I know the heatsink that comes with the Bigwater SE kit just uses a clip to secure the block, so I'm guessing that there are blocks available individually that also mount this way.....but it's hard to find this info for the particular units.....

So, does anyone have any info on these subjects? I'm looking to spend probably $150 on everything that I need for the operation.....maaaaaybe up to $250, if the extra performance is worth it. Max cooling for the buck is the goal here; I'm not really concerned about the aesthetics. I don't want to have to do much, if any, fabrication, but I would like to save the money and get the extra performance of building the setup myself. (as opposed to a kit)

Also, would it be worth it (working on my budget, here), to try to seperate my CPU and vid card onto 2 seperate WC systems? If not, what size goods should I be looking at. Overkill never hurts, right? I might very well be bringing this cooling system along to the next system I build sometime down the road... If anyone feels lile laying out the whole setup they think would be good for me, that would be shweet. Opinions? Second opinions?

WHOA, long-ass post....I hope someone actually reads this....thanks for your time!

[caddy359]

hi there proptronics welcome from another newbie -)

[proptronics]

well to you too, caddy359!

[kiljaden5]

Originally Posted by proptronics

2: lack of CPU HSF mounting holes on my mobo.....didn't think it would be an issue when I bought the board, but times change and I want better cooling now! Also, I guess one of the caps on this board is pretty close to the CPU socket..... I know the heatsink that comes with the Bigwater SE kit just uses a clip to secure the block, so I'm guessing that there are blocks available individually that also mount this way.....but it's hard to find this info for the particular units.....

personally I haven't seen many blocks with socket A clips anymore but I really think they existed at one point. they probably will be hard to find, but not all hope is lost

oh and welcome!

[Celada]

well you could use this block http://www.thecoolingshop.com/produc...oducts_id/2175

[proptronics]

Originally Posted by Celada

well you could use this block http://www.thecoolingshop.com/produc...oducts_id/2175

Whoa, really? Even though it's meant for the socket 754/939/940 chips?

[Celada]

Soory wrong product I meant this one http://www.thecoolingshop.com/produc...oducts_id/1716

[QuietIce]

Go to your local auto parts store and pick up a heater core for a 1977 Bonneville WITH A/C (if they ask tell them it's got a 400 engine). They run ~$20 and are almost perfect for 2x 120mm fans. To mod it you'll need to make a cheap shroud (cardboard and tape is good enough for now) and you'll need to cut both inlet and outlet back a little to be able to put 1/2" tubing on it (hacksaw or pipe cutter). It's the cheapest rad I've found - you can't beat the performance for the price.

BTW

[proptronics]

Heh, you guys must be night owls like me.

Celada- thanks for the link! Looks like just about what I need. I'm concerned about the 1/4" fittings, though. Is that acceptable?

QuietIce- good call. I think that's exactly what I'll do for the radiator. I read somewhere about using a Chevette heater core, but I think that was for a single fan setup. The dual fan, big radiator operation should should leave me some extra capacity for when I get the vid card GPU/HSI/memory waterblock situation figured out.

I think I'll just put together a WC system for my CPU now and bypass the GPU cooling until later. The Bonneville "radiator" sounds like a plan. Anyone have any experience or comments on the water block that Celada linked to? And what <i>budget</i> components should I be looking at for the other parts that will work well with this setup?

Note: From what I've read, I don't know if the heater core and the 1/4" connections on that water block are a good combo.

[Celada]

Well I think that 1/4" fittings are a little small but im not shure, I'm not familiar with imperial scaels

[proptronics]

Apparently, 1/4" = 6.35mm

[QuietIce]

A new Apogee block with it's "universal fit" will go on socket A (my "old" rig is a 2100+ and I've been looking ) but that may blow the budget at $50 a pop (plus $2.50 for the socket A adapter). It is very usable for the future, though - many say there's no noticeable difference between it and a Storm:

http://www.swiftnets.com/products/APOGEE.asp#top

You can use a "T" line for the res (price of a "T" fitting and three screw clamps). The only other "biggie" is the pump. Considering what I've recently read I'd just bite the bullet and shell out $80 for a Swiftech mcp355 (you can mod it later when you add the GPU). With that and a few feet of tubing you'll have all the main components for ~$160 and the expensive stuff (CPU and pump) can be migrated to newer systems (even AM2) - no need to buy again later.

CPU: Apogee $50
Pump: mcp355 $80
Radiator: '77 Bonneville $20
Res & misc: "T" line res & "cheap" tubing $10

Since you've been into computers for awhile I assume you have a couple of 120 mm fans sitting around ...

[proptronics]

QuietIce- thanks for checking things out for me, but it looks to me like the water block you're referring to, like most others, uses the holes in the motherboard for mounting, and that the "socket A adapter" is just a spacer of some sort, and doesn't change the need for the mounting holes, which my mobo lacks.

EDIT: I just noticed this on their page, too "Note 2: AMD® socket 462 (socket A). The Apogee can be used exclusively with motherboards featuring the 4 mounting holes around the socket."

Weak.

[caddy359]

yeh 10mm od 8mm id tubing but the channel in the fitting is 6.35mm

mine is similar block here are pics of the conector size might help abit





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im blind in my left ear so dont shout i wont see you
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[QuietIce]

Originally Posted by proptronics

QuietIce- thanks for checking things out for me, but it looks to me like the water block you're referring to, like most others, uses the holes in the motherboard for mounting, and that the "socket A adapter" is just a spacer of some sort, and doesn't change the need for the mounting holes, which my mobo lacks.

EDIT: I just noticed this on their page, too "Note 2: AMD® socket 462 (socket A). The Apogee can be used exclusively with motherboards featuring the 4 mounting holes around the socket."

Weak.

Ouch! That's too bad. Guess I missed that part - and I'll have to double-check mine ...

[Deathknight]

This may work for you:
http://www.swiftnets.com/products/mcw6000.asp

The AMD K7(Socket 462) mounting equipment for the MCW6000 seems to use the clips and not the mounting holes. I did a froogle on it and it is still for sale

[caddy359]

argh ive just found the alphacool socket A adapter in my draw will post pics in a min




that dosent need the mobo holes just slips over the socket clips then uses the bolt to fasten

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im blind in my left ear so dont shout i wont see you
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[proptronics]

DeathKnight- You da man! This block looks like just the ticket; 3/8" ID connections and the socket A clip-on bracket.

All right, so this is the water block for me, and I'll go with the Bonneville heater core for the radiator......can anyone recommend a cheap pump and reservoir that would be a good match for these?

[QuietIce]

Cheap res is still the T-line - can't get much cheaper. And you really don't need any more than that and a funnel.

I'm going with a T-line until I get some inspiration for a really nice home-made one ...

[Deathknight]

Certainly if you want cheap a T line is the way to go. The money you spend on a res would be much better spent somewhere else