Been out of the loop for ages and have an old Promethea Mach I

[WildBill3/75]

Hello All,

I used to be really into overclocking back around the early 2000's and have had my promethean mach I phase changing unit sitting in the basement for a while now and was thinking about putting it to use. I hooked it up to a power supply and turned it on earlier and it works but I have a few questions I was hoping someone knowledgeable would know the answer for before I get this rolling...
Do they still make parts? or would I need to make my own mount to hookup to a current mother board?
Also the unit runs on 134a...would that be fine on a current Intel CPU? thinking about making a gaming computer using an Intel I5....or should I get it recharged with r404a?

Thank you.

 

[hokiealumnus]

What sort of heatload is it rated for, wattage wise? That should be a good start to determining whether it's worth changing out the coolant and/or repairing parts if necessary. I don't think you'll find promethean mach 1 parts any longer, but the parts can be found to repair phase units. Under The Ice is the only one-stop-shop for phase parts I know about.

Even if it is, I wouldn't recommend running phase 24/7. It's just a huge electricity draw for not much gain, plus it adds the very real problem of condensation potentially killing some equipment. I would recommend an ambient water loop for 24/7 operation. Then, assuming the phase unit is strong enough, you could use the phase unit for benching.

 

[WildBill3/75]

Thank you for the reply and I think you are right about going the water cooling route. I also still have my old water cooling setup, an EHEIM 1048 pump, and a home made radiator from an old car heater core that I could use, the only thing I'd need is a CPU waterblock.

I think later on I'll get the prometeia rebuild with r404a as I just found a manual and for the mach 1 the manual says;
Cooling Capacity Evaporator -40 to -30ºC @ 25 - 105W,
(-25ºC at 145W) at 20ºC ambient
and it is also throwing codes 0 and 5 even though it runs and the cooling head is frosting up.

Luckly I was able to even find the manual....http://www.crazypc.com/support/nventiv/MACHI.pdf for anyone who needs it.

 

[RnRollie]

well since the CPUs have become less power hungry -the i5 is a docile sweet kitten compared to a P4- the load capacity should not be an issue. But you'll probably have to rig up some new mounting mechanism.

When going water, i would recommend the Koolance 380i. Yes, there are "better" perfoming blocks (but only 2 or 3), but they have terrible mounting systems; while the 380 mounting is not the best - you need a Swiftech block for best mounting system - at least its simple and works. - martins liquid labs is still one of the best reference sites.

Anyway, congrats on your (re-)find in a few years you could put it up to show the grandchildren