- Joined
- Apr 16, 2009
- Location
- Prince George, B.C.
love to see that actual ingenuity is still out there way to go.
-
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DIY Watercooling Rig with DIY Waterblock
- Thread starter l19bal
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2008
Thank you hokiealumnus and rustyfender. Yes possibly, depending on the final outcome! But I'm new to the forum writing, so I'd need help documenting it properly
This is pretty cool, I've never seen a homemade waterblock project. The news team is here for authors, and everyone on the team is extremely helpful. So, if you decide to write something up, you won't be alone
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2010
- Location
- Marietta, GA
You know, I don't know what makes me think this, but I believe martin (martin.skinneelabs.com) made his own block at one point. You may be able to take a page our 2 out of his book and save yourself some trouble.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2005
- Location
- Boston, MA
Could you post some more pics. We love them. I also am glad to see another custom creations. I still get butterflies in my stomach the very first time I use a brand new homemade block. I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the world.
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2007
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
Yup, for a TEC project... that has never actually cooled anything to this day.
This is the only photo I can find at the moment...
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2002
- Location
- Rootstown, OH
Heh, just read the other comments and realized the news team had already swooped in - I had sent him a PM without realizing you guys beat me to the punch last night. Looking forward to how this project comes together!
Pardon me for the brief overclockers DIY waterblock history... But its been a while since we had a decent DIY waterblock crowd around here, and I blame that mostly for improved commercialization as companies recognized the interest in the community which made rolling your own a bit less relevant/difficult to compete with:
David, a moderator here on the forums, wrote this 4 years ago:
http://www.overclockers.com/the-evolution-of-the-pc-cooling-waterblock/
BillA, once a prominent "personality" around here before he took his testing corporate, wrote this testing piece and linked to several DIY blocks the overclockers community created:
http://www.overclockers.com/diy-waterblock-roundup/
The DIY blocks he linked to have broken links - there are 2 by "Owen" (not sure if thats our Owenator on OCF or someone else):
http://www.overclockers.com/owens-multi-hole-drilled-waterblock/
http://www.overclockers.com/owens-copper-cap-waterblock/
And another by Hoot, also a moderator on the forum, tho he's since been inactive for quite a while here:
http://www.overclockers.com/hoots-pin-fin-waterblock/
Hoot's one of the guys that inspired me when I was first joining the forums.
A DIY roundup by JoeC in 2002 with about 5 different blocks:
http://www.overclockers.com/diy-waterblock-contest/
Another roundup by BillA (date may not be accurate on this article, and its missing the data which I'm guessing was removed at someone's request):
http://www.overclockers.com/waterblock-roundup/
A DIY waterblock Mod on a commercially available waterblock (theres a decent amount of similar stuff around also about inlet restriction and such):
http://www.overclockers.com/swiftechs-462-b-gets-modded/
And a classic article by BillA thrown in for good measure, though it has nothing to do with DIY blocks but it brings back memories of how times have changed:
http://www.overclockers.com/bench-vs-system-testing-the-pros-and-cons/
Looking forward to how this project comes together!Pardon me for the brief overclockers DIY waterblock history... But its been a while since we had a decent DIY waterblock crowd around here, and I blame that mostly for improved commercialization as companies recognized the interest in the community which made rolling your own a bit less relevant/difficult to compete with:
David, a moderator here on the forums, wrote this 4 years ago:
http://www.overclockers.com/the-evolution-of-the-pc-cooling-waterblock/
BillA, once a prominent "personality" around here before he took his testing corporate, wrote this testing piece and linked to several DIY blocks the overclockers community created:
http://www.overclockers.com/diy-waterblock-roundup/
The DIY blocks he linked to have broken links - there are 2 by "Owen" (not sure if thats our Owenator on OCF or someone else):
http://www.overclockers.com/owens-multi-hole-drilled-waterblock/
http://www.overclockers.com/owens-copper-cap-waterblock/
And another by Hoot, also a moderator on the forum, tho he's since been inactive for quite a while here:
http://www.overclockers.com/hoots-pin-fin-waterblock/
Hoot's one of the guys that inspired me when I was first joining the forums.
A DIY roundup by JoeC in 2002 with about 5 different blocks:
http://www.overclockers.com/diy-waterblock-contest/
Another roundup by BillA (date may not be accurate on this article, and its missing the data which I'm guessing was removed at someone's request):
http://www.overclockers.com/waterblock-roundup/
A DIY waterblock Mod on a commercially available waterblock (theres a decent amount of similar stuff around also about inlet restriction and such):
http://www.overclockers.com/swiftechs-462-b-gets-modded/
And a classic article by BillA thrown in for good measure, though it has nothing to do with DIY blocks but it brings back memories of how times have changed:
http://www.overclockers.com/bench-vs-system-testing-the-pros-and-cons/
OP
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2010
- Thread Starter
- #28
Hello everyone, apologies for the very late post! Been busy with college etc.
Ok so I've completed the project and have let it run continuously for over 4 days now and there are no leaks or any problems! Happy about that, indeed I am.
The basic idea was to make a box in which I'd place the radiator, reservoir and pump because they wouldn't all fit inside my case. So I made the box, cut a hole in each side for the fans (1 intake on the right and 1 out on the left). I made a mount inside for the radiator to sit on, and the reservoir was glued to the side wall inside the box. It has the pump inside it.
The tubing was a minor issue; it kinked in some places so i had to use longer lengths inside for it to stop kinking. Maybe need another type of tubing in the future?
On the front of the box, I put 4 switches and 4 LEDs; 1 main power switch, 1 pump and temperature LCD switch, 1 for the left fan and 1 for the right fan. I wired everything up so that the pump works off a relay, and only when the 2nd switch is pressed in. This relay also switches the temperature LCD on and off whenever the pump comes on/off. The LEDs represent the power status' of each component inside. The relay and LEDs are powered off 12v, but the temperature LCD is powered off 5v. I accidently blew the red lighting inside the LCD, but I opened it up and replaced the surface mounted LEDs; it was a delicate process considering I don't have a very steady hand!
Everything came together quite well I'd say - pictures attached. What do you think? Just need to test performance.
One problem though - I was a bit too lenient when cutting the wood for the box. I left too much space inside and the whole box is now just over 50cm long, 17cm wide and 35cm tall.
Please do comment and let me know how you think it is! Will be running temperature tests and comparisons soon - I am going to, well I should be, buying a ready made waterblock and comparing its performance with my DIY waterblock.
Also, check out the video of the rig I have uploaded onto Youtube.
Sorry for the fuzzy photos!
Thank you all
Ok so I've completed the project and have let it run continuously for over 4 days now and there are no leaks or any problems! Happy about that, indeed I am.
The basic idea was to make a box in which I'd place the radiator, reservoir and pump because they wouldn't all fit inside my case. So I made the box, cut a hole in each side for the fans (1 intake on the right and 1 out on the left). I made a mount inside for the radiator to sit on, and the reservoir was glued to the side wall inside the box. It has the pump inside it.
The tubing was a minor issue; it kinked in some places so i had to use longer lengths inside for it to stop kinking. Maybe need another type of tubing in the future?
On the front of the box, I put 4 switches and 4 LEDs; 1 main power switch, 1 pump and temperature LCD switch, 1 for the left fan and 1 for the right fan. I wired everything up so that the pump works off a relay, and only when the 2nd switch is pressed in. This relay also switches the temperature LCD on and off whenever the pump comes on/off. The LEDs represent the power status' of each component inside. The relay and LEDs are powered off 12v, but the temperature LCD is powered off 5v. I accidently blew the red lighting inside the LCD, but I opened it up and replaced the surface mounted LEDs; it was a delicate process considering I don't have a very steady hand!
Everything came together quite well I'd say - pictures attached. What do you think? Just need to test performance.
One problem though - I was a bit too lenient when cutting the wood for the box. I left too much space inside and the whole box is now just over 50cm long, 17cm wide and 35cm tall.
Please do comment and let me know how you think it is! Will be running temperature tests and comparisons soon - I am going to, well I should be, buying a ready made waterblock and comparing its performance with my DIY waterblock.
Also, check out the video of the rig I have uploaded onto Youtube.
Sorry for the fuzzy photos!
Thank you all
Attachments
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2010
- Location
- Marietta, GA
if you put a ziptie around that kink it will hold the tubing open
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2002
- Location
- Rathdrum ID
I19bal.
Very nice DIY watercooler.
IMOG. Man that brings back some memories from the day. I used to be a member here years ago. I went by the name FRAGN'STIEN then and used to machine my own Waterblocks. I remember BillA. For some reason everytime I use google I think about him. "Don't you guys know how to google" lol.
Very nice DIY watercooler.
Heh, just read the other comments and realized the news team had already swooped in - I had sent him a PM without realizing you guys beat me to the punch last night.
Pardon me for the brief overclockers DIY waterblock history... But its been a while since we had a decent DIY waterblock crowd around here, and I blame that mostly for improved commercialization as companies recognized the interest in the community which made rolling your own a bit less relevant/difficult to compete with:
David, a moderator here on the forums, wrote this 4 years ago:
http://www.overclockers.com/the-evolution-of-the-pc-cooling-waterblock/
BillA, once a prominent "personality" around here before he took his testing corporate, wrote this testing piece and linked to several DIY blocks the overclockers community created:
http://www.overclockers.com/diy-waterblock-roundup/
The DIY blocks he linked to have broken links - there are 2 by "Owen" (not sure if thats our Owenator on OCF or someone else):
http://www.overclockers.com/owens-multi-hole-drilled-waterblock/
http://www.overclockers.com/owens-copper-cap-waterblock/
And another by Hoot, also a moderator on the forum, tho he's since been inactive for quite a while here:
http://www.overclockers.com/hoots-pin-fin-waterblock/
Hoot's one of the guys that inspired me when I was first joining the forums.
A DIY roundup by JoeC in 2002 with about 5 different blocks:
http://www.overclockers.com/diy-waterblock-contest/
Another roundup by BillA (date may not be accurate on this article, and its missing the data which I'm guessing was removed at someone's request):
http://www.overclockers.com/waterblock-roundup/
A DIY waterblock Mod on a commercially available waterblock (theres a decent amount of similar stuff around also about inlet restriction and such):
http://www.overclockers.com/swiftechs-462-b-gets-modded/
And a classic article by BillA thrown in for good measure, though it has nothing to do with DIY blocks but it brings back memories of how times have changed:
http://www.overclockers.com/bench-vs-system-testing-the-pros-and-cons/
IMOG. Man that brings back some memories from the day. I used to be a member here years ago. I went by the name FRAGN'STIEN then and used to machine my own Waterblocks. I remember BillA. For some reason everytime I use google I think about him.
"Don't you guys know how to google" lol.
