Help - I'm watercooling, so how do I cool my motherboard heatsinks? *pic*

MikeHunt79

MikeHunt79

MikeHunt79

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Here's my setup:
imgp1520xh7.jpg

Nothing special, 120.3 with 'loons, pump and Fuzion. The fans run around 600rpm most of the time, but they are temp. controlled by the motherboard.

Motherboard is Gigabyte P35 DS4.

Now I've left it on for a while, and all the copper bits for NB, SB and Fets get pretty toasty, so I was wondering if I need a fan over them shifting some air?

Now, how can I fit a fan amoungst all this? Perhaps have a 60mm one benith the Fuzion? Suggestions needed please...

The manual doesn't mention if they need active cooling or not, perhaps once I get speedfan installed it will show me my NB temps? What are acceptable temps for the NB?
 
Hi Mike, i can't really see, but i assume that your PA120.3 is mounted on top? Does it not suck in air from outside and then push air into the case?

PS: If you ever feel like selling cobs G0 i would love to buy it off you :D
 
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Add them into your watercooling loop?

I'll ask the obvious as well, Why didn't you just mount the pump inside the case? Yes it looks neater inside but look silly side on with it hanging out the back, One knock and it could be game over.
 
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Close up the case so the copper heatsinks are in the air path from your rad's fans.
some card baffels may also help stop the ait flow 'short circuit' your o/b chipset cooling

If you run your system as shown the heatsinks are being passively cooled - not a good option with a oc'ed system.
especially as the passive GPU cooler is adding to your chipset temps (heat rises)

Or add a fan blowing top down on the fusion
or the NB into your loop
 
mk17 said:
These are excellent. I have two, on medium setting, over ram and northbridge on an Abit IP35 Pro. Keeps things nice and cool, particularly under load - or the higher temps we've been having lately.
Click to expand...

yup I run one over my northbridge well worth it
 
beh* said:
Hi Mike, i can't really see, but i assume that your PA120.3 is mounted on top? Does it not suck in air from outside and then push air into the case?

PS: If you ever feel like selling cobs G0 i would love to buy it off you :D
Click to expand...
Hehe, I've only just got it, I'll be keeping it I think. ;) :p

Sorry for the pic tho, it is pretty poor, probably due to the reflection of the flash on the case, the rest is underexposed.... :o The 120.3 is on the top, you can just about see it if you crank the brightness up.... The 'loons below the rad suck air out the case (thru the rad). These are the only 3 fans (so far apart from the PSU fan) is this rig (so far).
Reality|Bites said:
Add them into your watercooling loop?

I'll ask the obvious as well, Why didn't you just mount the pump inside the case? Yes it looks neater inside but look silly side on with it hanging out the back, One knock and it could be game over.
Click to expand...
I've been told there is little gains (if any) from watercooling the NB... plus I'd like to keep my loop as simple as possible (for now) so I'd like to stick with air for the NB.

As for the pump, I have my reasons for mount it there, I've suspended it in elastic to reduce vibration - see my next pic. It works well and there is now no hum at all, the loudest thing in this system is the PSU fan. I'm a bit of a silence nut you see. :)
shadowscotland said:
Close up the case so the copper heatsinks are in the air path from your rad's fans.
some card baffels may also help stop the ait flow 'short circuit' your o/b chipset cooling

If you run your system as shown the heatsinks are being passively cooled - not a good option with a oc'ed system.
especially as the passive GPU cooler is adding to your chipset temps (heat rises)

Or add a fan blowing top down on the fusion
or the NB into your loop
Click to expand...
Another piccy:
imgp1522ah5.jpg


I think I may be able to make a new sidewindow with a 120mm fan mount. I guess if the blows over the fuzion and NB things should be a little less toasty... :) Tomorrow I'll bust out the acrilic and jigsaw, hopefully it should go to plan. :D
 
MikeHunt79 said:
The 120.3 is on the top, you can just about see it if you crank the brightness up.... The 'loons below the rad suck air out the case (thru the rad). These are the only 3 fans (so far apart from the PSU fan) is this rig (so far).
Click to expand...

In my setup, i have the rad fans sucking cool air in and then blowing air into the case. Perhaps you could explore this option? Maybe that and using a spot fan.
 
beh* said:
In my setup, i have the rad fans sucking cool air in and then blowing air into the case. Perhaps you could explore this option? Maybe that and using a spot fan.
Click to expand...

That should work well even without the case side panels on.

If your into quiet - why is the case open? even bungeed HHD still make some noise (but a closed case stops that)

You could even bungee your PSU in that location :D
 
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beh* said:
In my setup, i have the rad fans sucking cool air in and then blowing air into the case. Perhaps you could explore this option? Maybe that and using a spot fan.
Click to expand...

I'm going to try a spot fan first, I went out today and got a couple of Nexus fans so one of these should work once I figure a good way of mounting...
 
can you not remount your pump somewere else and fit a 120mm exhaust fan were your pump is atm ? that will get the air flowing in the right direction.
 
Ok, I've gone for the quickest option first.... Reversing the fans on my rad is major hassle. It took me long enough to get them just to fit in the first place!

Also mounting the pump somewhere else will also be a major pain, so this will be a last resort, as I have to bleed then refill the whole loop, which takes a looooooooong time...

I've managed to squeeze in a Nexus beween the tube and motherboard power cable. It's a pretty tight squeeze but I'm going to add a few zip-ties in place anyway once I've tested it:

imgp1523db0.jpg


I'm gonna have a break now but does anyone know if speedfan will show NB temps? I'm running Windows XP x64 btw. :)
 
The HWMonitor util is perfect, thanks. :)

I'm P95 stressing it now, and the system temp is at 35 degrees and the heatsink is much cooler. The fan is very quiet also which is nice, thanks for the help everyone. :) I'll add this new rig to the WC gallery once I find my sidepanel. :o
 
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