cooling advice for dual xeon 5365 inside hp xw8400 workstation

pclaes

pclaes

pclaes

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Joined
21 Feb 2011
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3
Hi,

I'm new to the forum and new to water cooling, so I apologise if I ask the same questions as others. I have done some research on the topic, but would still appreciate some second opinions.

The goal: a silent system. I need to record audio alongside video tutorials and silence is important to me. I am not really interested in overclocking for this pc (also I believe I read HP locks that away in the BIOS anyway). Also it is not really required to cool the graphics card at this moment (unless you guys think that would be a good idea as that might produce a lot of noise too).

As I mentioned the current system is based on a hp xw8400 workstation:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/e...2712-12132712-12132712-12431664-80699851.html

But has this CPU in it:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/intel_quad-core_xeon_5365_v8/

I've just upgraded it with an Evga geforce 580 gtx and I'm expecting to upgrade the ram to 22Gig.

The problem lies with the current fans on the cpu blocks, the block are fairly close together and the fans make too much noise when I am using the procs fully.
Here are pictures of the approximate layout of the motherboard:
http://community.avid.com/forums/p/38873/217389.aspx

So what I would like is to replace those fans with water cooled cpu blocks. But I have little experience with this.

*) Cpu block(s):
So far I have found out the cpu socket is LGA 771 (or FC-LGA6, but definitely not LGA 775), which should work with a EK supreme HF block.

*) pump: a Laing D5, probably a Swiftec mcp 655

*) reservoir: no clue yet, I don't know how important that is or if size matters.

*) radiator:
-> could be passive? I don't really mind something like a resorator, but I don't know if that will cool enough for both cpu's. I'm ok with it if it is external as there is very limited amount of space inside the case.
-> Otherwise perhaps that Black Ice 360, but again external.
I would appreciate if you have suggestions for the radiator.

*) tubes: probably 1/2 inch

*) fittings, compression seems more durable and easier to use to me. Not really sure what angles I will need around my cpu blocks. I guess 2 x 90 degree bends (to bridge the gap inbetween) and 2x 45 degrees to connect to pump and reservoir.

As this is more a productivity rig, I am less concerned about aesthetics. (No need for lights or Uv reacting tubes etc...). Just silence really :).

Thanks for any advice you can give me.
 
Reservoir-size is not important. There is an XSPC reservoir that can be attached to the D5.

I doubt you could cool two Xeons passively unless you barely use them. Since you say the fans get louder when the cpus are fully loaded, passive is going to be a problem.

The GTX is a restrictive radiator so I would recommend the Swiftech rad. You can buy external stands for radiators that allows you to put it anywhere you like. If you have a fan controller easily reachable you could have the radiator passive except when you're doing something "busy".

No particular reason why you would need to use 90 degree angle bends to get from one cpu to the other. Easier to use straight barbs for everything and just use enough tubing to make the loop. Use smaller tubing as it is far easier to route. Normally I would advice 7/16" but for you 3/8" might actually work very well.

As to the number you would need, two for the res (none for the pump since this replaces the front of the pump) two for the rad, two for each block so that's eight.
 
Thanks for your recommendations. I've browsed a bit more and have have now come to the following setup:

cpu block: 2x ek supreme HF
radiator: Swiftech MCR Series 360mm Triple Radiator with Built In Reservoir
fans: Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm Case Fan 1150 RPM (should be around 16Dba)
pump: Laing DDC-1+ Ultra Pump 600 L/hr 18W (The D5 might be more silent but seems to big, also I only have two components so the flowrate of this one should be enough)
reservoir: EK-Multioption RES X2 - 100 Basic Again this is because it is small, the xspc reservoir you recommended seems great, but I don't have the space. I'm hoping the reservoir in the radiator also compensates this small one a bit.
I thought about the pump with a reservoir top, but as I don't know how this will fit exactly into the case I prefer to have the components loose and use tubing instead.

tubing:
TUBE Masterkleer 12,7/9,5 CLEAR PVC tube.
Internal diameter (ID): 10mm (3/8")
Outer diameter (OD): 13mm (1/2")

fittings: compression, ID 3/8"; OD 1/2"

I've been analyzing this case and it seems quite tricky to take off the backside... So I was wondering how much is a backplate needed for those cpu waterblocks? Could I do it with the existing screws?

thanks again for your help!
 
Hi again,

I have built the watercooling loop. The loop itself works well, no leaks.
But I came across a strange problem. I has to do with a difference between the heatsink and the waterblock.

It is the same problem this guy is having:
http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1389989

I bought a bare-bone xw8400 workstation (no cpu/ram/heatsink), and after getting the parts, I came across a heatsink problem. While being a bit ignorant, I bought an Intel (four-pin) heatsink (D39267-002) and the workstation doesn't want to start with it. With a friend's HP heatsink everything works fine. I even upgraded the BIOS to the latest version (2.37) and connected the fifth pin to the first (ground), as the original heatsink has, but the problem is still the same. The machine powers up (green light is constantly burning and there is no beeping), but I don't get any BIOS output at all. Is there some way to get the machine running with a non-HP heatsink at all, and if - how?
Click to expand...

It seems using a different heatsink from the default HP does not allow the workstation to continue booting up. When I replace with the old sink the system boots fine. So I'm guessing there is some conductivity/grounding not taking place with the waterblock.

I tried pluging in the fans of the cpu heatsinks alongside the waterblock as I thought that might have been needed, the fans work, but the boot problem remains.

Hp Heatsink:
Hp 398293-003 Heatsink for hp xw8400 workstation

waterblock:
Ek supreme HF, mounted with the universal mounting plate as that was the only one that would fit.

This is the technical reference guide for the xw8400, but it does not mention that other heatsinks do not work.
http://h50146.www5.hp.com/lib/doc/manual/workstation/xw8400/364898-001.pdf

Has anyone come across this problem and found a solution?
 
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