Pelts question

RossDagley · 1 Jul 2006 at 10:04

New Project...

Hi guys.

A couple of years ago I ran a pelt setup on my xp3200+ only, with a HE120.2, 1250 eheim and swiftech block. It ran well - stock would be -2 or so idle, 10 degrees or so on load. Overclocked (where my heart lies) was 35 ish degrees (all these from memory) with over 2v through the 3200+ (running at over 2800mhz).

I've since moved house, and lost some components (I'd stripped it down some time before moving, and I've lost some bits and pieces). I want to get back into pelt cooling and figure this is a good as place as any to start just for playing around - questions are though:

1. I'm now confused by the array of blocks/pelt combinations out there - whats the best solution? (Sticking with pelts, I dont want to go vapo). I had a swiftech before, but all I can tell you about it is it was blue

(Actually, it was a MCW462-UHT - do these still cut it?) - I've lost the CPU block but I've still got a swiftech gpu pelt block, and I'd probably use that this time round (although its missing some bolts I'd need to get replaced).

2. Whats (generally) better - my 3200+ or a 2500+ mobile chip? I've read some good things about the mobile chips as they run cooler (lower voltage out the box) etc but my 3200+'s a good clockable chip, so I dont know what to use.

If the system is sound, I dont mind having to change the CPU block or the GPU block in say 6 months time when I finally upgrade the MB and CPU into this century - I'm just looking to do this on the old socket A for read me and giggles really.

I'll probably keep my HE120.2 and buy another 120.3 and run the pair of them together in some configuration but I want it to be self contained inside the case so thats another consideration

Thats it for the time being - I'm sure your replies will prompt more questions!

Thanks for your time!

RossDagley · 1 Jul 2006 at 17:28

Now bought a Lian-Li PC V2000 PLUS Black Aluminium Full-Tower, and a Thermaltake PurePower 680W ATX2.0 Power Supply to run it (plus Lian Li fanbus, fans, etc) just need to figure out the pelt/water blocks!

Guys - some help here would be great!

RossDagley · 1 Jul 2006 at 17:52

Jokester said:
Any reason why you won't consider phase?

Well tbh its an area I dont know much about for starters (although I'm slightly lacking in info about pelts atm

) and I kinda see it as a 'prebuilt' solution. I appreciate a good phase unit will drop me lower than tec's, but I guess I'm looking for the fun of the build etc - and I dont fancy 'building' a phase change unit

RossDagley · 1 Jul 2006 at 20:53

Rick_Barnes said:
you'd of been much better off spending the money on a modern processor

You're missing the point.

I'd be better off buying a dual core, dual cpu, dual gfx setup too (which I'm also doing). Thats not the point. I *want* to do it with the ol' socket A...

RossDagley · 1 Jul 2006 at 23:35

weescott said:
I would stick with the 3200 as I think 2.8 must be a record.

Forgot to post this earlier. CPU temp in system tray.

RossDagley · 2 Jul 2006 at 01:51

Yes budget this aint, but I'm looking to be sensible obviously - I *will* stick something newer in there eventually, and I'd like to not have to change EVERYTHING when I do

My old system was stable to that speed for benching - it'd boot windows to 2.9ghz but not prime/3dmark stable - had I known it was such an acchievement I'd have taken a screenshot. Frankly I was irritated I couldn't hit 3ghz...

RossDagley · 2 Jul 2006 at 11:51

Anyone got any thoughts on a higher wattage pelt than a 226w? Powers not a problem, I'd just get a more powerful meanwell. Presumably theres no drawbacks so long as the w/c loop can remove the additional overhead?

RossDagley · 2 Jul 2006 at 16:29

forgive the question - does that actually work? Any links you can point me in the direction of? Cold plates between them presumably?

RossDagley · 5 Jul 2006 at 01:57

I think we've got some stuff to discuss in PM

I'm working shifts atm, but most grateful for your reply and will PM you asap

I still haven't decided what to buy rad/block etc yet (although I need to get my finger out as the case/psu arrived from OCUK today...) but as I've already got a mint 120.2 I'll be using that for sure - maybe just on the gfx card, with a 120.3 on the cpu. Who knows. I'll need to thrash it out.

Again, thanks for your pointers - I'll PM you asap

RossDagley · 5 Jul 2006 at 17:03

Okay, case and PSU are here (and mated together), just finalised what to fit where, and how to go about it.

To sum up:

Already own:
1x Thermochill HE120.2 rad

Bought last week (and have in my sticky paws):

1x Lian-Li PC V2000 PLUS Black Aluminium Full-Tower
1x Thermaltake PurePower 680W ATX2.0 Power Supply
1x Lian-Li TR-3B Black Aluminium Fan Controller
6x Scythe S-FLEX 1600RPM Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan
1x Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
1x Zalman ZM-RHS1 Silent VGA RAM Heatsink Kit

Bought Today:

1x ThermoChill PA120.3
1x DangerDen Bay Reservoir
1x 10ft 1/2" Tygon
1x Criticool PowerPlant II Pump relay card
1x Laing D5-Vario pump
1x DD Maze4-1 CPU TEC block
1x DD Maze4-1 GPU TEC block
1x MeanWell s320-12 TEC PSU
1x Swiftech Rev2 Relay & Mounting Kit for Meanwell
1x 226w Peltier
1x 120.2 ThermoChill FG120 Fan Grill
1x 120.3 ThermoChill FG120 Fan Grill

Thus, I should have a system fairly soon. The plan is (vaguely atm) to have:
Pump --> cpu --> 120.3 --> gpu --> 120.2 --> res --> pump. I'll figure out the finer details when the rest of the gear arrives.

Is anyone interested in me keeping a thread running of the 'project', and if so, in which forum area?

RossDagley · 5 Jul 2006 at 20:27

lol

The case psu will power the tec for the gfx card (its only an 80w tec or something). The meanwell will solely power the cpu pelt (226w) (well, maybe some lights etc, but nothing substantial).

The power relay is the kit sold specifically FOR the meanwell 320 so I hope its ok

I'll get snapping then

RossDagley · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:16

I was planning on it going on my x800xt-pe - just checked the specs and it looks like the card puts out 95w of load on full chat. Balls - might not be able to use it after all. Cheers for bringing it to my attention.

RossDagley · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:19

Jokester said:
I used a 80W on a X800XTPE and worked pretty well.

Jokester

Woot!

RossDagley · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:24

Damn thats slightly overclocked

RossDagley · 6 Jul 2006 at 14:37

Okay. Cutting for the top rad done (I'll post pics this evening).

Mounting the fans - whats the concensous on which way to blow the air? Bearing in mind i'll be dumping quite a lot of heat, should I be mounting the fans to suck air out the case and exhaust it out the top, or suck fresh air in the top, dumping it inside the case? (The case has some good additional fans, but it'll still increase case temps).

Thoughts?

RossDagley · 6 Jul 2006 at 16:08

Okay - as promised, first lot of pics.

Brand new case (PSU installed) with its sides off - always a "gulp" in the throat at the thought of taking a dremel to a brand new case...

Case from the front (fanbus installed)

DangerDen GPU block waiting to be installed...

DangerDen BayRes.

The mounting kit (5.25" drive bay) for the Meanwell PSU - still waiting for this to turn up, but should be here early next week.

RossDagley · 6 Jul 2006 at 16:09

The PCI card to control the pump...

The pump - hope it can cope with all this on one circuit

The mighty 120.3 rad, in the rough location its gonna live.

RossDagley · 6 Jul 2006 at 16:09

My old 120.2 rad, gonna be in the case side somewhere, just for the gfx card.

Masked up and fan grill used as template for cutting.

Masked up just prior to cutting.

RossDagley · 6 Jul 2006 at 16:09

No going back now... and 8 dremel cutting blades later...

Fan grill offered up.

Pump installed (made neoprene gasket to lessen vibration)

Possible location for second rad - still haven't fully decided but it looks like its gonna be in that side panel somewhere...

Thats all for now folks...

RossDagley · 6 Jul 2006 at 21:08

cavemanoc said:
With the load you've got the 120.3 should be more than adequate to cope - if you're struggling to find a spot for the 120.2, just leave it out. (Having said that - the side you've got it on looks great as long as it doesn't interfere with the tubing - looks like it'll be quite close to the Mobo there?)

I dont want to leave it out really - got it so want to use it, and it'll give me 'options' should I want to pelt/water my northbridge at some later stage.

On the side there I'm thinking, although I'm wary of the pipework impeding on the expansion cards, but careful placement should get round that. Might have to be higher up the case, and more towards the back, but we'll see. Tomorrow I'll offer up the motherboard and see how it all goes together.

cavemanoc said:
Other than that - looking good - that template really helps give a professional finish to the build - what are you using to edge the holes? Are you going to mount the fans inside/outside the case?

I haven't used anything to edge the holes. Wasn't planning to either (I've just rounded them off then coloured them black with a perment pen so they aren't glaringly obvious - did you mean with some rubber edging or something?

cavemanoc said:
(Does the criticool let you run the pump when the machine is shut down? That would certainly sorlve the problem of filling/bleeding with a 12v pump - was scratching my head over that one in my last build)

Yes it does - its got a little switch on the back that powers up the pump even with the PC switched off - very handy