Project: AirRAID

Read the first post where it says I was going to upgrade and then decided I wasn't going to bother for quite some time...

It's nice to see the overwhelming support people get these days... :rolleyes:
 
Just trying to save you from some extra work in future.
After all if there's one thing in PC hardware which is 100% guaranteed it's that components get too old sooner or later.
 
Just trying to save you from some extra work in future.
After all if there's one thing in PC hardware which is 100% guaranteed it's that components get too old sooner or later.

Fair enough. To be honest I'll more than likely go for a full new build next time around though rather than upgrading this rig. Which won't ahppen for Id say atleast 18 months (Famous last words lol ).

The CPU had hole is plenty big enough for now, before measuring the cut I checked I could get the Venomous X bracket to fit as well :)
 
Hate to say it, but those cutouts look rough and rushed, the edges aren't parallel, and they look a bit messy.

Nothing a bit of time with some hand files won't fix, but I certainly wouldn't be leaving it as-is.

Nice idea for the routing of the cables however.
 
Might want to get some uchannel for the HSF hole just incase a burr is still there and cuts you later on.

Thanks for tip. Should be fine though, I did spend a long time filing those edges including filing them into half-moon edges (which is why the corners of the cable tidy cutouts look exaggerated), so should be ok. I did finger test all edges too before finishing as well.
 
Hate to say it, but those cutouts look rough and rushed, the edges aren't parallel, and they look a bit messy.

Nothing a bit of time with some hand files won't fix, but I certainly wouldn't be leaving it as-is.

Nice idea for the routing of the cables however.

As much as I don't want to admit, your right, they do look untidy atm.

Any suggestions on getting them straight? The cutouts are very restricted, and the small hand files I had were not doing the job properly (or my filing sucks, most likely).
 
Flat wider file is better for keeping edges straight...
But actually chainsaw file is very handy for light smoothing, problems start when filing "deeper" than just corner.
 
New Toys

Yay, finally have gathered together all my new toys for motherboard cooling, as the final peice arrived yesterday ready for this weekend.

toys1e.jpg


Thats:
2x HR-05 SLI/IFX Heatsinks (For Northbridge and Southbridge)
1x HR-05 IFX Heatsink (See below...)
1x HR-09 S Type2 (Top Mosfets)
1x HR-09 U Type2 (Left Mosfets)

toys3.jpg


... and my 3 new shiny Enermax Cluster 80mm fans for the three sinks!

Temperature Testing

I was also doing some overclocking/temperature testing last night, with some interesting results on the stock motherboard cooling.

To cut a long story short, with the FSB set at 333FSB and NB strap set to 333mhz, without direct airflow I was looking at an idle NB temperature of 67C!

When I threw Prime95 Blend test on to really stress the Northbridge, I was seeing 85C+ (thermal cutout for the northbridge is hard set at 90C, so I stopped the test at this point.

Additionally, the southbridge was seeing 55+ temperatures as well!

So for fun and giggles, I rigged up one of the Clusters to shoot some airflow over the Northbridge, and what a difference. When running the same Blend test, the temperatures stabilised at 62C, thats 5C BELOW the Idle temperature without direct airflow. At idle, I was seeing temperatures as low as 51C.

Noticeably, the Southbridge temperatures plummeted as well as the heatpipe connecting the NB/SB was not having to do as much work in removing the heat.

Bear in mind this testing was with CPU PPL, FSB Termination and Northbridge Voltages suitable for a known stable FSB 400 overclock.

Can't wait to get the Thermalright equipment rigged up!
 
Noticeably, the Southbridge temperatures plummeted as well as the heatpipe connecting the NB/SB was not having to do as much work in removing the heat.
Actually that heatpipe just started doing more work because of heatsink getting cooler.
 
Actually that heatpipe just started doing more work because of heatsink getting cooler.

Please, if you have something useful or constructive to say let me hear it...

Have these forums really changed that much in the past year?
 
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My apologies, no intensions of being derisive.
I could have worded that content better so clearly some blame on this end.

I made that comment just if there are beginners reading these for trying to get ideas for improving cooling and this is good example how cooling one spot can cool also other place especially when heatpipes are used for transferring heat from its source to somewhere else.


Before starting to remove motherboard's stock heatpipe cooling system you might want to get something for cleaning thermal paste. Hard to know what "chewing gum" Asus has put there this time. At least some years ago P5W DH had rather horrible junk under heatsinks and that didn't get off cleanly with just some paper towel.
 
My apologies, no intensions of being derisive.
I could have worded that content better so clearly some blame on this end.

I made that comment just if there are beginners reading these for trying to get ideas for improving cooling and this is good example how cooling one spot can cool also other place especially when heatpipes are used for transferring heat from its source to somewhere else.


Before starting to remove motherboard's stock heatpipe cooling system you might want to get something for cleaning thermal paste. Hard to know what "chewing gum" Asus has put there this time. At least some years ago P5W DH had rather horrible junk under heatsinks and that didn't get off cleanly with just some paper towel.

Ok, fair enough, its just a little disheartening to spend a lot of time putting up posts and photos and then to get the kind of feedback I've had so far..

Anyways, on to more positive things! :D

Its a good point about the manufacturer paste. Traditionally I've always just wiped away any gunk I've found under heatsinks, and having done a few NB upgrades in the past I've seen my share of tricky stuff to remove.

Usually, I find a good paper towel and then some Isopropyl Alchohol does the trick to get everything squeaky clean.

If need be, I'll nip out and grab some Arcticlean from a local PC supplier if it proves to difficult to remove.
 
Motherboard Mod - Attempt 2! :D

Ok, I had another go at sorting out the motherboard cuts this weekend, to get them straighter and more true, compared to the shoddy work I left myself with last week.

Firstly, here's a quick shot of the case with the tray in place and the rig all cabled up: (its at 90deg, stupid image hosters...)
1testcabletidy.jpg

So, the seriously cut down on the clutter inside the case, as all the cables can be taped to the back of the motherboard tray. I did a test fit of the rear side case panel as well to check for bulges, and it all fits nicely :D

So, onto the further modding work..

2newtools.jpg

New tools! I got some much bigger Files for the doing initial filing down of the edges, to help get them straight. An invaluable tool was the Mitre Square I picked up as well, as I could then get the edges parallel with the Motherboard tray edges...

3cutoutsredone.jpg

There we go, still not perfect, but there 100% better than what they were. Note I haven't bothered with Refiling the CPU Socket cutout, only the cable tidy holes that will be on display.


4polishingtime.jpg

Now, the motherbaord tray has gotten into a bit of a mess over time, scratches and fingerprints and marks and all sorts really. So I went down to Halfords and made myself a polishing kit up:

400, 600, 800 and 1200 Grit Wet and Dry
Sanding Block
Rubbing Compund
AutoGlym Metal Polish
Polishing Cloths

I had major fun doing this! Bear in mind I wasn't aiming for a 'mirror finish' but definitly something looking shiny and new. I used a similar process to lapping, just on a much larger scale and using some polish at the end in stead of really fine Wet & Dry (1500, 2000 ect).

I actually found the whole process quite carthartic really....
5polished.jpg

And matches the finish of the Thermalright Blocks very nicely!...

That was my Saturday Evening/Sunday Morning....
 
Motherboard Cooling - Thermalright Installation Part 1

Thermalright Venomous X CPU Heatsink got ordered yesterday as well, as my old Xigmatek has now taken residence up in its retirement home (My missus' PC along with a pair of Yate Loons as Case Fans, the thing was noisier than next doors dog!)....

So it was onwards with installing the Thermalright motherboard cooling.....

1stripped.jpg

Started stripping down the Motherboard, horrendous gunk underneath and also dust clogging up everywhere on the board. So I spent a good hour or so carefully removing every ounce paste I could find, and removing the Mosfet heat sinks as well..

2oldhsfassem.jpg

The heatsink assembly of the motherboard was frankly a dissapointment on inspection. Too much paste, and also the heatpipes were held in place with thermal glue and not soldered to the lumps of copper above them. Well, there gone now....

3cleaned.jpg

All motherboard blocks removed, all paste cleaned up and looking very naked....

4sbinstall.jpg

Southbridge heatsink was the first to get installed. I had to use the pushpins for installation instead of the preferred screws, as there wasn't enough clearance to use the accompanying bolts underneath the Video Card.

I'll have to get another shot of that to show you.


5mosfetinstall.jpg

Mosfet Heatsinks were installed as well. Really good, solid designs these things. The mounting was very simple, to be honest. Pushpins again, but very solid and full contact along the block.

6fullshot.jpg

And thats where it is at the moment. As soon as the Venomous arrives, I'll finish up the block installation!
 
Da[]San;16393539 said:
Man that looks smart - but i guess it now weighs a ton, can't wait to see the finished result.

Thanks! Lol yeah it's starting to weigh a little, but the original copper heatsinks were not light to be honest.

looking good!!

the Southbridge heatsink is mahoosive!!

Thanks again :)

Just wait till you see the NB and CPU heatsinks installed as well! :D
 
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