Hello! Intro to my WC / AMD XP OC ???'s
 

Hello fellow tweakers, modders, and overclockers!

I am new to the forum, and would like to introduce you to my WC plan as well as get to know some of you by asking a OC opinion question.

I have been a long time admirer of the majestic water-cooled PC. And I finally get to build one for myself. I figure if WC comes in a mac now, then it has to be STANDARD in a PC! :lol

Attached is a schematic of my projected system. Feel free to add any comments or suggestions!

My question is in regards to unlocking my tbred B 2600 for use in my chaintech nforce2. I have heard some say that the motherboard unlocks it for you, and others say you have to short the bridge or the pins. Does anyone know the real answer to what I should do to unlock it?

I have also read that CPU's produced before a certain week are unlocked. I doubt mine is, and I won't be able to tell until next week when I install my h2o. Does anyone know an easier way to check if it's unlocked already?

Perhaps I should forgo all of these worries and buy an XP mobile 2500? I hear I should get the 35W model, as they are the best overclockers, and the stepping is not an issue. I mean for $80 i could probably get 2.6 ghz on my h2o guaranteed. Does anyone know what to expect (OC wise) from my tbred 2600 once I figure out the unlocking questions?

Thanks in advance, and stay tuned for some great pictures coming in the next week!

P.S. I am also posting this in extremeOC and liquidninjas!

welcome to the forum!

If your cpu is a Tbred and not a Barton than you shouldn't need to bridge any pins on a nForce2 motherboard, otherwise you can mod your cpu to be recognized as a mobile one (thus unlocking the moltiplier).

If you want to put pumps in serie you should make connect the "out line" of the first pump to the suction line of the second. In your proposed setup pumps are pumping one against each other.

Just a quick comment on your schematic: I would suggest running your pumps in series instead of parallel. With the increase in pressure drop of multiple blocks, you will get greater performance (i.e. better O/C) with pumps in series as the pressure is greater.
See P-Q curve from C-Systems. Also 1/2 id tubing throughout your systems will help too (increase flow, decrease pressure drop/restriction)

If you want to use the C-Systems pumps and 3 blocks in the loop then maybe an MCW6002 would be a better choice for a CPU block. The loop will likely be farely low flow at which point the MCW6002 should perform better. I also agree with scooterfl, the pumps should probably be in series. Based on the data presented at system cooling the addition of the two Y's for running parallel impacts the theoretical doubling of free flow quite a lot making series better for a restrictive setup. For the money you're prepared to spend on the dual pumps why not consider an AquaXtreme 50Z or MCP650, they'll give you better results. I'll put a graph with the C-Systems pumps on it in the pump p-q thread.

Get a Barton 2600+ mobile, if you're after the top overclock. Have a look around on what steppings are good; http://www.excaliberpc.com/product_i...oducts_id=3874
They sell them by stepping.

I am definately considering this option!

I thought the 35W cores were better at OC than the 45W? :shrug: Also, i heard with the 35W cores stepping wasn't an issue...

is this true?

Thanks for the link!

to be honest, i haven't looked around for quite some time on the matter; my week 22 barton 2500+ will do 2.55ghz on water, so I have no real reason to upgrade; my brother has a 2600 mobile and hes gotten 2.75ghz stable on air so far, with 1.8vcore. Of course, every cpu is different.

The 35 watt AMD mobile CPUs are a advantage mostly to those seeking low noise or no noise systems. When overclocked they are no better than a 2600 mobile, and may be a bit worse on average. But any of the AMD mobiles are pretty good choices IMO.

Edit:

I'd strongly suggest that you reconsider the NB block choice. The Danger Den Maze 4 chipset block is MUCH less restrictive than the older Z block design. Another option would be to get a high end air cooler for the NB like the Swiftech 159 block. The air cooler will give just as good O/C results as a water block, and by not having the NB block you'll have higher flow for the CPU & GPUI'd also agree with the above posts regarding how to get the most from the dual pumps, series is best.