Some weird things going on with my setup......
 

I regeistered here awhile ago when I was originally planning on watercooling my CPU, but unfortunately, then, I ran out of money to get my water cooling system. Went on a spending spree with hardware and didn't put any money aside for water cooling.

Well finally, with my last upgrade, I decided to get the water cooling stuff first then get my hardware. After putting together my system the first thing I noticed was that my CPU temp was kinda high, considering that I am water cooling my CPU. I am currently running a P4 NW 2GHz @ 2.5GHz @ 1.75V BIOS/1.68V-1.71V actual. My idle temps stays around 41C and under stress goes up to 45C. The ambient temperature in my case, according to my Digital Doc 5, is around 25C. This is my current water cooling step

DangerDen Maze2 P4 Skt478 Waterblock
Black Ice Xtreme Radiator w/ Sunon 108CFM 120mm Fan
DTek Customs Reservoir w/ 144GPH Rio Pump
All fittings are 1/2" with a T-line between the radiator and the waterblock.

I ran the thing for a full day with the pump in a bucket of water to make sure everything was bleed before installing it in my system. Could my water pump be the problem. I was thinking of buying one of those ViaAqua 370GPH Pumps I saw in a thread earlier and on the homepage hoping that faster water flow would help decrease my temperature. The reason I bought water cooling in the first place was for lower temperature leading to better overclocking and I was expecting much lower temps than what I am seeing now.

I also noticed something weird in my system. I noticed that the water level in the filler tube would dramatically decrease after about a week of running. I would usually fill the water level in the filler tube to about an inch from the top and cap the tube with a copper cap and tape it with duct tape. When I would check my system a week later the water level dropped a good 6 inches. I would refill it and a week later the water level would again drop. Now I know that you can lose water through evaporation, but that much water with the top capped and taped?

As you may already know, if you made it this far after all my ranting, is that I am a newbie to this stuff and would appreciate any help you can give me. Right now I am seriously considering buying a stronger pump hoping that I will see significantly better temperatures than I am getting now. Thanks.

(EDIT: I forgot to add, incase you wanted to know, at default speed and voltage of my CPU my idle temp was around 39C. I thought with water cooling and the radiator I have I would have gotten no more than 5C to 8C above ambient temperature.)

the temps aren't too high, whats your water temp like? Might be an idea to buy a more powerful pump.

as far as the disappearing water goes, some other people have been having this problem, I think it's just the water evaporating through the silicone

Thanks for your reply. I guess my temps aren't too high, but I would have expected more out of water cooling, especially considering I have a pretty good rad with a high CFM fan on it. As for water temps I have no idea what they are, but from touching the tubes, it does not feel warm at all both coming out of the radiator and out the water block.

My roomate, who has an air cooled AMD Athlon 1.2GHz @ 1.75V sometimes gets temps that are close to mine. He's cooling his Tbird with an Alpha PAL6035 w/ Delta 60mm fan. Considering the NW have smaller transistors and and run at a much lower default voltage, plus the fact that Intel chips tend to run cooler than AMD chips, especially Tbirds, I would have expected much lower temps. Looks like I'll be getting a new pump, but it will have to wait until the academic quarter in my school is over. It's getting around that time when term papers and lab reports are due and finals are right around the corner.

As for a stronger pump, by how much do you think it will decrease my temps by? I read in a couple of threads that the Maze2 waterblocks like high flow rate. Thanks again.

Right like Brad says.
I have been losing fluid (distilled h20 + water wetter) since I installed my water cooling system. But I have not been losing 6" per week. I have 1/2" silicon and was losing 2" in 4 weeks. First I recommend you use telflon tape on the threads of your cap, since duct tape is most likely not stopping evaporation.

I didn't notice what type of clamps you are using but I think that the Danger Den plastic ones which I used at the start allowed evaporation also.

I got my Tygon tubing the other day and once I switch over will report whether evaporation improves with this tubing and steel band clamps. I know for sure Tygon smells better than silicon!
Jim

evaporation thru the silicone tubing???
more likely, you still have air trapped in your WB and rad, and it's slowly bleeding out.

to Jim:
does your silicone really smell that bad? mine isnt bad at all....you'ld have to shove the stuff up your nose to smell it :D :p

yeah it really bothers me Cyco Dude. I have sinus problems so I am more sensitive than others.

I have heard some folks say the smell is faint and others say it is intense. Something to due with curing in manufacturing?

Anyway Tygon will go into my system soon. I have some 1/2" virgin silicon left I am going to sell off and throw in the used 1/2" too.
Jim

Well since I have my mind set on getting a new pump, I might as well get new tubing too. Does anybody know where I can get this Tygon tubing for the lowest price. I'm not sure if Danger Den is selling it, but I remember seeing on their site that they would have a limited supply of the stuff, but I dont see it anywhere in their site. Thanks for all your replies.

http://www.usplastic.com has the stuff for a decent price... R-3603 seems to be better suited to our needs, and is cheaper than the R-1000 that DDen is going to stock. the beverage grade stuff is even cheaper, but I don't know anything about it.

also check http://www.mcmaster.com

the tygon hose is cheaper at USplastic than at McMaster, however, you have to buy the hose in 10 foot lengths from USplastic (im not sure about McMaster).

Dtek Customs sells 3/8" ID tubing with 1/8" thick walls and 1/2" ID tubing with 3/32" thick walls for $2.65 per foot (which is 20-50 cents more than what USplastic charges). it is the R-3603 formulation. note that the 1/2" ID tubing only has 3/32" thick walls, so it probably doesnt have as tight a bending radius that 1/8" thick tubing would have. just something to consider if you happen to have some tight bends...

US Plastics got my Tygon to me in two days also. Bought 10' of 1/2" 3/4OD 3603.
Jim

see, thats the only bad thing aobut them tho, you typically buy more than you need. heh, if you happen to have a good 6 feet left over, i'll be glad to take it off your hands :D :p