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Brians256 · 02-24-2006, 05:34 PM

OK, Joe got me interested. I have built two HTPCs last weekend. One aircooled and one watercooled. I attempted to do this with mostly preexisting parts and this might have hurt me, because they're both noisy as all get out!

1) Aircooled
Sonata 2
DFI LanParty Ultra-D
A64-3000 stock
Zalman CNPS7700 AlCu cooler
1 250GB ATA133 HD (Maxtor)
3 250GB SATA HDs (2 Maxtor, 1 Hitachi)
6600GT with Zalman VF700 cooler
2GB ram
Hauppage MCE150

Notes:
Noise comes primarily from VF700 cooler, but NB fan and CPU fan aren't quiet either. Might be quiet if hidden inside a cabinet that had GOOD ventilation. I can only keep HDs at decent temperature if I allow the OS to turn them off when idle.

2) Watercooled
Koolance case (retrofitted)
BIX3 rad
D4 pump
DD reservoir
1/2" Tygon tubing
TDX Waterblock
Athlon XP1700
1GB ram
ATI 9800Pro
Avermedia 1500MCE
1 250 GB ATA133 HD (Maxtor)
Enermax 320W "Noisetaker" PSU
120mm Panasonic fan (added when HD temps were too high)

Notes:
This is a perfect example of watercooling gone bad! The D4 sounds like a mosquito on steroids already. Then, the bottom front fan adds a lot of whooshing sound that I found was required because my HD was running above 60C! Then, the 3 fans in the Koolance header simply aren't quiet. Maybe I can get rid of the bottom fan if I make all the Koolance fans exhaust case air (currently two are exhaust and one is drawing air in) and then swap out the Koolance fans for quieter models. The pump simply has to go though. It whines! I have an Eheim 1250 that I got from dijinn, and it must be quieter. Temps might suffer a bit, but I'm not exactly overclocking. It should still be better than aircooling especially with reduced pump heat being dumped into the coolant. Overall, I'd give this one a D- grade. Yeah, I was able to use parts I had laying around, but it just doesn't work out.

02-24-2006, 05:34 PM	#1
Brians256 Pro/Staff Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Klamath Falls, OR Posts: 1,439	Htpc OK, Joe got me interested. I have built two HTPCs last weekend. One aircooled and one watercooled. I attempted to do this with mostly preexisting parts and this might have hurt me, because they're both noisy as all get out! 1) Aircooled Sonata 2 DFI LanParty Ultra-D A64-3000 stock Zalman CNPS7700 AlCu cooler 1 250GB ATA133 HD (Maxtor) 3 250GB SATA HDs (2 Maxtor, 1 Hitachi) 6600GT with Zalman VF700 cooler 2GB ram Hauppage MCE150 Notes: Noise comes primarily from VF700 cooler, but NB fan and CPU fan aren't quiet either. Might be quiet if hidden inside a cabinet that had GOOD ventilation. I can only keep HDs at decent temperature if I allow the OS to turn them off when idle. 2) Watercooled Koolance case (retrofitted) BIX3 rad D4 pump DD reservoir 1/2" Tygon tubing TDX Waterblock Athlon XP1700 1GB ram ATI 9800Pro Avermedia 1500MCE 1 250 GB ATA133 HD (Maxtor) Enermax 320W "Noisetaker" PSU 120mm Panasonic fan (added when HD temps were too high) Notes: This is a perfect example of watercooling gone bad! The D4 sounds like a mosquito on steroids already. Then, the bottom front fan adds a lot of whooshing sound that I found was required because my HD was running above 60C! Then, the 3 fans in the Koolance header simply aren't quiet. Maybe I can get rid of the bottom fan if I make all the Koolance fans exhaust case air (currently two are exhaust and one is drawing air in) and then swap out the Koolance fans for quieter models. The pump simply has to go though. It whines! I have an Eheim 1250 that I got from dijinn, and it must be quieter. Temps might suffer a bit, but I'm not exactly overclocking. It should still be better than aircooling especially with reduced pump heat being dumped into the coolant. Overall, I'd give this one a D- grade. Yeah, I was able to use parts I had laying around, but it just doesn't work out.