External Watercooling System

[JoshuaPurcell]

This is the components of the computer I'm wanting to cool down:

-Athlon64 3400
-ASUS Radeon 9800XT
-ASUS K8V Deluxe
-3 Western Digital 10,000RPM Raptor HDDs

I want to make an external watercooling system that sits on the floor next to the computer desk (possibly in a toolbox or some other metal container), so that there doesn't need to be much modification to the actual computer. I'll get a special PCI slot connection for the tubes, or just have the two tubes run into the back of the computer case through an open slot. Attached is a diagram of the setup I'm talking about. I want to use an automobile heater core that is about as big as two 120mm fans, and that preferrably has mounting holes/brackets to make it easier to secure to the case. Here are my main questions:

1. Does anyone have some examples/links to something like this being done?

2. My flow in the diagram is:
Res->Pump->CPU->(possibly HDDs)->GPU->Rad->Res... does this need to be changed?

3.The external watercooling system will likely be on the ground, lower than the computer. Will it still be ok for the radiator to be higher in the setup than the pump? Any suggestions on a high-powered pump would be great as well.

Thanks for any help.

EDIT: The diagram doesn't have the HDDs in the loop since I'm not sure if having the water flowing through three waterblocks is a good idea for keeping a high flow rate. I'm not really limited on space (as much as if all components were in the computer case), but I don't want the external unit to take up any more space than a small computer case.

Possible components:
Radiator- Hayden676 (thanks to the great Howto article on this site).
Fans- two 120mm PanaFLOs
Reservoir- Primochill Typhoon (dual bay)
Pump- open to suggestions
(any other items needed)

[Meethoss]

I'm almost through completing a similar project (http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=8639). I was initially going internal until I found out my heater core with shroud was ever so slightly too big. I'm cooling a Pentium 4, 9800XT and northbridge using Danger Den RBX, Danger Den Maze 4 and Danger Den Z-Chip, respectively.

For you, I'd suggest a the Danger Den RBX (I don't believe the White Water is in 64 bit flavour yet), Silverprop Fusion and then as far as your hard drives I don't know of any blocks, so imagine you'd have to make some yourself. Have a look in the "Water Block Design" forum for that. For your pump I'd suggest a Swiftech MCP600 but if you do make HDD coolers then you may wanna move up to something stronger like the Iwaki MD20RLZT - but that's serious stuff! It's way bigger and way more expensive!

I think that about covers everything. You might wanna make yourself a relay for the main PSU to turn on the other: http://forums.extremeoverclocking.co...280#post727280. Hope that helps!

[JoshuaPurcell]

http://www.koolance.com/products/pro...&category_id=3

Haven't read too much about these HDD coolers but I was thinking of getting two of these to put in between my three HDDs. Not sure if that will be overkill or not though. I'll read up a little more on these.

[fhorst]

Originally Posted by JoshuaPurcell

http://www.koolance.com/products/pro...&category_id=3

Haven't read too much about these HDD coolers but I was thinking of getting two of these to put in between my three HDDs. Not sure if that will be overkill or not though. I'll read up a little more on these.

I'm using 2 of these blocks. I must say they do their job quite good, but I would not stack a raptor on them, they are not that good

One big thing to concider, they are 4.5mm ID.................
In my setup no problem, as I have a seperate loop for my small things (hdd, gpu memory, southbridge, sata chip, memory e.g.) with a seperate pump.

If you are going to place them in your 13mm loop, you are "in trouble". if you split the tubes to 3 times the ID is about the same as 8mm hose (2x 4.5 = 6, 2 x 6 = 8, 2 x 8 = 10, 2 x 10 = 13mm roughly)

As long as you keep that in mind, they are perfect!

[krazy]

Look into the Danner Mag3 if you want a pretty potent pump that runs quietly.

Beware of galvonic corrosion if you use the aluminum HDD blocks. Any time you mix aluminum and copper within a water loop, you're almost assured problems. I'd recommend building your own copper HDD blocks or finding some other way to cool them.

[Meethoss]

I agree with Krazy - they'll cause corrosion so I'd definitely not have them in the loop. Make one yourself or maybe get someone to do it for you but from copper - you can probably get better temperatures then too, especially then as you can use 1/2" connections

[Hellion_Prime]

Been there, done that, got the Tshirt.

[Meethoss]

Hmm...I can't see a T-shirt anywhere in that photo!

[JoshuaPurcell]

Nice pic Hellion Prime... no where any other pics are with a similar setup? I've found very few that are close to that design. I want my future setup to be similar to that, but smaller (hopefully). The most important things in order of importance:
1.Cools much better than my current air setup
2.Not too loud
3.Takes up no more room than a small computer case (or preferrably a modified toolbox).
I was originally limited on time since I was going to make this for my brother, but after looking more into it I'll just be making it for myself so I have as much time as needed. One change I think I'll make to my original flow is having the water go from the pump to the radiator then to the waterblocks (CPU first)... taking into account that the pump can heat the water up.

[jlrii]

Originally Posted by JoshuaPurcell

Nice pic Hellion Prime... no where any other pics are with a similar setup? I've found very few that are close to that design. I want my future setup to be similar to that, but smaller (hopefully). The most important things in order of importance:
1.Cools much better than my current air setup
2.Not too loud
3.Takes up no more room than a small computer case (or preferrably a modified toolbox).
I was originally limited on time since I was going to make this for my brother, but after looking more into it I'll just be making it for myself so I have as much time as needed. One change I think I'll make to my original flow is having the water go from the pump to the radiator then to the waterblocks (CPU first)... taking into account that the pump can heat the water up.

Is that a Little Giant 2md....if so how are the noise levels from it?

[kingu]

You might want to see what I did, I had e problem much like yours. My solution looks like this:
http://www.burn-it.dk/index.php?stat...artikler_nr=37

[JoshuaPurcell]

Originally Posted by kingu

You might want to see what I did, I had e problem much like yours. My solution looks like this:
http://www.burn-it.dk/index.php?stat...artikler_nr=37

Thanks for the link Kingu... nice pics.

Here's the above diagram with a minor change to the flow:

[kingu]

My system goes like this:
Pump > CPU-block > Chipset/Gfx > Radiator > Reservoir > Pump
The case i threw it all in is quite easy to transport

[Meethoss]

Looks good Joshua - now comes the hard bit, building it! :P Have you any idea how you will make it? I've got my mums boyfriend to buy some aluminium and make it for me, but before that I was thinking of some sort of metal toolcase and cutting it up.

[xgman]

Here's what I did with a panword pump and a McMaster Carr case:

[JoshuaPurcell]

Originally Posted by Meethoss

Looks good Joshua - now comes the hard bit, building it! :P Have you any idea how you will make it? I've got my mums boyfriend to buy some aluminium and make it for me, but before that I was thinking of some sort of metal toolcase and cutting it up.

Yeah I've seen the design of your box on your thread... the single hardest thing to find for this project is the container without a doubt. I want to use a toolbox, but I've been unable to find one that is big enough and will work. This is the site I've been looking though... great selection but so far not what I need:

http://www.mcmaster.com/

This is the closest thing but I've found but I'm afraid it won't be big enough (23-7/16W x 8-13/16D x 3-5/8H in):

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

I don't know exact measurements on what I want to use yet since I don't know the exact parts, but I'm fairly sure it will need to be bigger than that Craftsman toolbox.
I think you have the right idea Meethoss, post pictures whenever you can on your other thread so we can see what you are working with.

[JoshuaPurcell]

Originally Posted by xgman

Here's what I did with a panword pump and a McMaster Carr case:

That case actually looks very nice... I wanted to get a metal case though, that is plastic right? Did you add the window or did it come that way?

[xgman]

came with the window on a hinge. It's heavy duty plexiglass type of plastic with insulated core. It is far easier to cut perfect holes in than metal, but an aluminum version would have been nice. maybe a nice custom paint job would help.

[xgman]

Originally Posted by JoshuaPurcell

This is the closest thing but I've found but I'm afraid it won't be big enough (23-7/16W x 8-13/16D x 3-5/8H in):

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Not big enough at 23"? You might as well just use a nice computercase and convert it somehow if you need it that big.. Oh, I see it's only 5" high. Mcmaster has tons of large containers metal & plastic, but they are very expensive. More than the average nice computer case. You could get a Xiode Cube for that matter.

[JoshuaPurcell]

Yeah the height on that toolbox would be the problem. The one thing I like about your box is the fact that it would be easy to cut holes in it. What is the model number of your box?

[Meethoss]

Once I get my box I will take pictures and give you exact dimensions of it and it's contents. Should be in the next few days I hope

[xgman]

Originally Posted by JoshuaPurcell

Yeah the height on that toolbox would be the problem. The one thing I like about your box is the fact that it would be easy to cut holes in it. What is the model number of your box?

The box is a 15 x 13 x 7 electrical junction NEPA type plastic "enclosure" that happened to come with a hinged clear window. I got it at www.mcmaster.com in the States. I drilled out 2 120mm holes in the top and hung the fans/rad from there. Then I drilled out 2 80mm on the rear with grills for air intake and one on the left side. behind the pump is a 80mm a/c fan mounted in one of the holes to help keep the pump cool. The top 120 fans as well as the pump are all a/c, so I just plug it into the powerstrip that controls my computer. I drilled twp 1 1/4" holes on the right side for the quick release 1/2" plugs so I can just disconnect and go. The last thing was a removable a/c plug mounted on the right side ans of couse the obigatory blue lights. Maybe I'll change to U/V later. Drilled 2 holes in the rear of the computer to run the hoses and that's it. All 1/2" id tubing and connection using a T line with a tube/screw on cap to fill through another hole towards the top.

Mine was part # 74995K95. Go to http://www.mcmaster.com , then search for "enclosures" click on the first one and at the top change the page # to 749 and they are at the top of that page.

Make sure you pay attention to the "internal" clearance dimensions of the box so the rad will fit properly, etc.

[Hellion_Prime]

Originally Posted by jlrii

Is that a Little Giant 2md....if so how are the noise levels from it?

Actually, its a Little Giant 2-MD-SC. And its not exactly quiet, but it was very cheap when I got it, and I thought the extra head on the pump would be good to have in an external enclosure. As long as you put something between it and the case to dampen vibration, its not bad, really. Nowhere NEAR as silent as your typical pump, but its got power in spades.

The enclosure I made was way too large. It sort of took on a Tim Allen-ish MORE POWER thing when I was building it. I've since scrapped that design and I'm in the process of trying to shoehorn everyhing into this case , using either 1 of the 24V Rotrons from the old case, or a new fan that I have (something like
this one, but not quite the same).

[Razor6]

I used a $9 plastic file cabinet that is 12"x11.5"x9". It has ample room for my Mag5, heater core, and single 120mm fan. There is a pvc pipe reservoir on the outside that would probably fit on the inside if I hadn't arranged things the way I did. For $9 it's pretty good.