thoughts on BTX and watercooling

[Ruiner]

http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling...spx?i=2276&p=1

Since AMD won't be jumping on this for a while, it may be a non issue. This new form factor may make rad placement tricky, as the cpu and duct assembly will be smack in the middle of where we have been putting our WC stuff.

I do like the HDD/PSU 'tunnel' idea, i.e. if the PSU is getting air that has been heated by the drives only, it shouldn't ramp up in speed as much.

BTX will probably be great for SFF, air cooled cases, both on a thermal and acoustic standpoint.

[BillA]

excellent article
new ideas gonna be needed

[JamesAvery22]

From the last page it still sounds like btx is up in the air... foxconn already voiced their disapproval, I dunno if anyone else did.

Im sure the tower cases that actually come out will have a lot more room.

[Kobuchi]

Originally Posted by Ruiner

http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling...spx?i=2276&p=1I do like the HDD/PSU 'tunnel' idea, i.e. if the PSU is getting air that has been heated by the drives only.

That's an exhast from the case. So: case air -> HDD cage -> PSU enclosure -> out.

BTX specifies a CPU HSF formed as a short duct, the "thermal module": "At the front of the case is a rubber surround which the thermal module will fit into". This is where air enters the case. The fan is mounted in the thermal module, not the case.

That constrains alternate cooling solutions. Maybe some case manufacturers will set the intake further away, and make the gasket optional.

[MaxxxRacer]

James, every case manufacturer, and every mobo manufacturer are up in arms about btx.. They all hate it.. Its only intels money and overehating cpus that are driving btx...

[bigben2k]

Yeah, where's the tower version?

[Ruiner]

Originally Posted by Kobuchi

That's an exhast from the case. So: case air -> HDD cage -> PSU enclosure -> out.

BTX specifies a CPU HSF formed as a short duct, the "thermal module": "At the front of the case is a rubber surround which the thermal module will fit into". This is where air enters the case. The fan is mounted in the thermal module, not the case.

That constrains alternate cooling solutions. Maybe some case manufacturers will set the intake further away, and make the gasket optional.

IIRC think for 'tower' style cases, BTX specifies that the PSU does not exhaust cpu heated air. It seems to in the Aopen case in that article.

Having the cpu up front with an intake fan does what modders have been doing for years, except that the mods put their ducts in the case side.

[JamesAvery22]

Originally Posted by bigben2k

Yeah, where's the tower version?

You can flip the mobo on the CMStacker for BTX, right? That thing is kinda big though.

Ive never seen anything larger than a "mid-tower" like the one on here:
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2070

I dont consider that a midtower. The board only has 4 pci slots. Come to think of it, Ive never seen a full size BTX board, do they even have any?

[Kobuchi]

Originally Posted by Ruiner

IIRC think for 'tower' style cases, BTX specifies that the PSU does not exhaust cpu heated air. It seems to in the Aopen case in that article.

Having the cpu up front with an intake fan does what modders have been doing for years, except that the mods put their ducts in the case side.

Yeah, where the PSU mounts in any case can't be dictated by motherboard layout.

I think the case fitting to a thermal module the best route for HSF. I'm just concerned if some people have their way this would be the standard, other cooling solutions requiring specialty cases.

[pHaestus]

A lot of this is getting incorporated into the new ATX cases too:

http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-tj06.htm

[BillA]

that looks like a damned fine WCing case !
I need a review sample

[pHaestus]

shit Bill they're CHEAP (well relatively so in comparison to the Lian Lis). Steel/alum mix supposedly makes them pretty quiet too.

[MaxxxRacer]

Hell that case would work great....

I could fit my system in there... except for my pump.... sigh... my pump only fits in the lain li pc70... ohwell...

[Cranky]

why not do a external box ffs.....works for me anyway.

[JamesAvery22]

Originally Posted by Cranky

why not do a external box ffs.....works for me anyway.

Second that motion. I got tired of looking for a case that would suite my needs. Got really tired of building the cooling system around the case. getting a rad that would fit a case that could fit my parts.

Better to just water cool EVERYTHING in a midtowerish case and have an external pump and rad

[pdf27]

Originally Posted by unregistered

that looks like a damned fine WCing case !
I need a review sample

As best I can tell from the photos, there is just marginally room enough for a 120mm rad/fan in the HDD cage. Right now the plan is to get one of these in a couple of months and build a system in it. Rad/Fan in that spot (cut down slightly if necessary), passively cooled PSU, HDDs + pump in the front section, res in one of the bays etc.
Anyway, if nobody else has got one by then I'll get back to you guys and post some photos of it...

[cougem]

Originally Posted by unregistered

that looks like a damned fine WCing case !
I need a review sample

It is damn nice, check http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling...oc.aspx?i=2219

[MaxxxRacer]

James and Cranky: I would do an external one, but I really want to keep everythign inside of the case.. I dont want to send money on a case just to have to build a box to house the cooling system. It also makes tubing considerably longer and more annoying... I was also hoping of making the case semi portable... For the occasional dragging of the comp to my friends house... Not that I can do that now either though....

When I get too sick of this case I will most likely get the lian li... and then everything will go btx and i will go apeshi!t

[Ruiner]

Which way does the GPU face in btx? I've always thought it silly that it faces down in ATX.
That silverstone fixes that...nice case. Assuming one aircools the gpu, a Silencer VGA cooler would be perfect for this case. I would probably perforate at least one of the 5 1/2" bay covers for inflow to the top of the case, to be exhausted by the psu.

[pHaestus]

I have an external wc box under a small Lian Li. If I were to bolt it all together it'd be as portable as the PC-70 I guess. It's on casters too.

[JamesAvery22]

Originally Posted by pdf27

As best I can tell from the photos, there is just marginally room enough for a 120mm rad/fan in the HDD cage. Right now the plan is to get one of these in a couple of months and build a system in it. Rad/Fan in that spot (cut down slightly if necessary), passively cooled PSU, HDDs + pump in the front section, res in one of the bays etc.
Anyway, if nobody else has got one by then I'll get back to you guys and post some photos of it...

Forget the HDD cage rip out that little dual 3.25" bay and fans in the bottom front of the case, cut it out, and put a 2-342 right there.

[JamesAvery22]

Originally Posted by MaxxxRacer

James and Cranky: I would do an external one, but I really want to keep everythign inside of the case.. I dont want to send money on a case just to have to build a box to house the cooling system. It also makes tubing considerably longer and more annoying... I was also hoping of making the case semi portable... For the occasional dragging of the comp to my friends house... Not that I can do that now either though....

When I get too sick of this case I will most likely get the lian li... and then everything will go btx and i will go apeshi!t

Thats why you put handles on the external box j/k I fully understand where you are coming from. Im just all about huge radiators though and fitting 2 2-342s in a case is pretty much impossible if you want to have a case one person can carry.

I like seperating things also. Sucking air over a HC, then blowing that hot air all over your components definitely isnt ideal, nor is it easy to get a good straight air path.

For those who just use a single 120mm radiator its not hard at all to do that stuff, but I doubt I'll ever use one of those

[BillA]

rad sizing might be difficult, but the attraction to me is using 2 single 120s both as inlets
and pulling the fan on the psu

[DDogg]

I thought the case that bobkoure posted about in this thread seemed to be designed nearly with a rad in mind. The HDs are up and alongside the PSU. Opens up the front of the case for a big rad. I imagine it is a little heavy, and it is wider than a normal case.

[MaxxxRacer]

James I was thinking that you could put a dual hetercore in the frong.. but you need to take out the 3 inch bays...

But my iwaki would not fit in the bottom of that case...

pH: I know, you showed me ur case 2 days ago... I just really dont want to go to the expense and hassle of making a rad box...