Questions about my WC rig (nice pictures included!)

[DVL73]

Hi there,

I have a few questions about my system and hopefully you will be able to give me some answers ... and yes, this is my first post here

Firstly, my system:

I had to change the HydrX for PrimoChill PC-ICE and introduce the AlphaCool plexi res, purely because of aesthetics reasons. Yeas, I know, it's hard to mix the style with substance ... but here is the explanation:

Before: (HydrX)





After: (PrimoChill PC-ICE UV blue)






There you go Laing DDC-1 plus & plexi top & plexi res in full glory. Was this look worth the slight performance penalty ? - hell yeah ... and it is now the core of the cooling system - visible too. Now, I'm talking about the performance penalty, because plexi res placement does hurth the water flow a bit ... but how much?! (as I really like the aesthetics now) . More suprisingly, what I noticed with PC-ICE (compared to HydrX) is that my water flow rates are bit down (approx 1l/min ... or from 8.6 l/min to 7.4 l/min - measured by t-balancer). Is this normal? Temperatures are slightly up, I think ... maybe 1C - 2C. Can you recommend the PC-ICE at all and should I flush it out & ditch it from the system ? More importantly, is it safe for long term run (as I never had problems with HydrX) ?

Look at the whirlpool in the resevoir, at least if static picture can show. Laing DDC-1plus (new revision) does deliver serious water punch, as flow rate is really (and visibly) high. You may notice that I'm using the plexi bay cover too (on the case) - so now there is a proper "window" at the front and case is properly closed too. Other parts are X1900XTX + Edvard König EK-FCX1900 & X2 3800 + Swiftech Storm. As I don't like the cluttered tubing, I'm keeping the minimal connection distance. That SilenX blue fan on the left is cooling the A8N-SLI Premium chipset. As you know, this motherboard have passive chipset cooling (when you are using CPU fan). In my case, I had to improvise ... by attaching it to the Storm water block - but it's working quite well and fan is almost silent. That black fan just beneath the X1900XTX is the VREG cooling leftover from the 7800GTX and it's not used now. It's there just in case You may notice the advantage when you can use the barbs on the both side of the EK water block. It's improving the flow and there is much less clutter, because of the straight tube lines. Tubing in question is Tygon R-3603.


Here is the front case look with the normal, dimmed desk light:




On the top of the case I have DD FillPort. You will notice that I'm using the Fillport & PlexiRes ... just for fun. It's convenient way to top-up the coolant, without opening your case or even accessing the reservoir (as picture with funnel can show you). I used it with great success and you can even fill & bleed the system. Neat! Pics:



Regarding the T-line ... should I place it on the outlet or inlet path of the pump ?! or it doesn't matter.


Here is the outside of the case, where the tubing goes to the radiator:



Here is the order:

Swiftech bracket + fan vibration dampener + 35mm fan + vibration dampener + shroud + PA160 (cross flow) set-up. It's extending the case a bit, but it's not visible and I have plenty of space in the back of the case. Build and attachment is sturdy and reliable. No problems there. Fan is dead silent. Slow RPM & 35mm depth helps a lot. Sometimes, I wonder if Thermochill PA120.2 will offer any cooling improvements, or is it just marginal ?! What do you think ?


Finally, here is the climate control system:



Of course, mCubed T-balancer XL + miniNG control units. They are taking care that temperatures are optimal and at the same time dynamically controlling the fans and DDC pump speed, according to the temp probes (including the coolant probe). Generally, they are monitoring the coolant temperature, DDC pump rpm/flow rate and environment temperatures. MiniNG is capable to handle up to 20W per channel, and that is just enough for the new 18W DDC version. Also, sensor hub is capable to power off the system in case of the pump failure/low water flow or critical temperatures. Clever huh

Sorry for the heavy thread, but sometimes visual presentation is delivering the message in probably most direct way Anyhow, if you have any comments about the system or if you think that some improvements are necessary, your feedback is much appreciated.


*** UPDATE 07/10/06 - new pics***

Lights off - final look with side panel, multiple angels:




Bright ambient light:




Back/side of the PA160, side of the case and water temp probe on the Y-line, just before the PA160 inlet:




Few comments about my side panel. Center (window) of the panel is detachable and replaceable with single aluminium panel (so that you can have all-aluminium side panel version). I hacked that detachable part a bit, so that I have a soundproof panel version and I can now easily replace the window (in case that it's not needed or if more silence is prefered) with this:



It's coated with AcoustiPack foam blocks (with the anechoic surface)


Daylight, camera flash on. Laing DDC-1 plus & plexi top & plexi res:



Notice the red impeller of the new 18W DDC-1 plus. Also, you may notice the AcoustiPack foam blocks just beneath the pump itself. They are absorbing the pump noise, additionally. Of course, there is just enough clearance so that pump can cool itself properly.


Daylight, case pictures (front):

[migueld]

Hey nice candy picts, looks like you've done your homework on what's sexy out there . Blue is definately the way to go, green isn't too artistically pleasant , I've also moved from HydrX to blue Pentosin G11 which is kinda ok I still need to decide if I need to add some blue dye on it.

I don't think a PA120.2 will do a significant difference on your rig, especially since you have a t-balancer and an external rad set-up. Regarding the t-balancer or miniNG, I'm curious, how hot does the miniNG get when running the DDC at lower voltages? I have a bigNG and I haven't had luck with the D5 nor DDC 18w with regards to temperatures since the bigNG reaches 50+ degrees C which bothers me quite a bit.

[DVL73]

Originally Posted by migueld

Hey nice candy picts, looks like you've done your homework on what's sexy out there .

Thank you very much

Originally Posted by migueld

I don't think a PA120.2 will do a significant difference on your rig, especially since you have a t-balancer and an external rad set-up.

Few days ago, I upgraded to X1900XTX + EK (as shown in the pics). Here are the temps:



This graph represent the 3DMARK06 benchmark session, probably most stressful session the card may have. That pause (lower temps) you see in the middle of the graph is during the 3DMARK06 CPU stress tests (GPU is not used).

I guess it's just about OK especially because radiator fan is really not even pushed to the 25% - 30% and pump is at around 70%. Also, X1900XTX AS ceramique thermal paste have to settle down a bit ... so let's 7-10 days until it's working in full swing. At the end, I'm still 4*C - 5*C above the previous temps, because of the new coolant and reservoir placement (pump is working best when there is direct inlet, no res in between) - still have to investigate and confirm this. So, let's say that in warmish room ... it would be around 43*C - 45*C ideally if I didn't change my previous set-up. Only thing which could bring (possibly) another 3*C - 4*C off is Thermochill PA120.2 (2xfan) radiator. However, not really keen to upgrade because of the few degress less. I'm perfectly happy now, especially because the system is almost noise free.

In that sense, I may safely conclude that EK waterblock is cooling the X1900XTX on the almost same level as my old 7800GTX and that is very good - as X1900 is generating really plenty of heat.

I still didn't overclock the card. I will let the card burn-in and settle on the stock speed and then I will try to experiment with the clocks. This is my usual practice - as I don't like to torture any hardware from the flash start.

Here is the X2 3800 @ 2.6/1.5V CPU stress session:



I was running two instances of Prime95 (for both cores) for about 15min.

Originally Posted by migueld

Regarding the t-balancer or miniNG, I'm curious, how hot does the miniNG get when running the DDC at lower voltages?

Didn't have any particular problems and it's running for almost 6 months now. miniNG does get warmish, but it's definitely not on the problematic level.

Originally Posted by migueld

I have a bigNG and I haven't had luck with the D5 nor DDC 18w with regards to temperatures since the bigNG reaches 50+ degrees C which bothers me quite a bit.

You haven't had luck in controlling the pumps or you are just worried that bigNG may overheat ?

[DVL73]

Here is the miniNG set-up screen, for controlling the DDC + radiator fan:



DDC temperature readings are from the water (coolant) temp probe and RADIATOR from the CPU temp probe. As you may see, pump is starting @ 70% (8.4V) and not kicking in almost full speed until the coolant is really hot. One thing I noticed with the new 18W DDC-1plus as that I have to change the previous curve a bit, as pump is rather noisy (resonating) @ 60%. Another thing is that now I have the new rubber (antivibration) mounts for the pump (as you may see in the pictures above) ... so there is MUCH less noise even when it's running @ 100%. Proper pump mount is really a godsend. I don't find the new DDC much more noisy too. It's great pump in every aspect. As shown, radiator fan is also nicely silenced and dynamically speeding up over 30% only if the CPU/GPU temps are rising.

Here is the current flow rate with PC-ICE:



Before, with HydrX (just different coolant) was 8.4 l/min - 8.6 l/min It looks like PC-ICE is more "dense", if that is the right term. I can even notice in the plexires less turbulence then before. Actually, you may notice in the green plexires version (from the above pictures) that there is evidently more turbulance.

[DVL73]

Hi there,

I have some new pics water temp probe, PA160 (back and side), lights off scenario with my case window (different angles) and lights on pictures. Main post (with pics) is updated accordingly.