Beginner's new w/c setup

[kusojiji]

Cool! (too short of an answer!)

[Butcher]

Originally Posted by Meethoss

Some people seem to be lucky with power. A system calculated to need 500W can work on a 350W PSU. It's strange. I just say go for the most stable and powerful PSU you can afford

Any system calculated to need 500W has way too much shit in it.

Typical system:
CPU: 80W (assumes moderate o/c)
GPU: 60W
HDD: 20W (each)
mobo: 40W (ballpark, hard to find specs on them)
CD/DVD: 30W

So a typical 2HDD, 1 DVD machine will need: 80+60+20+20+40+30=220W. Call it 250-300 to be safe.

[tobyed2]

In a years time everyone will be buying the next best leading edge 600W PSU, way over the top for a system which only realistically requires 300W.

Yes, these PSUs have "fan monitoring" (how good it is, is another matter) but the more power the more heat they generate (?) = fans running more. I couldnt see a point in having 2 fans in my Enermax, so I removed the internal one, no difference to case temps, bonus is its quiter still. I then read an article which described a way of getting the fan to work quiter by easing out the thermistor inside the PSU so the fan really does only cut in when needed (the fan was on full all the time).

Why (like most IT stuff) pay a premium for the latest and greatest ? 10 years ago I would have gone out and done that, now I tend to think "It aint broke, why change it". Damn, must be getting old ...

Now, finding a Passive PSU (ie NO fans at all), theres a challenge <throwing gauntlet> ...

[Meethoss]

There's more to take in to account than that. My current setup (before adding this stuff, which I'm currently doing) was worked out to need over 400W. I have 13 fans in total, including 6 case fans and all the stuff on, plus the usual stuff you mentioned there and I can't remember what else. I don't really care about it though - as long as I have enough to power everything and that which I may add in the future

And as far as generating more heat - yes, that's true, but I don't think it makes that much difference and better PSU's will have quieter ways of cooling better.

Ok, here's the current state of my stuff. I'm currently designing an aluminium box to match my case that my mums boyfriend will make for me. Thinking of having the rad at one end with two fans either side to suck air out, then a piece of metal to make a break, then the ump and res with the piping coming out somewhere else. Probably after those, then I'll have a PSU to power it all rather than having nasty wiring everywhere.

Ok, below is a quick sketch of how it would work.



It's just an idea at the moment. The barbs of the rad would be at the bottom below the shroud/fan. The pump and res would be angled so that the pipe goes between them easily and then I guess I'd take the outlet of the pump up and through the middle seperator and down to the barb. Then I'd have the out of the rad and the in of the res to take out of that case to hook up to the main case.

Does this look like a good idea? What's a good way to have the pipe leaving the case? Could I use some sort of locking mechanisms or anything to easily/quickly seperate it it from the case without mess? Gimme your suggestions

[pauldenton]

Originally Posted by tobyed2

Now, finding a Passive PSU (ie NO fans at all), theres a challenge <throwing gauntlet> ...

don't know about passive PSUs, but i find MY FSP with single 120MM indetectable

[kusojiji]

There are power supplies that have a slow 120mm fan. Probably the quietest possible.

Meethoss,

What are those two 120's on the side for? This is an external case to house the cooling stuff only, right? If the case is going to be air tight, or at least the area with the fans and shroud, you should be able to get away with only one 120mm fan.

As for quick disconnects, Marineland makes 5/8 inch quick disconnects for their magnum filters. 1/2 inch tygon will fit. I got a piece of 1/2 inch tygon to fit on a 3/4 inch pump inlet by soaking the tubing in hot water and stretching it.

[Meethoss]

Hmm...Yeah, you're probably right there. I'm thinking of putting a window into it as well so I can see what's going on inside. If I were to have quick connectors then where should I have them? Case or cooling case or both? Also, where abouts do you think I should have them sticking out. To be honest it probably depends on where I will have everything placed by my case but I'm not sure yet. Should probably have the PSU power and the intlet/outlet at the same place.

Gimme more feedback so I can make some better thoughts

P.S. Dunno if I mentioned this et, but it's rare to find a passive PSU. They do exist but most are modded as they need a massive wad of metal stuck inside it, and a lot of venting. I've seen one with a great big heatsink, carved from a big block of aluminium, sticking out the back from where the fan had been!

[kusojiji]

The magnum quick disconnects are placed in line with the hose. You splice them anywhere in the hose. I'd place them close to the computer side since the external cooling box will be smaller and it would be easier to move that and the hose together. But it all depends on your desk and where you will place the box and the case.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

[Butcher]

Originally Posted by Meethoss

There's more to take in to account than that. My current setup (before adding this stuff, which I'm currently doing) was worked out to need over 400W. I have 13 fans in total, including 6 case fans and all the stuff on, plus the usual stuff you mentioned there and I can't remember what else. I don't really care about it though - as long as I have enough to power everything and that which I may add in the future

Fans typically consume 2-10W (80mm tend to be 6W at most). So you can add 100W if you're really crazy about making your ears bleed. Specialist hardware like TECs, 12V pumps, etc will add more as well.
If you're over 400W, you either have a lot of large fans (120+mm), racks and racks of HDDs, or some specialist gear. If you don't have them then I'd say your 400W is wrong.

[Meethoss]

Well I just used this online calculator. As I said, I don't really care how much power I'm using - as long as I have enough power from my PSU to run it and anything I might add in the future for the next few years!

Those connector things look cool kusojiji. They're quite big though. Would I need to have wo of those valve things on each section of piping that I wish to disconnect? I was thinking I might be able to have something kind of embedded in to the case but I dunno if that will work with those. I suppose I could have about 6 inches of hose sticking out the case including the connectors on, and then have the rest of the length and the other connector attached up to the cooling case.

Here's my updated design:



I'd also like to note that the side facing the viewer will have a window installed into it so that I can see everything is working. This setup will let me have it at my feet at a 90 degree angle to my case so the window is facing me, or on top of my case along the length of it so that the window is on the same plane (I think - I suck at maths) as my case's window. Does that make sense?

[tobyed2]

Originally Posted by Meethoss

Well I just used this online calculator. As I said, I don't really care how much power I'm using - as long as I have enough power from my PSU to run it and anything I might add in the future for the next few years!

Those connector things look cool kusojiji. They're quite big though. Would I need to have wo of those valve things on each section of piping that I wish to disconnect? I was thinking I might be able to have something kind of embedded in to the case but I dunno if that will work with those. I suppose I could have about 6 inches of hose sticking out the case including the connectors on, and then have the rest of the length and the other connector attached up to the cooling case.

Here's my updated design:



I'd also like to note that the side facing the viewer will have a window installed into it so that I can see everything is working. This setup will let me have it at my feet at a 90 degree angle to my case so the window is facing me, or on top of my case along the length of it so that the window is on the same plane (I think - I suck at maths) as my case's window. Does that make sense?

Forgive my ignorance, but why the wall in the center ?, shirley having a straight through air flow would cool the pump/res/PSU ? Also if your using an ATX PSU, its fan does away with the need for the 120mm top fan, pulling air through.

Seeings that this is all going into a home brew case, why not go for a push pull around the radiator now space isnt an issue ?

I wish I had the space to do this, I use the top of my PC for spare paper/CDs ...

[kusojiji]

Yes, you'd need two per side. It allows you to disconnect without losing too much water, only a few drops. Yes, they are big, but won't impede flow much.

I can see the reason for the wall in the center. It's to keep the bigger fans from cutting the flow off of the power supply. I had that problem with my case where my two large exhaust fans stopped all flow through my power supply. Ended up frying it.

I don't see the reason for having two fans like that, though. The shroud is no longer needed imo. It's just extra work if the rest of the res/fan area is sealed correctly.

[Meethoss]

toby - as kusojiji said, it's essentially for better airflow. The main reason I had it was to have an almost vacuum effect in the rad area. The tubing will go through that wall too, so we'll have to seal those parts as well.

The PSU is a mini-ATX to allow for more space and it will mount like a PSU in a usual case.

kusojiji - my Taekwon Do instructor is a plumber so I asked him about them yesterday and he told me to check out a store near by. Quite handy

If you look at my new design below I only have the extra fan on top. I'm gonna keep the shroud because it will be sealed and suck air through the radiator and can afford to be higher speed than the exhaust fan. Also, cause Gavin made it for me for free and I don't wanna hurt his feelings by not using it



P.S. I'm gonna have a window the the side facing (the box will be at my feet at a 90 degree angle to my case, lengthways) and some cathodes so it looks good. Also, gonna have a relay in the case connected to the PSU to turn on with my computer. Will then get some larger tubing (like that on washing machines I think) to cover the water hose and the relay connection, just to tidy things up

[Meethoss]

Ok, more news on my setup - I ordered my case window, Vantec sleeving kit for my case and mini-ATX PSU, Vantec fan and blue cathode for the external box. Well I received the order yesterday and to my surprise they hadn't sent the window - instead, they sent another of my case! :O Well I checked the invoice and it said window, and I checked my credit card bill and that was correct too! So I get a £100 for £25 I'll give it to my bro for half the price as he wanted one!

So, I have all the stuff for the external box and talked to Gavin. I'm taking them down to my mums on the weekend and he's brining the box so I can have a look. It's all put together, I just gotta give him the PSU, pump, res and hose so he can put it all in there. I should hopefully have it all up and running in about a week!

Will post pics ASAP!

[kusojiji]

cool! good deal. I wish stuff like that would happen to me.

[Meethoss]

Crazy isn't it. I've just looked at the box and it looks wicked! Could probably do with some sort of finish but I'll leave that for a bit. I gave him all the stuff so he's had a look and should do it this week.

In the mean time I've done my first ever mod! My Aerogate 2 wouldn't sit in the drive bay well because there was only one screw hole I could use to fix the drive rail to each side. What I did was take apart a CD drive and cut the front 1cm off the chasis, then fixed the Aerogate to it in the mounting holes, before attaching the drive rail - perfect!

[kusojiji]

Uh oh, we unleashed a madman!! :-)

ps. What's an Aerogate?

[Meethoss]

Heh

WHAT'S AN AEROGATE? It's only the coolest damn fan controller ever! http://www.coolermaster.com/index.ph...+Aerogate%20II

Helped my brother install his stuff in to his new case today and he then ordered some stuff for himself plus my window and a Vantec Sleeving kit (for the cooling box) for me as part of the deal

Can't wait to get the rest of this up and running, probably by next weekend

[JoshuaPurcell]

Originally Posted by Meethoss

toby - as kusojiji said, it's essentially for better airflow. The main reason I had it was to have an almost vacuum effect in the rad area. The tubing will go through that wall too, so we'll have to seal those parts as well...

I'm looking forward to seeing the first pictures of the real thing; your setup is exactly the type of thing I have been thinking of making:

http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=9073

I wanted to ask something about the separation wall: Wouldn't having the 120mm fan as a blowhole promote better airflow to cool the PSU and pump? Are you dividing the two areas because you believe the 120mm fan will suck too much air out of the container (and the PSU wouldn't get enough circulation)? I agree that the pump and PSU will need to be cooled, but under the current setup the blowhole isn't helping with this. It will get rid of the hot air in the radiator area, but then again I don't know if you would even need another fan for this (considering the fan pulling air through the radiator into the box).

[Meethoss]

The PSU and pump don't really need any cooling. There are fans in the PSU itself to cool that and I imagine the pump will also get some cooling from it. The main reason for the seperation plate is to stop the airflow from being interupted by other parts in the case. I'll let you know how it goes when it's all done

Anyone know a way that I could give it a nice finish? The metal is scratchy and doesn't look like the finish on my case.

[Richdog]

No update on the finished rig then, Meethoss?

[Meethoss]

Sorry mate. Glad you asked though - the box was finished quite some time ago but, unfortunately, my Uni workload got drastically heavier and I had to put the water cooling on hold. I'm currently finishing my final year project which has to be in on Friday. The following Monday I have a test which I haven't revised for and the Friday after I have to give in a coursework that I haven't started. I have one week off for revision and then I have two weeks of exams. Oh, did I also mention that I start back to lectures tomorrow?

Anyway, after all that (and a lot of drinking/partying) I shall get straight back on to it and post the pics. The new water cooling case looks wicked and I think you guys will like it. Will look especially good when I have all the kit and the lights in it and my case

How's yours going, mate?

[Richdog]

Mine is done mate, and seems to be running OK, although I think there's a few tweaks to be done to get best performance out of it. Send me a sPM sometime and ill give you my MSN ID, and when youve some free time ill send you some pics and tell you how it went. Hope the uni work is gong OK, it's a bitch to get finished isn't it.

[kusojiji]

Hey, what's more important?? ;-)

[Meethoss]

Heh. Well I handed my project in on Friday (16000 words/154 pages) and I got a test and coursework coming up. A month today, though, and I'll be back on to the WC!