Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk

Joe · 01-15-2006, 03:50 PM

The place to discuss the cool Furniture/Cooling system Aardil has created and made into a ProCooling project for all to see

The article in question is here:
http://www.procooling.com/index.php?...icles&disp=143

Post your thoughts

Brians256 · 01-16-2006, 12:20 AM

Just edited for spelling. Furniture was mispelled.

Brians256 · 01-16-2006, 12:37 AM

Nicely done, Aardil! I've seen a couple of other multi-computer cooling systems done, but not many. Cool furniture.

It looks like it isn't exactly silent, but is it noisy? The small AC unit has to be contributing some noise.

Also, it would be nice to see more about the reservoir that you had problems with. How did you finally get it bled out? Cycle through each pump several times?

Aardil · 01-16-2006, 05:37 PM

Brians256,
No it is not silent, pretty close but not completely silent.
I do hear a bit of hum from the A/C unit but it is muffled down a good bit with the channels and the undercoat. I do have one of my older pumps that "rattles" it has been that way for a long time but keeps pumping. I can hear it rattling when the compressor kicks off. The new pumps ( i have read ) have a hi pitched whine when run at max setting. I cannot hear any of this "whine" again I believe do to the undercoating acting as a silencer.

If you look at the pics on page 3, the Pics "all filled up" you can see the old fill tube on the left hand side of desk. this is what did not work.
If you look at page 3 the pic "Fill point". that is the fix.
I had to cut off the old fill pipe, cap it and drill a new fill point, this one in the top of the rez.
The old fill point was a 32" long hoizontal run to the rez. with all 4 pumps running the air could not make it back to the fill point before it was sucked back into the system.
For the initial bleed ( when it was not in place) I could and did get the air out by elevating one side of the bottom box about 12". that gave the air a way to get back to the fill point.
after I set it in place elevating one side was impossible ( too tight of a fit ), all looked good until I started connecting up the water blocks inside the PC's.
Air was introduced at that point and no mater what I tried I couldnt get the air to bleed out. I probably could have gotten the air out doing one pump at a time and letting it set for an hour or so, then bleed some more. once one was bled, then move on to the next system.
I fought this battle for a full day before deciding that a fill point into the top of the rez was a better plan. after I got the new fill point installed the whole system ( all 4 pumps) bled out within 30 minutes

Albigger · 01-16-2006, 07:28 PM

Nice work and write-up.

So the AC unit is still mounted in the window, but you have ducted the return line back to the intake, so its not getting any "new" air, correct?

Aardil · 01-16-2006, 08:16 PM

Correct

pHaestus · 01-17-2006, 12:41 PM

It seems like a lot of possible failure points (multiple pumps, multiple small radiators with lots of barbs) and lots of hassles when the annual (or more often) system flush/cleaning occurs.

Did you consider a single oversized rad/res/pump and then using a panel with disconnects to modularly add PCs? To me that would have been a little more logical because you could put it in a "faux" cabinet on one side and then have easy access to it whenever you needed.

If I ever build a house, it will have separate cooling lines running throughout the house plumbed into it from the beginning and I will just plug into the disconnects when I need to add a PC. I've already sorted it out in my head

Joe · 01-17-2006, 02:20 PM

Stop kidding yourself pH, those lines will be insulated, and used for just one thing. BEER.

A tapper next to the shitter... how much better does it get?!

Brians256 · 01-17-2006, 08:00 PM

Well, you need wireless access too for those long mornings.

Brians256 · 01-17-2006, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pHaestus

It seems like a lot of possible failure points (multiple pumps, multiple small radiators with lots of barbs) and lots of hassles when the annual (or more often) system flush/cleaning occurs.

Did you consider a single oversized rad/res/pump and then using a panel with disconnects to modularly add PCs? To me that would have been a little more logical because you could put it in a "faux" cabinet on one side and then have easy access to it whenever you needed.

If I ever build a house, it will have separate cooling lines running throughout the house plumbed into it from the beginning and I will just plug into the disconnects when I need to add a PC. I've already sorted it out in my head

How would you route the PCs then? Series which wouldn't scale well? Parallel that's a pain to get the flow evenly distributed?

Pritorian · 01-24-2006, 07:46 PM

Nice work!

All you need now is a KVM-switch to get rid of all the keyboards and mice, and your set!

Aardil · 01-24-2006, 09:49 PM

Pritorian,
the reason for 4 key boards, 4 monitors and 4 mice is I play a on line game called Everquest. I play 3 accounts at the same time ( 3 different toons). the 4th PC set up does have a KVM on it. During my game, I use the 4th (17" CRT on far right of desk) for my teamspeak server and the other 3 outlets on the KVM are for when I am working on other peoples PC's.

Joe · 01-24-2006, 09:53 PM

OMG... its an EQ HQ...

hehe... nice desk, pitty its used for MMORPG's

hehe

Aardil · 01-24-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

OMG... its an EQ HQ...

hehe... nice desk, pitty its used for MMORPG's

hehe

I use it for other things too Joe, just not many

Joe · 01-24-2006, 11:52 PM

hehe, I gotta give you crap though... I mean EQ, WoW, just beg for some shit

Friends dont let friends get involved with internet crack

Pritorian · 01-25-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aardil

Pritorian,
the reason for 4 key boards, 4 monitors and 4 mice is I play a on line game called Everquest. I play 3 accounts at the same time ( 3 different toons). the 4th PC set up does have a KVM on it. During my game, I use the 4th (17" CRT on far right of desk) for my teamspeak server and the other 3 outlets on the KVM are for when I am working on other peoples PC's.

Now that is multi tasking, however wouldn't it be much easier to get another KVM(i know their not cheap) , instead of movin around all the time

Aardil · 01-25-2006, 07:42 PM

When playing 3 different toons at one time, you dont have the luxury of waiting for the KVM to switch. It works best to have 3 monitors all up when Botting toons.
I tried the KVM set up a couple years ago, sorry its just too slow.
Also I dont move around, the 4th set up is playing through headphones and a voice acuated mic, very seldom do I have to look at that monitor or touch the keyboard or mouse. The other 3, the keyboards and mice are all within arms reach ( the mice are next to each other, I am a mouse clicker more then a keyboard Hot key user). so its mainly grab the right mouse point and click, rinse repeat. The 3 LCD Monitors are all with in my view so I can watch what is happening on all 3 at once.
They tell me its an art to be able to " 3 box" in EQ and at times it is down right hard, but I am fairly good at it ( been 3 boxing for a couple years now) just dont ask me to type anything.... it could take weeks.

CYberDruid · 09-20-2006, 08:14 PM

Finally--somebody even crazier than me...nice work on the plenum system.

Aardil · 09-25-2006, 11:12 AM

Glad that you like it.
I have made a few changes since the original build. The newest additions are are a couple of new pumps and a couple of the PC's have been modified:

Workhorse unchanged

A Bit KN8 Ultra Mother board
AMD 3200 Winchester
2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram
Seagate Sata 3.0 80Gb X2 ( running raid +0
Px6600GT PCIe Leadtek
OCZ 600 watt PSU
Soundblaster X-Fi Elite Elite Pro ( the one with the add on Box)
Winfast PVR 2000 video capture/Tuner

Gamer II Still running but will be upgraded the next time it dies.

A bit KW7
AMD Barton 2500
2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram
Seagate 120Gb Single hard drive (IDE)
A6600Gt Video Leadtek
Audigy2 Value sound card
OCZ 600 watt PSU

TS Server Died is being resurected as Gamer III ( not finished as I write)
A Bit KN8 SLI
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Toledo Dual Core
2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram
Seagate Sata 3.0 80Gb X2 ( running raid +0
px7950GT PCIe Video Leadtek X2 (SLI)
Audigy2 Value sound card
OCZ 600 watt PSU

New Gamer Completed
Asus A8N32 SLI Deluxe
AMD Opertron 150
2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram
Seagate Sata 3.0 80Gb X2 ( running raid +0
px7800Gtx PCIe Video Leadtek X2 (SLI)
Audigy2 ZS sound card
OCZ 600 watt PSU

Water cooling changes:

All PC's now run the Swiftech MCP-655 Pumps ( the old MCP-650 that was rattling finally gave up and died So I replaced both of them to the new model.
The A/C unit started freezing up at the orginal setting, I have backed off on the cool setting to position #4
That stopped the freezing with no noticable change in PC temps.

01-15-2006, 03:50 PM	#1
Joe The Pro/Life Support System Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,041	Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk The place to discuss the cool Furniture/Cooling system Aardil has created and made into a ProCooling project for all to see The article in question is here: http://www.procooling.com/index.php?...icles&disp=143 Post your thoughts __________________ Joe - I only take this hat off for one thing... ProCooling archive curator and dusty skeleton. Last edited by Brians256; 01-16-2006 at 12:19 AM.

01-16-2006, 12:20 AM	#2
Brians256 Pro/Staff Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Klamath Falls, OR Posts: 1,439	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Just edited for spelling. Furniture was mispelled.

01-16-2006, 12:37 AM	#3
Brians256 Pro/Staff Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Klamath Falls, OR Posts: 1,439	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Nicely done, Aardil! I've seen a couple of other multi-computer cooling systems done, but not many. Cool furniture. It looks like it isn't exactly silent, but is it noisy? The small AC unit has to be contributing some noise. Also, it would be nice to see more about the reservoir that you had problems with. How did you finally get it bled out? Cycle through each pump several times?

01-16-2006, 07:28 PM	#5
Albigger Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: ohio Posts: 140	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Nice work and write-up. So the AC unit is still mounted in the window, but you have ducted the return line back to the intake, so its not getting any "new" air, correct?

01-16-2006, 08:16 PM	#6
Aardil Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 174	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Correct

01-16-2006, 05:37 PM	#4
Aardil Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 174	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Brians256, No it is not silent, pretty close but not completely silent. I do hear a bit of hum from the A/C unit but it is muffled down a good bit with the channels and the undercoat. I do have one of my older pumps that "rattles" it has been that way for a long time but keeps pumping. I can hear it rattling when the compressor kicks off. The new pumps ( i have read ) have a hi pitched whine when run at max setting. I cannot hear any of this "whine" again I believe do to the undercoating acting as a silencer. If you look at the pics on page 3, the Pics "all filled up" you can see the old fill tube on the left hand side of desk. this is what did not work. If you look at page 3 the pic "Fill point". that is the fix. I had to cut off the old fill pipe, cap it and drill a new fill point, this one in the top of the rez. The old fill point was a 32" long hoizontal run to the rez. with all 4 pumps running the air could not make it back to the fill point before it was sucked back into the system. For the initial bleed ( when it was not in place) I could and did get the air out by elevating one side of the bottom box about 12". that gave the air a way to get back to the fill point. after I set it in place elevating one side was impossible ( too tight of a fit ), all looked good until I started connecting up the water blocks inside the PC's. Air was introduced at that point and no mater what I tried I couldnt get the air to bleed out. I probably could have gotten the air out doing one pump at a time and letting it set for an hour or so, then bleed some more. once one was bled, then move on to the next system. I fought this battle for a full day before deciding that a fill point into the top of the rez was a better plan. after I got the new fill point installed the whole system ( all 4 pumps) bled out within 30 minutes

01-17-2006, 12:41 PM	#7
pHaestus Big Player Making Big Money Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: irc.lostgeek.com #procooling.com Posts: 4,782	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk It seems like a lot of possible failure points (multiple pumps, multiple small radiators with lots of barbs) and lots of hassles when the annual (or more often) system flush/cleaning occurs. Did you consider a single oversized rad/res/pump and then using a panel with disconnects to modularly add PCs? To me that would have been a little more logical because you could put it in a "faux" cabinet on one side and then have easy access to it whenever you needed. If I ever build a house, it will have separate cooling lines running throughout the house plumbed into it from the beginning and I will just plug into the disconnects when I need to add a PC. I've already sorted it out in my head __________________ Getting paid like a biker with the best crank... -MF DOOM

01-17-2006, 02:20 PM	#8
Joe The Pro/Life Support System Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,041	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Stop kidding yourself pH, those lines will be insulated, and used for just one thing. BEER. A tapper next to the shitter... how much better does it get?! __________________ Joe - I only take this hat off for one thing... ProCooling archive curator and dusty skeleton.

01-17-2006, 08:00 PM	#9
Brians256 Pro/Staff Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Klamath Falls, OR Posts: 1,439	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Well, you need wireless access too for those long mornings.

01-24-2006, 07:46 PM	#11
Pritorian Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Norway Posts: 201	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Nice work! All you need now is a KVM-switch to get rid of all the keyboards and mice, and your set! __________________ Boo!

01-24-2006, 09:49 PM	#12
Aardil Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 174	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Pritorian, the reason for 4 key boards, 4 monitors and 4 mice is I play a on line game called Everquest. I play 3 accounts at the same time ( 3 different toons). the 4th PC set up does have a KVM on it. During my game, I use the 4th (17" CRT on far right of desk) for my teamspeak server and the other 3 outlets on the KVM are for when I am working on other peoples PC's.

01-24-2006, 09:53 PM	#13
Joe The Pro/Life Support System Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,041	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk OMG... its an EQ HQ... hehe... nice desk, pitty its used for MMORPG's hehe __________________ Joe - I only take this hat off for one thing... ProCooling archive curator and dusty skeleton.

01-24-2006, 11:52 PM	#15
Joe The Pro/Life Support System Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,041	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk hehe, I gotta give you crap though... I mean EQ, WoW, just beg for some shit Friends dont let friends get involved with internet crack __________________ Joe - I only take this hat off for one thing... ProCooling archive curator and dusty skeleton.

01-25-2006, 07:42 PM	#17
Aardil Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 174	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk When playing 3 different toons at one time, you dont have the luxury of waiting for the KVM to switch. It works best to have 3 monitors all up when Botting toons. I tried the KVM set up a couple years ago, sorry its just too slow. Also I dont move around, the 4th set up is playing through headphones and a voice acuated mic, very seldom do I have to look at that monitor or touch the keyboard or mouse. The other 3, the keyboards and mice are all within arms reach ( the mice are next to each other, I am a mouse clicker more then a keyboard Hot key user). so its mainly grab the right mouse point and click, rinse repeat. The 3 LCD Monitors are all with in my view so I can watch what is happening on all 3 at once. They tell me its an art to be able to " 3 box" in EQ and at times it is down right hard, but I am fairly good at it ( been 3 boxing for a couple years now) just dont ask me to type anything.... it could take weeks. Last edited by Aardil; 01-25-2006 at 07:51 PM.

09-20-2006, 08:14 PM	#18
CYberDruid Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains Posts: 44	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Finally--somebody even crazier than me...nice work on the plenum system. __________________ Electronics are prefilled with factory smoke--if the smoke gets out they stop working--So Don't Let The Smoke Out!

09-25-2006, 11:12 AM	#19
Aardil Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 174	Re: Aardils Multi Computer H2O and A/C cooled Desk Glad that you like it. I have made a few changes since the original build. The newest additions are are a couple of new pumps and a couple of the PC's have been modified: Workhorse unchanged A Bit KN8 Ultra Mother board AMD 3200 Winchester 2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram Seagate Sata 3.0 80Gb X2 ( running raid +0 Px6600GT PCIe Leadtek OCZ 600 watt PSU Soundblaster X-Fi Elite Elite Pro ( the one with the add on Box) Winfast PVR 2000 video capture/Tuner Gamer II Still running but will be upgraded the next time it dies. A bit KW7 AMD Barton 2500 2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram Seagate 120Gb Single hard drive (IDE) A6600Gt Video Leadtek Audigy2 Value sound card OCZ 600 watt PSU TS Server Died is being resurected as Gamer III ( not finished as I write) A Bit KN8 SLI AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Toledo Dual Core 2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram Seagate Sata 3.0 80Gb X2 ( running raid +0 px7950GT PCIe Video Leadtek X2 (SLI) Audigy2 Value sound card OCZ 600 watt PSU New Gamer Completed Asus A8N32 SLI Deluxe AMD Opertron 150 2Gb OZC DDR 3200 Ram Seagate Sata 3.0 80Gb X2 ( running raid +0 px7800Gtx PCIe Video Leadtek X2 (SLI) Audigy2 ZS sound card OCZ 600 watt PSU Water cooling changes: All PC's now run the Swiftech MCP-655 Pumps ( the old MCP-650 that was rattling finally gave up and died So I replaced both of them to the new model. The A/C unit started freezing up at the orginal setting, I have backed off on the cool setting to position #4 That stopped the freezing with no noticable change in PC temps. Last edited by Aardil; 09-25-2006 at 11:43 AM.

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