New Project, New Member, Suggestions Welcome!

[mshannon]

First off I want to say I am relatively new to Water Cooling and Case Modding. However, I've caught the bug and can't wait to get started on my latest project.

Here's the plan, please advise me of caveats ahead of time if you see them.

I have my eyes on a Gemini CPU Waterblock and a Gemini Chipset Waterblock. I have read a couple of very nice reviews on the Gemini products, and I have to admit they look slick. Now to hook them together I plan on getting a nice length of silicon tubing.

Now my pump of choice is the Ehiem 1048, I can grab one at Pet SuperMarket this weekend.

Now the big question, I like the Black Ice 80mm radiator, I've only got a mid tower to work with so I need to maximize my space. Is this going to be too little heat radiation? Should I hold off on the Chipset Waterblock?

Also, the hardware configuration, in case you might need it to make a recommendation. I plan on purchasing a MSI KT333-AUR Motherboard, a AMD Athlon XP 2000, and some nice DDR ram.

Overclocking? Yes, it's on the project plan...


So, any suggestions?

-M

[bigben2k]

The BIX is nice, and will certainly fit in your case. A heatercore is cheaper, but you have to give it a little love to fit it, and to hook it up. Either way, it can handle the heatload.

Most of the cooling you'll achieve is with good airflow through the rad, so as long as you can keep it unobstructed, and slap a fan (maybe 2), then you should be set. Remember to use a shroud.

Welcome to ProCooling!

[mshannon]

Thanks! The whole shroud portion has confused me, perhaps you could explain what you mean. What I was thinking of doing was using the front portion of the case to contain the rad and an 80mm fan, plus putting a simple fan duct in to route the air out.

Where would a "shroud" fit into the equation?

Thanks!

[bigben2k]

The purpose of a shroud is to assist in evening out the airflow through the rad.

A fan has this nasty tendancy to run flow anywhere where air exits (circle) except in the middle. To compensate for that, you leave 1 inch between the core and the fan.

A duct will be great. Simply, it can point out the side, or down.

One thing to keep in mind is that dust accumulation can become a problem, so you probably don't want the air coming in from the bottom. Filters are ok, but they're usually restrictive, unless you use something like a nylon hose, and really stretch it. Filters also have to be cleaned/replaced, so most people don't bother.

[mshannon]

Thanks, makes more sense. My plan is to use the duct to provide a "blowhole" out the front of the case. Hard to explain, but I'll warm up the digital camera once I get it started.

Also, while I've got you here, can you clear up this "lapping" I've been hearing? I was imagining I would put some of that arctic compound on the cpu, then put the water block on that. Should I use a shim?

Again, thanks. Oh yea, I used to live in Houston.

[bigben2k]

An ex-Houstonian! Why'd you move? (Don't tell me...)

The term blowhole is reserved for a hole on the top of a case. Think about a whale...

You'll find lots of opinions on lapping, and a google search should hook you up.

In short, it's all about making the bottom surface of the waterblock as flat as possible, to improve the contact with the CPU core. A mirror finish is best. Residues do need to be cleaned off though (acetone, mineral spirits, rubing alcohol, ...). Check out Bladerunner's work at zerofanzone.

About shims... Let me explain to you the purpose, then I'll let you decide.

The idea is to prevent the CPU core from getting crushed, typically because a wb or HSF was mounted a little bit sideways, with a lot of pressure. Shims prevent that from happening.

A shim however needs to be EXACTLY the same thickness as the core sticks out from the CPU. If the shim is too thin, then the core isn't protected. If the shim is too thick, then you may not get a good contact between the core and the wb or HSF.

[mshannon]

I should have hit the google before I asked, I find myself telling people the same thing. I'll ask again if it doesn't make sense.

So anyway, I left Houston because of work, sick and tired of Oil Companies....

Now, I see, blowhole on top... however the hole I put in the front will blow air out...a fronthole?

[zippyc]

All I can say is that I installed my 4th geminicool block this week (gpu cooler on Radeon 9700 Pro) with excellent results (again.)

So far from geminicool I use:
Gforce3 blockset. (clocked Gforce 3 very well)
Hi-flo spiral CPU cooler(cleartop)
Northbridge chipset cooler (s-channel, cleartop.)
GPU Cooler (yen-yang design (new, not on website) cleartop.)

They all look great and have excellent form/fit/finish.

Be careful not to twist the fittings while installing (I now use a closed-end 11 Mil to lock the fittings on the blocks in place so they will not rotate while seating the hose). I must have twisted one slightly on the nortbridge by accident during installation and had a small leak, but tightened the fitting and the leak is gone...user error I believe.

You might consider an XP1600 new stepping, biggest bang for the buck ($55.00 US at newegg last time I looked). Got mine to 1820Mhz (182 x 10) with no motherboard (voltage) mod on my Kt3 Ultra.

Also, if you have any tight bends in your installation (IE: if you do somthing crazy like splitting waterflow four ways to cool everything like I did...), I found that vinyl tubing can do the trick inside the case and is much cheaper...silicone kinks easier if you MUST make a turn (but avoid turns if possible). SOn the other hand,silicone will not get hard and brittle over time, but I have found I change my case configuration often enough so I never expect to have old vinyl in there.

Eheim 1048 is a good, reliable pump...you may need more flow if you plan to split to more than 2 waterblocks, but it should work great for just the CPU and MB chipsets.

Cool in parallel, not in series for best results.

The shroud should ensure an airtight seal between your fans and the radiator, ensuring that all the "suck" or "blow" of the fans passes through the radiator. A space of 2" or more between the fans and radiator helps with effeciencies too...

I hope you post the results of your new project, and good luck!

[mshannon]

Split the tubing huh, interesting. I had not thought of that one. I'll have to do some research.

Do you have some pictures of your setup, perhaps it would help me understand a few things.

Thanks.


m

[aabtek]

I would stay away from the micro bix, and go for at least the real bix, 120mm instead of 80 mm fan ..... the bigger fan is more silent at the same airflow, and the bigger radiator will cool much better if you overclock.
btw, splitting flow limits the flow, I would not do it.

[FRAGN'STIEN]

Hi mshannon and welcome to the forums. Here is a pic of a very simple setup that may help you in understanding how it goes together. inline watercooling. Now notice the "loop" it goes from pump to rad(Bi pro the little brother of the BIX), rad to block, block to T-line, T-line to pump. Now if your going to be using the vid and chipset block you would want to run the setup like this: pump-->T-line-->rad-->CPU block-->vid block-->chipset block-->pump. This senario would be assuming your using the T-line setup. Now here's a pic of a submerged setup. The round black piece of the setup at the bottom is a resevoir with a pump inside "submerged" and you'll notice The "loop" I have a chipset block on that setup, but no vid block. I hope this helps you get a better understanding how it all goes together. I hope the project is a success for you.

[aabtek]

and if you wan't a bit less trouble bleeding the system you would wan't something like:
pump->cpu->nb->gpu->rad->res->pump