Liquid Cooling Options
 

After installing GWX and trying to run SH4, my poor cabinet confined PC is gasping for additional cooling...

I'm running dual 6800 ultras (sometimes SLI, sometimes not) and the game(s) are just locking up midway through patrols. I suspect it's from GPU overheating. I've noted that at the time of lockup the heatsinks on the 6800's are ouch-ey to the touch!

So, given my PC cabinet situation with confined airflow I'm now seriously considering liquid cooling... but I know nothing of it. Anyone have any recommendations for:

1) the preferred company to shop
2) a "how to" guide somewhere that might tell me what parts I'll need?

I personally have these http://www.cluboverclocker.com/revie...oler/index.htm

installed on 2 boxes .... they are ok and are easy to install ... but ... water cooling will only cool down the machine to whatever the room temp is at or maybe slightly cooler ......

a bunch of reviews for other brands at same place :

http://www.cluboverclocker.com/revie...ater%20Cooling

I've had a very good cooling for my AthlonXP (2.7ghz) but after switching to A64 X2 I left it in my cabinet tired of refilling water. What I want to say is - its cool either way but requires a lot of work and care. I've had a closed circuit but somehow liquid was missing and bubbles made noise. You need to keep radiator very clean also.

Look for Black Ice Pro radiator for at least 2 fans, I've been using Glacial Silent Fans (1300rpm) but they produce hell lot of drag! Hoses need to be not to stiff and not to thin so they want bend after getting warm. As to the cooler itself I have a home made, very efficient piece. One thing, don't buy anything cheap and you don't need any fancy stuff. Simple works. If you want more help no prob, I can help u pick the parts.

Ah the pump - Hydor L20, very cheap but I would suggest browsing forum for something at 12V.

PS As Silenting lots of hours maybe I'll put my cooling back on as X2 produces a lot of heat?

http://mrhadrys.com/allegro/wc1.jpg
http://mrhadrys.com/allegro/wc2.jpg

Wouldnt it be easyer just to add some case fans if you have none rather than going for watercooling. Myself im runing a single 7800gtx and a highly overclocked opty 165 witha a zalman 9700-cu to cool it, no problems even when the ambient temp is 35C, which is rare here. Allso have two 120mm fans to improve airflow in my case. One duct taped to the top of the case front where the covers for the cd drive bays would be and one in the side ofhte case. Made the hole myself but i suppose not everyone has access to large punch press benches. Sometimes being a sheetmetal worker comes in handy.

Incidentally, for those interested in learning more about water cooling systems, I just found this great article on Tom's Hardware. :yep: Was dated Mar 2007, so it's pretty-well up to date too!

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/03/...-pc/index.html

I'm looking into integrated case cooling systems... At the moment, I'm leaning toward Koolance.

I used to have my CPU water cooled, worked very well, but later (about 8 months ago) tried a refrigerated type on my AMD Athlon 64 3700+ & works much better, even on hot days running SHIII doesn't get over 35 degrees C. The cooler is a Vapochill Micro, I would imagine by now there would be ones for GPU's as well.:yep:

I wouldn't go for complete kits... it's always a matter of compromise or maybe something has changed?

Try putting some 120mm fans with large volume to see what happens with the temp. Maybe a smart placed silent 120 fan - good case vent - would be enough like others suggested.

Unless I misunderstand, your computer is in an enclosed cabinet and is overheating, yes?

Water cooling will not solve the problem unless you mount the radiator externally, outside the cabinet. If not, you're still trying to cool your computer case with hot air. No matter how big a radiator or high volume a pump you use, you'll never get it cooler than the cabinet interior.

I would propose instead you actively cool the cabinet with fans or better yet don't keep your gaming PC in an enclosed space.

Water cooling can be very effective in certain circumstances, this does not sound like one of them.

I've positioned my cabinet such that it backs up to one of the A/C intakes for my house. There's plenty of airflow through the cabinet.

My problem I think is that:
1) still using the stock heatsinks that came with the GPU's
2) with 2 GPU's and all cabling it makes for a cramped case (hindering airflow)

Right now, I've got the side cover off the case and when the A/C is running there's lot's of airflow thru the cabinet... but the 2 GPU heatsinks are still getting really hot (probably like 120° to 130°-ish range).

The water-cooling option is pricey, no doubt. I'm estimating around $600 at the moment for a good integrated system. :doh: An external system I could do for maybe half the price... but for the dual GPU's I dunno... I might need 1000w cooling.

Yeah I'm thinking in the end I may have to go external so the heat exchanger could sit outside and on top of the cabinet. I'm almost at the point where I'm ready to buy a small refrigerator and convert it to a PC case. :lol:

Whadya think, should I first just try for a couple good aftermarket sinks for the GPU's? :hmm:

Here I was joking about using a fridge as a CPU case; and they went and done it! The non-micro version is HUUUUGE.

The VapoChill stuff definitely looks cool... alas, I see no GPU cooling options listed in the product line over at http://www.asetek.com/

What did the VapoChill Micro CPU cooler cost ya and where'd you order yours from?

Asetek sells cases that keep your components cooled at sub-zero temps but they're bloody expensive with prices near $900. I have no experience with them but they've always been my fantasy upgrade for achieving insane over clocking speeds :D

Asetek

I can imagine rigging a little air duct that takes some of the chilled output from your home A/C, sending it straight into your PC case. Could be funky-looking, but it sounds practical & cheap!

I believe it's the potential for condensation that kills that idea... I put mine in front of the return, so yeah it benefits from the airflow, but I don't think I'd have duct work to blow cold directly on hot PC internals.

Also, my A/C doesn't stay on permanently so the benefit if any fluctuates...

Well... the compressor core temp is sub-zero... but not your PC internals. If so, you'd be chipping ice from the inside of your machine.

Yeah, I'm still thinking a water-cooled system is where I'm headed, but the thing's gonna easily put a $600 dent in my account.

Eeee is it made from 24k gold? In Poland my system from the photo + fans cost 150 bucks top, add max (!) 50 bucks for a second heatsink... and we have computer stuff a lot more expensive than in US.