Alien Li

[Pug]

Well, this is the second go at watercooling this pint sized wonder.
Up until last night, it had a 120mm rad in the lower front, 5.5mm ID hose throughout and an AquaStream 12volt pump with an integral plexi res.
Seen here (before I fitted the Aquastream) (http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/allLit.jpg)

Now it's slightly different as you can see.
http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/LLPC50frnt.jpg
(couldn't find the replacement blank plate to put back in place of the pump controller yet)

I'd originally taken the floor mounted HDD caddy out to make space for an APE120 rad on its side, in the path of the intake fan - it worked well enough (as I only have my CPU in the loop) but I got a bit ham-fisted with it (http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/borkdRad.jpg), as my mind was elsewhere, so there's now an Ice Tec Smart 80 rad in its place.
http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/LLPC50rad.jpg

The res I had in it before would only fit Eheim-derived pumps, so went into my ClearPC, along with the AquaStream to make way for the AP900 12Volt pump.
http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/LLPC50pump.jpg

[Pug]

Seeing as I hadn't been using the two bays below the CD, it was no sweat to stick the AquaBay AT in.
http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/LLPC50bay.jpg
and run a 10mm OD line from the back of the res to the pump
http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/LLPC50res.jpg
and then 8mm OD lines throughout the rest of the loop to clear the PSU with ease
http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/LLPC50side.jpg

Still plently of tidying to do when I can find my other parts - there's a rounded IDE cable kicking around here somewhere, if I could put my hand on it, I'd stick it in and have a go at wrapping some of those wires away but first, as I may put a GFX card worth cooling in there soon (and swap out the standard fans for some Papsts), there may be a few more posts here in the chop shop before I finish it & stick it in the gallery. :)
I'll also be getting my dremel on it when I settle on the final cooling config and trying out a nifty bezel modding technique if I can get the supplies I want... :h34r:

[Darv]

Nice! :D

How does it look with the side panel on?

I like the mixture of black tubes and see through ones.

[mrplow]

My housemate told me I should mount my aquatube like that...

I wasn't sure if it would work - your case is proof that it does! Looks great pal ^_^

[Wolfie]

Another great mod from you Pug! Awesome! No matter how many times I've seen it, the Aqua stuff still amaze me! Especially that aquatube!!! Damn!

[Starbuck3733T]

Now that's what I call 'shoe horning'. Nice fit.

[Pug]

Darv - it's pretty close to how it was before, you only see a bit of the internals in a photo anyway (when you look around it irl, you see more).
I'll save the full on pics of it together for when I do a bit more to it.

Mrplow - It works fine but you have to have the level of coolant reasonably high if you use a powerful pump, to avoid bubbles from turbulence.

Wolfie - cheers but I haven't really put my mark on it yet - the waterjet service was courtesy of mnpctech and the kit has been put in with no more modding necessary than sticking a bit of blu-tack under the pump to hold it in place when I tip it back to fill and bleed. :)
It will be modded from here on in but I thought it was a good example of a nice easy beginner install for now.

Star - there's plenty of room for more bits and pieces yet... once the PSU clearance was taken care of by choosing hose with a good bend radius, the hardest part was deciding where to put the rad. It turned out pretty easy, overall. :)

[Pug]

Huge bump from the bottom of the pile here (I had to go to page 2 to find this... I didn't know we even had a page 2!).

Kazuo's PC50 (http://www.ryoto.com/pub/pc50) left me thinking I should really blow the dust out of this one and do something to quieten it down a bit more (short of fitting a 360 rad for now ;)).
It's the noisiest machine in a room of three of 'em with its 80mm fans and no HDD soundproofing - I'd also sold the OCPC Atlantis GPU block that'd been in there and had to slap the HSF off my Ti200 in there for a while which hadn't helped.

This weekend saw it given the Twinplex from my ClearPC (as I'd put a Cape GP42 in that whilst converting the whole loop to 7mm ID) and the leftover AquaDrive (from when my DeskStars went into my silentStar Dual).

Because I'd gone "big-bore" ;) on the ClearPC, it made more sense to put the AP900 in that and bring the AquaStream with its integral res into this one (also because I had no room to run the AquaBay AT, a CDrom and an AquaDrive with only 3 bays to play with).

The results -

http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/rigs/liIn.jpg

Crappy mobo but it does the job for now. :o

http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/rigs/li34.jpg

and here's how it looks with my Coolview...

http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/rigs/liDesk.jpg

The wiring still needs tidying but that's the beauty of a minimalist window design - I can still keep an eye on the internals & water movement but I save money on expandable sleeving & heatshrink! :D

[kazuo]

You know that you need to WTX it when you want to fit a 360 ape in it. I tried fitting it without the WTX but there isn't enough space between the top and the mobo. :mellow:
With WTX it's no problem cause there aren't any high components on the bottom of the mobo. When using a Twinplex on your card there's only one pci slot left. You can't have everything ^_^

Happy modding,
Marc

Drop me a msg if you need black sleeving. I'll get a 200m roll of 1/8" in a few days.

[Pug]

Hehe, after my last WTX mod (GlobalWin 802) ended up looking like something I should enter into the ModdersHQ Ugly competition, I think I'll stay a little more conservative with this one, besides, I'm frankly amazed at how much this little 80mm rad can handle. It'll be a serious upgrade that sees me fitting much more than an APE120 in here, currently it's cooling a 2 litre P4 Celeron, a GF2 GTS Ultra and a single HDD yet the Tec-Ice 80 does it proud. B)


Thx for the sleeving offer - I do have some (HellermannTyton), it's just finding the time to do it more than anything, I guess.

[kazuo]

Hehe, after my last WTX mod (GlobalWin 802) ended up looking like something I should enter into the ModdersHQ Ugly competition, I think I'll stay a little more conservative with this one, besides, I'm frankly amazed at how much this little 80mm rad can handle. It'll be a serious upgrade that sees me fitting much more than an APE120 in here, currently it's cooling a 2 litre P4 Celeron, a GF2 GTS Ultra and a single HDD yet the Tec-Ice 80 does it proud. B)


Thx for the sleeving offer - I do have some (HellermannTyton), it's just finding the time to do it more than anything, I guess.
The WTX mod ain't that difficult. I can give you the measures for it, when i finished my plans :)

Hellermann & Tyton is a good pick ^_^ I tried several sleeving but the H & T is seems to be the best.

[Pug]

Hmm. I'm almost tempted.
If I come up with another radiator solution for the ClearPC, I may well use the 360 from that to have a go in the long run. Y'never know.
Thanks for the idea & inspiration. I may well take you up on the offer. :cool:

[mnpctech]

Lookin real tasty there Pug.

I swear @ times I'm the only Modder w/o Clear PC. I really want one though. Just hasn't been on budget until I can afford all new components.

[Pug]

Lookin real tasty there Pug.

I swear @ times I'm the only Modder w/o Clear PC. I really want one though. Just hasn't been on budget until I can afford all new components.
Thanks bud. :)
Fully clear cases are a little overrated sometimes - fingerprints are a biatch and dust stares you in the face in the long run.
That said, anything's a blank canvas at the end of the day - just hafta look at Orac³ to prove that point. :D

[Pug]

A quick change of colour for the dye in this one was pretty much all the preparation I did for Modfest, apart from a switch of PSUs and swapping the bloo neons out for UV CCFLs...
Oh and I whipped out the top panel fan and slapped a rheoed Papst on the rad (shame CPC didn't have a silent category at Modfest). That and the adjustable fans in the Enermax are it's only ones in it now. ^_^
Here's a pic of it with the wiring cleaned up and some of the work done.

http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/images/rigs/liBlue.jpg

I ran out of time to take many more shots before I went but now that APC have done their thang (http://www.wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=452) I feel some more serious mods in store for it in time to make up for what I feel about it now.

Mind you, I shipped both this and Hex full of coolant, so it's testament to these systems that even under the kind of abuse that can damage the case, I didn't get a leak (although it did dislodge the pump from its Blu-Tac mountings). :cool:

[Darv]

Wow I can't believe I never thought of using blu-tac to mount my pump. ATM it's sat at an angle on a peice of bubble wrap :wacko:

[mnpctech]

(shame CPC didn't have a silent category at Modfest).

Now see, its these kinds of ideas that should be utilized for WizD meet. Just need to host this catagory in a seperate room.

Host it and they will come Pug ;)

[Pug]

Hehe... *bump*? :inno:
Three years and one web host down (must fix those original pic links) and I finally got around to the WTX mod I was threatening. You can thank the addition of a 3.2GHz Prescott for that. :rolleyes:

I didn't end up fitting the 360 rad like Kazuo's (http://www.ryoto.com/pub/pc50/), nor did I switch the front bezel and top panel to be the right way up yet, although I did space things out when I started cutting so that I could fit a 360 rad at a later date (I used a 360 grille plate as a cutting template).

Front rad aperture cutting commences... :dremel:
1469

Rear rad aperture drilled and ready to cut.
1470

Old proto block about to be replaced.
1471

It's going to look a lot more cramped than this by the time I finish up. :lol:
1472

Here's what the rads look like in place. (The loop pipe is just to avoid spillage while fitting, as this rad was in the loop prior to tearing down.)
1473

[Pug]

Checking the base of the NexXxoS XP Gold prior to fitting.
1474

...and in it goes.
1475

Mostly done, so it's time for a well earned beer. :beer:
1476

A couple of those later and it's bled up and ready to finish the build. :magic:
1477

Loop order goes Pump -> CPU -> Passive 120mm Rad (didn't have bolts long enough to add a fan yet but it performs admirably, as is) -> HDD cooler -> GPU -> Active 120mm Rad -> Filltank/Pump.
There's a one-way bleed valve out of shot in a T-piece on the pump outlet and a second one visible up the top, between the GPU and Rad. These should make draining the rig when I come to the next stage of the build a lot easier, which means I can use it in the interim period without being too concerned about the time needed to tear it down again.

The temp improvements from this mod are substantial. Even with only a single Papst 4412 F/2GL running at ~1600rpm, my temps are better than they were on the 2.0GHz Northwood with the 80mm rad. I've now set it to be temperature-controlled in the BIOS and it never steps up from the low speed setting of ~900rpm, as it sits happily <50°C under full load. B)

It's sooo quiet now, you'd hardly know it was on. :cheers:

[Pug]

Further update:
My Prescool's still ticking over nicely, I'm proud to say. 41° as I type. B)
I can't wait to get a fan on the second rad though... I stupidly put the case side back on for the first day and gave it a workout with X3:Reunion.
The 9800Pro I had in this didn't have RAMsinks though and I ended up nearly cooking the memory, either through dead air or possibly a downdraft from the passive rad, thanks to multiple exhaust fans and no intake one. :duh:

I've since swapped the card out for my other 9800Pro that has RAMsinks, left the sidepanel off temporarily and rested a further 120mm on top of the PSU, directed at the card.
1486
A temp probe wedged in by the RAMsink now registers ~28-35°. I hate to think what it might have been reaching before... :worried:


Marc, if you read this, I'm interested in what and where you cut to spin your front and top panel around. I'll probably do it slightly differently, as I've already cut the base but I'm sure it will be valuable to see what you learnt from doing yours first. :thumb:

[fivecheebs]

:o Did you kill the original card then?

Nice work getting that CPU under control though. No wonder the 80 was a little underrated for the task :lol:

I guess you will have to make a fan hole in that side panel now then? There isnt a low down intake any more.

[Darv]

Mmmm, NexXxos Gold. It's a shame it's hidden behind the PSU. Looking good though, I love wATX cases for some reason :wiz:

[Pug]

:o Did you kill the original card then?

Nice work getting that CPU under control though. No wonder the 80 was a little underrated for the task :lol:

I guess you will have to make a fan hole in that side panel now then? There isnt a low down intake any more.
I thought I had. All subsequent boots shows artifacting and corruption, even in the BIOS.
Fortunately though, a quick pull and sticking it in another rig later in the day showed it to be okay, from what I can tell, luckily.

I'm going to put the fan on the second rad as an exhaust, rather than leave it where it is. I'll probably fit a vented 5.25" blank in what is now the bottom slot and keep an eye on case pressure, venting the front panel further if it merits it.


It'd be nice to show off the NexXxoS Gold better, wouldn't it Dave?
Saying that though, it's not just a pretty face, is it? ;-)

Cheers for the responses. ^_^

[Pug]

:o Did you kill the original card then?

:-(
Seems I spoke too soon. I tried firing up Hex with it at the weekend and had total screen corruption on entering the BIOS.
I did manage to score a replacement for £20 though, so if that turns up by the weekend, I'll be a little happier.

I may have come up with an idea for a top panel mod tonight but I won't say too much about it until I can figure out how well I can pull it off. :secret:
Guaranteed, there'll be pics if I can though. :thumb:

[jaguarking11]

I see no pics. Where are the pics?

It seems you have a nice little rig there pug. Shame about your card though.

[fivecheebs]

Crap! However, £20 is damned good to replace it.

[Pug]

I see no pics. Where are the pics?

It seems you have a nice little rig there pug. Shame about your card though.
Check page two for the latest ones.
The original 2004 ones were hosted on the Wizard Designs server but my hosting company went under last year. :-(

I have a couple of shots of it on Photobucket in one of it's older configs though.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/Pug_WD/liDesk.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/Pug_WD/li34.jpg

Crap! However, £20 is damned good to replace it.
Indeed. :wiz:
Turned up this morning, so I'll try slapping that in Hex at the weekend after I've tried knocking up a few RAMsinks for it.

[Starbuck3733T]

If pug can do it, I can too. mod on!

[jaguarking11]

So any over clocking on that chip? Do tell the specifics. FYI presshots can run in the stratosphere as far as temps are concerned, they only need stable voltages. Watch out for the mobo temps more than chip temps.


I absolutely love it btw. Very clean looking. Take new pics, Id like to see it how it is configured now.

[Pug]

So any over clocking on that chip? Do tell the specifics. FYI presshots can run in the stratosphere as far as temps are concerned, they only need stable voltages. Watch out for the mobo temps more than chip temps.


I absolutely love it btw. Very clean looking. Take new pics, Id like to see it how it is configured now.
Sorry not to get back sooner - had my other two rigs stripped and been working on them for the past coupla weeks (new mobo & chip in one, amongst other things... ran into various issues along the way, as you do :rolleyes:).

No overclocking on this at present, as it requires modding the BIOS using Intel developer tools.
I'm planning a top-panel mod and finishing the other two rigs before shooting many more pics.
Things are a bit up in the air here atm as I have a mate and my kids staying with me, so I haven't had so much time to give to it and the forum recently.
Will rectify that soon. :thumb:

[jaguarking11]

Sounds good pug.

I totally understand about the absence, I haven't been around much either, life gets in the way I guess.

[Evenge]

Hey this looks nice! Thumbs up to you Pug :thumb: