H2O Cooling Build Log (Retiring) 4-way SLI - Successful

  • Thread starter Pako
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I would stick with water cooling myself. 3 water block for the 8800's and a full system with 2-3 loops, should set you back about 450-500. But with the mineral oil, you can spend 60 bucks on oil, about 100 on a tank and call it good. But, if and when something goes wrong, you might have a problem taking everything apart with all of the oil on everything.
 
If I can find water blocks that would also fit the new GTX280's, I might go for it. I'm really not sure how long I'll hold onto these 8800's.
Who knows, I really haven't checked into it. Maybe holding onto these 8800's are good enough, with liquid cooling I should be able to bump them up and let 'er rip.
 
Getting cramped in there Pako. You live where its cold in the winter. You could put it outside in the garage Or use it as a second furnace? J/K Looking good:tup:
 
GT3mich
Getting cramped in there Pako. You live where its cold in the winter. You could put it outside in the garage Or use it as a second furnace? J/K Looking good:tup:
Click to expand...

:lol: I would love to put it outside. I swear, it's 85F down here right now. I may clock it back just so it's not so hot. The case is under my desk by my feet because it's so big. If I could put it up above it wouldn't be so bad. :ill: :)
 
I have updated the first post with a link to pictures of the build. Rather than starting a new thread, the water cooled system was a result of this machine. It has been a progression of the original SLI setup. I am currently waiting on a NB/SB water block to finish off the mother board then I will be able to start installing hardware. I feel I have gone as far as I can without that water block.

:cheers:
 
Great build log pics Pako 👍 Must be nice having so much high end kit, I like doing a lot of modding but its usually with middle of the road stuff.

Robin.
 
Hey Robin. Glad you like the pics. I'm waiting for the Bitspower NB/SB combo water block to become available so I can get it ordered and start really putting this thing together. I'm basically ready to start hooking things up....pretty exciting and nerve racking at the same time. I have some money tied up into this thing, and I hope I don't screw anything up on the process.
 
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I was just going with distilled water, anti-algae additive, and uv-antifreeze additive. I wasn't aware of non-conductive cooling solution other than the mineral oils we've discussed earlier in this thread....

What specific products do you know of?

Never mind, found a few products from Feser as well as a few others.
 
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You could use Liquid Fluorocarbon cooling liquid which is totally non conductive, its used on the nuts Armaris XCP which is a total immersion PC. :crazy: But the coolant is millitary / supercomputer grade and ridiculously expensive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorinert

But seriously I think normal mineral water with the additives should be fine, if your using good components a leak is unlikely.

Robin.
 
I'd stick to mineral oil myself also as that mineral oil project of their's is still running 2+ years.
 
Alright, some updated pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/chris.coen/VideoLoop?feat=directlink

I'm having some issues with my second pump so you only get to see the video loop here. Hopefully I can get a new pump soon. This waiting is killing me.

DSC_0046.JPG
 
Pako
I am really hoping I won't need an auxiliary power supply. IF I ever add a third GTX280, a second power supply will be required (or one of these).
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Thirteen hundred watts?!? Add in the 65W for your monitor, 100 (and up to 1100 :eek: ) for the printer, 50 for speakers, etc. - your PC should really be on it's own circuit.

FYI - we design a 20A circuit to max out at 1920W (20A x 120V x 80%). If you're on a 15A breaker, that comes out to 1440W.
 
Ummm..., I'm running a 1000w PSU right now. Pretty soon, PSU will demand a 220 circuit. It's honestly ridiculous by the way. Based on a 12v system though, I have no idea what kind of amps I am actually drawing on the circuit. I say it's odd because each GTX280 card requires a 40 amp, 12v rail, 550w power supply minimum. That's 80 amps total between the two cards. And yes, I'm on a 15A breaker.
 
You can actually make a computer that needs it's own circuit?! You can play one hell of a game of pong on that.
 
StigNumbers
You can play one hell of a game of pong on that.
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Sadly, unless it's running 1920x1200 with moving foliage, clouds weather effects, etc., PONG will run exactly the same on that as on my 350Mhz P2. :lol:
 
TB
Sadly, unless it's running 1920x1200 with moving foliage, clouds weather effects, etc., PONG will run exactly the same on that as on my 350Mhz P2. :lol:
Click to expand...

It might look a bit smoother and load faster though!

Also, Pako, your computer is insane. It makes the laptop I want look like garbage.
 
Well, let's see.
Physics based pong with: 1080i quality, day/night effects (for endurance pong) in 3D, with a movable camera, menu designed by PD, and paddles with intricate designs on them.
Yep, perfect.
 
StigNumbers
Well, let's see.
Physics based pong with: 1080p quality, day/night effects (for endurance pong) in 3D, with a movable camera, menu designed by PD, and paddles with intricate designs on them.
Yep, perfect.
Click to expand...
Close.
 
NocturnalPS
Aww Pako your already have the old stuff... get with the new. GTX295... http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/268/1050268/101-gtx295-benchmarks
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Oh I know. I saw a GTX295 SLI that smoked a GTX280 3-Way SLI setup. Check the link here where an EVGA tech got a little crazy with hsi setup. When you're just behind the bleeding edge of technology, the scars aren't quite as deep. Notice the Socket 775? Notice the Q9550 Chip? Notice the lack of a i7 processor, notice the lack of an x58 board? :D

Yep, pretty much yesterday's news. Oh well.

With some early tests, it looks like the mosfets are going to get really hot, I am considering some water blocks for those as well. I'll give it a week or so of testing before I decide to add two more blocks to the CPU loop. If all goes well, I hope to have the system up and running this weekend.

I've been having some issues with the second water loop. Seems the res top I got was defective and is allowing water into the pump tops and are frying the pumps. I have a third pump coming tomorrow, while the other two are in transit to their RMA destination. :mad:

I plan to play pong at 16,982 FPS FTW! 1920x1200, yeah baby. Won't be much fun though, I imagine it will look a lot like snow. :D

TB
Close.
Click to expand...

1920x1200, that would be 1080p+ ;)
 
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