Going back to water after almost 8 years. Go big or go home!

[[AK]Zip]

So after far too long I can't stand the noise/heat of air cooling anymore so it is time to go back to water. The reason I quit water cooling in the first place was because I couldn't stop and kept trying to get it cooler and cooler, but ran out of free time to keep doing it.

Below is most of the stuff I have gathered so far for this build.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad98/TTZip/WC/water.jpg

I am planning on building an external box for the radiators, pump/reservoir, and fan which will go on top of my Corsair case. I am not going full cover blocks for video as of now since I am hoping next gen of video cars will be to where 1 video card is about as fast as 2 current gen cards so I will be purchasing a single card then along with a full cover block for that card. Worthless to purchase full cover blocks for the GTX480 at this point unless someone wants to sponsor me... :D

Info on fan:
It is a 14V fan drawing 2.9A (40.6 watt) on stable usage though the current does peak quite a bit for the first half second on power up. At 12V it draws 2.3A (27.6 watt) and even then it can blow air clear across my computer room. I am able to get this fan to power up and actually spin as low as 1V drawing 0.36A (0.36 watt) which is amazing, but not very effective. Truly a very efficient fan.

The plan is to create an all out controller board for the fan that would allow me to control the voltage either manually or through the motherboard. I very well know this fan is beyond overkill in both CFM and pressure so the goal is to be able to achieve a silent operation using a single fan a very low RPM (and noise) while still being able to maintain a high level of CFM and pressure.

A test of the fan showing noise at different voltage levels. Will get quieter as I clean and grease it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBi0uDrmyOU

[[AK]Zip]

I have created a temp test box already for this system to see how well this will work. If all goes well the final version will be a cnc cut anodized steel/aluminum box to match my case so it will look very sleek.

In the picture below you see how everything will be setup. The fan is not yet fully mounted. It will sit a bit further in and fully flush with a grill attached to the end so no fingers end up getting lost.
http://i.imgur.com/Pt7mm.jpg

The pump/reservoir will be mounted right above the radiator.
http://i.imgur.com/QXuDv.jpg

I hope to get this finished this weekend, but I have been quite busy with work so who knows. I still have to make the pump bracket and drill holes in the wood for the tubing, but past that most everything is now done.

[MUYA]

U guys are amazing with your grease monkey skills..I wish I could be as skilled to mod stuff but alas no.... :(

Man update the thread as when u can as I am very much interested to see your final build! Cool stuff!

[bob saget]

going to be epic...

[[AK]Zip]

So after spending quite some time yesterday looking what what I currently have done I cam up with an even better revised box. This box ends up utilizing 2 of these fans in series which not only allows me to use 2 fans with a much lower current draw, but also a much more fluid control from 2-12v. The only problem is that now even at a low rpm of the fans I am getting a lot of air resonance going through the radiators. I have tried multiple things to get the noise to stop, but I have failed so far. I am going to try a bit longer today before I dump this idea all together and go a different route.

Here is the new box.

http://i.imgur.com/QBqZl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HUKna.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DIZKB.jpg

[trivium nate]

nice mang

[MUYA]

Any more updates? :D

[[AK]Zip]

I have changed the setup again. I will no longer be using those fans or the external box due to the resonance caused from pressure and airflow. I have purchased a few additional items and waiting for them to come in now. Hopefully nearing the end of this build.

[MUYA]

Cool!

[Destroy]

Zip;2454879']I have changed the setup again. I will no longer be using those fans or the external box due to the resonance caused from pressure and airflow. I have purchased a few additional items and waiting for them to come in now. Hopefully nearing the end of this build.

Sounds smart, that setup looked awfully noisy.

[[AK]Zip]

Sounds smart, that setup looked awfully noisy.

The fans themselves were actually very quiet. The problem was that the air came in at an angle on the side radiators with a high pressure causing them to vibrate and produce a strange high pitched noise. Either way new fans should come in today leaving only a 180 degree adapter to hook up the two external radiators. Still working on a stand design that will be functional and easy to build.

[Vanzagar]

maybe it's time to start water for me... but I don;t have near the time to monkey around... I need it to be reliable above all else...

[zarlaan]

Looks pretty cool. If i had the time and money I'd probably do something similar.

However, I've always found if you're willing to pay the premium for some of the air cooling and you select the right components. You will have a virtually silent PC. With my latest build using the Noctua NH-D14 and Arctic Cooling Accelero on my GTX 560. If the power LED on the front of the case went out I would never know it was on.