a silent air cooled computer project

  • Thread starter Thread starter stormrider
  • Start date Start date
stormrider said:
if anyone is curious I documented all the steps and components
that I used to build a silent air cooled pc for games:
...
Silent Gaming Review
...
Click to expand...

Why don't you at least include a summary here instead of a simple
reference to your commercial web site.
 
stormrider said:
if anyone is curious I documented all the steps and components that I used
to build a silent air cooled pc for games:
http://silentgamingreview.com/components.htm

Silent Gaming Review
http://silentgamingreview.com
Click to expand...

Hmmm...nice. I am going to go for a "silent" computer on my next build.
I'm still tossing around the idea of using a water cooling system, but it
limits you somewhat, and takes a little more maintenance... Anyone else
here using either?
 
Beall said:
Hmmm...nice. I am going to go for a "silent" computer on my next build.
I'm still tossing around the idea of using a water cooling system, but it
limits you somewhat, and takes a little more maintenance... Anyone else
here using either?
Click to expand...


From what I've researched water cooling is the way to go for silent
operation and/or overclocking. If you get a nice sized case you can fit all
of your components inside or attached to the case. The setup can be a pain
for the inexperienced and the initial cost is of course much higher than an
air cooled solution. Once you get it up and running there shouldn't be that
much maintenance though (as long as you're not constantly lugging it to LAN
parties).
 
What do you think about the pump stopping, though.
First it will fry the components.
Second, the water will heat up, expand and blow apart the weekest link so
you'll get a couple of sprinklers inside of a case in no time
I read somewhere that the expansion can be fixed by adding an overflow water
tank. Anyone knows anything about it?
I am getting ready to build a dual core rig and still agonizing about the
cooling
Might go with the latest passive radiator from Zalman just for kicks

http://www.silentgamingreview.com
 
stormrider said:
What do you think about the pump stopping, though.
First it will fry the components.
Click to expand...

If there are components that will fry with no flow, then a flow
meter of some kind that will positively indicate that flow is
below a certain amount, and a mechanism to shutdown the system,
are essential for unattended operation.
Second, the water will heat up, expand and blow apart the weekest link so
you'll get a couple of sprinklers inside of a case in no time
I read somewhere that the expansion can be fixed by adding an overflow water
tank. Anyone knows anything about it?
Click to expand...

Don't worry too much about water expanding... :-)

But *do* be concerned about the potential for leaks, because the
chances are fairly high.

Which is to say, I would *not* water cool a critical system
unless there is a standby system ready to replace it in the case
of failure. Hence, if it would take a week to get your system
back in operation if this particular box was totally destroyed,
don't water cool this particular box! If you have two computers
and can live without one for a few days or weeks, go for it.
 
Yes, I would have to agree. As tempting as watercooling sounds it seems
still immature to trust your only rig to it.
On the other hand the heat produced by components keeps going up.
I have an overclocked 6800GT cooled passively with an external radiator but
I want to try a 7800 in the new computer and have my doubts
add to that 500W PSU, the dual core CPU which puts out more heat than my
current 3400+.
add two 10000rpm HD's for the raid and you'll be able to fry eggs inside =)
 
stormrider said:
Yes, I would have to agree. As tempting as watercooling sounds it seems
still immature to trust your only rig to it.
On the other hand the heat produced by components keeps going up.
I have an overclocked 6800GT cooled passively with an external radiator but
I want to try a 7800 in the new computer and have my doubts
add to that 500W PSU, the dual core CPU which puts out more heat than my
current 3400+.
add two 10000rpm HD's for the raid and you'll be able to fry eggs inside =)
Click to expand...

Besides, water cooling (if the risks can be handled) is just
plain *fun*.
 
Jamie said:
how come nobody mentions phase cooling?
Click to expand...

1) Money.

2) Complexity.

3) Lack of benefit.

Essentially you can have just as much fun and have just as
effective a cooling system, for a lot less money and effort, by
using liquid cooling.
 
If there are components that will fry with no flow, then a flow
meter of some kind that will positively indicate that flow is
below a certain amount, and a mechanism to shutdown the system,
are essential for unattended operation.
Click to expand...

No, again the best solution is to actively monitor the
actual part(s) in jeopardy. This not being a
enterprise-class, nor enterprise budget system (as far as we
know) there will typically not be an enterprise class budget
for precision flow metering and feedback. It is additional
complexity that would be implemented while unproven at great
cost and no certain benefit over already proven solutions
for a PC.

In other words, the same essential mechanism, actual
component temp monitoring, is monitoring the only parameter
that really matters. Water does not get damaged if IT stops
flowing, we only care about the effect and can measure that
effect quite a bit less expensively and just as reliably,
and at greater precision unless there is an extreme budget
and tons of testing and refinements. That's simply not cost
or time effective even if it did work as well.
 
Ok, regarding water cooling, do the pumps get noisy with time?
There was all this whining about Zalman pumps lately. Anyone with long term
experience?
Basically, my main concern is long term performance. The fans last a very
long time without much degradation (if the dust is removed)
Now how about the pipes (probably ok - is thermal liquid corrosive?) and the
pump?
Then the noise of the pump.
I had a water fountain and the pump was clearly audible. Don't know if that
has to do with the noise being carried through the whole water system
http://www.silentgamingreview.com
 
stormrider said:
if anyone is curious I documented all the steps and components that I used
to build a silent air cooled pc for games:
http://silentgamingreview.com/components.htm

Silent Gaming Review
http://silentgamingreview.com
Click to expand...

Im rebuilding my box now and looking into the cooling systems. I was
looking at that heatsink you got, hows it working out? What temps you
getting from the cpu?
Also, I see you have a few fat fans and a load of hardware in there,
that cant be good for the thermodynamics surely ?
 
stormrider said:
Ok, regarding water cooling, do the pumps get noisy with time?
Click to expand...

They *start* that way!
There was all this whining about Zalman pumps lately. Anyone with long term
experience?
Click to expand...

I don't know, I use an Eheim 1260, which is significantly larger
that most systems need.

Of various commercial systems that I've delt with, pumps only
started making *different* noise when something was going wrong.
Bad bearings, no liquid, high pressure, etc cause changes in the
noise.
Basically, my main concern is long term performance. The fans last a very
long time without much degradation (if the dust is removed)
Click to expand...

Pumps and fans both vary in quality. I don't really know much
about pumps, and selected mine based on ratings required and the
reputation of the manufacturer. There weren't that many to
choose from.

With fans there are many many choices. Things like ball
vs. sleeve bearings are important, but another not well known
difference is how they are mounted. If the shaft is horizontal,
they will last longer. But if the air flow has to be vertical,
it makes a *huge* difference which way the fan is oriented. If
the blades are below the motor, the bearings will wear out
faster on most fans (*significantly* faster). Hence it is
important, if that is the mounting required, to get a fan that
blows air in the right direction when *properly* mounted.
Otherwise it will likely fail in less than two years rather than
working for the next decade or so.
Now how about the pipes (probably ok - is thermal liquid corrosive?) and the
pump?
Click to expand...

Plastic tubing comes in different types, and some will
definitely last longer than others. The liquid isn't corrosive.
Then the noise of the pump.
I had a water fountain and the pump was clearly audible. Don't know if that
has to do with the noise being carried through the whole water system
Click to expand...

Probably.

I made no effort to mount everything inside a computer case, and
was far more interested in the mechanism than in the resulting
computer as such. That meant I could try various things to see
what the effect was, and certainly there are differences in how
one can mount a pump to prevent noise. Submersed vs
non-submersed, shock mounted, enclosed in a padded box,
etc. etc.
 
kony said:
No, again the best solution is to actively monitor the
actual part(s) in jeopardy.
Click to expand...

All of them?
This not being a
enterprise-class, nor enterprise budget system (as far as we
know) there will typically not be an enterprise class budget
for precision flow metering and feedback. It is additional
complexity that would be implemented while unproven at great
cost and no certain benefit over already proven solutions
for a PC.
Click to expand...

Monitoring coolant flow in one location is an "enterprise-class"
item, while monitoring every part that is heat sensitive is a
low budget option?
In other words, the same essential mechanism, actual
component temp monitoring, is monitoring the only parameter
that really matters. Water does not get damaged if IT stops
flowing, we only care about the effect and can measure that
effect quite a bit less expensively and just as reliably,
and at greater precision unless there is an extreme budget
and tons of testing and refinements. That's simply not cost
or time effective even if it did work as well.
Click to expand...

You don't seem to have just a whole lot of experience with this
kind of stuff.
 
MD Athlon 64 3400+/1Gb Mem/ NVIDIA 6800GT 256Mb Idle - 1000Mhz Game
Mode - 2200Mhs
Sonic Tower without additional fans 49C 71+C (test aborted)
Sonic Tower with one additional fan (between the sonic towers) 38C 50C
Sonic Tower with two additional fans (recommended) 35C 46C


The fans are fat but they move a lot of air quietly .
I would be interested to know how my setup compares to Typhoon cooler from
Thermaltake.
Mine is more flexible though. Keep in mind that I can actually turn all the
fans off except the two case fans when I am not gaming.
In reality I keep one fan closer to the front of the case on (25% power)
probably 7v or so and I can play Half-Life 2 no problem.


Right now the place is at 80f the cpu is at 40c with one fan at a quarter
power
 
stormrider said:
if anyone is curious I documented all the steps and components that I
used to build a silent air cooled pc for games:
http://silentgamingreview.com/components.htm
Click to expand...


The problem with the huge and heavy Thermaltake Sonic Tower CL-P0071,
and others like it, is that they far exceed the recommended weight limit
for the CPU socket lugs. This heatsink is more than twice that maximum.
You may end up with broken lugs after awhile (unless you orient the
motherboard horizontally in a desktop case rather than vertically in a
[mini-]tower case). You *definitely* need to remove the overweight
heatsink before transporting the computer.
 
My highest priority is noise actually, so pump noise a major concern.
But I agree - it's very cool and I might do it just to do it, although
playing with airflow can be fun too. I had so much fun I fried one
motherboard trying to mount a fan (accidently moved the cpu, I guess) - was
too lazy to turn the system off
 
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