Another option (for me), literally run cold tap water through a pressure reducer and directly into the computer cooling block and back out "down the drain" -- our three furnace humidifiers work like that so its nothing new in our house. I think, purely from a cost effective cooling perspective, I cannot easily beat that solution, in my particular case.

The more I think about it, the more I like it -- today

Of course, a two stage version is possible. That is -- cool a standard "closed" cooling loop with the tap water. There are advantages to that as "excess pressure" is not an issue and one permutation could involve a standard fan cooled radiator in the same loop as a fail safe backup. Then the cost would escalate back to that of a standard CPU liquid cooling system plus a bit. Thing is, would I be just as well off air cooling the standard closed loop using basement air? The answer depends on the average basement air temperature and average tap water temperature.

Like everything, there are trade offs in convenience and "safety". Still, its "on the table" for now.

Sometimes, I have more fun "thinking" about solutions than implementing them

The tap water idea sounds cool ( ) but what type of water do you get in your area ?

In London we get hard water due to the chalky soil so scale is a big problem
So if scale is a problem in your area you would need to setup some sort of filtering or the cooling efficiency would drop off considerably over time.

Wow! Running cold tap water directly. Now that's really thinking out of box! Very intriguing. Add a thermal coil type cooler for a six-pack in a full tower case and you're home free for hours! Good ol' Yankee ingenuity.

I had thought about a room airconditioner but wasn't able to find one the with a really good dehumidifier that didn't cost an arm and a leg.

Another often overlooked aspect of conserving power thus generating less heat is cpu throttling. In the past, I used RightMark CPU Clock Utility. The transitions were seamless since it didn't use HLT function. Now I just use Speedstep since it's fsb based at 6X multiplier. I run 3.45 @ stock 266/7_1066 with no voltage bump, just multiplier and when speed isn't required by the app, the proc hums along at 1.8. At that speed, very little heat is being generated. I wish gpu's had a good, dynamic throttling mode. Most of my heat is generated by the gpu anyway, primarily when gaming.

plug_nickel

What GPU you running almccoyjr
My GTX285 auto throttles, I don't even think I can turn it off.
At idle it runs the core clock @ 300 and memory clock @ 100, in 3D it runs core clock @ 666 and memory clock @ 1242

I'm still in the "dark ages" with my 8800GTX.

When I'm finished with my HAF, I'll be installing a GTX 260_216. I haven't looked into the core specifics of that processor or its overload threshold. Thanks for the heads up. Time to do some more research.

plug_nickel

hmm Funny I am going to be getting 2 8800GTX's and they have Danger Den WaterBlocks. So I will have to get a heatsink & fan for the time being till I buy the WC kit. I am putting off the WaterCooling solution and getting those 2 vid cards and E8400 CPU..

I will be getting the WaterCooled system next month..Then I will continue to OC these cards and CPU to the limit..

You are going to like that e8400.

Ya I sure hope so. But I still do NOT know for sure If I will be able to use Both Cores because of my S3D Glasses??

They had it working with the newer drivers but with an AMD Dual core CPU?? Well I guess I shall be the guinea pig.. !!

Well I did Find a hard to get E8700 and am in the process of buying it..

it runs @ 3.5GHZ Stock.. and can OC to 5GHZ on air

I never heard of that CPU. What's the multiplier?

I think the MP is 11x?? It was never Officially released..

I just went ahead and bought a E8400 and a 8800GTX Vid card all for a good price.. Form what I have been hearing the 8400 can OC to 4.0 or more on air.. We shall see..

I bet if you work at it, it will hit 4.5Ghz. Here is the article that got me to buy a Wolfdale E6300.

LINK








.

Well the Chip is being reported to hit 5.0GHZ Now if that is a Stable OC I am not sure but that is what I am hearing.. I would be VERY Happy at 5.0GHZ..

Well I just got the Confirmation Email that the Chip and vid card have been shipped.. I hope I get them saturday will give me the rest of the weekend to get the OC right..

Well life has been busy and I'm back on my HAF 932 mod. I've completely struck out trying to use the rolled case edge as an anchor point. I'm going to have to cut the case edge and side panel. So I've returned my original slip hinges for a different style and will be proceeding with that. The upside is that I won't be doing any drilling.

I'm finishing the bottom filter enclosure and I'm going to have enough mesh left over to now make a cage for the psu, eliminating the solid cover which will increase it's cooling efficiency. The downside to doing that is my psu warranty will be voided.

I'll add pics when finished and before I install the hardware.

Question...Does anyone have any ideas on where to find a "squeeze" release type fastener that I can use to secure some small diameter machine bolts? That would make removing the side panel interior filter and the bottom one much easier. I've looked and googled so much that I now see multiple monitors! !Thanks!

plug_nickel

Do you mean something like this (the ones on the left)? http://origin-images.ttnet.net/pi/eto/10/04/47/29/10044729-26.jpg

They're either called locking c ring or just a lock ring...not really sure. But the ones I'm thinking of also have holes in each end so you can use lock ring pliers to remove them (the ones in the pic don't look like they do). Either way you should be able to go to Home Depot or some other builders supply and they should have them

No, not like that. The type of fastener I'm looking for is one that can be squeezed by your fingers, unlocking the fastener and simply pulling it up and off of the bolt. It's really more for easy retention than for actually tightening. Something like the fastener that slips over the stud to hold an earring in place.

I saw some a long time ago, but for the life of me, can't remember where.

Thanks for looking!!

plug_nickel

I got the C2Duo working in Stereo 3D so Now I just need to start OC this CPU to see How High I can go on air..

I am going to sell the Vid Card I just bought and I had sold some other thing on Amazon.com so Hopefully I will have enough to get the Water cooler sooner..


I had acheived 4.275 on air, I was up to as high as 4.5 but it was NOT stable. right now it is 4:00am here I need some sleep:




By the_nephilim at 2010-06-18

You've got plenty of headroom in core voltage to further stabilize the oc, but I think you're very prudent in waiting until you water cool the proc.

You've done an excellent job getting where you are!!

How is you're case modding going?

plug_nickel

Yes I am really happy with 4.3 on air... What would be the max core voltage I dare go up too??

Well I had made a Filter for the Front Fan I had to take of the top and side Plastic parts of the case to do that but it worked rather well.. looks like I will NOW keep the dust to a minimum..

I was thinking of Painting the inside Flat black with some red here and there..

I also got a new Floppy Drive with a Card reader so it now matches better then the cream colored Floppy I had before. This one is black as is my DVD RAM Drive..