Project Kool160

[boardy]

Well as most of you on here know me and probably also know I'm always going on about starting a new project, well this time I may actually get past the first planning. I actually have some of the components!!!!!

Now the name of this one is a little odd I admit, but I couldn't be bothered to think of something really clever.

The spec of the system will be as follows -

FX55 SD

DFI NF4 SLI-DR

1GB GeiL BH5 RAM

2 x 7800 GTX

FSP 700w PSU

2 x 250GB SATA HDDs

Antec P160 Case

Koolance Exos2

Custom Phase Cooler (maybe)

For the time being the system will be a slightly different spec while I get all the parts I need.

I have the following components at the moment, and will be swapping bits in and out as and when I get them.

FX55 SD

AsRock Dual SATA-2

1GB Generic RAM

X600 256Mb PCI-x / 9800pro AGP

160GB IDE HDD

400w PSU

Antec UV Reactive Clear Case

This will be a full mod. Meaning the case will be modded, water cooling stuff added, volt mods, and all sorts of things going on. It's in here because it's only going to be water cooled to start with, but eventually may migrate to a custom phase cooler on the CPU.

So here it begins, the biggest mod I've done. Will update this as things progress.

Boardy

 

[nick25]

Sounds very promising mate and potentially difficult. Looks like its going to be an ace system. Anymroe info on the (possible) phase cooler?

 

[Master_G]

Sounds interesting, good luck with the mod.

G

 

[PHILIP1193]

Sounds nice mate, im sure you will keep us updated with pics etc

Phil

 

[maverik-sg1]

Can't wait to see the result Boardy mate - with ya every step of the way.

Mav

 

[boardy]

Nick - For now the phase cooler is gonna stay under wraps. All I'm gonna say is that it's a possible R507 GT killer in a single stage without a Chilly head. No more info on that until I make up my mind

I'm contemplating TEC for CPU atm, but getting scared off by all the horror stories and after talking to Phil. We shall see what happens.

Oh I've also drawn up a round sort of design for the system, or how I want it to look. I'm gonna pull out all the stops on this one, no holding back!! Gonna try to get it into CPC Readers Drives thingy possibly in the future. I'll upload the design later when I get a chance to scan it.

Cheers for the comments so far

Boardy

 

[stocky]

Nice plans you have there :B

Let me know if you decide to go TEC route, I'm pretty keyed up in that area so will help out as much as I can

 

[Master_G]

If you are going to go sub zero, skip TECs and go phase IMO, if you are going to go through all the hassle of insulation and the expense of the power draw then you might as well get some proper load temps.

G

 

[boardy]

Yea thats what I'm thinking atm, but after having 3 Mach units in the past it's a bugger to take to LAN events and such things, but u get so much hype if u show up with 1 or 2 like I did to i22.

I think I will do phase but need to sort out all the mods and charges in the unit to make it worth while and not just buy a GT again. Gray and I are gonna have a chat and see what we can come up with but at present I think it's the way I'm gonna go.

Cheers for the offer of help stocky!! If I do go down that road for either the GPUs or CPU then I'm sure I'll be coming to you with some questions and random noob things lol.

Cheers

Boardy

 

[justin]

if your going all out, why not a triple head chilly mach?

 

[PHILIP1193]

if your going all out, why not a triple head chilly mach?

very expensive id imagine, and tripple head is best left to cascade id of though?

phil

 

[Master_G]

Triple head is probably best with 2 compressors, 1 for CPU and 1 for GPUs so you get a more balance heat load or so i would guess. I think that is what chilly1 does for his triple head units anyway.

If you are gonna cascade, get one for CPU and one for GPUs, it's not like they are cheap or very portable anyway

G

 

[justin]

there is an sli unit on the site. Yeh id buy two seperate units to

 

[boardy]

Justin have you ever tried moving 2 Phase units? I'll tell you cos I don't think you have, it's blooooody hard work lol. I want to be able to move the system and not have it sat in 1 place forever and I also have no need for phase on the gfx, it will make no difference as mav found with a chiller. Just increases the chances of killing your cards.

I got my mobo and X600 yesterday and whacked the standby PC together, so far I'm impressed with it to say the least. Even with the x600 I can run full volumetric shadows and full detail, and still get a 30FPS in SWG which is pretty high for that sorta detail in SWG. With the 9800pro I had it on half detail with no shadows or water detail to get 30FPS.

Will post pics of the hardware when I've charged the cam.

Boardy

 

[boardy]

Ok, an update on this project!!

I have decided to get my old Mach1 checked and cleaned up by Gray so this will become a Phase Project soon. Only trouble is I pulled the armaflex off the suction line as it was being replaced anyway and all I could hear was HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Suction line is fractured. Typical luck of mine I suppose. Gray is gonna get this unit sent to him for repair and modding very soon, for which I owe him big time and between us we have come up with mods that we think will be a modded GT beater!!

It's gonna have a Chilly1 head on it but have a few other little bits n bobs aswell.

Anyway, here's some pics of the mach in current looking sad and sorry for itself state.

Full unit



Suction line HISSSSSSS



Back of compressor showing green stuff on the line



Boardy

 

[maverik-sg1]

well it's like a scrapheap challenge - hope it's a winner mate, I am sure it will be

 

[boardy]

Update 7-01-06

Well a little update on this.

Been having a little trouble with couriers not picking up any of my stuff from Scorchio which is a pain in the bum so leaves me without the P160 and Koolance which I wudda liked to put together this weekend. Nevermind, can't blame Scorchio, think he's more miffed than I am

This project is escalating by the minute!! I know have Phil on board with a few little mod pieces for this as I'm putting EP-UK Boardy on the side of it with the www.ep-uk.co.uk web addy and spoke to him very nicely (Cheers Phil).

The old Mach 1 has gone off to Gray for repair and modding now. Can't wait to see the results. Should have that back off him some time in Feb, due to the amount of mods and money it's costing.

I'm aiming for a beginning of April completion date for this machine. Then it's onto the next

Boardy

 

[maverik-sg1]

If you do that mate - check with boardy see if he wants ya collect anything from mine

 

[boardy]

Cheers scorchio, an mav if I can pinch that pump u wer sayin bout the other day wud b great. Found my Hydor but looks like it's been ripped apart so many times I dnt really wanna run it in a system lol. Oh an if u've got a spare GTX or 2 that'd b good, or / and an SLI-DR mobo lol.

Cheers

Boardy

 

[scorchio]

No problem i only charge a tenner