Improving the Swiftech MCW462

[Martyn]

Lots of folks argue that hi flow is better than low flow, some argue the opposite. I sit in the former camp, whichever you sit in, one thing is certain, big bore = hi flow. Here's how to get a little more from that swiftech waterblock....

Plumbing - it's easy man. You need a propane torch, a pipe cutter, some solder and flux.

First, drill out your 1/4" NPT unions with a 9mm drill, and grind down as much as possible using the connical grinder attachment for the dremel. It should look something like this after...

http://www.abbc65.theseed.net/pics/waterblock/copper-barb4.jpg

Leave you copper tube in a long lenghth, and just push the drilled out, 1/4" NPT fitting into one end (coat in flux first). Then apply heat to the pipe, till the flux runs - then touch with the solder. The solder will be "pulled" into the joint by capilary action....

http://www.abbc65.theseed.net/pics/waterblock/copper-barb5.jpg

The trick is to get the pipe to the right temp, so the solder runs freely, but not so hot that it beads off. With luck, you'll get it first time. Don't worry if the fitting looks a little messy. Just clean up the work with some abrasive paper. You can de-oxidise the copper with flux - then just wash it off....

http://www.abbc65.theseed.net/pics/waterblock/copper-barb6.jpg

A little work later, and all you need to do is cut the excess pipe off, wrap some PTFE tape around the thread and you're good to go....

http://www.abbc65.theseed.net/pics/waterblock/copper-barb2.jpg

Foir comparison below, the fitting on the left, is the original Swiftech, the fitting in the middle is a 3/8" hose barb, the fitting on the right, is my home made bard....

http://www.abbc65.theseed.net/pics/waterblock/copper-barb1.jpg

This is about the biggest possible bore you can get on any waterblock, other than a home made job, or other than drilling out and re-tapping the waterblock. So, this is the limiting size for the system. Everyting else must be as big, or bigger than this (10mm ID). All the threads on the above fittings are the same. Here's a view from inside the block...

http://www.abbc65.theseed.net/pics/waterblock/copper-barb7.jpg

Obviously, the waterblock is only one small part of a big bore system, but the swiftech fittings are apalling as standard. Switch em out to 3/8" hose barbs at the very least. The result, is the best waterblock money can buy.

http://www.abbc65.theseed.net/pics/waterblock/copper-barb.jpg

Comments? Opinions?

Cheers,

[stall6g]

Nice clean job there tril0byte. Almost looks like a proffesional did it.;) j/k might want to break down the metric into sae for some of the Americans here.;) How much water are you pumping through it and did you notice a drop in core temps? If so by how much?

[Martyn]

About the temps, it's difficult to be precise, because so much of the rig changed as I was building it. All I know is that the temps got closer to room ambient, and stayed there after i did the mod. However, I also did other stuff at the same time, so it wouldn't be right to spout numbers. I'm running an Eheim - 300 US gallons p/h, which probably drops to around 120 in real terms. those mag pumps create virtually no pressure, so all the gear nocks hell out of the flow. The same is true with any mag pump. I can absolutely say that flow rates improved though. I built in a rotary flow indicator (in one of the other pics) and post-mod, the RPM of the indicator visibly increased - ergo better flow.

Should be noted though, I built the rig to cool a big peltier, though chose to go plain Jane H2O in the end, because of exceptionally high temps from OC'd tbirds. I think the big bore mod, would show a more significant drop in temps when used with a pelt, rather than plain water. Once you get close to ambient, there is nowhere to go without a chiller, or phase change unit. What about you? What was/is your setup?

[stall6g]

Well the one that is currently off in the mail to it's new home was nothing compared to the rig that you have set up here so I won't bore you too terribly with the details. Basically consisted of a DangerDen Maze water block, an inadequate sized radiator and the Overclocker's hideout reservoir with pump inside. Found out later that you really are better off getting an inline pump since there is less heat transferred into the water temp from the pump itself.

Main reason why I don't run all water cooling in my boxes is that it is a really expensive way to lower temps, especially if not using some kind of Pelt or chiller, when compared to the performance difference that a quality hsf will give you. For the few extra mhz that I would obtain using straight H2O I would rather sink the money into a better speed cpu. Sell of the old ones before they take a drop too much and get the next latest thing I have found to be the most economical way for me to increase the performance of my comp. It may not look as cools as yours but with a better quality cpu perfomance differences are or would be minimal.

[Martyn]

Ya got that right mate. It's purely an experimental - hobby thing for me. There really is no real benefit for all practical purposes. Yes, it's a little quieter, a little cooler, a little faster (maybe) and a LOT more expensive. This rig also took me about 6 months to finish and with the effort, time and money, I could prolly have a small farm going here. But it's a fun thing for me, i enjoyed building it and long since stopped trying to justify the extravegance. Would I build another - maybe, but unlikely in the near future. The good thing is though, now I have this monster finished, swapping out mobo's and proc's should be a cintch.

I actually think the kits are a good way to go. They are a fraction of the expense of a (good) DIY job. I know Phil has a beaut of a rad, that cost more than most of my rig.

[stall6g]

Mine was a peice mealed kit. All of the parts came from different places but like you said when you step up to water cooling it is more than just about trying to eek out extra performance. It is the fun in putting water into something that has electricity running all through it and hopefully not spring a leak.

[phil]

I agree tril...this is definitely an extravagant hobby. I do it just to see how far I can push the limits and for no other reason. I have so much unused crap here that I could sell and pay off the debts of a small third world country....I buy it, test it and decide I don't want/need it after all.

[dnar]

LOL! My motto: "It will come in handy, even if I never use it." :D