One RAD, one pump, two computers?

[MikeTimbers]

Supposing one build a small case containing a good RAD with fans and a pump/reservoir how easy would it be to cool two computers?

I was thinking of water-cooling but since I would be doing it for the noise benefits, there's no point in only doing one computer. But water-cooling is dear and for two separate systems would cost mpre than I want to spend.

So I was thinking of a small box to house the cooling components and Y-connectors to split the water-flow.

Yes/no??? Do-able?

[TDKozan]

No reason it wouldn't work. Just need to plan an increase in your radiator area or airflow to compensate for the increased load. While you're building it, how about allowing for a redundant pump too?

TK ;>

[phil]

Yes, it is easily possible. A good rad and decent bore size on the pipes is a must though. Double pumps would be ideal (each feeding it's own machine from a single reservoir) but spiltting the flow with Y-Connectors is feasible with a single pump (at least an Eheim 1048). When I first watercooled a dually, I used a Y splitter to send the flow to each cpu and then another Y splitter to merge it back again after the cpu's....some people just run them serially, looped from one cpu to the next.

When I was cooling that dually, I was using 2xPIII700's @ 1120MHz and 2x 85W pelts. Each waterblock was handling at least 110 - 120W silently :eek:.

[MikeTimbers]

Seems like a lot of these water-cooling systems are designed to cool hugely over-volted over-clocked super-chips. I would only want to cool normally volted slightly overclocked chips. I'm beginning to think that if I moved one of the systems into a decent case and used a good core/rad I could just run an additional loop out of that case into the other where there would only be a waterblock.

That would mean only a couple of grommeted holes in my prized PC60.

I'm thinking of getting a Lite-On FS020 to house the water-cooling and move the XP1500 into that. With a good heatercore and a 120mm fan on either side, a good pump to ensure good flowrates. Hmm. Time to check some prices.

[phil]

:D - Check here: http://www.extremecooling.co.uk/extreme/index

[Lazarus]

Should be do-able m8ee, but you may need to fit a valve or something into one of the flows to ensure that both systems get an equal flow - maybe.

[MikeTimbers]

Originally posted by phil
:D - Check here: http://www.extremecooling.co.uk/extreme/index

http://www.pclincs.co.uk/acatalog/PCLincs_Online_Store_Water_Cooling_18.html

They have the new Swiftech 5000s in stock.

[veggyhed]

Are u looking to buy a kit or put something together yourself from individual parts ?

I have never seen a water cooled system. Are they that much quieter ?

I cant remember what site but this person joined 2 cases together one side was the cooling the other side mobo. It looked sharp and functional.

[MikeTimbers]

I'm thinking of going DIY for this although I would be buying the parts of course. The factor stopping me is time not money. With a family, the time required to do something like this simply isn't available.

[verT]

I think that would be a great project Mike. You might want to look at larger rads though like a heater core out of a pick-up truck or something seeing as you are thinking of building a separate housing for the components. I would do a Y connection of 1/2 inch splitting to two 3/8 inch then on the return have it reverse. Some would say this isn't enough flow, but my 1/4inch koolance system cools my TBird just fine.

[MikeTimbers]

Decided to ditch the separate housing idea. I just don't have room. I reckon if I use a Black Ice Extreme (BIX) it should be enough for two normally volted XPs.

Here's the plan:

I have case A under my desk and case B on the desk. Case A holds an XP1800. BIX goes in the front of the case with a 120mm front and rear. Eheim 1250 sits in a 5¼" bay sucking the water through the RAD and pushing it to a Swiftech MCW5000 with ½" fittings. The outlet connector of the block has a tube which exits the back of the case through a grommetted hole below the PSU and goes up to case B on the top of the desk entering below the PSU to the inlet of another MCW5000 on an XP1500. The outlet connector goes to a reservoir in case B's 5¼" bay (highest point) then back out of the case down to case A and back to the BIX.

This means I can build case A first and get that working then add the extension to case B once A is sorted.

Parts are gonna set me back a jot under £300.

[verT]

d'oh I was looking forward to what you would use as housing for your water cooling ;)

[veggyhed]

Check out Maximum PC Feb 2003. I have not had a chance to visit these links.

www.highspeedpc.com
www.dtekcustoms.com

They had some reviews but I have not read through them yet.

[MikeTimbers]

I've seen the stuff that Dtek sell and would dearly love one of their heatercore/shroud combinations but there are no UK resellers :(

[veggyhed]

I am sure something can be worked out here within the team.

[MikeTimbers]

Well it worked with the XP2400+ that I was after although I sold it on at a loss soon after receiving it. You Merkins just don't know how lucky you are. The range and prices of specialist kit in the States is breath-taking for someone limited to a handful of products and dealers. By the time water-cooling kit has been imported and our luvverely 17.5% sales tax added on, the prices are just stoopid!

[TDKozan]

You sold it a loss? Price dropped that fast?

TK ;>

[MikeTimbers]

yeah, my credit card bill was for around £140 and I sold it for £135 after having it for around three weeks so it hardly hurt the bank! Basically, it didn't produce the expected performance improvement probably due to motherboard bottleneck rather than the cpu itself. I'm impatiently waiting for the new SiS 746FX motherboards to arrive later this month then I hope to be able to get faster procs.

Mind you if I do this water-cooling thing, I won't be allowed to have any pocket money til next year!

[veggyhed]

Originally posted by MikeTimbers

Mind you if I do this water-cooling thing, I won't be allowed to have any pocket money til next year!

Dont tell the wife :D

[veggyhed]

How is the project going Mike?