pheoxs

Alright well the pots on its way as well as a few processors to sacrifice lol. Going to pick up some knead-able eraser and some insulation next week but I got some questions.

I'm thinking I'll write up a massive guide /w lots of pictures once I'm done in hopes of helping others start out.

A) On most guides I see they still use nail polish on the backside underneath the backplate/insulation, is this necessary and is there an alternative that can be removed (more eraser? lol)

B) Whats the preferred thermal paste? I've read mostly Arctic Ceramique because others might freeze. I have AS5 and IC Diamond, would getting Ceramique be preferred or would the diamond compound be good?

C) Swapping processors inbetween runs, how do you guys do it? Do you have to let the pot warm up a bit, how do you get the processor out without ripping up all the eraser, or do you just reapply everything more or less from scratch?

D) End of the run, what sort of cleanup steps are recommended, remove the pot I'm fairly certain but like, remove the insulation, keep it on tell everything gets back to ambient, move the board somewhere warm, or cold?

E) Condensation, can condensation even form in sub-zero ambient? Though this will be evident by whether frost forms on the pot my first run

F) Limit on how long you bench? Do you only go for a few hours max or can you go as long as you want so long as you still have DICE n LN2? Does it get riskier over time for whatever reason, Motherboard not handling the high vcore for long time, condensation forming, etc? Do you pull it apart to check the insulation after XX hours?

Thanks for any insight OCN can provide! Can't wait to pump out some benchies.

H/W:
Pot from OverShocked, made by Bartx
P4 - (2) 550's, (1) 631
Celeron - (1) 341
MB - Not sure yet?

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bartx

A) Nail polish - really not necessary. I've neved used it, usually using armaflex only, used kneaded eraser twice - on ln2 and on gpu. On thick layer of armaflex between mobo and backplate will do the job.

B) Arctic Ceramique or standard silicone paste. I've got the cheapest one, which isn't getting frozen even in -50C (perfect for phase change).

C) I tried to avoid swapping CPU. In most cases you have to warm up pot so it means that you may have some water there = better unmount everything, dry and warm up, swap cpu and mount then

D) Unmount everything, let warm up, using hairdrier recommended

E) If you use armaflex insulation, you have rather con condensation anywhere (on dice)


As a MB I can recommend Commando or P5b Deluxe (both with vmods).

F) As long as you have dice/ln2

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E6420 @ 4629.82MHz

Celeron D347 @ 7360.14MHz

Ballistix PC8500 @ 1400MHz

CPU pots
http://www.overclock.net/dry-ice-liq...ew-series.html

pheoxs

Thanks for the advice Bartx, Guess I'll stick to 1 CPU per weekend run then, though that'll prolong the fun which is always a bonus.

I'm leaning towards the Commando but need to wait for my two motherboards to sell before I go that direction, not even going to bother running the P5K-VM or the P5N-E SLI with DICE cuz i'm fairly certain they wouldn't perform well.

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OverShocked

WOW, supprised the pot hasnt gotton there yet, i shipped it a week and a half ago...

Id have to go against bartx here and i would use liquid electrical tape on the back. It can be removed fairly easily if you apply it thick. I actually just tried this on a recent run because patch suggested it.

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E8500-4.93Ghz on air
E8500-5.5GHZ on DICE

i7 920- 4.52 Ghz

9800 gx2-820Mhz

bartx

Of course you can use anything what you want, but you haven't any capacitors etc. on the back, so if you use just single armaflex layer, backplate will hold that and you've got it 100% air free, absolutely no condensation

In my opinion people generally put a lot too much attention for insulation. Armaflex and paper towel are 100% sufficient od dice, on ln2 you need just more armaflex When you see some frost - ok, just won't let it melt/add some airflow.

__________________
E6420 @ 4629.82MHz

Celeron D347 @ 7360.14MHz

Ballistix PC8500 @ 1400MHz

CPU pots
http://www.overclock.net/dry-ice-liq...ew-series.html

pheoxs

I got a note on the door from Canada post last night, though I wasn't home, going to pick it up tonight, that being said I don't know if its a new backplate for my BT, the pot, or the pair of P4's. Theoretically everything should be here today or tomorrow, but it all depends on if customs feels like screwing with me


So basically what I'm thinking is:

Top:
First layer of eraser, two layers of armaflex or w/e insulation I can get, then some papertowels for the board, with the eraser kind of forming around the capacitors.

Bottom: Just a layer or 2 of insulation and papertowel. Which does directly against the board, the insulation I'd assume?

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pheoxs

Boards sitting in the garage ready to be insulated, Pot is sitting beside it, bottle of everclear behind it, a cooler to go get dry ice under it all AND....

The cpu's are being held in customs... @#$%

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ira-k

I'd drink the Ever Clear and buy some Acetone to DICE with, it should get you a little colder.

I don't know about there but you can get Acetone here in 1 quart cans at the hardware store for $5-6 bux. Just add a little at a time of either one,I usually just put a half a shot glass in each time, it will foam up on you a little every time you add some. I zip-tie a few paper towels around my pot to catch any little run overs. Methanol is supposed to be pretty good also, I've not tried it yet.

This is the type can it comes in here, it's great for cleaning metal to;

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...***Beware all ye Men born of Woman, beware the Hemogoblins***...
**E8600 @ 5751Mhz ***OCN Water Cooling Club And Picture Gallery ***150 Opty @ 3242Mhz **

pheoxs

I might use some Acetone then I guess, I read the fumes were really bad so wanted to stay away from that, I still have half a bottle of everclear unused but being that the acetone is quite abit cheaper (Alcohol is even more expensive up hear, 28$ for the 26/handle of Everclear).

If I'm doing runs in the side part of my garage under the window with it open and the doors open, do you think that would be adequate ventilation? I was thinking to be extra safe I'd get some furnace duct or something and mount a pair of 120mm fans to sit over the pot and blow everything outside but that seems like a little overkill.

Though there really isn't such thing as overkill when dealing with safety so I'll probably do it anyways.

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ira-k

Ever Clear is about that price here also, it's really good for cleaning things that you don't want to leave a scent or taste in, like smoking pipes.

Well when it's cold the Acetone doesn't fume as bad as when its hot, you still need to vent it though because it will build up.

Thats basically the way I vent mine with a foil dryer vent with a little 80mm fan a few inches down in it. I always turn the fan on before i set it by my pot in case it sparks when it comes on, I'm a safety nut to, so don't feel bad......But I can run mine indoors like that and never get a whiff of acetone, it works great.

EDIT: Don't leave your stir rod in your pot like that or it will wick cold out of the pot, I'd just been stirring when I took that shot.

Finally found a use for one of those God awful orange T-Take fans..

__________________
...***Beware all ye Men born of Woman, beware the Hemogoblins***...
**E8600 @ 5751Mhz ***OCN Water Cooling Club And Picture Gallery ***150 Opty @ 3242Mhz **