[Build Log] Watercooled Silverstone SG04 mATX Gaming Rig - Page 3

Question for folks in the know, I am considering pre-emptively upgrading my pump selection to this here: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11740/ex-pmp-109/Swiftech_MCP35X_12v_PWM_Controlled_Water_Pump_-_Black.html?tl=g30c107s153#blank

Reason being, the ultra-silent pump I purchased was marketed more towards HTPC systems with low requirements and I may be running SLI 680s I want to cool. What I am curious about with these PWM pumps is, do you run them right off motherboard fan plugs or use a separate controller? It would be convenient to run them off the motherboard and let the BIOS take care of everything without requiring additional software, but can the board supply the power needed?

I spent some time revisiting this idea, as I do like it but didn't initially see it working, however:





I'll have to cut away some of the front panel plastic so I can shift the radiator further out, for appearance I want to try and mount the fans on the inside of the setup. From what I measured, in that position the radiator should just clear the 680 so if I shift it out a bit the fans should fit in that spot nicely. I may have to cut the door and install a grille though, to ensure there is decent airflow.

The PSU draws air through the CPU cooler and vents it out the back, it works surprisingly well, I believe my temps are usually in the mid-30s as reported by the BIOS. I don't currently have any monitoring software installed though, once I am satisfied that everything is working within reason I uninstall all the extra stuff.

I like trying to stuff as much stuff as I can in there without making it unwieldy or useless, I've found you can get a good bit of power into a nice small chassis without ending up with a temperamental overheating machine. Although, every little change is a considerable undertaking. Re-routing a wire a swapping a memory stick takes some time.

I've decided I'm going to add a second radiator, in the upper rear:


I should be able to squeeze a single 120mm in there, what I have to decide on is if I want to choose a narrow one and attach a fan to it, or a large one and just let it vent out. I was also wrestling with the idea of a reservoir, this will replace that. I'm going to find a radiator with multiple fittings on it, and connect one to a fillport on the top of the chassis. Hopefully this will give me a nice loop that will be easy to keep air out of, and easy to fill.

My current plan is to have my two fans blowing air In to the radiator, into the front of the case. Idea being that the coldest possible air is being passed across the radiator surface. The rear radiator may suffer a bit but hopefully not bad. This case does have a lot of airflow built in, the underside and rear is all perforated:


I am also wracking my brains to figure out how I can fit this pump:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/15690/ex-pmp-192/Aquacomputer_Aquastream_XT_USB_12V_Pump_-_Ultra_Version_41061.html

I would really like to use that pump due to it's ability to stand alone and regulate the entire cooling system. Once I am setup, I want to be confident I perform a fresh install of windows and not need any additional software. Having a pump that can regulate based on water temps would be great. I may, just may, be able to squeeze this along the side, but not really sure yet.

On another note, this arrived yesterday:



I had originally planned on splitting the front door panel, and installing this in the middle so the forward half of it was sticking out from the case:


However, I couldn't really get a routing setup that I was happy with, that also wouldn't bury me with impossible to reach hose connections come assembly time so I'll be selling this and my tiny pump off in favor of my dual radiator method.

Its never too late

I was considering one of those setups, as I think it would fit right in the bottom of the case without much trouble. I would really like to use the Aquastream XT in there though, the whole self-contained management system is a huge plus in my eyes.

Also looking at this as an option to add capacity:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/14203/ex-rad-288/Magicool_Elegant_Single_120mm_Full_Copper_Radiator_w_Reservoir_Rev_2_MC-RADI120MODII.html?tl=g30c95s159#blank

Mount that radiator to the top of the case, with a 90* fitting on the fillport to the top so I can fill the system from the very top. I'm a bit hesitant about the different material reservoir design though. Doesn't have to be that particular radiator, just something along those lines where I can mount a fillport in the top of the chassis.