[Hadenman]

Based on the feedback I got on this post, I decided to go ahead and do my first ever case mod. As it states in the post, my goal was to switch the airflow through my H50 from exhaust to intake. Here is a crude diagram of the change. Doing this would initially mean I only had one exhaust fan left on my Antec P183. My mod is to add another top exhaust fan, like what comes on the P193, so I can comfortably switch the direction of the fans on the H50. Here is some photos of how the mod went:

My case all prepped for surgery - http://img189.imageshack.us/i/p3110003.jpg/

My weapon of choice, a 7Amp power drill with a 108mm Bi-Metal Hole Saw - http://img163.imageshack.us/i/p3120003.jpg/

Relax P183. Now your going to feel a slight tingling sensation...

Pics of the cut - http://img532.imageshack.us/i/p3110005i.jpg/ ; http://img63.imageshack.us/i/p3110006.jpg/ ; http://img198.imageshack.us/i/p3120004.jpg/ ; http://img197.imageshack.us/i/p3120005.jpg/

Pics of the final result. I was happy with how clean looking it came out - http://img51.imageshack.us/i/p3120013.jpg/ ; http://img714.imageshack.us/i/p3120014.jpg/ ; http://img37.imageshack.us/i/p3120009.jpg/ ; http://img696.imageshack.us/i/p3120011.jpg/

So it looks pretty good. But, did I get any performance benefit out of it? Time to test.

I had run some tests for my original configuration, and ran one more round after the mod update. For my tests, I use the RealTemp plugin for RivaTuner. It takes temp readings at a 1 cycle/second rate. I ran three different load tests:

1. Unigine Heaven Benchmark - http://img684.imageshack.us/i/uniginesettings.png/
2. 3Dmark06 Benchmark - http://img695.imageshack.us/i/3dmark06settings.png/
3. 20 minute run of Prime95 Blended - http://img22.imageshack.us/i/prime95settings.png/

My rig specs are in my sig, but here is a CPU-Z pic - http://img16.imageshack.us/i/cpuzsettings.png/
The only hardware change I made between the original, and after-mod setup was I installed new Mushkin Red Line memory. The stock clock speed is the same as shown in CPU-Z, but the timings are a faster 6-7-6-18. Here is an updated CPU-Z snapshot. I don't think this change will have a major impact on temps.

The test results:

Summary Graphs - https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...MDFiYmM0&hl=en

Detail Data - https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...sTy1RZUE&hl=en

I'm pretty happy with the look and performance of this mod. Now time to play with OC'ing the Mushkin memory. Thank you everyone who took time to answer my questions.

Cheers!

 

[Pings]

A little constructive criticism. So anything about temperatures? Do you know that hot air from your GFX cards are now being sucked into your H50. Now hot air is mixing with cool air inside your radiator of the H50. That mixing in the radiator creates condensation. That condensation is moisture and that moisture is now being blown into your PC. Changing exhaust to intake with do nothing for performance. I want to see temperature differences. Nice mod by the way + REP.

EDIT: Temperatures are under Summary Graphs. What the heck is "Delta f" do you mean Delta T (ΔT)?

There are plenty of ways to get fresh to your H50 with out risking moisture being blown into your PC. You could mount the H50 in your 5.25" drive bays. Also you could add a fresh air intake to your 5.25" drive bays. Check out the The Corsair H50 Accessory Permalink for more ideas.

 

[Hadenman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pings A little constructive criticism. So anything about temperatures? Do you know that hot air from your GFX cards are now being sucked into your H50. Now hot air is mixing with cool air inside your radiator of the H50. That mixing in the radiator creates condensation. That condensation is moisture and that moisture is now being blown into your PC. Changing exhaust to intake with do nothing for performance. I want to see temperature differences. Nice mod by the way + REP. EDIT: Temperatures are under Summary Graphs.

Yeah, the temps are at the bottom of the graphs, and at the very bottom of all the worksheets, in the detail spreadsheet, except for the first one which just has the ambient temps. I would have given all the results & graphs in the google spreadsheet, but their charts suck compared to excel.

So, I should be really worried about condensation building up in my case over time with this setup?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pings What the heck is "Delta f" do you mean Delta T (ΔT)?

Edit: Delta f/ Ambient = Delta from Ambient = Increase in temp from ambient temp.

 

[Pings]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadenman So, I should be really worried about condensation building up in my case over time with this setup?

Its something I wouldn't do to my PC. Really it could happen just because it works that way. Also with moisture comes the risk of static electricity. I would be more worried about the static electricity than the moisture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadenman Edit: Delta f/ Ambient = Delta from Ambient = Increase in temp from ambient temp.

That's Delta T, the difference from what? Are you talking about air coming into the H50 minus the air leaving the H50? If so that's Delta T.

 

[Hadenman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pings That's Delta T, the difference from what? Are you talking about air coming into the H50 minus the air leaving the H50? If so that's Delta T.

I'm giving a comparison of the CPU temp to the ambient air temp. Similar to what is done in this review: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ge,2401-6.html.

My bad on the sloppy labeling. Should read "CPU Temp over Ambient".

 

[Pings]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadenman I'm giving a comparison of the CPU temp to the ambient air temp. Similar to what is done in this review: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ge,2401-6.html. My bad on the sloppy labeling. Should read "CPU Temp over Ambient".

I can see how that's confusing. The temperature entering - the temperature leaving = Delta T (ΔT). I think ΔT would be a good way to judge the cooling efficiency. I've seen some UK reviews that are based on ΔT. I think that needs to be picked up on.

 

[fatherTime27]

Why all of the led lights?!

 

[Hadenman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatherTime27 Why all of the led lights?!

Lol, yeah kinda bright in the dark. Usually, the lights are on and the case is all closed up. Then I only see the light through the top case fans. I kinda like that it glows in the dark, but less can be more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pings A little constructive criticism. So anything about temperatures? Do you know that hot air from your GFX cards are now being sucked into your H50. Now hot air is mixing with cool air inside your radiator of the H50. That mixing in the radiator creates condensation. That condensation is moisture and that moisture is now being blown into your PC. Changing exhaust to intake with do nothing for performance.

So, this post, linked off the main H50 webpage, where they look at the performance of a push/pull intake setup is not only wrong, but potentially dangerous? I know the author is a Corsair employee, but I'm surprised that they would publish this if it could lead to a lot of unhappy customers with broken rigs. But, the author may not have considered the danger of condensation buildup this setup would create.

 

[Pings]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadenman So, this post, linked off the main H50 webpage, where they look at the performance of a push/pull intake setup is not only wrong, but potentially dangerous? I know the author is a Corsair employee, but I'm surprised that they would publish this if it could lead to a lot of unhappy customers with broken rigs. But, the author may not have considered the danger of condensation buildup this setup would create.

Read this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pings Asetek makes the H50. Asetek also makes there own brand coolers. There is the Asetek LCLC and the Asetek LCLC 240MM Radiator. From what I understand the H50 has water inside them and the Asetek brand has a some sort of a liquid cooling fluid. Check some other Asetek coolers, NorthQ, Maingear, Alienware, HP, and others. Again Corasir doesn't even make the H50, Asetek does. The engineers who make the H50 recommend the their unit to be in exhaust, for good reason to. I say listen to a trained engineer, not a untrained benchmarker at Corsair. The intake vs exhaust is more based on your GFX card and Case. Corsair recommends intake, but Asetek the company who actually makes the H50 recommends exhaust. Like I said it really has to do with your GFX card and case. If you have a GFX with an air handler that blows hot air out the rear of your case. Its a good idea to have the H50 in exhaust. If you have a Vapor-X type of GFX card with no air handler, its better to be intake. Also do you have a place for that hot air to go once its in your PC case. For the guys who have an air handlers on their GFX cards and their H50s in intake, need to be warned. Do to the season and AC'd rooms, hot air from your GFX card is mixing with the cool air inside the radiator of the H50. This mixing creates condensation. That condensation is moisture that is now being blowing into your PC. But don't pay me no mind, feel free to try any way you like, and post about it. That's what this site is here for. "Asetek's factory sealed liquid cooling system is specifically designed to exhaust CPU heat directly outside of the chassis." - Asetek

EDIT: What type of card did they test this with? "If you have a Vapor-X type of GFX card with no air handler, its better to be intake."

 

[fastsite]

very nice, good work my friend