Thermaltake AquariusIII External Liquid Cooling System

[akira34]

If so, please post up as to how well it works out... I'm trying to decide between a few different solutions and would appreciate feedback from anyone that's actually USED this thing... The price isn't too bad for a complete solution (can be found for under $240 complete) which is why I'm considering it. If anyone knows of another good solution for the same money (or less) that will work with the Athlon64 (754 pin) I'd love to hear about it.

*edit* Link to where I've found it for sale: http://www.case-mod.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=2_49_51&products_id=741

I just found the unit in stock at the distributor I use (warehouse in the state I live in)... I can have it to my door the following day (provided I do the order before 4:30 my time) for about $220-225... All I need now is to find out if the thing is worth the money and if it will really do my system good.

 

[HardWarrior]

Seems like a good product, and it has something that most external WC units don't have, expandability. Whether to buy it I think depends on if you want to do heavy overclocking right out of the box. If so, I'd probably go with a more powerful system.

 

[akira34]

Thanks... I intend to do NO overclocking on this system... ever... While this might ruffle the feathers of some, and make them ask why I'd want a liquid cooling system if I have no intention to OC the system... My reasons are rather simple... I want a nearly silent, stable, system with really good temps (at least on the processor) without busting the bank and buying that $1200 case. :Q I almost had that with my previous incarnation of a pc tower, but the temps were higher than I really wanted (especially with some hot days and the AC not in the window as of yet).

I have room to place the Tt unit beside the tower, so it won't be on top (not enough clearance under the desk for that) and risk falling off the back.

While the temps I'm getting might not be bad, I want lower... right now, just running the ABC client (a bit torrent app) I have a processor temp of 38C (was 39C earlier, capped at 40-41C for a few seconds) and the case temp is 42C (was up to 45C earlier). I do have a window near the computer, with a fan going to pull in outside air, which is probably why the temps are dropping (since it's cooling down outside as night passes on)... Still, I'd like to try and get it closer to 30C (or lower) on idle and then see what the cooler can do under full game-on load. I'll probably keep all four case fans inside the system even with the liquid cooler, so that the case temps stay within a good range. Especially since I have a Radeon 9800 Pro for now (until I can afford a new video card before the end of the year, early next at the outside).

 

[HardWarrior]

Don't worry about it. Wanting water as a means of decreasing noise is very reasonable. Going to water not only gave me much better temps, but decreased the amount of noise my box produces by half. Your temps are well within acceptable ranges, but yeah, cooler is always better. Even if you don't indulge in the overclocking game.

 

[akira34]

I guess the real test will be when I go to the liquid cooling for the processor... Knowing me, I'd probably (later) get the video card cooler too, to eliminate that fan. Replace the two Antec fans with more Vantec Stealth's and the noise level will be a whisper. It's not all that loud now, but I still want it to be quieter.

If I can get the processor to be ~20C at idle/light load and no more than 30 on full/heavy load I'd be a very happy person. Although, how much fluctuation will I really see with a liquid cooling system (like the one mentioned at the start of this thread)?? I've seen processors go as up as much as 8-10C between idle and full load (on systems I've built). For full load, I'm usually talking a brand new, intense, 3d shooter game that uses gobs of system resources to play. Cranked to the max resolution on my display and then played for at least a few hours. I then check with both software and the bios to see what the temps are... I don't recall ever seeing it go over 10C more right after the game is stopped. If I can get a lower fluctuation under full load, then I'll really go for it. If I can get the CPU (and case) temps lower too, all the better... I just hope that I'm not expecting too much of the liquid cooling system.

 

[HardWarrior]

How much fluctuation you'll get depends on a few things. Like how much surface area your radiator has, how many fans are attached to it and their speed, ambient temps of the room and to a lesser degree what sort of blocks and pump you use. It might seem sort of complex, but it's actually fun trying to figure it all out, BEFORE you buy. In all honesty you're going to be hard-pressed to get a cooling system which is, after all, based on ambient temps down to ~20C. A more reasonable goal would be around 32C at idle. There are some solutions that can get you to 20C and below, but you're going to pay hard for those. One of the more interesting devices I've seen for this degree of cooling is a aqaurium water-chiller. Mainframe computers have used this type of cooling for at least 30-years. I think I saw a swiftech water-chiller that's designed for computer applications.

 

[akira34]

Maybe I should get one of those desktop fridges and put the external/radiator into it. That should allow me to get it to a lower temp. :evil: Granted, I'll need to drill holes into the fridge, fit them with gaskets/gromets so that they don't leak, and then run the hoses through them. A fridge like you see advertised (on sites like thinkgeek.com) for a 6-pack of soda should work just fine... Hell, one of the electrically powered coolers would work too. Granted, the mini fridge will run close to $90 (or more) but it should allow you to reach even lower temps... Just have to make sure you don't get too low, and get condensation forming that runs onto the mobo and shorts it out.

I just found a cooler (1.6 gallon mini-fridge) that will cool something to 40F below ambient/room temp... Put the radiator in there, along with the res. and it could get things chilly in the system... Plus, that item is only ~$68... Only problem I can see is where the hell would I put it, and how well will it work when I've drilled holes into it for the tubes to the radiator. :Q

*edit*
I did find a review on this cooler... Seems to do a pretty good job on the test system (Athlon64 3000+)... I have to wonder how it will do on my 3400+ though since I'm sure the 3400+ throws more heat than the 3000+ at default speeds. See the review I'm talking about here: http://www.modsynergy.com/Review%20128.htm (hope the link works)...