watercooling for an amd64 dtr: are there any non-'do it yourself'-ers

[imported_a314sces]

Just recently ordered a system

DFI LANParty UT nf3 250Gb
AMD Mobile Athlon 64 3000+1MB L2 Cache 64-bit Tray Processor (AMN3000BIX5AR)
Kingston 1GB PC 3200 400 MHz 2x512MB Dual Channel Model #KVR400X64C3AK2/1G
EVGA nVIDIA GeForce 6600GT Video Card, 128MB GDDR3, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, AGP 8X, Model "128-A8-N350" -RETAIL

The only cooling I know of that doesn't require a build-it your self heatspreader for the dtr core are the few products by thermalright (xp-90, xp-120, slk-u948).

Since they're each $50+ shipped, i figure why not spend say $100 more an get a cooling set up I can use after this setup becomes obsolete [kinda like investing in a decent case].

So watercooling seems like a viable option based on some reviews on tomshardware, but I'm really reluctant on making a heatspreader, as this will be my first time watercooling and overclocking.

Can anyone recommend a watercooling rig to support a dtr amd64 (setting price aside)?

Thanks

 

[akira34]

To do a decent watercooling rig, you'll need to spend more than $100... More like $250+ to get it so that it will work today, and for a few more years without upgrading/changing parts... The $100 item will probably need to be replaced when you get the next generation processor and eithe the mounting changes, or it produces more heat and you need beefier components to compensate for that.

 

[SkyBum]

Why not go with a Koolance Exos? Extremely easy to set up and maintain and it will easily move to your next system...

Review
Review
Review

Unit can be found for $179.

 

[imported_a314sces]

I think you both are right, I'll look toward a quiet portable cooler probably priced at the koolance or up to 250, watercooling is pretty sweet and i'm sure lots of fun. Thanks

 

[SkyBum]

Here's a few pics of the rig I just built with a Koolance Exos.

http://www.imagehosting.us.com...p?id=5828&h=103087]
http://www.imagehosting.us.com...p?id=5813&h=354540]
http://www.imagehosting.us.com...p?id=5815&h=722785]
http://www.imagehosting.us.com...p?id=5818&h=826322]

I kinda wanted to build a watercooling setup from scratch but in the end I went with the ease of a turnkey setup over the extra legwork of the scratch route. It was painless to set up, but I've had to RMA my new mobo twice and I'm here to tell ya, watercooling adds a whole layer of extra complexity when working on your system (especially when cooling CPU/GPU/MoBo). Something to think about.....

 

[imported_a314sces]

wow, i don't mean to sound like a novice, but wow... that has got to be the nicest setup for any computer that i've ever seen (aestheticallly speaking) (no homo). very tasteful design, difficult to accomplish that clean mod look. i can't imagine what you could of done without using commercial product... nice!

If i can find some way to verify that the koolance ex cpu block fits the dtr w/o too much pressure and with enough contact. Looks like a convincing idea to me.

 

[SkyBum]

You may want to contact Koolance to verify if they have tested any of their blocks for the DTR. As far as the amount of pressure, the black thumbscrew which holds the waterblock to the CPU (see Pics) uses a ratcheting design which will only apply a limited amount of pressure before it "ratchets" (for lack of a better word).

 

[WA261]

Not tryingto pimp my stuff, but I sell cooling rads. They are fit 2 120mm's, and fit perfectly in a drive bay. Best you can get for the $ (37.99 painted with barbs epoxied in).