WC kit arriving today

[imported_TimBob]

Well,
I'm a first timer and my Petra's Elite Kit is arriving today. Got the elite with D-Tek Fuzion, and MCR320. Also, added the Swiftech Micro Res. Guess I'll stop at the Grocery store tonight and pick up a few gallons of distilled water. Anything else I might need to pick up before I get home tonight?

I've read through the guides, but anyone have any additional suggestions for a first timer?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Billb2]

A gallon will be more than enough. Most people add 5-10% antifreeze.
12v molex splitter if you don't have enough connections to add the pump, AS5?.

 

[imported_TimBob]

Got enough connections and spare splitters lying around. Have ceramique and AS5 available.

 

[thegisguy]

few beers?

 

[imported_TimBob]

Originally posted by: thegisguy
few beers?

Sounds good. I just hope I don't end up drinking the distilled water and filling my system with beer.

 

[imported_TimBob]

Hmmm,
Was just taking another look at the kit and not sure if it comes with mounting equipment for the water block. If not, can I just use my existing backplate and thumbscrews from my tunic? Also, I've heard mention of the Nozzle kit. What would that do for me?

 

[WoodButcher]

The block comes w/ bolts, no backplate, it is an "optional item". If you can mod the backplate you have go for it, I use an old thermaltake BP. They make a big difference in temps, 3-4c for me.

 

[imported_TimBob]

There were some setup pains. Wrong loop order, putting things back together incorrectly, etc. Probably due to alcohol, but I had fun and learned a lot.

As for the temperature results:

Previous setup
evga 680i and q6600 at 3.0 (1333x9). 1.23 actual voltage with Tuniq Fan on High.
@43ish idle, @70ish load.

Now:
evga 680i and q660 at 3.15 (1400x9). 1.38 actual voltage.
@35 idle, @57 load. I'll try to push more later

All I have to say is, WOW. I'm converted to water.

 

[WoodButcher]

Congrats on the setup success, keep tinkering, your temps could be better.

 

[jmmtn4aj]

70ish load?! My Q6600 at 3.6 1.41v gets 71-72 at load with a dust clogged HSF!

 

[imported_TimBob]

I know.
I don't know why, but I just could not get good temps with the Tuniq. If I attempted 1.4v with that on, I would have been at about 65 idle. I remounted about 25 times with 3 different pastes: AS5, Ceramique and Zalman STG-1. Tried a little paste, a lot of paste, all ended up around the same. Maybe I just suck really badly at applying paste and/or mounting.

I just tried 3.6 at 1.5v and Prime95 failed pretty quickly. Temps were about 50 idle and got to the mid 60s at load when it crashed.

Woodbutcher, what sort of tinkering might improve my temps?

 

[WoodButcher]

From your statements about the tunig I'm thinking your chip needs to be lapped, I'm not sure but if I were to bet I'd say the chip is concave. What are the individual core temps? Did you ever put a straitedge across it? Let's see what Aigo has to say.

Not many Q6600's are stable over 3.4 so don't sweat if yours isn't. Mine is stable at 3.6 but the voltage was almost 1.6 in the bios, not good. I'm content w/ 3.2, stovk volts and low temps.

 

[DaQuteness]

I have a Q6600 CPU and Tuniq Tower 120... G0 stepping, now running at 3.4GHz @ 1.28V and it's stable... it handled a all-night orthos (one for each core), great by my standards, however, since it's getting warm outside and my case really sucks at airflow (Sonata III) even with case open i have at least 39/39/37/37 in coretemp during idle, and the fan is set around medium. Forgot to mention, i have a MSI P35 Neo2-FR mobo. Used to have around 34/34/32/32 idle earlier this month.

Thing is, my CPU was flat from the very beginning, i had the opportunity to test the surface with a laser micrometer at a proffesional facility. Trust me, this thing doesn't lie and i recommend you all if you get the chance to do so, DO IT! You don't want to lap a cpu without reason

As for the water cooling, since this is what you've been talking about, i had the chance to test some myself but i can't say i was really impressed. Got about the same temps... around 33-34C overall. I tested a Corsair Nautilus 500 i think and a bunch of others i can't even spell right There was one though that managed to pull out a 30C overall, a Innovatek Premium XXS. Unfortunately i couldn't keep it since it wasn't mine and it was for testing purpouses only.

One small question... if i change the Tuniq cooler with a Noctua NF-P12-1300, will it make any difference? (besides noise) and will i still be able to change the speeds with the Tuniq controller?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: DaQuteness
I have a Q6600 CPU and Tuniq Tower 120... G0 stepping, now running at 3.4GHz @ 1.28V and it's stable... it handled a all-night orthos (one for each core), great by my standards, however, since it's getting warm outside and my case really sucks at airflow (Sonata III) even with case open i have at least 39/39/37/37 in coretemp during idle, and the fan is set around medium. Forgot to mention, i have a MSI P35 Neo2-FR mobo. Used to have around 34/34/32/32 idle earlier this month.

Thing is, my CPU was flat from the very beginning, i had the opportunity to test the surface with a laser micrometer at a proffesional facility. Trust me, this thing doesn't lie and i recommend you all if you get the chance to do so, DO IT! You don't want to lap a cpu without reason

As for the water cooling, since this is what you've been talking about, i had the chance to test some myself but i can't say i was really impressed. Got about the same temps... around 33-34C overall. I tested a Corsair Nautilus 500 i think and a bunch of others i can't even spell right There was one though that managed to pull out a 30C overall, a Innovatek Premium XXS. Unfortunately i couldn't keep it since it wasn't mine and it was for testing purpouses only.

One small question... if i change the Tuniq cooler with a Noctua NF-P12-1300, will it make any difference? (besides noise) and will i still be able to change the speeds with the Tuniq controller?

Custom water cooling kits are luckily in their own league in comparison to 99% of pre-built kits for a number or reasons but, the main one being that they're designed around the lowest common denominator, both in customer IQ and cooling ability.

As for the tuniq versus noctua, not going to be a big difference unless you do push/pull on the noctua. As for the fan controller, should be usable with any standard voltage modulation fan but, will not work with a pulse width modulation fan.

 

[DaQuteness]

I just said that to show that a Tuniq can do it's job compared to some water-cooling units. The questions just got answered by a friend, so there's no need to consider them anymore. Sorry if i broke any rules, just trying to help.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: DaQuteness
I just said that to show that a Tuniq can do it's job compared to some water-cooling units. The questions just got answered by a friend, so there's no need to consider them anymore. Sorry if i broke any rules, just trying to help.

oh no, no rules broken, I didn't really read your entire post either so my bad there. I just saw a really long post with a link to innovatek products and assumed(though with good cause) that you needed help with your rig. I'll edit my other post to reflect the actual contents of your post.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: DaQuteness

Thing is, my CPU was flat from the very beginning, i had the opportunity to test the surface with a laser micrometer at a proffesional facility. Trust me, this thing doesn't lie and i recommend you all if you get the chance to do so, DO IT! You don't want to lap a cpu without reason

I wouldn't reccomend lapping before all the other possibilties are exhausted, but from what Timbob said, it sounds like a contact prob. Two different methods of cooling, both top dog coolers and high temps. 2 different mounting systems. My first thought is TIM application, too much? He has remounted many times w/ diff applications and got the same results. Has he ever put a straightedge across to check for flat?

Originally posted by: TimBob
I remounted about 25 times with 3 different pastes: AS5, Ceramique and Zalman STG-1. Tried a little paste, a lot of paste, all ended up around the same. Maybe I just suck really badly at applying paste and/or mounting.

I'd be guessing but I'd bet you understand TIM application pretty well by now.

Another possibility is voltage, what is the vcore reading actually, bios is set at 1.38 but what kind of vdroop are we talking? Check w/ CPUz and / or PC Wizard, not the nvidia software. Asus Probe reads low so I wouldn't be surprised if NV is the same.
Here and here are two threads on lapping, the second about a Q6600.

DA12 what do you think? I know it's tough for old geezers like us to keep on topic but I know you can do it.... that is if you have the time between chasing young women around the house and naps,,,,

 

[WoodButcher]

Hey, DaQuteness,
Welcome to the forums!
thanks for the input, many folks don't see second opinions with an objective eye, I'm a carpenter and many times have people make suggestions, homeowners, helpers, inspectors, hell anyone walking by. I've learned over the years to listen to everyone. I may or may not use it but I will certainly listen, I appreciate your thoughts and hope you continue. Don't sweat "the rules", Common courtesy is the best rule of thumb, if your joking or pulling someones leg, let it be known. Me?,, I only pick on those I respect or consider friends and would never direct a comment torward someone else that I wouldn't say about me first.

Oops, I just broke the rules, double post, off topic thread hijack.
my apologies TimBob, here's one on me!:beer: Welcome!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: WoodButcher

Originally posted by: DaQuteness

Thing is, my CPU was flat from the very beginning, i had the opportunity to test the surface with a laser micrometer at a proffesional facility. Trust me, this thing doesn't lie and i recommend you all if you get the chance to do so, DO IT! You don't want to lap a cpu without reason

I wouldn't reccomend lapping before all the other possibilties are exhausted, but from what Timbob said, it sounds like a contact prob. Two different methods of cooling, both top dog coolers and high temps. 2 different mounting systems. My first thought is TIM application, too much? He has remounted many times w/ diff applications and got the same results. Has he ever put a straightedge across to check for flat?

Originally posted by: TimBob
I remounted about 25 times with 3 different pastes: AS5, Ceramique and Zalman STG-1. Tried a little paste, a lot of paste, all ended up around the same. Maybe I just suck really badly at applying paste and/or mounting.

I'd be guessing but I'd bet you understand TIM application pretty well by now.

Another possibility is voltage, what is the vcore reading actually, bios is set at 1.38 but what kind of vdroop are we talking? Check w/ CPUz and / or PC Wizard, not the nvidia software. Asus Probe reads low so I wouldn't be surprised if NV is the same.
Here and here are two threads on lapping, the second about a Q6600.

DA12 what do you think? I know it's tough for old geezers like us to keep on topic but I know you can do it.... that is if you have the time between chasing young women around the house and naps,,,,

I hadn't really read it because I thought he migrated from the tuniq to the water, is he running both?

If so and still getting 70ish load. TURN THE SYSTEM OFF. 73-75C is where the TIM on the IHS starts to loose cohesion. What case is this in? given the relatively fine idles I would tend to say too low of airflow.


And I don't nap. I barely sleep.

 

[DaQuteness]

Woodbutcher's right, try some of these things so we may try to find a solution: Try see if the cpu and water block are flat, here are instructions for AS5 thermal paste, just in case you haven't read it (i'm just guessing), you also might not have good airflow through the case, i have this problem and i'll be switching to an antec1200, no more fooling around
These are the most common causes for high temps. See if it's one of these, if it's not, this goes to a whole other level. Might be the mobo, i had an ASUS P5N-T Deluxe before this and with the same cooler the temps were 5C higher! Not sure what was the problem but it's fixed now, i sold it You may even have to consider a problem concerning the sensors, stuff like that happens too.

PS: Woodbutcher, i'm into carpenting too, i make scale models of buildings since i am a student in architecture. Plus it's the family business for years. PM if you wanna talk some more, this is a thread concerning someone's problem.

 

[imported_TimBob]

Few things to note:

1) I migrated from Tuniq to Water cooling so tuniq is sitting in a cabinet.
2) Done the vdroop mod on my EVGA 680i so almost no droop.
3) I'm running on an open HSPC Tech Station right now so air flow shouldn't be an issue.
4) I did lap the cpu and tuniq and ended up with the same results. Although not sure I did that great of a job.
5) I had done all the different TIM applying tecniques when I had the tuniq running.

 

[DaQuteness]

Well... in this case i can think only of a sensor issue. Have you tried the cpu on another mobo? How about another cpu on your mobo? With the same cooling solution i mean. If it shows unusual readings that seem off in any way (in this case, temp variations between the 2 setups) then the problem is obvious. I can't think of any other problem. I've heard and read of eVga 680i's showing as low as -40C but i'm sure those are isolated cases

As for the lapping... you only have 2 shots, any more and you risk thinning the heatsink too much.

bit offtopic: HSPC Tehc Stations are those small desk-like things? i was actually thinking of making myself one of those since it's basically a 2-story shelf with securing mods. If you don't mind i want to ask you something for myself... can you please post a picture of your rig? I'm really into that kind of stand but i'm not sure if they're as efficient as i think. Thanks.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
And I don't nap. I barely sleep.

I read some of your posts in OT, I can understand why.

He migrated but posted his tuning temps also, before / after, both sets of temps were not up to par considering the high quality of the coolers, tunig and petras water. A quad on a 320 rad should be in the low to mid 40s' loaded, max.
How is the rad mounted? what case? pics?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: WoodButcher

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12
And I don't nap. I barely sleep.

I read some of your posts in OT, I can understand why.

He migrated but posted his tuning temps also, before / after, both sets of temps were not up to par considering the high quality of the coolers, tunig and petras water. A quad on a 320 rad should be in the low to mid 40s' loaded, max.
How is the rad mounted? what case? pics?

I didn't see that he had upgraded to the 320.

@OP whats your ambient temp? 50s would be reasonable with a 30-32C ambient. high but, still reasonable. Also, what fans at what voltage are on your radiator?

I've got a lot of reasons to not sleep. Besides what I do for a living I'm in the middle of a divorce thats not quite going as planned. Put it this way, I'm in a 1BR apartment for a few months till my condo gets finished and I'm having to leverage my half of the house against my cars and condo. Not to mention I can't get to my shop because it's at my house where my wife is living with my cars and a restraining order, lol. What has the world come to?

 

[imported_TimBob]

It's about 72F in my house.

Here's a photo. It's a bit of a mess right now.

http://i286.photobucket.com/al...107/TimBob5259/005.jpg