Water Cooled Xbox 360 @ [H]

[Kyle_Bennett]

Water Cooled Xbox 360 @ [H] (http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=OTM5)

The world's first water cooled Xbox 360! A full Xbox 360 breakdown that will show you how it is done easily.

We had plans to water cool an Xbox 360 for over a year now. Little did we know that not only will this water cooling project be more fun than the original, but it may even be practical. Imagine that. With reports of heat related issues and a heat sink that can get almost too hot to touch after marathon gaming sessions, the Xbox 360 water cooling project now had a sense of purpose.

[codegrinder]

sweet

[NavyH16]

66 celsius with stock cooling? That's basically the air near the cpu/gpu at the back of the mobo???

If so, what's what on earth would the die temps be?!! :eek: No wonder the lockups!

Navy

[swatbat]

Nice. Now you need to get on Steve for showing off some pics a while ago when he was playing around with the idea of watercooling a gamecube and never finished.........

Anyway good job steve.

[Steve]

waiting for the Revolution...nothing is safe from the [H]20!!!! ;)

[Chris_Morley]

I'm tellin' ya Steve, you should outsource production of this to some Taiwanese manufacturer and sell this stuff stateside...want me to file the LLC papers??? ;)

Seriously, quality work man, that is very nifty.

[Nuzzles]

I agree with Chris, great work.

[Sanitarium]

Awesome.

[Steve]

:)

Heh, while we are wishful thinking, maybe we'll talk to Koolance and have them make an Xbox360_EXOS. They can make the check payable to.... :D

[M4rk]

I would pay for a 360 watercooling kit, cold hard virtual Paypal cash.

[HighwayAssassins]

This is pretty cool....

[Shakezilla]

"Having said that, all the cool kids are doing it."

:p you guys are evil!

[R1ckCa1n]

What was the grand total to do this mod? Looks very interesting.

[Torgo]

Nicely done. Plenty of tasty picture goodness. Truly worthy of the [H] and doing it old skool.

[Asian Dub Foundation]

nice work and good read.... and if [H] can do a WC PS3 when it comes out, taht would be sweet

[Erasmus354]

Very nice work, have you guys heard of the company that will be showing off a retail watercooled Xbox360 at CES? Someone might have beaten you to the punch with comercializing watercooling of the 360.

[Bad_Boy]

Is this the worlds first? or is this.. http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4227 ?
Anyways, this is pretty sweet stuff. Nice job [H] Team :D

[Rich Tate]

I covered the solution from CoolIT over the weekend. At that time I could find no official information on their site. I also believe I linked the article speculating it would be unveiled at CES. Once again no official information.

So if it is to debut at CES (this weekend), that would make the [H] incarnation the first.

[Kyle_Bennett]

Very nice work, have you guys heard of the company that will be showing off a retail watercooled Xbox360 at CES? Someone might have beaten you to the punch with comercializing watercooling of the 360.


We are not commercializing it. We are showing you how to do it so you don't have to pay someone else an arm and a leg to do it for you. Obviously this is not for everyone....

[Betauser]

nicely done! very [H]!

[Kyle_Bennett]

Is this the worlds first? or is this.. http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4227 ?
Anyways, this is pretty sweet stuff. Nice job [H] Team :D

A picture of a hard drive cooler stuck on an Xbox along with a press release saying "first" does not cut it in my book. Also, I would LOVE to see their performance specs. Bottom line is that Steve's is going to smoke their ass. ;)

[inotocracy]

Thats pretty spiffy, good job! But what is the point of water cooling a console? :confused:

[Isaacav2]

Can you overclock?

[fuelvolts]

Get ready for a [H]ard Slas[H]dotting!

Excellent work, gentlemen...

[fuelvolts]

Thats pretty spiffy, good job! But what is the point of water cooling a console? :confused:

did you not read the article? It helps prevent that infamous "360-overheating-in-the-middle-of-your-Quake-fest-and-crashing" problem

[dudewth]

Thats pretty spiffy, good job! But what is the point of water cooling a console? :confused:Have you ever heard an xbox360? :p

[inotocracy]

did you not read the article? It helps prevent that infamous "360-overheating-in-the-middle-of-your-Quake-fest-and-crashing" problem

Yeah, but if its as wide spread as some people think why not just wait for MS to remedy the problem and replace it rather than fork out more money?

Have you ever heard an xbox360? :p

Yes :p :rolleyes:

[Steve]

A picture of a hard drive cooler stuck on an Xbox along with a press release saying "first" does not cut it in my book. Also, I would LOVE to see their performance specs. Bottom line is that Steve's is going to smoke their ass. ;)

By those standards, our press release came out a year ago when I said "I am going to water cool an Xbox 360 when they come out". ;)

The important thing here and what we are really trying to say here is that I'm an ass smoker....

...waitadamnminute....

:eek:

[X_VADER_X]

Very nice!!!

[Kyle_Bennett]

Thats pretty spiffy, good job! But what is the point of water cooling a console? :confused:


I would highly suggest leaving this site, and making your new home HERE (http://barbie.everythinggirl.com/).

[t10]

Excellent work guys!

At moments like this, you really wish the beast was cracked and you could OC it :cool:

[inotocracy]

I would highly suggest leaving this site, and making your new home HERE (http://barbie.everythinggirl.com/).

Haha, sorry, I'm not trying to be a party pooper. Its an awesome peice of home engineering no doubt, just curious if it has any real use other than show-- I meen do you guys plan on overclocking, or maybe you did?

[CRXican]

I would highly suggest leaving this site, and making your new home HERE (http://barbie.everythinggirl.com/).
roofles

[Jason_Wall]

By those standards, our press release came out a year ago when I said "I am going to water cool an Xbox 360 when they come out". ;)

The important thing here and what we are really trying to say here is that I'm an ass smoker....

...waitadamnminute....

:eek:

LOL - awesome work, Steve-o. Impressive workmanship.

That Barbie link always cracks me up, KB.

[wraieghaeien]

I would highly suggest leaving this site, and making your new home HERE (http://barbie.everythinggirl.com/).



Woot go Kyle. Maby he will find a barbie that he can overclock and watercool.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/133.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=133)

[Kyle_Bennett]

Haha, sorry, I'm not trying to be a party pooper. Its an awesome peice of home engineering no doubt, just curious if it has any real use other than show-- I meen do you guys plan on overclocking, or maybe you did?

RTFA please.

[krotch]

I've got a couple ideas. Why not try and make it internal? Swap out the pump for a Swiftech or Dangerden. The MCP350 is nice and small. Then bolt an Innovatek Konvekt-O-Matic Passive Radiator on the outside. That way, you just have a single box to lug around, as opposed to two of them.

[Devilspunkboy]

just proves Hard|OCP is [H]ardcore


:::Bows:: im not worthy >=)

[Sly]

Can you overclock?

*bump* :D

[Mr. Miyagi]

Awesome work! Very clean and I love how they go together. :)

[Nuzzles]

Is this the worlds first? or is this.. http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4227 ?
Anyways, this is pretty sweet stuff. Nice job [H] Team :D

That's just ugly as sin... : /

[ikellensbro]

It might be possible for an internal loop, if nothing else by sticking this (http://thermaltake.com/watercooling/cl-w0052TideWater/cl-w0052.htm) in.
There should be room for a Laing DDC or C-Systems MAG inside somewhere, the radiator would be the hardest part to fit inside. A 120mm rad would probably be out of the question, and even an 80mm would have difficulty with its 80x80x60mm size (with a fan). With an external rad 3/8", maybe even 1/2" tubing could be used, and an average passive rad would be about the same size as the 360 itself. Another option would be this (http://www.thermaltake.com/watercooling/cl-w0040symphony/cl-w0040.htm), but with the pumps swapped out for something better like the previously mentioned DDC or MAG (wow, two TT links in one post :p)

[Steve]

I've got a couple ideas. Why not try and make it internal? Swap out the pump for a Swiftech or Dangerden. The MCP350 is nice and small. Then bolt an Innovatek Konvekt-O-Matic Passive Radiator on the outside. That way, you just have a single box to lug around, as opposed to two of them.

We have lots of time and a lot of really good ideas for the 360, the Revolution and the PS3 :)

[PC]

Actually, this one was the first. http://cgi.ebay.com/Modded-Xbox-360-Watercooled-1-of-a-Kind-100gig-Silver_W0QQitemZ8243459780QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNameZWDVWQ QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But, I would hardly call it anything but shit. The pics are gone now, thank god. I wish I would have saved them. It had the rad & pump just laying in his underwear drawer (yes, you could see his boxers in there.). VERY unprofessional. Very shitty job. But, technically, it was first.

He took a PC WC kit and put it on the 360, hacking the shit out of it to get it to work. Cables, hoses, parts everywhere.

Great job on doing a very clean install. :D The first GOOD WC'ed 360!:)

[Steve]

Actually, this one was the first. http://cgi.ebay.com/Modded-Xbox-360-Watercooled-1-of-a-Kind-100gig-Silver_W0QQitemZ8243459780QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNameZWDVWQ QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But, I would hardly call it anything but shit. The pics are gone now, thank god. I wish I would have saved them. It had the rad & pump just laying in his underwear drawer (yes, you could see his boxers in there.). VERY unprofessional. Very shitty job. But, technically, it was first.

He took a PC WC kit and put it on the 360, hacking the shit out of it to get it to work. Cables, hoses, parts everywhere.

Great job on doing a very clean install. :D The first GOOD WC'ed 360!:)


Yeah, the kid put a waterblock ON TOP OF the heatpipe cooler...I kid you not...the water block was not attached to the CPU, it sat across the top of the fins of the heat pipe through a hole cut in the side of the console.

I have pics of that one somewhere, I'll dig them up and post ;) Funny stuff.

[Carbon_Le]

Hold on i see that you guys used two Koolance L06's but on the last page of the review it says you guys had clearance problems so you exchange it for the H06? My question is did you guys switch it out with two H06's? or you guys use a L06 and H06 together? Im confused...lol. Oh yea also what kind of thermal compound was used?

[nichol]

I don't mean to step on any toes, but the article does not mention what resevoir/pump was used in the mod. Is this because you can't buy them separately from Koolance?

[Steve]

I don't mean to step on any toes, but the article does not mention what resevoir/pump was used in the mod. Is this because you can't buy them separately from Koolance?

Page 2, they are hard to find on the Koolance site because they aren't under a real category, they are under RM1 & RM2 series.

http://www.koolance.com/shop/default.php?cPath=30_52

Hold on i see that you guys used two Koolance L06's but on the last page of the review it says you guys had clearance problems so you exchange it for the H06? My question is did you guys switch it out with two H06's? or you guys use a L06 and H06 together? Im confused...lol. Oh yea also what kind of thermal compound was used?

It says in the article that the GPU block only was changed. The height of the water inlet barbs would make contact with the bottom of the DVD drive. So I swapped it for the ultra-low profile H06.

[Carbon_Le]

It says in the article that the GPU block only was changed. The height of the water inlet barbs would make contact with the bottom of the DVD drive. So I swapped it for the ultra-low profile H06.

So both GPU L06 were exchange for H06. Will you guys be updating pics? I would really like to see it. :D

[Steve]

Actually, this one was the first. http://cgi.ebay.com/Modded-Xbox-360-Watercooled-1-of-a-Kind-100gig-Silver_W0QQitemZ8243459780QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNameZWDVWQ QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But, I would hardly call it anything but shit. The pics are gone now, thank god. I wish I would have saved them. It had the rad & pump just laying in his underwear drawer (yes, you could see his boxers in there.). VERY unprofessional. Very shitty job. But, technically, it was first.

He took a PC WC kit and put it on the 360, hacking the shit out of it to get it to work. Cables, hoses, parts everywhere.

Great job on doing a very clean install. :D The first GOOD WC'ed 360!:)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Modded-Xbox-360-Silver-Modded-12v-Dual-Fan-Window-Mod_W0QQitemZ8248810471QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrd Z1QQcmdZViewItem

I clicked on the link to the sellers "other items", and the guy has the same painted 360 that didn't sell before (water cooled), silver, exact same window mod in it...NO H20 set up. I thought it was sitting on top of the fins of the original Xbox heatpipe....apparently it was just sitting on the window.


Pictures compared:

http://www.hypothermia.us/odd_mod.jpg

[Steve]

So both GPU L06 were exchange for H06. Will you guys be updating pics? I would really like to see it. :D

There are two water blocks. One CPU, one GPU. The GPU block was changed. L06 and the H06 are the exact same block they just have different angled inlet/outlets.

[Carbon_Le]

There are two water blocks. One CPU, one GPU. The GPU block was changed. L06 and the H06 are the exact same block they just have different angled inlet/outlets.

Ok thx for clearing that up. I guess my 360 will be getting wet soon...hopefully. ;)

[PC]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Modded-Xbox-360-Silver-Modded-12v-Dual-Fan-Window-Mod_W0QQitemZ8248810471QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrd Z1QQcmdZViewItem

I clicked on the link to the sellers "other items", and the guy has the same painted 360 that didn't sell before (water cooled), silver, exact same window mod in it...NO H20 set up. I thought it was sitting on top of the fins of the original Xbox heatpipe....apparently it was just sitting on the window.


Pictures compared:



Once again: Your 360 is the worlds first! :D

That guy should be busted on fraud for the 360 not really being watercooled, and him trying to sell it as so.

[SamuraiInBlack]

That watercooling setup should definitely help keep things running. If i ever get a 360 that's exactly what I'm going to do whether MS has addressed the issue or not in a revision build. Paranoia might set me to build a bigger reservoir than that, but hey, I always said I wanted an aquarium.... LOL j/k

[fannypad]

Kyle/Steve:

Any pictures of the tubing holes in the casing? I'm not 100% clear on where they've been drilled.

I'm looking to watercool my 360 using a Zalman Reserator and it would be helpful to see pictures of the rear of your unit showing the tubing, both with the casing on and off.

[Json23]

Now lets get a water cooler for the power brick...

Nicely done though guys.

[jebo_4jc]

moar pics please!
I want to see the system installed inside the case also....do these pics exist?

[Steve]

I want to see the system installed inside the case also....do these pics exist?

It is an external H20 mod.


Kyle/Steve:

Any pictures of the tubing holes in the casing? I'm not 100% clear on where they've been drilled.

The holes can be drilled anywhere you find space for them, your mileage may vary. We chose to drill two spots right in the middle of the serial number on your console.

[jebo_4jc]

It is an external H20 mod.Right, but I was hoping to see the tubes laid out and the motherboard installed in the case with the blocks on it. Just for curiosity's sake.
I guess you didn't take pics during the re-assembly portion of the mod, eh? ;)

[Steve]

Right, but I was hoping to see the tubes laid out and the motherboard installed in the case with the blocks on it. Just for curiosity's sake.
I guess you didn't take pics during the re-assembly portion of the mod, eh? ;)

I am not sure what you are even asking.

Once the blocks are installed on the board (see below), what else is there to show? Putting two tubes on the ends of the barbs? Putting the six screws back in the stamped steel case? Putting the clamshell back on the console? Most people understand that reassembly is the opposite of disassembly so it would be redundant to have 20 more pictures showing the reassembly of the system.

http://www.hardocp.com/images/articles/1135950972RZLrIMzkgy_2_20_l.jpg

[jebo_4jc]

I am not sure what you are even asking.

Once the blocks are installed on the board (see below), what else is there to show? Putting two tubes on the ends of the barbs? Putting the six screws back in the stamped steel case? Putting the clamshell back on the console? Most people understand that reassembly is the opposite of disassembly so it would be redundant to have 20 more pictures showing the reassembly of the system. Geez. I just wanted to see a pic of what the inside of a water cooled xbox looked like :rolleyes:
Apparently some other people do also.

[fannypad]

I am not sure what you are even asking.

Once the blocks are installed on the board (see below), what else is there to show? Putting two tubes on the ends of the barbs? Putting the six screws back in the stamped steel case? Putting the clamshell back on the console? Most people understand that reassembly is the opposite of disassembly so it would be redundant to have 20 more pictures showing the reassembly of the system.


I think you've got the wrong end of the stick.

What I, and I assume jebo, would like to see is the complete setup with all tubing connected, with the casing off, and when routed through the holes drilled in the case.

This is the "money shot" I was expecting to see, and was disappointed by its absence.

I doubt it would take much effort to snap a couple of pics. If disassembly/reassembly is too much effort, I would be happy with just a quick shot of the back of the console showing where you've drilled the actual holes and how you've configured the barbs and tubing to leave the case.

Thanks in advance.

[jebo_4jc]

I think you've got the wrong end of the stick.

What I, and I assume jebo, would like to see is the complete setup with all tubing connected, with the casing off, and when routed through the holes drilled in the case.

This is the "money shot" I was expecting to see, and was disappointed by its absence.

I doubt it would take much effort to snap a couple of pics. If disassembly/reassembly is too much effort, I would be happy with just a quick shot of the back of the console showing where you've drilled the actual holes and how you've configured the barbs and tubing to leave the case.

Thanks in advance.qft

[Steve]

I think you've got the wrong end of the stick.

What I, and I assume jebo, would like to see is the complete setup with all tubing connected, with the casing off, and when routed through the holes drilled in the case.

Thanks in advance.

that picture above...IS...all that is inside the case after it is modded (minus two tubes)

the other picture you are talking about is this:


http://www.hardocp.com/images/articles/1135950972RZLrIMzkgy_2_22_l.jpg

[AMDude]

Next they will be watercooling LCD's, keyboards, mice, speakers,printers. Oh its true, it's true.

[unimatrixzer0]

Did your test 360's use to crash before? Do they crash now after WCing?

[Steve]

no crashes / problems with any of the Xbox 360s we have (before or after).

[fannypad]

that picture above...IS...all that is inside the case after it is modded (minus two tubes)

Thanks for the pic, but I've just noticed something else I'm not clear on.

Does the GPU block you used fit under the DVD drive when mounted? Here's a pic from Anandtech showing that there's next to no space between the bottom of the DVD drive and the stock GPU heatsink:

http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/system/microsoft/xbox360/no_cov.jpg

And judging various pics around the net, it would seem that even when using the low profile H06 waterblock with the side inlet/outlet, the block mounting/retention hardware would sit too high to be able to mount the DVD drive in its stock position. This seems to be clear from the following article photo:

http://www.hardocp.com/image.html?image=MTEzNTk1MDk3MlJaTHJJTXprZ3lfMl8xOV9sLmpwZw= =


I'd appreciate a few photos from different angles of the inside of the 360, with all tubing connected and DVD drive mounted, so I can understand how you mounted the GPU block without fouling the DVD drive, and how all the tubing is routed. It would help me in planning my own Reserator-based 360 cooling solution. Thanks in advance :)

.

[Steve]

Thanks for the pic, but I've just noticed something else I'm not clear on.

Does the GPU block you used fit under the DVD drive when mounted?

Please read the article again, your questions are answered in the article, the GPU block was changed after clearance issues to this:

http://www.hardocp.com/images/articles/1135950972RZLrIMzkgy_4_1_l.jpg

This article shows you how we did it, it is not intended to be a "be all end all / only way to do it" article. If you need further help, personalized instructions or you need a step by step tutorial please feel free to e-mail me at steve@hardocp.com and I will do my best to answer your questions.

[showgun]

That gives me a [H]ard-on.

[DeadlyAura]

Kyle, you and your guys are crazy mutha fuckas. I love it. :D

[fannypad]

Please read the article again, your questions are answered in the article, the GPU block was changed after clearance issues to this:

This article shows you how we did it, it is not intended to be a "be all end all / only way to do it" article. If you need further help, personalized instructions or you need a step by step tutorial please feel free to e-mail me at steve@hardocp.com and I will do my best to answer your questions.

No need for that, I was only after a pic :)

As I mentioned in my last post, I am aware that the waterblock was swapped for a lower profile version, but just don't see how the mounting hardware for it could fit under the DVD drive, and how the tubing was arranged either. It just doesn't look like it could fit.

A couple of quick pics of the assembled tubing with the DVD drive in place would put my mind at ease ;)

[Steve]

No need for that, I was only after a pic :)

As I mentioned in my last post, I am aware that the waterblock was swapped for a lower profile version, but just don't see how the mounting hardware for it could fit under the DVD drive, and how the tubing was arranged either. It just doesn't look like it could fit.

A couple of quick pics of the assembled tubing with the DVD drive in place would put my mind at ease ;)

Check your PMs.

Anyone else having a hard time understanding how it works, please feel free to e-mail me at steve@hardocp.com

[Edwood]

Now if only something can be done about that insanely noisey @ss DVD drive in the 360.

Oh, and any plans to watercool the PSU? It's got a whiney little fan in there. ;)

-Ed

[Tunes]

Just read article on water cooling xbox 360 and found it very interesting. Would love to try this to quieten down my new 360. But the article makes no mention of how to quieten the DVD drive which makes 90% of the noise.

Anyone have any ideas on how to quieten the DVD drive?

[NoEcho]

Rubber grommets are always good for quieting things down.

Loved the mod. Want to know more about this $400 gaming pc and whether it can operate outside of MS's proprietary intentions.

[Hulk]

I read all 4 pages and didn't see anything about how much you overclocked the xbox 360.

What is the point of spending so much money and time watercooling it if you cannot overclock it? Just for looks?

[urbsnspices]

What is the point of spending so much money and time watercooling it if you cannot overclock it? Just for looks?

Because it is [H] ard. There really is no need for any other explanation.

[Hulk]

lol ok, just wanting to make sure.