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DarkenReaper57
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,173
So, another week or so without updates. Well, I had a bit of a mishap with the LEDs. Remember how the top one went out? Well, I realized next morning that I had a single resistor before the LEDs in parallel. I designed it that way so I didn't have 4 resistors, sacrificing fault tolerance for fewer parts. Well, when that one LED went out, the current from it went through the other LEDs, causing them to overheat. The next morning, they were burnt out. The problem with replacing them is getting around the radiators, pulling out the attachment plate, and having enough wire to work with. Fortunately it all worked out, but it took a good 4 or 5 hours to get it all done.
The potentiometer mounting plate taken out. Good thing I added those connectors and put in Velcro!
After the repair, most things back in place.
After the labor - The LEDs are brighter and better dispersed than before! I drilled new holes in the plate to better position the LEDs, etc.
Just an idea of the water temp in a ~25C room (no load though).
I'm almost finished with the switch plate. I'm making sure it has plenty of time to dry before I sand it or work with it this time. I don't want to mount the switches or LEDs and have huge depresses all over the paint. This will probably happen anyway, but it can be minimized if the paint is allowed to cure for a good amount of time.
In the meantime, I started pulling apart my PC to clean it and replace the NB cooler with a passive one.
The blocks taken off.
Mobo after taking off the NB cooler, waterblocks, etc.
GPU. This Geforce 6800 GT isn't the fastest anymore, but it works for me, at least until I can afford a new PC (since it is AGP).
The back side, panel removed. What a mess to clean up!
HDD cage removed.
The original cooler (left) and new zalman cooler (right).
Test fitting the Zalman NB cooler.
It looks like it clears here.
Unfortunately a heatsink on the card (I think for the MOSFETS) runs into the NB cooler.
The problem was easily fixed by cutting off about 3/4 cm off 4 pins. This should have no effect on the cooling ability.
It fits!
After a bit of cleaning up and replacement of most items (excluding video card).
I decided to lap the CPU and GPU blocks. Here they are before lapping:
The d-tek WW CPU block after lapping with 320, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 grit sandpaper:
I forgot to take pics of the GPU, but it also had a nice flat mirror-like finish. I followed the same lapping procedure.
I also opted to polish up the CPU Athlon-64 adapter. Here is before and after:
So tonight I plan on cutting new tubing for my PC, clamping, and leak testing. Hopefully it will be up and running before the weekend is over. I can always take off the cooling unit to work on the switches and attach the mesh later. I'm pretty much just waiting on paint to dry and cure to progress further.
The potentiometer mounting plate taken out. Good thing I added those connectors and put in Velcro!
After the repair, most things back in place.
After the labor - The LEDs are brighter and better dispersed than before! I drilled new holes in the plate to better position the LEDs, etc.
Just an idea of the water temp in a ~25C room (no load though).
I'm almost finished with the switch plate. I'm making sure it has plenty of time to dry before I sand it or work with it this time. I don't want to mount the switches or LEDs and have huge depresses all over the paint. This will probably happen anyway, but it can be minimized if the paint is allowed to cure for a good amount of time.
In the meantime, I started pulling apart my PC to clean it and replace the NB cooler with a passive one.
The blocks taken off.
Mobo after taking off the NB cooler, waterblocks, etc.
GPU. This Geforce 6800 GT isn't the fastest anymore, but it works for me, at least until I can afford a new PC (since it is AGP).
The back side, panel removed. What a mess to clean up!
HDD cage removed.
The original cooler (left) and new zalman cooler (right).
Test fitting the Zalman NB cooler.
It looks like it clears here.
Unfortunately a heatsink on the card (I think for the MOSFETS) runs into the NB cooler.
The problem was easily fixed by cutting off about 3/4 cm off 4 pins. This should have no effect on the cooling ability.
It fits!
After a bit of cleaning up and replacement of most items (excluding video card).
I decided to lap the CPU and GPU blocks. Here they are before lapping:
The d-tek WW CPU block after lapping with 320, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 grit sandpaper:
I forgot to take pics of the GPU, but it also had a nice flat mirror-like finish. I followed the same lapping procedure.
I also opted to polish up the CPU Athlon-64 adapter. Here is before and after:
So tonight I plan on cutting new tubing for my PC, clamping, and leak testing. Hopefully it will be up and running before the weekend is over. I can always take off the cooling unit to work on the switches and attach the mesh later. I'm pretty much just waiting on paint to dry and cure to progress further.