Watercooling in the Microfly..

[jvrobert]

I went back and did a search on this, but any recent developments?

My goal is quiet and OC potential, in that order (I'll sacrifice _some_ noise, but I want it to be a quiet PC). For now I'm just going to WC the CPU.

I'm considering either:

The swiftech 120mm kit, which would mean I'd need to put the radiator outside the back. I'm not completely adverse to this, I don't move my computer. Is this possible to do while maintaining silence? Maybe I would consider the PA120.1 radiator from Thermochill, as it supposedly handles low CFM fans better. I guess I'd want to cut two holes in case and use rubber grommets in them to let intake/outtake hoses?

Internal... From what I gather this can be done by cutting the support bar on right side of case. Do I _have_ to reinforce that crossbar if I do it, I'm terrible at any kind of complex mod.

Either way, I'd use the Swiftech MCRES integrated 5.25 pump/reservoir, so that's not a concern.

Another question, is it worthwhile and possible to put some kind of small radiator on the front 80mm intake?

 

[Erasmus354]

There was a post in here somewhere of someone who modded the Microfly for an internal 120mm radiator without cutting the brace. IIRC what he did was mount the radiator so that it was facing the top, and didn't use the existing 120mm fan mount. The radiator was still where the 120mm fan would be, just rotated 90 degress so it was mounted to the top.

 

[MassiveOverkill]

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1087192

The support bar is extremely simple to make, a hacksaw is all you need, and the aluminum stock can be found at any hardware store. If you mount your radiator 90 degrees, you'll have problems clearing the hoses going to your CPU block if you try and mount it low. If you mount it high, your top panel is going to block a good deal of the air going to your radiator, unless you cut your top panel, or you leave your panels off like in the picture of the guy who did it (I could be wrong, but I haven't seen any pictures of his rig with his panels on).

 

[jvrobert]

Thanks guys.. I think if I go Microfly I'll probably go with cutting the crossbar, doesn't seem too hard I guess. MassiveOverkill - did you say in one of your posts that 124mm is about the very limit for width of the rad?

How about the front, is it worthwhile/possible to fit another little radiator there? Also, would I have any power supply clearance issues with using the Swiftech MCRES that goes in the 5.25 bay - would I have room between the back of the power supply and the hoses to get the hoses down to the CPU?

Different question - how's the Silverstone TJ-08 look for watercooling? I slightly prefer the form factor of the Microfly, but the TJ-08 looks more WC friendly. I could probably get a PA120.1 in the front, I think: See second picture at http://www.pro-clockers.com/reviews.php?id=112&page=5 - looks like there's

Looks like the back may be a little narrow for a 120 to fit, but if I got ambitious I could fit an 80mm rad there attached to a 120mm fan. Looks pretty sweet to me.

 

[w1retap]

I just built a micro fly the other day, and it would definetly be easy for me to add water cooling to it. There's plenty of room inside. Inside in the front I have room for a pump and a res, and in the rear it has room for a 1x120 radiator with room for tubing to be routed. I'd go for it if I were you. It would be unique and cool looking. Xoxide has a pre-made q-pack h2o rig, but its way over priced. Just check it out for ideas. http://www.xoxide.com/water-cooled-xqpack-primochill.html

 

[sleepeeg3]

Thanks guys.. I think if I go Microfly I'll probably go with cutting the crossbar, doesn't seem too hard I guess. MassiveOverkill - did you say in one of your posts that 124mm is about the very limit for width of the rad?

How about the front, is it worthwhile/possible to fit another little radiator there? Also, would I have any power supply clearance issues with using the Swiftech MCRES that goes in the 5.25 bay - would I have room between the back of the power supply and the hoses to get the hoses down to the CPU?

I followed most of MO's lead and PA is the limit you can squeeze in there. Aside from the support bracket, you have to trim the inside of the side panels a little and superglue the last two pushpins - not hard. You do not have to rebuild the bracket, but it's not a bad idea. I have two drives sitting on the remainder of the bracket and it dips a bit, but otherwise is fine. I have cut about as much material out of my case as possible and it's moveable. Dropping it would still be a bad thing.

Yes, you can fit a dual 80mm rad in the front - that's what I'm doing. The res would be fine - I'm using a clear acrylic one, against the advice of many.

Also, if you don't want to cut the support bracket, another possibility is to mount a single 80mm ran with 120mm fan adapter. That was the way I went initially, until I saw MO's mod. I couldn't tell you what the performance difference was. I actually have the rad and adapter for sale...

Just an FYI, if you want the Microfly in all black, JPac makes a clone sold on Newegg. MicroCenter also has a rebate going on the Microfly until the end of the month that brings the price down to $50.

Different question - how's the Silverstone TJ-08 look for watercooling? I slightly prefer the form factor of the Microfly, but the TJ-08 looks more WC friendly. I could probably get a PA120.1 in the front, I think: See second picture at http://www.pro-clockers.com/reviews.php?id=112&page=5 - looks like there's

Looks like the back may be a little narrow for a 120 to fit, but if I got ambitious I could fit an 80mm rad there attached to a 120mm fan. Looks pretty sweet to me.

The TJ08 would probably allow you to squeeze 2*120mm rads. If you like that style of case - go with it. It's the friendlier option.

 

[MassiveOverkill]

Most of your questions have already been answered, but a single 80mm rad definately would not provide sufficient cooling. My 120 can barely pull duty with my X1800XT and CPU. A 120 with a double 80 would do just fine if you can make it fit. I prefer the Swiftech Micro Res over the bay res. With the Alphacool/DD acrylic top mod, I see no need for a res. What kind of video card are you running? Personally, if I had to choose, I'd cool my GPU over my CPU. Today's CPUs run cool and GPUs are running hotter and hotter it seems. GPUs also cost nearly twice as much as CPUs.

 

[jvrobert]

Most of your questions have already been answered, but a single 80mm rad definately would not provide sufficient cooling. My 120 can barely pull duty with my X1800XT and CPU. A 120 with a double 80 would do just fine if you can make it fit. I prefer the Swiftech Micro Res over the bay res. With the Alphacool/DD acrylic top mod, I see no need for a res. What kind of video card are you running? Personally, if I had to choose, I'd cool my GPU over my CPU. Today's CPUs run cool and GPUs are running hotter and hotter it seems. GPUs also cost nearly twice as much as CPUs.

Yeah, I've decided to WC my GPU as well. That way I can buy a somewhat cheap(er) X1900XTX instead of X1950XTX, and I don't care if X1900XTX is leaf blower loud since I'll water cool it.

I've decided to go with TJ-08 since it seams it'll be much easier to fit stuff in and is still pretty small. Theoretically I can get a 120mm rad in the back and one in the front (I think).

Think I can get buy with a good (e.g. Thermochill PA120.1) single radiator with an E6600 overclocked to maybe 3.2-3.6GHz and an X1900XTX?

 

[whrswoldo]

Internal... From what I gather this can be done by cutting the support bar on right side of case. Do I _have_ to reinforce that crossbar if I do it, I'm terrible at any kind of complex mod.

I modded a Microfly with an internal 120.2 rad mounted on the side of the case. (the worklog) For my mod, I completely removed the support bar by drilling out the rivets holding it in place, and have not stumbled on any ill effects so far. The top and sides of the case actually serve very well to stiffen it, so I don't see a strong need for any reinforcement.

 

[sleepeeg3]

WW, that is probably the most practical MicroFly mod I have seen! Dual 120mm rad + ATX board... I did not think the left crossbeam would be a problem, but I like how you removed the PCI brackets.

The only thing I see as a negative is how the right side looks. It's not bad, but how about taking a post from MO's build and doing the mesh instead? I think that would look fantastic!

Most of your questions have already been answered, but a single 80mm rad definately would not provide sufficient cooling.

Wouldn't recommend it either, but I meant to use it with a 2*80mm up front. Area wise they would be slightly bigger than 1*120mm rad, although flow would suffer.

Think I can get buy with a good (e.g. Thermochill PA120.1) single radiator with an E6600 overclocked to maybe 3.2-3.6GHz and an X1900XTX?

I think 3.2 is doable, based on what MO is running. But there are cheaper alternatives than Thermochills if you want to do two. Taking it out of the loop and running air is probably the best option (i.e. HIS card), but you may as well get used to watercooling the GPU, since it sounds as though the first round of DX10 cards are going to require it.

 

[MassiveOverkill]

I agree Sleepeeg3. A dual 80 up front with a supplemental 80 out back would probably work. You shouldn't have a problem with an E6600 and an X1900XT. I currently have an Opty at 1.5V, and my X1800XT is at 1.350V and they are perfectly stable. GPU gets to 55C max, which is pretty cool for an ATI chip. Opty is about on par with air cooling as it also maxes out at 55C. When I had my X2 3800 in it, the good core would reach about 48C on load with about 1.4V