Water Cooling a 680i in an Antec p180: build log and guide

[3.0charlie]

Hello all, first post here. I would like to say that this P180 w/c rig is a great build, and has given me a few ideas for my next one.

I've already built 2 similar rigs with the P180. Since I've used the 'net extensively for ideas, let me add a few pics to give others ideas too!

Components: Antec P180, eVga 680i, Intel E6400, OCZ 700w, OCZ Gold 6400, WD Raptor 36Gb, Seagate 360Gb x2, eVga 8800GTS 640Mb, Swiftech Ultra+ WC.









Customers have selected that the CPU be oc'ed to 3.0 and 3.2 respectively. I actually reached 3.6 on the first one - idle temp was 24C, load temp was 37 load with Orthos.

Thanks for the ideas,


John

[Babrbarossa]

As I said on the other thread- welcome, and thanks for the nice build pics. You're no doubt aware of this already, but if you get the cable management blues with the p180, the newer p182 makes things alot easier with cutouts behind the motherboard tray for cable routing- much easier! And the same price as the p180. (about 140 at Direct Canada)

[3.0charlie]

Yup, cable management is pain in the derriere when using the P180. But I can't use the 182, since Antec decided to locate the fan switches exactly where I cut holes for the rad hoses... and they also added 2 holes exactly where I attach the Micro-res.

I did add cut-outs in the 2nd rig case - all over the place behind the motherboard tray (used some caterpillar strips to protect the wire harnesses from the sharp edges) to ease cable management.

John

[Johnno]

Very cool build log and post Babrbarossa! Your work inspired me to convert my P180 to water as well!

I made some minor tweaks as to how I laid out things - very happy with the results. Running a E6700 @ 3.7Ghz with max load temps in the upper 50C range and it idles @ 39C now.

I'll follow up with a few pics in a sec as this is my first post here.

[Johnno]

Some pics of my P180 rig converted to water.

[sswilson]

Looks great!

Did you make the mount for the resevoir yourself or did you find that kind of stock somewhere?

I've considered picking up a medium sized mechanno set in order to get a bunch of pre-manufactured pieces just like the ones you have. :)

Welcome to HC!!!!!!

[enaberif]

While I give much credit to the two who have done this, I'm not really digging the cramped quarters in the p182, but looks awesome either way.

[Johnno]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Looks great!

Did you make the mount for the resevoir yourself or did you find that kind of stock somewhere?

I've considered picking up a medium sized mechanno set in order to get a bunch of pre-manufactured pieces just like the ones you have. :)

Welcome to HC!!!!!!

Thanks! The reservoir is a Swiftech MCRES-Micro and came with the mounting hardware. Very nice little unit and fairly inexpensive to boot! (Jab-Tech and Petra's tech shop sells them for under $20 US.)

Originally Posted by enaberif

While I give much credit to the two who have done this, I'm not really digging the cramped quarters in the p182, but looks awesome either way.

True, the P180 series case is a bit cramped when it comes to water cooling. There are other cases out there better suited to water cooling - but it's what I already owned and as far as air cooled cases go it's probably near the very top of the heap.

[magictorch]

Review and water cool guide was really helpful. I wonder if there are any liquid "elements" that can be used to cool electronic parts by complete immersion without conducting or damaging components? Like the watercooling pics too!

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by magictorch

Review and water cool guide was really helpful. I wonder if there are any liquid "elements" that can be used to cool electronic parts by complete immersion without conducting or damaging components? Like the watercooling pics too!

Do some googling for oil immersion computer cooling or something like that. Virtually everything (including the PSU!!!!) can be immersed in mineral oil.

Doesn't cool very well though..... (works fine for the first while, but then the oil heats up and just retains the heat rather than wicking it away).