Fudd Rucker
Well-known member
Seeing this is pushing me oh so much closer to setting up a Mini-itx system as its been my dream since the late 80s to have a powerhouse pc in a little itty bitty package. But ive invested way to much to drop down lol.
Completed MiniITX on Water [Q08+PA160]
- Thread starter zoob
- Start date
zoob
Well-known member
More test fit:
- 5850 definitely won't fit, even if I stick with a 140mm fan. It's simply too long
- GTX 460 at 8.5" would be my best bet at the moment
- I will probably have to go with a T-line and the stock DDC top if I can't find a suitable replacement like the original Alphacool, or the new Phobya top
I really hope I can de-couple the pump so it does not transmit vibrations through the case. Also need to find some nice foam insulation for the rad-case mating surface. Also need to figure out how to hold it in place - maybe a nice strip of industrial velcro (might ruin the rad finish, but who cares if it's on the bottom where it can't be seen
Pump will sit on a nice soft sponge, don't know how to mount, maybe also velcro!
- 5850 definitely won't fit, even if I stick with a 140mm fan. It's simply too long
- GTX 460 at 8.5" would be my best bet at the moment
- I will probably have to go with a T-line and the stock DDC top if I can't find a suitable replacement like the original Alphacool, or the new Phobya top
I really hope I can de-couple the pump so it does not transmit vibrations through the case. Also need to find some nice foam insulation for the rad-case mating surface. Also need to figure out how to hold it in place - maybe a nice strip of industrial velcro (might ruin the rad finish, but who cares if it's on the bottom where it can't be seen
Pump will sit on a nice soft sponge, don't know how to mount, maybe also velcro!
Last edited:
zoob
Well-known member
Some minor updates. Finally have some guts (now that P67 boards are delayed :doh
So I received my 860 from 3oh6 today, and as I tighten down my Megahalems heatsink so I can give the CPU a test on air (and on a better motherboard), the frigging bracket breaks!
Pisser, so I have to resort to some fancy stock cooling to test this thing out.
Superb motherboard of choice.
Coming together with some budget 2x4 GB RAM and a 5770...
Hard core budget shot!
Temporary home
Goals of this machine:
1. Run OSX
2. Run very quietly
3. Run overclocked
:canadianwave:
So I received my 860 from 3oh6 today, and as I tighten down my Megahalems heatsink so I can give the CPU a test on air (and on a better motherboard), the frigging bracket breaks!
Pisser, so I have to resort to some fancy stock cooling to test this thing out.
Superb motherboard of choice.
Coming together with some budget 2x4 GB RAM and a 5770...
Hard core budget shot!
Temporary home
Goals of this machine:
1. Run OSX
2. Run very quietly
3. Run overclocked
:canadianwave:
Mini-ITX love :thumb:
OCing the 860 on that board? :shok: Might want to read on it, careful, I don't think that CPU and that board play nice once OCed. You should also want to add some third party heatsinks on there to keep it nice and cool.
Coming along nicely though! :biggrin:
Quiet...hmm, I need to find a quieter pump, it's the only thing I hear in my little machine.
OCing the 860 on that board? :shok: Might want to read on it, careful, I don't think that CPU and that board play nice once OCed. You should also want to add some third party heatsinks on there to keep it nice and cool.
Coming along nicely though! :biggrin:
Quiet...hmm, I need to find a quieter pump, it's the only thing I hear in my little machine.
zoob
Well-known member
Hoping to hit at least 3.6 on it. I'm not expecting to reach sky high, but the chip is supposed to only need 1.3V for 4GHz. Hoping it won't hit OCP too soon. Bottom line is, even a stock 860 is pretty fast in Aperture
Don't worry about the cooling, I have some tiny Enzotech heatsinks to stick on!
Planning on setting up the initial CPU only loop tonight if I can jimmy it all together. Fingers crossed for a smooth install (which probably will never happen) hahaha.
Don't worry about the cooling, I have some tiny Enzotech heatsinks to stick on!
Planning on setting up the initial CPU only loop tonight if I can jimmy it all together. Fingers crossed for a smooth install (which probably will never happen) hahaha.
audirs
Active member
awesome work man, looks good so far
zoob
Well-known member
Yep just as you guys predicted, I'm ramming into a brick wall bc I chose a 4C/8T CPU
i7 860 running 22x167 @ 1.250V no LLC seems OK... but it overvolts even though LLC is off!
It sometimes also gets stuck in a weird uncore/multiplier unstable state requiring a cold boot after a failed OC.
3.6 GHz is not bad of an OC so I think I'll stick with that!
Plenty of pics to follow as soon as I eat dinner, clean up, and let this stress test a bit longer before I boot into OSX for Aperture
i7 860 running 22x167 @ 1.250V no LLC seems OK... but it overvolts even though LLC is off!
It sometimes also gets stuck in a weird uncore/multiplier unstable state requiring a cold boot after a failed OC.
3.6 GHz is not bad of an OC so I think I'll stick with that!
Plenty of pics to follow as soon as I eat dinner, clean up, and let this stress test a bit longer before I boot into OSX for Aperture
zoob
Well-known member
Here goes on the backplate for the Apogee XT. It clears the components on the back of the motherboard... no modding necessary!
Though I do flip the foam pads because I do not want them sticking to the motherboard.
Sinking it up. I did fill in the rest of the PWM area FYI... I just took the pic before I opened the second box.
The motherboard sits into the standoffs - it catches a little bit because the standoffs go into the motherboard mounting holes slightly. Very nifty.
Mount the drives and cover up my crappy cuts with 3.0charlie's awesome trim! Thank you John!
Though I do flip the foam pads because I do not want them sticking to the motherboard.
Sinking it up. I did fill in the rest of the PWM area FYI... I just took the pic before I opened the second box.
The motherboard sits into the standoffs - it catches a little bit because the standoffs go into the motherboard mounting holes slightly. Very nifty.
Mount the drives and cover up my crappy cuts with 3.0charlie's awesome trim! Thank you John!
zoob
Well-known member
Devising a cheap and non-permanent way to mount the radiator - just in case I decide to move back to air.
Stealthed drive (sorry for blurry)
Tight fitment, the trim helps keep the barb from knocking up against the metal.
Very tight fit with the fan
Getting a feel for the space... man it's going to be tight.
WTF to do with the pump???
Stealthed drive (sorry for blurry)
Tight fitment, the trim helps keep the barb from knocking up against the metal.
Very tight fit with the fan
Getting a feel for the space... man it's going to be tight.
WTF to do with the pump???
zoob
Well-known member
Too much money for bitspower fittings But I'm glad I purchased them!
Cheap sleeving. Free from my LCD monitors!
Some more tubing going in...
7V trick on my pump for silence (since it's one block one rad...)
Filling! Also a quick 10 min leak test while I bleed the air.
Two leaks. One at the BP crystal T... tighten it with pliers. Second was the FAR CORNER of the radiator. I have to pull out the vid card, and take off the side panel to get to it (barely enough slack on the tubing), and reach in with needlenose pliers to tighten it up.
When leak testing/bleeding I ran the pump at 12V. Tested it out, but decided to reduce it back down to 7V for noise and to compare temps... but the stupid pin broke!
Quick solder job later, and BAM, stupid messy cram packed build:
But I'm glad I purchased them!
Cheap sleeving. Free from my LCD monitors!
Some more tubing going in...
7V trick on my pump for silence (since it's one block one rad...)
Filling! Also a quick 10 min leak test while I bleed the air.
Two leaks. One at the BP crystal T... tighten it with pliers. Second was the FAR CORNER of the radiator. I have to pull out the vid card, and take off the side panel to get to it (barely enough slack on the tubing), and reach in with needlenose pliers to tighten it up.
When leak testing/bleeding I ran the pump at 12V. Tested it out, but decided to reduce it back down to 7V for noise and to compare temps... but the stupid pin broke!
Quick solder job later, and BAM, stupid messy cram packed build:
