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Greetings guys and gals,
Over the weekend I changed over one of my desktops to the XSPC Raystorm RX240 Extreme kit (offered by FrozenCPU). Previously it was using a Corsair H100. With the H100 anything over 1.4v CPU-Core voltage resulted in temps exceeding 80c during stability testing. Unfortunately, my 2600k chip isn't that great of a performer and could "only" get to 4.6Ghz on a voltage of 1.4. Anything higher would require higher voltage and therefore better cooling.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to do a full step by step work log. However, I'll attempt to go backwards and show everything that needed to be done. Overall this didn't take much work and with the right case this is a very easy installation.
The system:
i7 2600K
Asus P8Z68-V Gen3
16GB (4x4) DDR3 1600 1.5v
M4 SSD
Kingwin LZP 1000
Corsair Carbide 500R
The case I'm using isn't exactly a large case. The H100 fit perfectly in the top bay and I'm sure Corsair designed it that way. Perhaps a slim, or maybe even a regular radiator would still fit up top, however the very large RX240 doesn't without some modification.
Fitting it inside the case isn't an option either as it's too thick and the motherboard interferes. The only options that came to mind (and on a Google search) were the following:
1. Radiator on top but exposed about 1" - fans inside and out (push/pull) - Minimal mods to the top of case needed
2. Radiator in front – Fans inside only (push) - Must cut out portion of bay drive enclosure
3. Radiator on bottom - Fans inside only (push) - Must cut out portion of case floor
Since option 1 is the only that would allow a push/pull configuration and required less modification to the case I went with it.
The new watercooling kit:
XSPC Raystorm RX240 Extreme
This kit differs from the cheaper Rasa kit in a couple ways:
-Pump Upgrade to the D5 (Alphacool was OOS, I went with Swiftech)
-CPU Block upgraded to the newer, better performing Raystorm
-Choice of tubing color (I chose white)
-Compression fittings instead of barbs (black)
This was the first time I used a Reservoir-Pump combination. Taking an extra piece essentially out of the loop makes for a much cleaner and easier install in a smaller case.
The top of the Corsair 500R has a removable piece that is thin plastic wrapped with a metal grille and a filter screen in between. I had removed the filter screen already since the H100 was exhausting air out of the top. In order to get the new radiator to fit I had to cut the center piece out of the plastic cover like so:
There is only a small <1" space left on the front side of the top piece. I plan on covering this as well as the entire top piece in thin clear plexi that's been painted white on the inside. Additionally radiator fan upgrades will be made in the future and the two pull fans will be moved back to the front of the case.
Fans mounted on the inside
Bay Res installed and Silver Kill Coil
I expect to add a GTX 680 to the loop within the next month and another a couple months after that. I'm waiting in the Step Up queue for both
I intend to route the tubing from the radiator down to the video cards, then into another radiator and finally back into the res/pump.
As far as what type of radiator and where I'll locate it, that has yet to be decided. I have contemplated a matching 240, but I would have to cut the bottom of the bay drive enclosure out and possible lose what little I have left of my bay storage. This isn't a big deal, I wouldn't have any issues giving up my internal dvd drive.
This wouldn't take much as far as routing based on the current configuration.
The drive bay on the bottom would have to be moved back. This would only require drilling a couple new holes for the screws to secure it.
It's actually been done by a few others here.
A side panel window mod is in the works as well
More to come soon!
...chose to play SWTOR last night instead of working on this Will put up some more after work.
Over the weekend I changed over one of my desktops to the XSPC Raystorm RX240 Extreme kit (offered by FrozenCPU). Previously it was using a Corsair H100. With the H100 anything over 1.4v CPU-Core voltage resulted in temps exceeding 80c during stability testing. Unfortunately, my 2600k chip isn't that great of a performer and could "only" get to 4.6Ghz on a voltage of 1.4. Anything higher would require higher voltage and therefore better cooling.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to do a full step by step work log. However, I'll attempt to go backwards and show everything that needed to be done. Overall this didn't take much work and with the right case this is a very easy installation.
The system:
i7 2600K
Asus P8Z68-V Gen3
16GB (4x4) DDR3 1600 1.5v
M4 SSD
Kingwin LZP 1000
Corsair Carbide 500R
The case I'm using isn't exactly a large case. The H100 fit perfectly in the top bay and I'm sure Corsair designed it that way. Perhaps a slim, or maybe even a regular radiator would still fit up top, however the very large RX240 doesn't without some modification.
Fitting it inside the case isn't an option either as it's too thick and the motherboard interferes. The only options that came to mind (and on a Google search) were the following:
1. Radiator on top but exposed about 1" - fans inside and out (push/pull) - Minimal mods to the top of case needed
2. Radiator in front – Fans inside only (push) - Must cut out portion of bay drive enclosure
3. Radiator on bottom - Fans inside only (push) - Must cut out portion of case floor
Since option 1 is the only that would allow a push/pull configuration and required less modification to the case I went with it.
The new watercooling kit:
XSPC Raystorm RX240 Extreme
This kit differs from the cheaper Rasa kit in a couple ways:
-Pump Upgrade to the D5 (Alphacool was OOS, I went with Swiftech)
-CPU Block upgraded to the newer, better performing Raystorm
-Choice of tubing color (I chose white)
-Compression fittings instead of barbs (black)
This was the first time I used a Reservoir-Pump combination. Taking an extra piece essentially out of the loop makes for a much cleaner and easier install in a smaller case.
The top of the Corsair 500R has a removable piece that is thin plastic wrapped with a metal grille and a filter screen in between. I had removed the filter screen already since the H100 was exhausting air out of the top. In order to get the new radiator to fit I had to cut the center piece out of the plastic cover like so:
There is only a small <1" space left on the front side of the top piece. I plan on covering this as well as the entire top piece in thin clear plexi that's been painted white on the inside. Additionally radiator fan upgrades will be made in the future and the two pull fans will be moved back to the front of the case.
Fans mounted on the inside
Bay Res installed and Silver Kill Coil
I expect to add a GTX 680 to the loop within the next month and another a couple months after that. I'm waiting in the Step Up queue for both
I intend to route the tubing from the radiator down to the video cards, then into another radiator and finally back into the res/pump.
As far as what type of radiator and where I'll locate it, that has yet to be decided. I have contemplated a matching 240, but I would have to cut the bottom of the bay drive enclosure out and possible lose what little I have left of my bay storage. This isn't a big deal, I wouldn't have any issues giving up my internal dvd drive.
This wouldn't take much as far as routing based on the current configuration.
The drive bay on the bottom would have to be moved back. This would only require drilling a couple new holes for the screws to secure it.
It's actually been done by a few others here.
A side panel window mod is in the works as well
More to come soon!
...chose to play SWTOR last night instead of working on this
Will put up some more after work.
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