20% project

This week I have finished assembling the cooler and started leak testing.  I began the week by installing the tubing.  I did this while the cooler was in my computer so that I could find the appropriate tubing lengths. once I installed the tubing and hose clamps I removed the cooler to fill it with coolant. I filled the cooler with coolant away from my computer as to prevent any damage.  To filler the cooler I first filled the reservoir then drained that into the rest to the loop.  I had to do this multiple times to fill all of the cooler.  Then I used an old motherboard and positioned the cooler away from any components to leak test it. I wrapped paper towel around the fittings so I would be able to tell if a leak occurred.  To leak test it I had the pump run for 24 hours.  The pump needs to be plugged into a motherboard or some kind of power source to run.  That is why I used an old motherboard.      

20% project

This week I have taken a break from assembling my cooler and focused on other factors that may effect the performance of the cooler.  One of these factors is other heat sources in the computer.  The CPU is not the only hot component but it is the only one being cooled by the cooler.  This problem is unfortunately unavoidable.  Because of the almost limitless combinations of hardware a computer could contain, it is impossible to design one product to cool more than one component, and have it work will all computers.  That is why I have been testing to see what can be done about this problem.  Above is a picture of a Nvidia quadro k6000, one of the GPUs I have been testing to see how other components affect performance of my CPU cooler.  I have found that video cards often exhaust hot air into the case and heat the air being blown through the radiator of the CPU cooler.  This can be limited by using a video card with a blower style fan such as the one above.  This will exhaust air outside the case.

20% project

This week I have re-installed my CPU.  Now that all the thermal paste has been remove it is safe to install it in the motherboard again. to do this you need to release the lever and then carefully drop the processor into the socket.  It is important that you install it the correct way.  A small triangle in the corner of the heat sink should line put with a notch on the socket.  It is important to note that dropping the CPU into place should take no force it will fall into place without any push.  If this does not happen do not push on the CPU that could cause the delicate pins on the motherboard to bend. If the CPU does not fall into place remove it and try again.

20% project

This week I prepared my CPU for the new cooler.  First I had to remove the CPU from my motherboard.  Then I used a paper towel and rubbing alcohol to remove the thermal paste.  It should also be noted that one must repeat that process on their current cooler after removal.  Thermal paste is an important part in any cooler replacement because microscopic consistences in the heat spreader and the heat sink prevent heat transfer.  That is why it is important that some kind of liquid conductive to heat secure the bond between the heat sink and heat spreader.  But choosing a thermal paste can be very difficult because it is important to find a product with the right viscosity.  This can very based on the pressure of your heat sink mount.  I am using a liquid cooler and therefore a low pressure mount.