PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
User status: Offline
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damn the condensation! My PC's been running a little 'sketchy' over the past few weeks to say the least, so finally I thought it was time to actually do something about it...
I already know the motherboard is fubar, as the result of a bad firmware flash seriously fooked up the IDE controler on the board, but its limping along still just fine!
My first thought of the reason it was all going nasty was the dreaded pin-rot... but luckily (and I say 'luckily') it wasn't... Condensation had built up inside the clamshell, and had started to either short the few connectors on the top of the athlon, or something else, I don't know exactly! But I do know, the temps over the past week or so were also not as they used to be...
So time to rip the damn thing apart to find whats wrong... Took the evaporator off the CPU, and there was a nasty-ass big blod of water  about the size of a 1 penny piece... so got some tissue & mopped it all up... looked at the neoprene gasket inside the clam & it was all soaking wet not good!
(pics are shite as taken on my phone...)
So... I decided to attack it...
I just kept attacking it with the trusty tool of god for about half an hour, the clam was then lovely and hot  but was oh so dry! checked the neoprene inside & all was good!
So put it all back together, slapped on a load of AS to the CPU (ran out of the vapo stuff, and AS is rated to -50 anyways... so should do me!) and off we go!
Running back on proper temps, AMD 2600+XPM @ 2.82GHz... 100% CPU Load running 24/7, Heater on 100%, Fans 100%, Evap set to hold -20C... not bad for a Vapo PE!
So now ordered some new replacement parts to sort this little mess out...
DFI LanParty NFII Ultra-B (pre volt-modded)
2 x Papat 120mm fans
1 x CapeCoolplex 15 res (already have a 25 coolplex res, but i buggered the inlet ports & is cheaper to buy a 15 and swap bits)
1 x 1/2" NexXxos Xtreme I (replace the bulky poo I have)
1 x tube or Artic Silver 5
1 x tube of Vapochil Deepcool Dielectric Grease
some misc. plumbing adapters...
still looking for some more bits... need some BGA ram sinks to cool the memory on my graphics card to OC it further with a modded XT bios im gona try flashing, and some little asthetic bits (like side panels and a front!)
just cost me about £150 for all that... bugger!
Soon as I get all these gubbins & then 3GHz here I come (or a nice big BANG and shower of sparks...)
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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Should only be using a tiny bit of AS should you not?
Just put a wee bit in the middle and the pressure will spread it out.
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by John
Should only be using a tiny bit of AS should you not?
Just put a wee bit in the middle and the pressure will spread it out.
there is only a small amount of AS in the middle yes, but you need plenty of dielectric grease to make it all 'air tight' so there are no bubbles which could condense and/or cause problems...
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Ahh right.
Thats why I said should lol.
Wasn't too sure about phase change.
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
User status: Offline
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tbh phase is touch & go... can be funny to set it up, but once going its all gravy! except when condensation builds up...
i got the vapo for free though, so im not complaining! hope to have the whole system fairly finished within the next week or 2, and then should all be good!
considering i actually started building this 3 years ago and I've changed plans/ideas that many times im just gona be happy to get this finished
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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Can't say i've ever had any condensation in any of my PCs lol. I'd be a bit worried they would go bang when i'm out 
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew
Can't say i've ever had any condensation in any of my PCs lol. I'd be a bit worried they would go bang when i'm out
yes but when you run a PC at -20C... your open to all kinds of shit to go wrong
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drax
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Registered: 5th Feb 05
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
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just what the fuck do u use to run ur pc at -20 
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
User status: Offline
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I use this...
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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That is so mental it's cool  
I'd love to do something like that when i don't actually need the PC for nothing lol.
[Edited on 25-02-2006 by Andrew]
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drax
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Registered: 5th Feb 05
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
User status: Offline
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How do the vapochills work?
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PaulW
Member
Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
User status: Offline
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works the same way your fridge/freezer does at home, fridge compressor on the top, evaporator on the cpu.
uses ALOT of power though, need a 650W PSU to power this system atm, and this is at the limits near enough... looking for a 700 or 800W PSU now...
sounds just like a fridge too
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willay
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Organiser: South East, National Events
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
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^
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drax
Member
Registered: 5th Feb 05
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
User status: Offline
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lol! Im using a 650, but half the plugs arent being used, its modular  shexy
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