Hey guys, I've been a fan and reader of pimp rig for quite a while now, but never registered on the forums. I figured it was about time to do so, and i also have a few questions for the awesome pimp rig community. I'm putting together ideas for a Zen themed case mod, and was not quite sure if one idea was feasible. A complete noob to watercooling, if I constructed a cell cast acrylic box say 1.5/2 inches deep from the left side of my case, would this waterfall type idea work?

I assumed that it would probably be better for flow to go from the cpu to radiator and then to the waterfall scheme and then to the pump- in my neophyte reasoning i figured hotter water cascading down an inclosed box might evaporate or cause more water vapor easier i guess...What's wrong with this design, and what suggestions would you have?

For the rest of the zen theme I'm planning things such as:

my own mini zen rock garden on top

A similar box on the opposite side with a rock filled bottom, and those lucky bamboo plants in it

As well as incense holder, bamboo framings, and more. If you guys have any more ideas, let me know, and as I'm a complete noob to watercooling, what are all you reccomendations as for blocks, pumps for my purpose, radiators, tube size, or even kits. I welcome any suggestions and thanks!

Chris

there is one problem with the design, you have a limit on your flow rate which is decided by gravity and design of the fall mechanics. We could discuss the benefits of high or low flow designs but lowering your flow rate is not a good idea in this case. If you wanted to create the design for pure asthetics you could create the waterfall in parallel to the normal water cooling circuit so you wouldn't impeed cooling performance much at all. And if you wanted your waterfall to be functional you would have to reduce the chances of your pump intake, from your waterfall, sucking air instead of water which is very much possible in your design. If your waterfall pushes air instead of water your system will get lower thermal conductivity when the air passes over the block, and something like this design would actually produce air bubbles, pockets, and air filled water. If you were going to increase the performance of your cooling by adding this system to your circuit then you'd want to dimple the planks the water spills down and make them from something other than acrylic.

just some suggestions but a nice idea none the less....still not functional as much as visually pleasing.

I don't see why it wouldn't work. Just don't fill the tank any higher than the lowest water-fall "tier" so as not to lessen the water-falling effect.

The order in which you connect your cooling components won't make hardly any difference in performance, and as long as your reservoir is sealed, there won't be an evaporating effect to cool the water any further.

Can't wait to see it, sounds like it'll be quite the eye candy. Cross your fingers.

WELCOME TO PIMPRIG!!!

Nice idea! I'm no watercooling expert, but wouldn't the waterfall introduce air into the system?
BEWARE THE WELCOME WAGON - be sure not to get run over!

Quote: Originally Posted by Masterp Nice idea! I'm no watercooling expert, but wouldn't the waterfall introduce air into the system?

True, but as long as he puts antifreeze or some other anti-algae agent in his water, he won't have anything to worry about. Then again, I'd ask Antim to be totally sure, he's the water-cooling pimp around here.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jobistober True, but as long as he puts antifreeze or some other anti-algae agent in his water, he won't have anything to worry about. Then again, I'd ask Antim to be totally sure, he's the water-cooling pimp around here.

unfortunately i bet his biggest worry is not organic matter being introduced into his system and growing...it should be if his die develops a hot spot because he's geting air in his water circuit. Meaning air is not good in a watercooling system unless it is kept out of the circuit. It should be a simple one or two decission....If your doing it for cooling benefit skip the waterfall, if your doing it for asthetics keep the waterfall out of the cooling circuit.

well said and thanks for the replies!.. Keep on educating me.

Then do you reccomend any good cheaper pumps that could do for the aesthetics, or would they all be like a cheaper watercooling pump b/c of the need to be powered by the 4pin 12v rail?

And what low to midrange blocks for an amd 64 socket 754 mobo and pumps for the actual system do you reccomend?

The Zen Waterfall is a very interesting idea though, and would look very nice. But I think the best way to approach it would be to actually have the watrfall system a completely separate entity form the water cooling for the case.

In other words watercool your case as normal.
Then purchase one of those "desktop waterfalls" and use the pump system to power a totally separate waterfall system for appearance only.

Ha! Next thing someone will be putting an aquarium into the window of a case. Make it look like the components are "swimming with the fishes"!

hmm aquarium . . . .

maybe just a bunch of tubes with water and fishys in it would do instead of a full aquarium so they could swim around the parts. GOOD IDEA

Quote: Originally Posted by swimsfast99 hmm aquarium . . . . maybe just a bunch of tubes with water and fishys in it would do instead of a full aquarium so they could swim around the parts. GOOD IDEA

no, a fake tank.....size of the window, but only like about 2" thick.... good for little guys like Neons.... Wouldn't need an aquariuim heater. HA! Just a feed for air bubbles. Have removable clips insid the door so you could pull it off, and do tank cleaning and maintainence when required. Set up a program to dump food automatically when you are away.

Build the plexi tank so that you still had a clear duct going through it for the side fan, (or not if it was water cooled).

I get lots of crazy ideas, but no time these days to do anything! So I just keep the really good ones on file until I do have the time.