Pro Case/750i (Final) Cooling Mod

Hey folks.

I'm back after my system decided to commit virtual suicide via OS update (thanks Vista, may I have another?). While I was reinstalling both operating systems, and salvaging what data I could, I was busy installing the last of the cooling equipment I had in mind for my Digital Storm system.

The 750i/Pro Case can be a bit of a space heater without some additional cooling help and I bought mine before Stage 3 Case Cooling was offered, so this is what I have done:

• Added the Silverstone 3 * 5.25" to 4 * 3.5" HDD Bay Conversion. This unit includes a 53CFM 120mm LED fan.
• Replaced the Arctic  Cooling Freezer 7 Pro with a Xigmatek  HDT S1283.
• Had a local glass shop cut a hole in the side panel and then mounted  a Scythe S-Flex  120mm 64CFM fan.
• Replaced the front 120mm fan with a Scythe S-Flex 120mm 64CFM fan.
• Replaced the rear exhaust 120mm fan with a Coolermaster 120mm 110CFM fan.
• Mounted Dominator RAM Cooler.
  

The results have been extreme, and I thought I would share them with those that might be interested in purchasing a Digital Storm system with a mind to further modify after purchase, or for those with a 750i/Pro case wondering how best to decrease operating temperatures.

Warning: Modification carries with it risk, do any modifications with an understanding of that risk. Acrylic is particularly difficult to cut, and this should be done by professionals only.


Edited by Tyler Lowe - 01 Jul 2008 at 12:13pm

Very nice Tyler.  Cute cat, too.

Originally posted by harleyman Very nice indeed...I got the 850si and may add liquid some day..     How much for the mem. fans? I was thinking about adding them to mine...     Thanks for the tips...

I paid ~$25 for the RAM cooler. This is something I would recommend to anyone running more than 1.85V to their RAM modules, particularly NForce based boards.

Originally posted by SunfighterLC What do the 3 knobs in the front do?

That is a fan controller, which I have all three front intake fans attached to.

Originally posted by Venture Very nice Tyler.  Cute cat, too.

Thanks Venture. She's my buddy. I'm not sure I needed her picture on my desktop, she's usually sitting on the floor next to me staring at me.

Originally posted by !ender as much as it is too late to test this i would really have liked to see the results if you had swapped only the processor cooling and retested then. As much as i trust DSO and stand behind them, i think they could have done a little better picking their standard chip cooler. either way the case looks great, very neat and crisp work. honestly i was expecting to see more than that range in the idle temps, but i guess load is what matters anyway... how were those before compared to now?

First, thanks for the compliments on my work. DSO did all the truly hard parts before I ever laid hands on it, but I'll take kind words when I can get them.

I once wondered the same thing about the CPU heatsink !ender, but consider: I didn't have to ship this system cross country and hope the massive HSF I have installed didn't rip the CPU clean off the motherboard if someone at UPS drop kicked it off the back of a truck. I do think there may be ways to get around that sort of concern, such as foam shipping inserts, but I can understand why DSO has opted for the smallest decent performer they could find.

As it turns out, I did record my load temps before making the side fan mod and increasing the front airflow. The temps taken above were obtained at a room ambient temp of 23*C. The highest temp I saw during the prime run was 54*C on core 1. This is a 31*C Rise over ambient. Prior to making these last mods, I had run a stress test while the room ambient was 26*C, and saw a maximum temperature of 72*C on core 1. That is a 46*C Rise over ambient, which means that side fan dropped 15*C off my operating temperatures, and that's a pretty big deal.

I also happened to have recorded my temps from a lower overclock shortly after recieving my system, also at a room ambient of ~23*C. Here were my system idle  temps before making any modifications:


 
Clearly, you can see they were higher even at a much lower VCore and speed.





Edited by Tyler Lowe - 01 May 2008 at 11:29pm

Finally broke 10k on my PC Mark'05 score!! 

PC Mark '05: 10,641
3D Mark '06: 14,103

w00t!

now i have a question when i get my ds rig and decide that i want to replace or upgrade things IS my rig still under warrenty

From Section a of the Digital Storm Warranty:

Excluded from this warranty is any damage caused during shipment (except the shipment to the original purchaser) and any damage caused by: impacts, fluids, fire, flood, wind, earthquake, lightning or similar disaster; unauthorized modifications, attachments or peripherals, improper use, environment, installation or electrical supply; improper maintenance; any other misuse, abuse, or mishandling.

Section d of the Warranty: Upgrades.

Digital Storm gives the customer the freedom to upgrade his or her computer system. If you would like Digital Storm to upgrade your system for you, you will be responsible for shipping costs back and forth and a small labor fee.

What this means is, yes, you are permitted to upgrade your machine without voiding the warranty on the original components, *however* if you, in the process of attempting an upgrade, damage your computer, DSO is not liable for that damage. This is why I said that people should understand that modding involves risk. Depending on the complexity of the mod, the risk may be very small, but it is never-the-less present.

I ended up having to further modify to house my GPU's. The power connections at the ends of the 9600GT's I installed were actually pushing up against the connections to the HDD's and this was causing all manner of issues. By installing a bay conversion, I was able to create enough space for the GPU power connections and still keep my HDD's. Updated the OP with new pics.

Edited by Tyler Lowe - 01 Jul 2008 at 4:44am

Are mem. fans useful?

good lord what are you doing to my eyes with those tiny pictures

Edited by !ender_ - 02 Jul 2008 at 1:17am

yea... if only we could leave well enough alone

96GT's are 9.0" in length, but you still need clearance for the PCI-e power connections. Since the cards are opposite the drive cage in my case, and I also needed clearance for the power connections and SATA connections to the HDD's it got, eh... "snug".

Hey where did you get that front fan setup?! i have the same case, and i have some serious over heating problems.. can you help me out?