0dBA Project rev.2
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:34 am
First off, to make further explanations easier: here's a link to rev.1 [Babelfish translation, not of much use though].
And here's the successor:
S AM2 A64 3000+ 2000 @ 2600, 1.55v
Gigabyte GA-M55plus-S3G
Corsair XMS2x512 5400Pro
Leadtek PX7900GT TDH Extreme 520\375 @ 580\440
FSP FX600GLN
2 notebook drives
- Design -
Unlike rev.1, which was a real bitch to take apart, this comp was intended to be more user friendly. Which meant - no external heatsinks. This concept led to PSU relocation, to prevent it from being heated up by the CPU HS. Plus, originally there was no room for the VGA HS inside the case so 3.5' drive cages had to go. This layout required an uncommonly wide case, luckily I was able to find one.
- Components & mods -
1. CPU Cooling
This was the easiest part, thanks to Scythe Inc. All I had to do was to mod the retention mechanism in order to provide the Ninja with AM2 compatibility.
2. Mobo.
Heatsinks were glued to VRM mosfets and all other mosfets I could lay my hands on - just in case.
The NB cooling system uses two heatpipes and two heat blocks taken from Tt Shooner. The upper block is to be bolted to a... hmm... external heatsink but I managed to make a quick-release coupling so it's ok. The original plan was to use a modded (increased fin spacing) CM Blue Ice 2, but that idea turned out to be nothing but a waste of money. The small heatsink didn't make it - it was literally suffocating, squeezed into a tight gap between the vidcard and the Ninja. BTW, always use shims when working with heatpipes on naked dies. This is the second mobo, the first one lies cold and dead with it's NB chipped.
3. VGA Cooling.
Here's the first revision. Lacks some parts but the design can be seen more clearly.
Two copper heat blocks are self-machined, 5mm pipes were taken from a ZM-2HC2, 6mm ones - from two CM CoolVivas. Fins came from a Igloo 7700. The final version looks like this:
Apart from other enhancements, it has ramsinks (not visible on the picture) which are really a must for overclocked GDDR3 memory. The whole assembly weighs over 2 kilos so I had to add a support (several PCB standoffs bolted together). The vidcard's VRM required extra cooling as well:
4. Power Supply.
Formerly it was an Epsilon FX600GLN. The fan was thrown away, case was chopped by 1cm to fit the desired location.
Heatpipes - Tt Shooner
Fins - CM Blue Ice II.
Beware everyone: in Epsilons there are no dielectric pads between transistors and their sinks so two of the three heatsinks carry 300v. Whatever you would want to attach to them MUST be insulated from PSU case or any grounded parts.
5. Hard drives.
Nothing special here, the whole assembly was taken from 0dB rev.1
The foam box houses two 2.5' PATA drives: a 20Gb Seagate and a 80Gb Samsung.
6. Case
No idea who the manufacurer is, the only writing on the box was "small server case". It required some dremel work: cutting out openings in the top and bottom panels to aid natural convection.
- Assembling -
Ninja and vidcard in place.
NB heat block bolted to the external heatsink.
The external heatsink itself.
PSU fin guard (formerly a CM Hyper 6 fan shroud). It serves two purposes: to protect the flimsy fins from cables sticking out of the computer's back and to protect the careless user from 300v residing on the fins.
PSU in place.
Drives in place.
General view.
Back side view
Bottom view. The combination of wheels and feet allows the case to be easily pulled out from under the table but prevents it from rolling by itself.
That's it for now, ask your questions if you want more details.
And here's the successor:
S AM2 A64 3000+ 2000 @ 2600, 1.55v
Gigabyte GA-M55plus-S3G
Corsair XMS2x512 5400Pro
Leadtek PX7900GT TDH Extreme 520\375 @ 580\440
FSP FX600GLN
2 notebook drives
- Design -
Unlike rev.1, which was a real bitch to take apart, this comp was intended to be more user friendly. Which meant - no external heatsinks. This concept led to PSU relocation, to prevent it from being heated up by the CPU HS. Plus, originally there was no room for the VGA HS inside the case so 3.5' drive cages had to go. This layout required an uncommonly wide case, luckily I was able to find one.
- Components & mods -
1. CPU Cooling
This was the easiest part, thanks to Scythe Inc. All I had to do was to mod the retention mechanism in order to provide the Ninja with AM2 compatibility.
2. Mobo.
Heatsinks were glued to VRM mosfets and all other mosfets I could lay my hands on - just in case.
The NB cooling system uses two heatpipes and two heat blocks taken from Tt Shooner. The upper block is to be bolted to a... hmm... external heatsink but I managed to make a quick-release coupling so it's ok. The original plan was to use a modded (increased fin spacing) CM Blue Ice 2, but that idea turned out to be nothing but a waste of money. The small heatsink didn't make it - it was literally suffocating, squeezed into a tight gap between the vidcard and the Ninja. BTW, always use shims when working with heatpipes on naked dies. This is the second mobo, the first one lies cold and dead with it's NB chipped.
3. VGA Cooling.
Here's the first revision. Lacks some parts but the design can be seen more clearly.
Two copper heat blocks are self-machined, 5mm pipes were taken from a ZM-2HC2, 6mm ones - from two CM CoolVivas. Fins came from a Igloo 7700. The final version looks like this:
Apart from other enhancements, it has ramsinks (not visible on the picture) which are really a must for overclocked GDDR3 memory. The whole assembly weighs over 2 kilos so I had to add a support (several PCB standoffs bolted together). The vidcard's VRM required extra cooling as well:
4. Power Supply.
Formerly it was an Epsilon FX600GLN. The fan was thrown away, case was chopped by 1cm to fit the desired location.
Heatpipes - Tt Shooner
Fins - CM Blue Ice II.
Beware everyone: in Epsilons there are no dielectric pads between transistors and their sinks so two of the three heatsinks carry 300v. Whatever you would want to attach to them MUST be insulated from PSU case or any grounded parts.
5. Hard drives.
Nothing special here, the whole assembly was taken from 0dB rev.1
The foam box houses two 2.5' PATA drives: a 20Gb Seagate and a 80Gb Samsung.
6. Case
No idea who the manufacurer is, the only writing on the box was "small server case". It required some dremel work: cutting out openings in the top and bottom panels to aid natural convection.
- Assembling -
Ninja and vidcard in place.
NB heat block bolted to the external heatsink.
The external heatsink itself.
PSU fin guard (formerly a CM Hyper 6 fan shroud). It serves two purposes: to protect the flimsy fins from cables sticking out of the computer's back and to protect the careless user from 300v residing on the fins.
PSU in place.
Drives in place.
General view.
Back side view
Bottom view. The combination of wheels and feet allows the case to be easily pulled out from under the table but prevents it from rolling by itself.
That's it for now, ask your questions if you want more details.
. The niche is open from front and back but that's not enough to maintain good convectional airflow: had to drill vent holes in one of the side panels (you can see them in the picture). 
. 
