Messages

16

Mod Zone / Re: Custom cooler mount

« on: July 13, 2023, 09:16:58 am »

Woo-hoo - the changes to strengthen the Noctua mount resulted in a stable system! I can wobble the cooler now and I have no crashes, so next will be long term testing (I have two earlier spares without amends for the AM5 mounts which I'll be sending to @vikings.thum). Some photos:

    https://wip.numfum.com/cw/2023-07-13/noctua-1.jpeg
    https://wip.numfum.com/cw/2023-07-13/noctua-2.jpeg
    https://wip.numfum.com/cw/2023-07-13/noctua-3.jpeg
    https://wip.numfum.com/cw/2023-07-13/secufirm2.jpeg

Tomorrow I'll test with a water block.

17

Talos II / Re: Arctic Tern bracket?

« on: July 12, 2023, 08:34:59 am »

I got my metal brackets back today, photo attached. I need to test and measure to qualify it, but on a once-over it looks as expected (I have powder coated black and bead blasted stainless steel variants).

    https://wip.numfum.com/cw/2023-07-12/arctic-tern-pcie.jpeg

The micro-HDMI is the only worry, with the connectors being too far back from the bracket (and with nothing I could really do to correct it).

(The forum won't take any more uploads for me?)

18

Mod Zone / Re: Custom cooler mount

« on: June 25, 2023, 02:14:50 pm »

Thanks! I'll be back on it in a few weeks with more results.

19

Mod Zone / Re: Custom cooler mount

« on: June 24, 2023, 01:48:26 pm »

Thanks!

The version tested here is quite compromised. I'd been trying to get it thin enough for AM5 mounts that the Noctua mount got neglected, then I made things worse by needing to manually drill out a counterbore, so there's about 2mm of thread here (which is AFAIK where a lot of the instability comes from). I threadlocked the screws (otherwise the Noctua mount unscrews them as it tightens) but it gave on the last turn on one side, so it's not tightened all the way. Aaaand, I'm using Carbonaut instead of thermal paste, which is extremely slippy (which I think adds to the movement).

I've attached an STL of the latest version, which I'm hoping is even 3D printable with the right plastic (though maybe only viable with the AM5 mount; I 3D printed the test versions for the dimensions and fit, but never powered up with one). As you can see it's much thicker, which meant a compromise for the water block (more of when I get to test it!).

20

Mod Zone / Custom cooler mount

« on: June 24, 2023, 07:29:37 am »

I thought I'd share some work-in-progress on this. It's not yet finished, and I'm waiting on the next iteration to be CNC'd.

After a lot of prompting from @Vikings, I designed a bracket that allows other coolers to be fitted (Noctua SecuFirm2 and AMD AM4/5). I'm testing here with an NH-U12A, and the temps are better than the stock cooler (and it's quieter!). This version shown is flawed, and I don't know if the changes will fix it: the Noctua 78mm mount is too flexible, so the cooler can move, and since there's no independent loading mechanism on the T2 this movement transfers to the CPU (which then crashes the system).

In a few weeks when I get the next version back I'll retry with the Noctua cooler, and I'll also compare with an EK AM5 water block.

(I'll share the design files when it's done, whether it works or not.)

21

Talos II / Re: Arctic Tern bracket?

« on: June 09, 2023, 02:23:42 pm »

Ahh! A few plans: the most uninteresting was to simply to boot my T2 faster, the more interesting being looking at FPGA brute force implementations of some the graphics work I do. Unfortunately time ticked on, and since I couldn't just plug it in (then my T2 got gutted for another up coming project) I ran out of steam.

22

Talos II / Re: Arctic Tern bracket?

« on: June 08, 2023, 03:59:06 pm »

No plans, I made it to scratch an itch. I wasn’t willing to balance the Arctic Tern card in a vertically mounted mobo without a bracket. I’ll post more once I have the stainless steel version in my hands.

I also wanted an excuse to try the sheet metal folding workflow in BricsCAD (like AutoCAD, better in some ways, worse in others, but importantly without the subscription licensing).

23

Talos II / Re: Arctic Tern bracket?

« on: June 08, 2023, 09:31:27 am »

Since a bracket hasn't magically arrived I made one. I'm currently waiting for the sheet metal version to be fabricated (a week or so) which if I'm happy with will document/arrange how to have more made. I'll also make the CAD files freely available, and it's 3D printable at a push.

A few things are of note:

• The Arctic Tern's connectors don't extend far enough on the board. The mini-HDMI are too far back by a few millimetres, which means the bracket design is a compromise between correct PCIe mechanics and access to the ports.
• (So I created two variants, one with this compromise, and another spec-correct but the ports blanked off.)
• The mounting hole at the top of the PCB is in a really odd place, so needs an L-shaped bracket to connect, and the bracket needs to pass over traces, so will need extra insulation.

(I've attached the work-in-progress CAD files for anyone interested, in DWG and IGES format.)

24

Mod Zone / Re: Initial findings running on water cooling

« on: March 31, 2023, 12:29:26 am »

I'm concentrating on fitting in all into the case at the moment. My priority was quiet, then I'll delve into what else it brings and what I can do.

Until I have it all running I won't know the temperature over ambient I have with the single radiator, single set of (pull) fans, and the enclosed box.

25

Mod Zone / Re: Initial findings running on water cooling

« on: March 29, 2023, 10:13:13 am »

Once I've documented the changes required, I'll add it to the list. If you're taking the sensible air cooling route, apart from losing the top USB ports it's just a bit of hole drilling and threading.

26

Mod Zone / Re: Initial findings running on water cooling

« on: March 29, 2023, 09:09:17 am »

They are really well made, and easy to strip down to make any mods (they unscrew entirely into panels). The maker is also open to customising them for buyers, so custom holes added, that sort of thing.

Dune was just a big waste of money and time, and the 10 or so folks who did get them weren't that happy with the quality.

27

Mod Zone / Re: Initial findings running on water cooling

« on: March 29, 2023, 12:24:21 am »

Apparently, fo' realz this time, Dune is back in production.

28

Mod Zone / Re: Initial findings running on water cooling

« on: March 27, 2023, 03:06:03 pm »

McPrue Apollo ATX:

    https://www.mcprue.com/store

A very expensive, hand-built Mac Pro clone. It's like the Dune case, but it actually shipped and some dude didn't run off with mine and everyone else's money. They're very nicely made but too small for building E-ATX into, at least without the extra work.

29

Mod Zone / Re: Initial findings running on water cooling

« on: March 26, 2023, 02:01:47 pm »

I'm building with a custom loop, this radiator is just for testing. I have a couple of the McPrue, erm, Mac-inspired cases I'm building into, squeezing E-ATX motherboards and water cooling.

The Threadripper build needed custom brackets designing and printing to replace the case closing mechanism. The T2 motherboard is a little smaller so fits fine (it just needed extra standoffs drilling and threading). Next is to work out the mounts for the reservoir, and decide whether I'm going to try with a dual pump or not.

Both still need a custom solution for the power connectors.

30

Mod Zone / Re: Separating CPU/HSF?

« on: March 24, 2023, 10:13:58 am »

Answering myself, I thrashed the CPUs for a bit, quickly shut down then removed everything whilst it was still hot. Nothing stuck and the indium pads just peeled off.