Hello everyone. I just upgraded my loop with all Swiftech components (Swiftech Micro-reservior, Apogee GT CPU Block, MCP655-B, MCR-220). I was using PC ICE in my old Thermaltake loop with no foaming. My new Swiftech pump is almost 3 times more flow than my Thermaltake, and now I see foam in my reservoir. I'm using all 1/2" ID tubing and have checked all my connections for air leaks and leaks. I've read on another forum that PC Ice foams alot, and that after 3 - 4 hours, it clears up. I would think that the foaming would hurt the cooling. Is there anything I can do about the foaming? Also, does anyone have any good recommendations on a replacement for the PC Ice. I'm not worried about non-conductive (the reason why I went with the PC Ice in the first place) anymore, just want the best cooling. Thanks for the help.
Primochill PC Ice foaming
- Thread starter deesal
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One more question. I have the Asus Maximus Formula SE with the Fusion waterblock that has 3/8" barbs, but comes with 3/8" to 1/2" adapters. I don't have it in my loop right now but wondered how much it would affect my loop if I use the adapters and add the NB to my loop? I've seen posts about how people are replacing their Fusion blocks with aftermarket ones because of the flow restriction caused by using the adapters. Thanks for the help.
nzxtlexa
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- Oct 23, 2007
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Hi deesal,
I also have watercooling and use a similar setup to you with the same res. I have never used primochill PC ice but the Feser F1 coolant that I use also foams a bit but does gradually die down after a while. It has never been a problem for me as the foam sits above the surface and never goes down any tubing so I don't think you should be concerned.
Not really sure about you other question but I would have thought that using converters would slow down the flow rate.
hope this helps
I also have watercooling and use a similar setup to you with the same res. I have never used primochill PC ice but the Feser F1 coolant that I use also foams a bit but does gradually die down after a while. It has never been a problem for me as the foam sits above the surface and never goes down any tubing so I don't think you should be concerned.
Not really sure about you other question but I would have thought that using converters would slow down the flow rate.
hope this helps
It seems like the foam in my reservoir is mixing with the fluid and going into my lines. The lines don't look like just clear fluid to me, but a mixture of foam and fluid. I have my reservoir filled over the half way point (Swiftech label on side of reservoir), but it seems like the high rate of flow into the reservoir is just mixing it all. I've started looking for other mixes or coolants to run. I'm hoping that people will post here their mixes and coolants that work well for them. Thanks for the help.
phreejak
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- May 11, 2006
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I've been using PCI ICE for about 4 years now and, from time to time, I'v experienced what you are describing - but, not with any regularity however.
Over time, I had discovered two sources of that caused foam to appear in my cooling loop (and, eventually, end up in the reservoir).
one, a tremendous amount of air trapped in my rads. Because I am using two dual 120mm rads and because they were both oriented at different positions relative to each other, one or the other would have trapped air in it that I had to weed out. To take care of this, I got an extra PSU that I had set up to be able to turn on without being connected to the MB. I have always set up my Cooling loop before I added most of my peripherals so that I could use the PSU to run the loop and get rid of any trapped air before I committed the rest of the equipment.
Two, there was a leak somewhere. Usually, this is easier to deal with than air trapped in a rad (unless it happened to be one of the waterblocks. This was also another reason I ran my cooling loop with the extra PSU before adding the rest of the parts.
Before you add the NB waterblock to your loop ask yourself why you want to do it. Cooling a NB can usually be done by a decent HSF combo - even if you mildly o'clock. Only in the most extreme of circumstances, if you o'clock like a mofo,. would I even consider adding a NB waterblock to a cooling loop because it will affect your flowrate - especially if you dial down to a 3/8ID from a 1/2ID (if I understood correctly).
Over time, I had discovered two sources of that caused foam to appear in my cooling loop (and, eventually, end up in the reservoir).
one, a tremendous amount of air trapped in my rads. Because I am using two dual 120mm rads and because they were both oriented at different positions relative to each other, one or the other would have trapped air in it that I had to weed out. To take care of this, I got an extra PSU that I had set up to be able to turn on without being connected to the MB. I have always set up my Cooling loop before I added most of my peripherals so that I could use the PSU to run the loop and get rid of any trapped air before I committed the rest of the equipment.
Two, there was a leak somewhere. Usually, this is easier to deal with than air trapped in a rad (unless it happened to be one of the waterblocks. This was also another reason I ran my cooling loop with the extra PSU before adding the rest of the parts.
Before you add the NB waterblock to your loop ask yourself why you want to do it. Cooling a NB can usually be done by a decent HSF combo - even if you mildly o'clock. Only in the most extreme of circumstances, if you o'clock like a mofo,. would I even consider adding a NB waterblock to a cooling loop because it will affect your flowrate - especially if you dial down to a 3/8ID from a 1/2ID (if I understood correctly).
Thanks for the reply phreejak. I'm going to check all that you mentioned. I have to dig out an old powersupply to do what you said. I just have a problem right now... I don't have any tubing or coolant. :*( I'm going to have to get my hands on some. I was looking at your setup and see we have pretty much the same components. I do have this question for you: Maybe I didn't notice it on my old Thermaltake loop, but is the reservoir supposed to look almost milky when the system is running? With the system off, the PC Ice is clear (I don't have any dye bomb in it, just clear). When I put power to the system, my reservoir looks milky with the fluid being pumped into the reservoir. I assume that it looks milky because of the tiny air bubbles in the fluid when pumped.
Also, I was going to add my NB to the loop just because the SE has the Fusion block and its the main reason why I bought it. I guess I won't add it to my loop. Not really a big deal since it doesn't get that hot anyway. Thanks again for the help.
Also, I was going to add my NB to the loop just because the SE has the Fusion block and its the main reason why I bought it. I guess I won't add it to my loop. Not really a big deal since it doesn't get that hot anyway. Thanks again for the help.
You were right phreejak. Air in radiator. I got bored and took my hoses off my radiator and unmounted it. I put the hoses back on and turned it all ways and shaked it a little bit. I must have seen a bunch of air shoot into my reservoir. I filled the reservoir back up and let it run for a little while and bam.... Clear reservoir and fluid.
I checked my temps and my NB and SB are sitting around 50C right now. Is that too hot? When I had my Fusion block in my old Thermaltake loop, it was about 38 - 44C. I have the voltages upped slightly because of my OC, but nothing too extreme. I'm going to mess around tomorrow and see if I can adjust my voltages some more and maybe get 3.6Ghz, 100% overclock from 1.8. Love these e2160s.
I checked my temps and my NB and SB are sitting around 50C right now. Is that too hot? When I had my Fusion block in my old Thermaltake loop, it was about 38 - 44C. I have the voltages upped slightly because of my OC, but nothing too extreme. I'm going to mess around tomorrow and see if I can adjust my voltages some more and maybe get 3.6Ghz, 100% overclock from 1.8. Love these e2160s.
It's clear now. All the air in my radiator was giving me tiny bubbles in my reservoir and causing all the foam. Its been running for a while now and I'm still getting the occasional bubble. But it looks like everything is good now. I had a small leak from the outlet on my pump also. I'm hoping that once I put my side panel and 250mm fan back on, that will help with my NB and SB temps. Thanks for the help.
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