Need help re-assembling/testing a RMA'd Gigabyte 890XA-UD3 v.1

[absic]

Hi Jannie,

she knows about the wrinkled prunes but......


she doesn't know about the wife! 

[Dark Mantis]

I think you had better hope that... the wife doesn't know about her, or you might become detached from your wrinkled prunes!

[soarwitheagles]

Heyy Absic who is this  Ethyl Glycol  does she know about your wrinkled prunes......

Jannie,

Ethyl Glycol is my new unwanted girlfriend.  She is very toxic and I am trying to break off my relationship with her.  She doesn't get along at all with my other friend, 890XA-UD3.  In fact, they are mortal enemies.

Absic is in deep need of prune juice as he is still locked up in the ice-age mentality that massive air-cooled CPU coolers are the best way to go.  We are all hoping he will see the light of the blessedness of water cooling and make the long awaited transition.

I am trying to talk him into donating his Noctua NH-D14 to the nearest computer museum.

Unfortunately he hasn't been very receptive to the idea.

Let us all pray for him.

Soar

[soarwitheagles]

With how cool new CPUs and GPUs run I'm also more inclined towards air cooling. Much less troublesome and unless you want to push your machine to the limit there's not much point in WC. If you're not going to overclock much / at all then air may work better in terms of noise, too ( though here it depends on your GPU ). I mean, nothing can beat passive in terms of noise .

BTWr,

Thanks for the good advice.  I have special needs here.  In the summer months my computer room can reach temps of over 95 F.  I am under the impression that water cooling is best for my distinct situation.

As mentioned in other posts, I am not comfortable with the massive air cooling units that weigh more than a kilo.  That much weight on my processor and motherboard seems to be too much unnecessary weight.  Also the sheer size of some of these monstrous air coolers take up way too much room in my case and I feel it would restrict air circulation and also hinder some of the taller RAM modules should I need to use them.

I am not comfortable with the smaller [stock] air-cooling units because they do not seem to be able to get the job done.

We are all hoping Absic will recognize that we are now in the second decade of the second millennium and that air-cooling heatsinks and fans are old relics of the distant past and only belong in computer museums now.

Hoping he will see the light soon!

Soar

[soarwitheagles]

Well, I must have scared everyone away with all my Noctua NH-D14 criticisms!

Ok, I hope I did not offend anyone!

Well, I am ready to put my "old" 1055 + Gigabyte 890XA-UD3 back together again.

Any last suggestions, comments, blazing rebukes, or good advice before I begin the process?

It's me,

Soar

[Dark Mantis]

No Soar, we are just chilllin'. One day absic might see the light and turn to cooler systems than air but old habits die hard!

Just get on and do it! Too much thought will just make you worried. You have all the necessary skills, just let us know how it goes mate. We are always here if you have any problems.

[absic]

Hi Soar,

I would recommend a bullet proof vest and a good pair of rubber boots. Apart from that just put the damn thing back together.

When I can see a real advantage in crossing over to a water cooled system then I will do so but at the moment I am running my 1090T at 3.8GHz and the Core Temp is only 25C across all 6 cores using the Noctua NH-D-14 and rarely rises more than 3-5C above ambient no matter what I throw at it. I have seen water cooled systems with higher temperatures. The only thing I would say is that water cooling the GPU would be a nice option as the old Sapphire 4850X2 that I have is a little noisy, even with the aluminium shroud removed.

[Dark Mantis]

I would have to agree there absic. The most benefit you get from liquid cooling is the graphics cards, both in noise and tempertures. It would be worth installing a single loop just to do that.

[absic]

Tempted but not just yet!   

[soarwitheagles]

No Soar, we are just chilllin'. One day absic might see the light and turn to cooler systems than air but old habits die hard!

Just get on and do it! Too much thought will just make you worried. You have all the necessary skills, just let us know how it goes mate. We are always here if you have any problems.

DM,

Thanks again and I look forward with great joy to rebuilding this machine.  Everything is in order and ready to go.  I feel very confident especially know you guys are here to help if I run into any unforeseen challenges.  I even have an extra day off so that will help a lot too.  I hope I didn't ruffle Absic's air-cooler feathers too much!

Soar

[soarwitheagles]

Hi Soar,

I would recommend a bullet proof vest and a good pair of rubber boots. Apart from that just put the damn thing back together.

When I can see a real advantage in crossing over to a water cooled system then I will do so but at the moment I am running my 1090T at 3.8GHz and the Core Temp is only 25C across all 6 cores using the Noctua NH-D-14 and rarely rises more than 3-5C above ambient no matter what I throw at it. I have seen water cooled systems with higher temperatures. The only thing I would say is that water cooling the GPU would be a nice option as the old Sapphire 4850X2 that I have is a little noisy, even with the aluminium shroud removed.

Absic,

Thanks for your reply!  Those temperatures are very impressive while using your Noctua NH-D-14!  It is obvious it is a very effective CPU cooler.  Ok, sorry for poking fun at your air-cooler.  I know they work well for overclockers and are very hard to beat when looking at the benchmarks.

I am glad you are happy with your Noctua NH-D-14!

Keep up the good work!

Soar

[jolphil]

Thanks for the good advice.  I have special needs here.  In the summer months my computer room can reach temps of over 95 F.  I am under the impression that water cooling is best for my distinct situation.

FWIW

The way I see it is, if the ambient is 95F both water cooled and air cooled both start out at 95F..The difference is that water cooled devices may have a larger thermal mass and thus may stay cooler longer especially for short peak periods...WC units also move the radiator away from the CPU and is generally smaller to do the same cooling..However if the air cooler is massive ,and the water tank/radiator is puny with a small fan then the difference may be negligible if any...Hopefully most WC units are designed well enough to beat the run of the mill air devices..(at greater $$$) Also consider  the inside case ambient temperature is  hotter than the outside ambient..Thus the WC unit that has it's radiator outside gains a decent advantage...Just think about cooling aircraft engines..Both liquid and air cooled engines work
quite well..I base the above on general observations and not any factual data..
I am sure proponents of both schemes can think of advantages that I have not mentioned..In any case this is how I see it ..
jolphil

[Dark Mantis]

I think you summed it all up fairly well there jolphil, I would say that the biggest positive with watercooling is as you mentioned the ability to be more flexible in location of radiator. If this is put in a prime location it can be cooler than the ambient of the computers's actaul location.

[soarwitheagles]

Jolphil and DM,

Thanks guys for putting this all in a very nice perspective.  You've simplified the entire evaluation process by providing excellent viewpoints and concepts!

Have a wonderful day!

Soar

[soarwitheagles]

Ok,

I do have one more question....

I was assembling the entire system when I had to stop.  I had already applied the Arctic Silver to the CPU when I had to stop due to unexpected call from work.  I have left the Arctic Silver on the top of the CPU for 5 days now.  Is it still good or should I scrape it off and start all over again?

I know, I know, I should already be done with this reassembly but unexpected things keep happening and put be back in time...

So does leaving Arctic Silver on top of the CPU for days alter its ability to provide good contact to the cooler?

Anyone recommend a better Thermal Paste or is Arctic Silver still a nice choice?

Soar