The Boston Cosmos [Archive] - RRTech...The SOURCE for Extreme Liquid Cooling

coolmiester

04-21-2009, 07:33 AM

To be fair this isn’t a full blown mod due to unforeseen time restraints as from what I can gather it will be going straight out onto a road show as soon as its complete so I best get my skates on to get it complete in time to make its debut though I have been advised a more full blown mod could be in the pipeline.

Its sponsored by Boston (http://www.boston.co.uk/) who are primarily a UK server based company, guilty of producing this water-cooled blade (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/CeBIT/48.jpg) which caught my eye at CeBIT 08, hence the monster hardware supplied to deck this one out….so lets take a closer look at what we got to work with.

System Spec:
Coolermaster Cosmos S
Supermicro X8DAI Motherboard
2x Intel EXXXX CPU’s
Coolermaster Real Power M1000 Modular
6x Hynix 2GB 2Rx8 PC3 – ECC / Reg RAM
Unknown GFX Cards but possibly nVidia 2xx series, ideally Sli
Unknown Hardrives

My brief - to keep things looking as simple and clean as possible so the hardware can easily be recognised and maintained while watercooling CPU’s and GFX cards to keep things cool and quiet so dual loop is a must.

Watercooling Spec:
HWLabs 360 X-Flow Radiator
HWLabs GTX 240 Radiator
2x EK Supreme LT 1366 CPU Blocks
2x XSPC Dual Bay-Res / Pump Combo
Feser Coolant
½” Tygon over ½” Barbs

Even though I would have preferred more time to give the Cosmos the full treatment and give it a unique look, I still like the challenge of working with an extended ATX server board and routing hose as simple as possible.

So lets get this Cosmos S ready to accept both radiators, which unfortunately is basically all the modding the case will be getting but first some obligatory hardware shots….

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_1.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_2.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_3.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_4.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_5.JPG

Worthy

04-21-2009, 07:35 AM

Awesome! I had no idea you were doing another one Cool.

p0Pe

04-21-2009, 07:40 AM

yeha! ill be following this:)

ShoNuff

04-21-2009, 08:55 AM

I was looking at your intro above and agree that routing 1/2" tubing for a dual cpu setup is no easy thing. If anybody can do it your past project suggest you can. I am looking forward to your work.

Subscribed!

RedRaider

04-21-2009, 09:22 AM

Oh fuck yeah....:crack:

Baleful

04-21-2009, 09:38 AM

Oh my god, that hardware is pure fuckin porn man. Damn, you have any idea the numbers this thing will throw out!?

coolmiester

04-21-2009, 09:46 AM

LOL, i have no clue Bale but i was reading about the CPU's and came across this review which shows even the X5570 literally spanks everything including i7 965 and my Skullys so looking forward to seeing these exotics i got in action :eek:

Intel Xeon X5570 and E5520 Gainestown Processors (http://www.legitreviews.com/article/943/1/)

Langer

04-21-2009, 10:06 AM

Oh... you are cruel.
I like the motherboard box the most... reminds me of the ECS boxes in the 90's. Haha.

Looking forward to the benchmarks my friend, (dont forget that review you linked is using Cinebench to compare - workstation CPUs dominate in the content creation world).

mcoffey

04-21-2009, 10:09 AM

That's just wrong for anyone man to have that much good gear.

Can't with to see this bad boy up and running,

andyc

Kayin

04-21-2009, 10:11 AM

The question is, can you crunch with it?

Schlosser

04-21-2009, 10:28 AM

bianco

04-21-2009, 10:32 AM

those are some serious hardware!
looks like it's going to be another CMasterpiece.

Septim

04-21-2009, 10:39 AM

OMG, you can't live without building insane mod's can you coolmiester?! Damnit I wish I had your skills.. and fundings :clap1:

This is going to be sick, just like the rest of your mods :D

:youtheman:

its called sponsorship... a man of CM's caliber gets lots of sponsor and publicity...

trfnj74

04-21-2009, 11:27 AM

Ok I'm jealious and I hate you.....:D

Langer

04-21-2009, 11:45 AM

It's okay we all do... we all do.
haha

Timlander

04-21-2009, 12:58 PM

OOOO!!! That is just sweet!!!

Schlosser

04-21-2009, 01:58 PM

its called sponsorship... a man of CM's caliber gets lots of sponsor and publicity...

Yeah, but that would go under fundings in my head :p and he also gets that because of his skills :D

coolmiester

04-21-2009, 03:18 PM

Cheers for the comments.......i'm feeling the love already :D

Just thought i do a bit of test fitting to see what these EK LT blocks look like and maybe get the crunching tonight and its a good job i did because i came across a problem straight off the bat.

The Board comes with fitted metal back plates which are already threaded but unfortunately threaded with some obscure thread so the standard EK mounting won't fit and as back plated are stuck on with some ridiculously sticky stuff, replacing them isn't going to happen.

Anyway after looking around i found some threaded brass rod which is a perfect fit so i'm going to have to cut to length and make me some mounting hardware.

You just can't plan for things like this but what can you do.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_7.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_8.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_9.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_10.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_11.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_12.JPG

Snyxxx

04-21-2009, 04:37 PM

Excellent as always. Could you not drill out the holes in the back plates to accept your own mounting hardware?

ILikeCosmosS

04-21-2009, 04:48 PM

is this going to be a new cosmos s mod or just a old black and chrome design with this stuff installed?

this is going to be a dam good cruncher

coolmiester

04-21-2009, 04:50 PM

Excellent as always. Could you not drill out the holes in the back plates to accept your own mounting hardware?

It was a thought Snyxxx but i really don't wanna fuck this board tbh and the tiniest bit of swarf could do just that but i'm going to have another look because i do have the correct Tap.

Just a little apprehensive as i really don't want to ask for a new board on my first build with Boston :D

coolmiester

04-21-2009, 04:54 PM

is this going to be a new cosmos s mod or just a old black and chrome design with this stuff installed?

this is going to be a dam good cruncher

Please read the first post dude :confused:

Worthy

04-21-2009, 04:54 PM

Excellent as always. Could you not drill out the holes in the back plates to accept your own mounting hardware?

That's an idea.

But then again, the threaded rod works. I just hope nothing strips with it being brass.

ILikeCosmosS

04-21-2009, 04:59 PM

sorry about that Cm

whats the paint job going to be?

where did you get the Ucp modular verision the M1000 if i am correct! D:

rubidium

04-21-2009, 05:56 PM

It was a thought Snyxxx but i really don't wanna fuck this board tbh and the tiniest bit of swarf could do just that but i'm going to have another look because i do have the correct Tap.

Just a little apprehensive as i really don't want to ask for a new board on my first build with Boston :D

Apprehensive is the right spirit. Being a veteran with expensive multi-layer server boards, I have to agree that trying to pry off the backing plates in a situation like this is a very bad idea. These babies are particularly vulnerable to being flexed. Also, the density of parts is just right to catch and hold a speck of metal from any nearby machining, so fabricating your own mounts and living with the existing backing plates is the right thing to do.

rubidium

Edit: English vs metric threads - will this war ever end? :fight21:

coolmiester

04-23-2009, 02:43 PM

Well I know this has been seen before so I apologise to those waiting for a better update but should hopefully start getting hardware installed pretty quick so don’t blink.

I know for a fact a 360 fits up top on a Cosmos S but it still needs all the grill and mesh taken out which Coolermaster has to put there for it to pass EMI laws, plus it quietens things down a great deal and gives much better cooling without it there so that gets chopped straight away.

I just wish they had gone with the plan of sticking mounting for 240 in the base so I didn’t have to do it myself every time but anyway its not much of a job using one of my grill for a template.

Just unfortunate you got to strip the full case down just to do such a simple job but all done now so its time to put it all back together and get some hardware added.

Anyway, some mandatory pictures of the progress……..

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_16.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_17.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_18.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_19.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_14.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_15.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_20.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_21.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_22.JPG

Snyxxx

04-23-2009, 09:30 PM

Coolmiester,

A few basic questions about the server board:

1. Does this support SLI or crossfire?

2. Do you need a special power supply to get the 2X8-pin mobo power feeds?

Thanks.

coolmiester

04-24-2009, 02:34 AM

Coolmiester,

A few basic questions about the server board:

1. Does this support SLI or crossfire?

2. Do you need a special power supply to get the 2X8-pin mobo power feeds?

Thanks.

Yeah Snyxxx it supports Sli (PCI-Express - 2 (x16) PCI-E 2.0 slots - 1 (x4) PCI-E (in x8 slot)

Boston Supplied me with a Coolermaster Real Power 1000w Modular PSU which doesn't actually have the 2x 8Pin connectors but they reckon it should work with just an 8 and a 4pin so i'll give it a go and if not i'll have to make up a connector like i did with the Skulltrail (http://www.realredraider.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=26475&postcount=4) or get them to supply a Coolermaster Ultimate.

Link to Supermicro X8DAi (http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/QPI/5500/X8DAi.cfm)

Snyxxx

04-24-2009, 07:25 PM

Yeah Snyxxx it supports Sli (PCI-Express - 2 (x16) PCI-E 2.0 slots - 1 (x4) PCI-E (in x8 slot)

Boston Supplied me with a Coolermaster Real Power 1000w Modular PSU which doesn't actually have the 2x 8Pin connectors but they reckon it should work with just an 8 and a 4pin so i'll give it a go and if not i'll have to make up a connector like i did with the Skulltrail (http://www.realredraider.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=26475&postcount=4) or get them to supply a Coolermaster Ultimate.

Link to Supermicro X8DAi (http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/QPI/5500/X8DAi.cfm)

Thanks coolmiester. Good info there.

OK, two more questions.

1. I see a small fan on the chipset. Do you plan on watercooling this? Is it needed?

2. Can you use normal RAM or does it have to be Registered?

ILikeCosmosS

04-24-2009, 07:52 PM

Cm how do you know where to do the bottom 240
i am still spacing out on how to cut holes for my bottom 240 rad

cant wait to see the paint job though :D

MomijiTMO

04-24-2009, 08:05 PM

Hey hey, I missed this build.

Hope everything goes to plan and thanks for the pretty pictures.

knightmaric

04-24-2009, 08:08 PM

He knows where to put the bottom 240 as he's done it a billion times before hehe
And he helped design the case, so he knows it's ins and outs =]

ILikeCosmosS

04-24-2009, 08:11 PM

but how would a complete nooby like me do that lol? put a 240 grill between the ways and color with sharpie?

knightmaric

04-24-2009, 08:25 PM

It more or less looks that simple =]
It doesn't seem very complicated but I can see why you worry lol

Shoot coolmiester a PM, i'm sure he'd be more than happy to help you out with that.
Or as a matter of facr ask more or less anybody here.
Rubid for example, langer, ballsd33p, cutless, yerbuddy. The list goes on and on =]

To me it seems straight forward.
Take your template, do the measurements, do the preliminary sketch, measure again, final sketch up, measure one more time then cut once :P
I have never done anything like that yet since I can't WC.
But that's how I see it anyway.
Knowing my luck i'm completely wrong lol

ILikeCosmosS

04-24-2009, 08:53 PM

knight its my first build ever thats why i worry
i think i will un-rivet but i will also measure side to side on the 5.25 bay area
then when bottom is unriveted from the case i will just do the template and cutting there and then i can send case for andonizing:D
its not much modding i am going to do unless i do evil mastermind plot to making my res a float even more complicated(the res a float is allusion )

knightmaric

04-24-2009, 09:09 PM

Well this may be your first build and that give you one more than me =P
lol
So my opinions and advice aren't that great or trustworthy I guess. But I try =]
I hope all goes well with it dude, I know the first build is the most exciting and the one we worry about the most lol

ILikeCosmosS

04-24-2009, 09:14 PM

Knight i will send you pm and deciding which Res a float mount works best when i feel like
but lets not get off topic here i waiting to see the milestones Cm is going to get

Snyxxx

04-24-2009, 09:32 PM

Yeah Snyxxx it supports Sli (PCI-Express - 2 (x16) PCI-E 2.0 slots - 1 (x4) PCI-E (in x8 slot)[/URL]

Coolmiester, you sure about SLI? I was reading this review of the same mobo, but with SAS controller and it mentioned NO SLI support, but crossfire.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2009/03/30/intel-xeon-w5580-nehalem-ep-review/3

coolmiester

04-25-2009, 12:21 AM

Coolmiester, you sure about SLI? I was reading this review of the same mobo, but with SAS controller and it mentioned NO SLI support, but crossfire.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2009/03/30/intel-xeon-w5580-nehalem-ep-review/3

I can see you're maybe interested in the board Snyxxx so please don't do anything too hasty on my say so.

I don't know about the Sli compatibility for sure but only going off what what i've been told by Boston that it was/is so i'll be turning a few rocks to see if i can find out either way.

I do know Skulltrail wasn't Tri Sli compatible in the beginning but was fixed with a simple BIOS update so i presume (hope) this may be the same.

I'll let you know on the chipset fan once i fire it up - it looks like an angry little thing but i have a feeling it should be pretty quiet (again, hope)

I'll fire a few emails off and keep you posted Snyxxx.

@ ILikeCosmosS - i placed a 240 in the base where it needed to go then used a rad grill as a template to mark it out then cut & drilled it :shrug:

coolmiester

04-25-2009, 06:54 AM

ILikeCosmosS

04-25-2009, 06:55 AM

I want your Cosmos S water box :(

Snyxxx

04-25-2009, 10:12 AM

Don't laugh, GTX7800's are the only Sli cards i had available.

Well, i installed them and tried various drivers but i'm sorry to say there is no Sli option available in the nVidia control panel even though both cards are seen in Device Manager and reported to be working correctly.

I can only hope there will be a BIOS upgrade at some point but not holding my breath.

Having said that, its munching through WCG with a constant 16 tasks running :eek:

Coolmiester. Thanks again for your help and great information. I was afraid that SLI was not supported. I looked at newegg and did not even see a SLI bridge or even an ATI crossfire bridge for that matter. I knew something was up.

I am still interested and maybe a single X2 type graphics card is good enough rather than two individual graphic cards.

I bet that thing is a crunching monster. Nice job.

coolmiester

04-25-2009, 10:30 AM

Yeah cheers for the heads up Snyxxx - i just presumed when Boston said they would be supplying Sli cards i pretty much took it for granted it would be Sli ready.

Its a shame but as you say with a GTX295 or similar this thing will squash most things out there.

Its certainly growing on me :)

knightmaric

04-25-2009, 11:05 AM

coolmiester

04-25-2009, 11:27 AM

Coolmiester this is rocking =D
And 16 tasks running at the same time?
I have no idea how to do that lol
But i'm not even sure this stupid cpu has even done one yet of mine O_O
Jealous :D

Sucks that there's no sli support for this board really.
Have you contacted boston about this?
Btw wat cards are they giving you :P

The Skulltrials and i7 965 are all running 8 tasks each so presume this being essentially 2 i7's it runs 16 tasks but i'm not sure :shrug:

Not sure on cards, will have to wait and see what next week brings.

Happy days :)

knightmaric

04-25-2009, 11:29 AM

Well whatever next week brings you shold be a happy bunny lol
I can't go onto any computer related website without seeing one of your build logs or your name pop up lately lol

ballz0r

04-27-2009, 05:28 PM

I saw this workstation based on the same mobo as yours CM

http://www.avadirect.com/product_details_configurator.asp?PRID=13635&ptitle=
SUPERMICRO+SERVER,+833T/X8DAi+Nehalem+Dual+XeonT+5500+SATA+SLI®/CrossFireXT+3U+Rack+Server

so i sent them a query about SLI, here is the reply

The X8Dai does support SLI, and most of the conflicting issues you
have probably heard of are from drivers support with Nvidia. As long as you
have a good card with proper drivers you should be fine.

If you have any required specifications I would be more than happy to assist
with a quote. Are there any questions or concerns that I could answer for
you?

Thank you for choosing AVADirect!

drivers hey?

dont we all use nvidia drivers?

perhaps u need to try a 200 series sli setup

smee

04-27-2009, 05:30 PM

Looking good looking good!

Hey question for ya CM... What size tubing do you use?

Kayin

04-27-2009, 05:32 PM

Yeah, I really think at this point it's what they did to SkullTrail-only certain cards work in SLi.

coolmiester

04-27-2009, 05:46 PM

Looking good looking good!

Hey question for ya CM... What size tubing do you use?

I'll be trying 1/2" Tygon and 3/8" but i reckon it will be 3/8" over 1/2" barbs :)

ballz0r

04-28-2009, 09:41 AM

Thanks for the reply.

Can you recommend a GPU that you have tested on this board that works in SLI so i can put the parts list together?

As long as you choose a GPU that is up-to-date, you should be fine. Take a look at the following GPU’s, and decide which would be best for your needs:

GTS 250

http://www.avadirect.com/plist.asp?keywords=gts+250

GTX 260

http://www.avadirect.com/plist.asp?keywords=GTX+260

GTX 280

http://www.avadirect.com/plist.asp?keywords=GTX+280

Once you have put together a full system, please feel free to contact me and I will review the quote for any incompatiblities or issues.

looks like sli is a go :up:

coolmiester

04-28-2009, 09:53 AM

Cheers for this ballz0r, great information - i just hope AVA know their products :)

Worthy

04-28-2009, 10:04 AM

If the evga GTX 275 will work newegg sent me an email about having them for 239 till may 5th i think.

Might wanna check into that too.
They fall into good cost comparison with the others and give better performance from what i have gathered.

Oh damn, you're in the UK. I keep forgetting.

coolmiester

04-28-2009, 10:23 AM

coolmiester

04-28-2009, 04:16 PM

The Sli issue took a bit of a back seat tonight while i got the CPU loop up and running.

All seems to be fine so with a bit of luck it should be back on line crunching away later tonight once its bled :)

I'm either going to go with Green or Red for the GPU loop depending on what cards Boston decide to go with.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_24.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_25.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_26.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_27.JPG

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_28.JPG

HESmelaugh

04-28-2009, 04:34 PM

For a build with "boring" green PCB mainboard and RAM, this is already looking astonishingly good.
How the hell do ya do it, CM? :)

Septim

04-29-2009, 05:32 AM

spit and polish by coolmeister sold for only $555.00 shipped internationally...

nicky.82uk

04-29-2009, 05:42 AM

looking good

Worthy

04-29-2009, 05:54 AM

Cool, I know you already chose your ram, but think about this...

Imagine all the slots filled up with ballistix tracers in red for one proc and blue for the other. It would definitely be a site to see! I couldn't help but pass the suggestion.

I have a blue set coming tomorrow which I am mixing with my reds. I'll PM you a pic tomorrow. That board support non-ecc?

Very clean so far!

Marne

04-29-2009, 06:21 AM

i just found this site last night. i can say this without hesitation. i have died and found modding heaven. we got the hobbies best and brightest churning out rigs like pancakes at mufuggin wafflehouse!

Baleful

04-29-2009, 06:56 AM

Green GPU loops man, GREEN.

knightmaric

04-29-2009, 08:02 AM

Coolmiester that loons sweet!
Ugly board now looks.... pretty O.o
Good job :D

nutme

05-29-2009, 04:18 AM

Hey Coolmiester,

I have a question about putting the rad at the bottom of the case, will the dual rad still fit if you were to put the rad outside of the case at the bottom (with all the cosmos s frame cover back in place)?

Thanks.

And great job with the build so far :up:
Leeching off your ideas if you don't mind ^^"

coolmiester

05-29-2009, 05:43 AM

Yeah it would.....you may need a bit of minor surgery but nothing too serious.

Also you would probably be better going with a HWLabs GTS240 rather than a GTX240 as its much thinner and would fit better.

coolmiester

06-01-2009, 03:21 PM

Well i got to get this one boxed up tonight ready for its 250mile trip back to Boston (http://www.boston.co.uk/) tomorrow morning in the back of my car at 6am so that's the end of my 16core cruncher for the time being but it was fun while it lasted.

I only wish they had come good with some better graphics cards and a full on case mod but unfortunately that was their call and not mine though i got to say that is one very nice system that i'm sure someone will be happy with where ever it ends up.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_32.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_42.jpg

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/Boston/boston_40.jpg