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Thermaltake Rhythm HTPC Liquid Cooling System
Author: Jason Kohrs
Manufacturer: Thermaltake
Source: Thermaltake
Purchase: PriceGrabber
Comment or Question: Post Here
Page: 6 of 8 [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ]
Thermaltake Rhythm HTPC Liquid Cooling System
March 02, 2006

Installation (continued):

The below left image shows the CPU socket area once the bolts are passed through the board, and brass nuts are tightened down (with paper washers as insulation). A matching steel bracket is then affixed to the top of the water block, and this assembly is slid over the threaded posts sticking through the motherboard. A second set of brass nuts is then used to sandwich the whole thing together tightly. It isn't the prettiest setup I have seen, but it is quite effective, and provides a secure fit that isn't all that difficult to assemble.

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The images below provide two views of the final, internal installation. The hoses connected to the water block are more than adequate to reach the farthest expansion slot, and the quality of the hoses should prevent them from kinking or getting pinched. The Thermaltake manual is very clear that none of the hoses should be cut, so if they wind up being too long for your application, perhaps coiling them is the best bet (although I would just cut them anyway).

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Below we see the connection between the inside and outside of the computer case. The barbed fitting from the internal hoses are passed through the expansion slot bracket, and hex nuts are used to hold them in place. The power connection on the inside of the case is wired to a 4-pin power supply connection.

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Once all connections are made, the Rhythm housing needs to be stood upright in order to top off the coolant. After letting it run for a few seconds, the water level dropped a bit, I shut the system off, and force fed some coolant into the reservoir using the provided squeeze bottle. Once the reservoir could maintain the level shown below, I sealed up the fill ports in preparation for use. The below right image is intended to show just how long the hoses (and power cable) are, and easily reach over six feet away with length to spare.

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The length of the hoses and cable can be seen as a positive and a negative, in my opinion. If you want a compact installation, with the Rhythm located just above your computer case, the length could be a problem. Inside a home theater cabinet / rack, there may not be room for the hoses to be neatly coiled, and it may prevent the system from being slid all the way in, may disrupt air flow in the cabinet, or it might just be messy. If you decide you want to mount the Rhythm remotely, the length of the hoses and cable are quite convenient. You can easily place the unit behind your cabinet, off to the side, or perhaps even in another compartment. Such arrangements may improve cooling and decrease noise in the room.

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