Sub Zero Insulation
 

There are some great guides for this, maybe the best one is from k|ngp|n http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=125155


But to add to that, this is how I do it.

I use nail polish for insulating around the socket, caps, back of the board etc etc.

On the back side of the board I also use a heater pad.
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9...0489yf5.th.jpg

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1...0490az5.th.jpg

First layer of insulation.
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5...0491rc4.th.jpg

Paper towel gasket to catch and absorb any drips or moisture that may occur around the cpu.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/3...0492fv1.th.jpg

2nd layer of insulation.
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/7...0493mn8.th.jpg

3rd and large layer of insulation.
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9...0494ea6.th.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9...0495rx2.th.jpg

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/7...0496mg2.th.jpg

Add Ceramique (thermal interface material)
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/8...0497ca9.th.jpg

Mount Pot.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6...0498ns2.th.jpg

Right then kids!

You've been sub zero cooling your cpu and now want to take the next step.

Good for you! :)

Please note, this can make sub zero cooling on a CPU look and feel easy.

First thing, most everyone who does this kills a card at some point and time!
But if the big clocks/speeds matter to you, this is the next step.

As I didn't take many pictures of my 88U, I'll use the GX2 (Oh the fun, two PCB's :rolleyes: )

First off take the card apart.

Not all cards are the same, google your card and see if you can find a "how to"
For the GX2, you can use this one http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zotac/G...9800_GX2/4.html
This first step can take over an hour on it's own (mine sure did)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1...0582hn2.th.jpg

After you have it apart, give it a good clean. And Coat the areas around the core and mem with liquid electrical tape or nail polish, both sides, front and back.
You will need to heatsink the digital vreg chips on each PCB as well as the monitor output chip. And make a gasket(s) to go around the core(s)

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2...0584os4.th.jpg

Make sure you insulate your pot well.

But think about what your insulation will push up against. To fat, it may just kill that item ie: vmem

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2...0577gu3.th.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8...0578vd5.th.jpg

Now mount the pot to the card, and if your really lucky. You'll have some POS sli bridge getting in the way :rolleyes:

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/8...0586hf2.th.jpg

The back of the PCB(s) will get very cold, so you will need to insulate that as well. Or you'll have ice/condensation issues, and then the water will run down the card and into the PCI-e slot. And that's bad

I use two layers, the first layer is just plan closed cell insulation.

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/473/img0588ru7.th.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/1679/img0590jz7.th.jpg

2nd layer is the black sticky back insulation, make it over sized to stop air getting in and under the first layer.

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9...0589ju9.th.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9...0591tv7.th.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6...0598bq9.th.jpg

One last step, The Motherboard

You will need to insulate around the PCI-e slot with liquid electrical tape or nail polish, front and back.

Rub some vaneline or dielectric gease onto both side of the "gold fingers" that go into the PCI-e slot, and a "small" amount onto the top of the slot itself.

Also pack paper towels around the slot.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6...0600rd9.th.jpg

Well done, and now test your handy work.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3...0594qg5.th.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/8878/img0597ze4.th.jpg

Now that we have looked at both CPU and GPU Cooling, It's time for the NB.

Over all, very easy.

Just like the CPU, we need to make a gasket, but this time a little bigger.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4...0799hz9.th.jpg

Added two paper towel gaskets.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/703/img0809gl2.th.jpg

Another layer of insulation.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7...0810lr9.th.jpg

Last layer of insulation and the hold down.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7...0811pd0.th.jpg

Add the top part of the insulation.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8...0812yo4.th.jpg

I used 10mm insulation under the back plate.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/4...0807po2.th.jpg

Add some other heatsinks for the SB and FET's, and your ready to go.

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/8...0820mx7.th.jpg

And then have some fun!

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4654/img0828xg2.th.jpg

I've moved away from using nail polish for insulating around the board.
Using a conformal coating on both sides, is faster, better and costs alot less.

(For New Zealand members) You can pick up a can at JayCars for about $12NZ, and should do 10+ boards. Which is alot better than the $25NZ each board that nail polish was costing me.

Just take off all the heatsinks etc, tape it out and spray! It's that easy.
I don't cover the vreg's around the socket, I spray over the top and clean it off after (I find this faster) the cleaner is sold right next to the conformal coating (For NZ members shopping at JayCars)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5205/img1349hm1.th.jpg

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/1587/img1350zo3.th.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/345/img1351kj2.th.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8...1382nn1.th.jpg

Yet another way to insulate your board to stop condensation (air getting in)

Use "Art Eraser" to cover the board, there is no way air is getting in and under this stuff.

In the picture below I'm getting ready to mount a NB pot.

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6973/img1395.th.jpg

damn b ro very nice.... great guide for anyone just getting into sub ambient cooling

Thanks for sharing Deanzo :wt: I do have one question though. In your experience, is the vaseline in the pci-e slot a "have to" thing if you properly insulate the vga and use paper towels?

Nice write up bud!

Thanks mate.

Thanks, and yes, it's a must do imo.

I've killed a board by not doing it :argh:

Good to know about the p. jelly in the pcie slots. :)

I do agree with deanzo, grease in the pciex slot for subzero is almost not an option as it will easily fry the NB and possibly the card if you get any water in there. plus if you need to "clean up" the stuff a lil denatured alcohol and a very soft bristled toothbrush will usually get rid of it.... it takes time but hey, so does insulating the board..

Hell ask bill about when I cleaned up his 280 :rofl

Well thanks for the heads up then. I got two pots I'm dying to use on my cards. I just need to get the vr's for the vmods first.

Thanks for posting this..... I'm about to break into sub zero cooling and this is very helpful!

nice job Dean
i like your GPU insulation....it worked well for us in comps for sure :)

Thanks,

Happy to help where I can.

Thanks mate :)

Nice guide, can yuo tell memore about this grey insulation material you used on the mobo and VGA before to put the black neoprene ? even some link to the shop were i possiblel to find it ( in italy i cannot find it)

Thanks.

It's just thinner closed cell neoprene, there's a store here that sells every thicknes and texture you can imagine and it's costs so very little.

For the vga cards:
If using the Tek9 3.0 I use a soft 5mm piece, and if using the Tek9 4.0 a soft 3mm piece

Around the cpu socket, two 5mm or one 10mm gasket(s) made from a harder piece of closed cell neoprene.

but the "grey" one you used around GPU core ? that thing seems stiky and more rubber than neoprene ......

I asure you it is, but it's a very soft and pliable kind, but not sticky.

A wee tip to stop air getting in, is just before I do the final mount, I put a lite coat of nail polish around the gpu core, so the gasket sticks to the PCB.

K, can you find any link in the web to this kind of material ? co i can checl it and ask around ?

Nice insulation methods, thnx for sharing

this guide is potent.

Well done Dean AWESOME stuff!!

Very nice guide and thanks for posting it !

I have not done any GPU's yet for sub zero, mostly CPU's. I will be getting into GPU's very shortly tho and like very much seeing how others prep there cards.

Thanks again !

Nice guide
I recently got an SS, and so have only just started sub zero,
But the putty method is what I use, just so easy to put on/take off,
And really effective, (if done properly)

Great guide Deanzo

Try to find a material called Frost King Pipe Wrap Insulation.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...06&dcaid=17902

Very nice guide man.It describes everything and its clear.I like it very much
Pesonaly i use the Art Eraser cause it's easy to use and easy to come out.If i create a think layer and it sticks properly woth the pots armaflex it sucks out the air and no water in my bench,after 7-8 hours i had only a little water in the backplate.

I'll see if I can find you a link.

NP :)

Thanks mate.

NP mate.

Thanks,

I find clean up can take a bit of time to get all the wee bit out from under caps etc .

Thanks,

That stuff is great, can't buy it in New Zealand which sucks.

Great guide ! I personally use kneaded rubber. I have one tip: heat it up with a hairdryer, it gets sticky and flexible, much better to work with. It gets stuck on the board so no air gets between the rubber and the PCB.

Thanks mate,

Ta, and thanks for the tip.

Damn nice guide Deanzo.

For you using the kneaded rubber: be sure to keep it away from your pot, copper turns black pretty fast after coming in contact with the rubber. Doesn't look to neat, I don't know if aluminum does the same, but I suppose there will be some sort of reaction with that as well.

Otherwise, a very nice guide, Deanzo!

yes but you can always clean it with some coca cola :P

Thanks

Thanks, and see below.

.

I give mine a coke bath every month or so, works very well.
I used to use a mix of vinegar and salt, it cleans very well, but turns the copper a little bit pink and the smell is a little bit much.

I also tried with soda but it didn't work, maybe I did something wrong because people clean copper with soda

Every time I use coke, I always wonder what that stuff is doing to our insides.

I suppose I have to sacrifice a can of coke then. I suppose the worst effect coke has is on your teeth, actually.

nice guide deanzo... i wish i saw something like this before i first got started... that dfi sli-dr expert might still be alive now!

this is why kneaded rubber eraser is the best first layer of insulation...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...a/_MG_3067.jpg

the 10 second un-insulation method two minutes after finishing benching at -100C :thumbsup:

Yup and then in a Microwave for 20 seconds and its ready to be reapplied ;)