191 Posts

January 9th, 2013 09:00

They sell them at microcenter, they are made by magicool, its a 40mm X 80mm radiator.

www.microcenter.com/.../Mini_II_Dual_40mm_Liquid_Cooling_Radiator

1 Rookie

 • 

54 Posts

January 9th, 2013 09:00

pretty nice

where do you get that small radiator?

8 Wizard

 • 

17.4K Posts

January 9th, 2013 14:00

Nice work.

Looks like you used an old Asetek cooler from an Aurora.

If you get a chance, please provide full docs on mod. (tubing mod, coolant used, etc.).

For the pump electrical "pig-tail" is this the pin-outs you used ? :

en.community.dell.com/.../20130266.aspx

Pump is constant speed, so it just needs power as you have done. I think fans should be 4-pin PWM and connected to CPU-Fan port on Motherboard or MIO-Board (if you want them to adjust their own speed). I'm not sure if you can run 2 PWM off of one port though.

191 Posts

January 9th, 2013 14:00

Yep I used that pinout on the pump.  I just "trimmed" the plug a bit to fit (there is a capacitor next to the motherboards fan header)

I will be putting in a new plug on the pump to replace the one thats "modded" on there.

As for the fans, I can always just use the cpu header and the front case fan header if I cant put 2 fans to one port.  

I will do a full write up on it soon.

191 Posts

January 9th, 2013 15:00

No mio board on the x51, lights I guess are tied to the bios and the fans run from the motherboard.

The stock fan connects right to the motherboard

191 Posts

January 9th, 2013 15:00

Well, I guess there is kinda a board for that, its on the front and has all the front panel inputs on it. along with the lights plug into it.

Also, missed one of your other questions, yes the side cover fits :)

8 Wizard

 • 

17.4K Posts

January 9th, 2013 15:00

I will be putting in a new plug on the pump to replace the one thats "modded" on there.

 
Your choice, but I think it works better as a modular extension cable (for various reasons).
 
So, it there a traditional Alienware desktop MIO-Board in the x51 or not?
 
Again, definitely one of the best x51 mods I have seen yet. Does the side cover still fit on?

8 Wizard

 • 

17.4K Posts

January 9th, 2013 15:00

No mio board on the x51, lights I guess are tied to the bios and the fans run from the motherboard.

It might just be a small micro-controller based circuit (like in the AW laptops). Maybe near where the lights plug-in and with access to an USB-hub channel.

191 Posts

January 10th, 2013 05:00

Here is a little write up on the system.

Tools:

Razer blade

Small screw driver

small syringe

Parts:

Magicool mini radiator (40mm X 80mm)

1/4 clear hose from home depot

Alienware water cooling loop or corsair h50 (other water pump heads will work too, but I have only used the alienware pump and a antec 620)

Distilled water or other cooling fluid (I used distilled water with a little bit of auto coolant)

2 40mm fans

1 fan cable splitter

molex to fan plug adapter

First thing you need to do it drain the alienware system.  Cut the hoses and drain the fluid, then remove the pump cover to get to the barbs.  There are 2 screws that hold the cover on, they are on the flat sides of the contact surface (you will see what I mean when you look at the pump)

After you remove this cover you can use your razer to cut the hoses off the pump.

Now you need to hook up your new pipes, the barbs on the radiator are slightly larger than the hose so you will need to use some force here, but they will go on.

After both hoses are on the radiator, press one hose onto the pump.  Now you can start filling your loop.  Fill it till the liquid is halfway up the tubes and the radiator is full.  Dont worry about air at this time.  Once you have some fluid in there connect the other hose to the pump (DO NOT TURN ON THE PUMP YET)

NOTE: Do not try to fill the system like I show in the first picture, it will not work.  The hoses are too hard to get onto radiator to do while underwater.

With the cover off the pump there is a screw on the top, this is a fill screw.  Remove it and using the syringe, start filling the system, the hole is small, so you may need to use a poker to get the fluid to get past the air trying to get out.

One you have the lines full turn on the pump, you dont need to put the screw back in to turn on the pump, nothing will leak out of the screw as long as the pump is flat and level.

The pump will start bubbling the water alot at this point, as the bubbles hit the pump, some of them with go back into the loop, some will go into the little chamber where the fill screw is.  Keep adding fluid while the pump is running.  after awhile you wont be able to fill anymore, but you will see lots of micro bubbles stuck to the lines.

Put the fill screw back in, and shake the radiator and the tap on the tubes while the system is running.  This will force all the air back into the loop and into the chamber on the pump.  Remove the screw and refill again.  Keep doing this till you have all the air out of the system.

Now you can mount the pump head, the pump should be plugged into a constant power, and the fans hooked up to the stock fan header.

The radiator fits just above the IO ports, and all the screw holes line up perfect with the mesh on the back, you may have to adjust a little bit to get them to line up, but they do line up.  Screw down the radiator.

At this point you should be ready to go.  You can alter the design a little bit by adding a push/pull fan system (add 2 more fans to the outside of the case)

The radiator can be gotten from microcenter $30

Hoses from homedepot $3

Alienware pump from ebay (do some searching, there is a guy who lists them for $50)

Everything else is from microcenter or any other computer shop. ~$30

Questions or thoughts on ways to make it better are welcome, I can answer as best I can.

5 Posts

July 20th, 2013 17:00

I liked the Idea of watercooling but our system is just to small to hold a decent radiator so I decided to add a nice low profile cpu cooler and added a vent also upgraded to a SSD and gtx 760 =) here's my link

en.community.dell.com/.../19517295.aspx

October 25th, 2013 15:00

Hello, installing awater coolingin myX51it will be bettercooledbut is itthe sound ofaircraft turbinefront fanstop ?

No Events found!

Top