Cutting & Resealing heatpipes v. Xeon/SI-9XV

E

eighteen_psi

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jan 28, 2002
Messages
1,030
So I have a pair of Thermalright SI-9XV heatsinks (the sideways 92mm heatpipe variety) for my Xeons..I got them because the Supermicro's I run are hard-pressed to keep my new 3.2 Gallatins cool without a stupid amount of air over them. Heatsinks shown here: http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/thsiforinxep.html

I asked thermalright and they quoted me some measurements...I compared them with my case (a 4U SGI rackmount) and figured they'd be fine...tight, but fine.

They don't fit...the heatpipe 'terminations' stick out above the fin area, and those are what don't clear the lid. Apparently their height quote was for the sink itself. Anyway...I love the sinks...they keep the things on ice with hardly any air at all. Chopping the case is out of the question...but chopping the pipes isn't.

I know how pipes work in theory, but I'm wondering if anyone has practical experience that could help me decide whether or not to try this stunt. I'm thinking of chopping the pipes, plugging them slightly further down and welding the tops...then grinding/polishing them flush with the top of the sink.

I see no reason this won't work....but what do I need to know before trying it? Obviously I don't do this when they're hot as hell...but is room temp OK? Should I/can I freeze them? Whats likely in there?
 
I'm interested to see replies from someone who actually knows, but I've always been under the impression that the contents of heatpipes were pressurized.
 
RawsonDR said:
I'm interested to see replies from someone who actually knows, but I've always been under the impression that the contents of heatpipes were pressurized.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty certain they're actually vacuum sealed...which presents a similar problem :(
 
what's in there? low pressure air and some liquid. quite possibly water.

i would honestly think that you would have better luck bending the tower a bit so that the tips clear the top of the case, if drilling holes for the pipe ends is totally unacceptable.
 
Aren't heatpipes hermetically sealed, wouldn't you have a hard time making it hermetically sealed after you cut it? Not to mention losing whatever is in there in the first place?
 
Getting it sealed is no problem for me...getting it sealed with pressure and/or vacuum is :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top