Working on the G5 quad liquid cooling system

I couldn't be happier with this arrangement.

WOW, no wonder you took so long to answer my question!! 😀 That was more of an answer than I expected. Thanks for the info. You just gave me some ideas! You've got that machine dialed. Very nice indeed.😎

They definately dropped your machine really hard. That's a shame. I would recommend next time you need ship it, purchasing the actual packaging for that machine from an Apple service facility. You can probably get one of the custom boxes from these guys http://www.powermax.com/ They use a special custom box with moulded styrofoam padding that fits it precisely. Dropping it from standing height when packaged in the special box, usually will not do any damage. Looks your shippers dropped your's before it even got to a box.😢

I found Fedex to be far more reliable when it comes to caring for fragile packages.

Have you ever considered doing the LCS rebuild thing yourself? There are so many good resource people out there that have done it and are willing to give advice. Me included.

I'm very leary of sending my machine out to have anything done that I think I can do myself. My personal motto is "If I want it done right I must do it myself." However, that doesn't apply to things I honestly feel are way beyond my skill level.

Hum, that hose looks much like that used in automotive AC lines, high pressure fuel lines and some brake lines.

The good thing is, the hose is a better quality, thus no pump VC is required for the LCS.

quoted ... Yes, my G5 is a 2.5Ghz quad built in Oct. of '95 it has the Cooligy LCS system with duel Delphi pumps. The pumps are labeled Delphi. The plastic cover over the heat blocks is labeled Cooligy. From what I understand talking to BMaverick, the Cooligy system and pumps were designed in cooperation by Laing, Delphi, and Cooligy. So all three companies had a hand in creating this LCS. ... quote

Actually, Delphi hired Laing to use an existing design pump D4 type and package into a 1U server compact size. The result is the DDC (aka Delphi DC) pump. Cooligy tried a few other pump makers out there, but couldn't improve the design and performance. The Delphi pump DDC had the VC. Apple asked Delphi to license the pump to Cooligy. They did, but without the VC. So, Cooligy had to resolve in using the special tubing and no pump VC. In a way, that was a better design overall. The rest is history.

As for finding a tech to refill the system, that is a hard question.

I only know of four people personally who can do this without specialized equipment.

Also, reading G5Lover's ability to change out the fitting to somehting that is more common to connect to is a big help. If he creates a blog or something here with steps and pixs, that would be grand and helpful for all. 🙂

The only way I have done an LCS is with a brake bleeder kit. Yes, changing out the AC fitting to a brake fitting works. Summit Racing has some that work if I recall. This way, the brake kit can vacuum (evacuate) the LCS, and then refill via a reservoir tank. Just using 33% Sierra PG coolant with 66% distilled water works, or buy it pre-made from Koolance, the LIQ-702 coolant. http://koolance.com/files/products/manuals/msds_koolance_liq-702.pdf

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_vacuum-pump-b rake-bleeder-kit-sunpro_9020007-p

Also, if anyone needs a pump, PLEASE specify G5 pump when making an inquiry. Else, you may get the reworked pump for Intel/AMD WCing extreme hobbists. 😉

My stash is limited. Once they are gone, there is no more. I'm not a vendor, nor have any distributor supply to tap into. My pumps are G5 programmed with the 4th PWM wire. The Swiftech, Corsair, and Koolane pumps are without the G5 IC logic chip and no 4th wire for the PWM. In the past 4-years, the supply has dropped to a mere 16% remaining.

Actually, Delphi hired Laing to use an existing design pump D4 type and package into a 1U server compact size. The result is the DDC (aka Delphi DC) pump. Cooligy tried a few other pump makers out there, but couldn't improve the design and performance. The Delphi pump DDC had the VC. Apple asked Delphi to license the pump to Cooligy. They did, but without the VC. So, Cooligy had to resolve in using the special tubing and no pump VC. In a way, that was a better design overall. The rest is history.

Thanks for clearing up those facts for us Mav.🙂

Here's a link to the shut off valve I used. http://tinyurl.com/kzskqpn

But if I had to do it over I would now use this style. It would be easier to work with because of it's right angle configuration. http://tinyurl.com/ko995k9

Ramón G Castañeda wrote:

The seller had requested and paid for both FedEx and an original G5 shipping box from Apple. The shipping company's employees obviously disregarded both requests.

They used two new, but generic cardboard shipping boxes, one smaller than the other to fill the space between them with Styrofoam blocks and peanuts. There was practically no appreciable damage to the smaller inner box, and only one bent corner in the larger outer box.

These picts show only the inner box after removal of the Styrofoam cushioning blocks and peanuts

They were understandably very quick to refund the packing and shipping charges and to arrange for payment of the meager "standard" insurance coverage but refused to acknowledge the obvious and kept trying to shift the blame to UPS, who apparently didn't want to bother fighting the issue.

********!😠

G5Lover

Also, this is a VERY IMPORTANT note and I forgot to add it to my log above— Make sure when adding permanant hose clamps, valves and the like to the LCS, they are positioned even with the top or below the top of the radiator. By "TOP I mean the side of the radiator facing you when it's installed in the machine. Otherwise the LCS cover, clear plastic shield, and side door covers will not go back on your Mac after the LCS is installed!! There is very little if any clearance between the LCS, it's cover and the inner plastic shield door!

My issues were solved ( cpu temps uneven) by replacing the thermal paste with MX-4

Now they are all the same or off one or two off by 1 (fans & pumps are fine checked in istat pro)

Anyways . . .

What happens when our power supplies fail?

Then what?

My MDD's are all running ATX psu's, I'd think the quad won't be as easy

My issues were solved ( cpu temps uneven) by replacing the thermal paste with MX-4

Patrick,

You got lucky with that simple repair. Most people that have tried just replacing the thermal grease didn't get off that easy. They ended up finding they still had to flush and fill the system to get it to cool properly.

Congrats! MX-4 is good stuff. That's what I used when I put mine back together. All is well now. The machine runs quiet and cool.

Ramón G Castañeda wrote:

Repair them or replace them.

Or am I not understanding your question? 😕

repair would be nice, but as in my MDD's it would be nice to enable a new atx psu than replace it with another 10 year old aging psu.

Just pointing out that there is not much info on the above unlike the LCS repairs.

G5Lover wrote:

My issues were solved ( cpu temps uneven) by replacing the thermal paste with MX-4

Patrick,

You got lucky with that simple repair. Most people that have tried just replacing the thermal grease didn't get off that easy. They ended up finding they still had to flush and fill the system to get it to cool properly.

Congrats! MX-4 is good stuff. That's what I used when I put mine back together. All is well now. The machine runs quiet and cool.

The old stuff was dried out and gooped on.

I'm putting this list of rebuild products on this forum in one place to save other's the time I spent researching specs. Below is a listing of the products I believe to be the best choices for rebuilding my G5 duel pump LCS. I used all these products on the list below except for the Laing pumps. My pumps are still working fine so I did not install the new pumps. Though I did buy two pumps from BMaverick in case mine go out in the future. I talked with a guy that used one of Bmaverick's pumps to replace the pump on his G5 and said he had great success.

There are many other opinions for different products out there on the web but after doing the research and talking with others that had successful rebuilds, the products in the list below were the ones I ended up using. I used them because of their good track record and specifications not because of their price. All of them worked fantastic for me, and I'm now enjoying my cool running G5 2.5 GHz Quad duel pump LCS.

ITEM LIST WITH LINKS:

Thermal Compound: Arctic MX-4 advanced formula with an 8 year durability service life.

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/k588vxo

Thermal Compound Cleaner & Prep: ArctiClean 60ml Kit (includes 30ml ArctiClean 1 and 30ml ArctiClean 2)

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/ltg7f53

Radiator Flush: Zerex Super Radiator Flush (kind to aluminum radiators, multi-metals and plastics) USE SPARINGLY. remember, the 22oz container was meant to be used in an automobile radiator with 4qts of water! The LCS only holds about 250 to 275ml of fluid total! I mixed about 25ml of it to boiling water to do the flush.

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/os2t3bv

Replacement Pumps: New Old Stock Pump, Laing DDC-1T (NOS) from BMaverick: For G5 duel pump system. This pump will work on the G5. (Some modifications will be necessary)

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/ma43zkj

Replacement Coolant Used: Koolance LIQ-702 Liquid Coolant Bottle, High-Performance, 700mL (UV Blue) good for 3 years before refreshing.

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/k6gnthh

3/8 ID Tubing Replacement: Tygon brand (placticizer free) clear reinforced. (Note this hose may be too stiff for use on the single pump configuration but will work on the G5 duel pump version.

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/leo5o44

1/4" ID Tubing: Clear Tygon brand tubing for the addition of a shut-off filling valve on the radiator.

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/mpvha2l

Epoxy Waterproof Putty: JB WaterWeld, Used for sealing the ends of the hoses similar to what Apple did on the duel pumps. Note: "This step was done at the factory only on the duel pump G5's It's not absolutely necessary but a good insurance against leaking."

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/n7zeak4

Shut-off service valve: Brigg's & Stratton brand for fuel line in lawnmower. (install on radiator stub off ports to assist filling the system-two required for Duel pump LCS.

LINK: http://tinyurl.com/kzskqpn

Congratulations on your success! 🙂 By your description, it sounds like you had some serious electrolysis and radiator dye residue build-up going on in your LCS.

My G5 Quad duel pump had similar overheating symptoms, (one processor always warmer by 30º) but not quite as high temp diffs. as yours. Over 70ºC is very bad and will usually burn out a processor. You got lucky that you didn't loose the processor. 😮 Glad you were able to stop this with your repair but IMHO, I think you should have used a good 3 year multi-metal compatible pre-mix LCS coolant like Koolance 702 rather than just distilled water. Simply using distilled water will allow the different metals in your LCS to go into full galvanic corrosion. For example the (copper and aluminum). This will start causing more problems sooner.

However, it's not too late. I would recommend re-flushing the LCS with Zerex Super Radiator Flush, then replacing the distilled water with Koolance 702 or something comparable and do this within 6 months. I've posted links to these products earlier in this thread. BTW, the Koolance has a 3 year service life so you don't have to flush the system every year, as is the case with other coolants. It's also pre-mixed so you don't have to mix anything.

Cheers,

-Art