It's finally complete!

[AuroraProject]

After many, many problems my first water cooled computer is done! I started this build in January, it is on its 3rd motherboard, 2nd set of ram, 2nd video card, and 2nd power supply. Anything that can go wrong, did. But I'm happy to say all has come into alignment, and it works like a champ! It was a learning experience, I'd like to thank those that answered my many questions during the build.

Specs:
EVGA 680i motherboard
intel X6800 @ 3.8ghz
2gb Corsair Dominator at 1250mhz
EVGA 8800GTX
Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
2-74gb Raptors
2-320gb Seagates
Corsair HX620W power supply
Yate Loon fans
Thermalright HR-05 SLI on south bridge

Water cooling parts:
Black Ice Pro 3x120 radiator
D-Tek Fuzion
Danger Den 680i chipset block
EK 8800GTX full coverage block
Swiftech MCP655 pump
7/16" MasterKleer
Danger Den black aluminum fillport
Radgrill

Temps:
CPU: @ 3.8ghz, 1.44vcore, idle 34C, load 54C
GPU: stock clocks, idle 38C, load 44C

Pictures:

http://www.pbase.com/digifan/image/76989958.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/digifan/image/76989942.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/digifan/image/76989939.jpg

[rbd89]

Very nice and very clean! Now just change out that green crap for some pentosin!

[CedricFP]

Looks beautiful. Congrats.

[Reinvented]

Lian Li PC7077B

[tommrussell]

well its about damn time ;) very nicely done

[dem1an]

nice work with the socket bolts. i've been wanting to do the same thing on my thermochill rad. how tricky is it to self tap your own holes? can someone just get a tapping wrench, read a guide, and figure it out or is their a fair amount of experience/skill required?

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/tl_metalworking/article/0,2037,DIY_14390_2270183,00.html

[AuroraProject]

It's not difficult at all, I just grabbed a 6-32 tap & tap handle out of the toolbox, lined it up square with the holes and gave it a few twists. Just be sure not to go into the radiator tubes! I used 6-32 socket cap allen bolts for the fan holes and 8-32 for the grill corners where they bolt to the case.

[Reinvented]

Those are threading sizes.

[AuroraProject]

I was an automotive tech for 12 years, so I have $30,000 worth of Snap On & Mac tools in the garage. The tap came from a Snap On master tap, die and remover set.

6-32 and 8-32 refer to the bolt size and thread pitch. They are called machine thread in those sizes. The first number is the diameter, the second number is the number of threads per inch.

Any good hardware or tool shop will have taps in these sizes.

[AuroraProject]

Thanks! Between years of collecting and Snap Ons' outrageous prices it was easy to accumulate such a collection.

[masaville]

Nice job. Bet your glad to be finished. I know I was!! heh

[Polizei]

Other than price, I dont think there are any complaints about Snap On.

I worked at a boat repair place for a year and they used exclusively Snap On. Every employee (ok, there were 6) said that once they used Snap On and felt the quality and durability, they wouldnt use anything else. That shop had atleast $500k in tools, probably closer to $750k... lots of specialty tools for boats.


Edit: Nice rig, btw. My friend's computer build went like that too - anything that could go wrong, did. Glad to see its together finally. Aluminum fill port, copper blocks? Make sure you have corrosion inhibiter in there, just to be safe... even if it is only a fill port.

[AuroraProject]

Between the exploding hardware and numerous rma's, yes, I am glad it's done!

You wont catch me ever complaining about Snap On except for the price. They are hands down the best tools in the world. I've used loads of tools, and I can honestly say that the only tool I've never broken, is a Snap On.

[Sparky]

Very nice and very clean! Now just change out that green crap for some pentosin!

Some people happen to like green ya know ;) All I see is blue now, I'm tired of blue, I like green, so I like AuroraProject's loop :D
And maybe, I just might may have my own "Aurora Project" going here near the end of this month :cool:

[AuroraProject]

Aluminum fill port, copper blocks? Make sure you have corrosion inhibiter in there, just to be safe... even if it is only a fill port.

You know, I never really thought of that, it is anodized if that makes a difference.

[masaville]

Some people happen to like green ya know ;) All I see is blue now, I'm tired of blue, I like green, so I like AuroraProject's loop :D
And maybe, I just might may have my own "Aurora Project" going here near the end of this month :cool:

I like both haha.....need to add red come xmas! :toast: :woot:

[ANP !!!]

Congrats :toast: .

its looking nice, i liked the temp.

[septim]

nice brand of tools you have there.
nice work on you're PC, looks very un-crowded in there.

only cons (for me) would probably be those 2 80mm fans in the back,
i would try and fit a single quieter 120mm fan there.
with your tools on hand, this would be a cinch.

*not that lian li don't supply a decently quiet 80mm fan that is (adda brand i think)*

[Hard H20]

AP,

Nice job! The padding on the back side of the case, is that sound dampener?

[AuroraProject]

nice brand of tools you have there.
nice work on you're PC, looks very un-crowded in there.

only cons (for me) would probably be those 2 80mm fans in the back,
i would try and fit a single quieter 120mm fan there.
with your tools on hand, this would be a cinch.

*not that lian li don't supply a decently quiet 80mm fan that is (adda brand i think)*

Thanks for the comments! The rear 80mm's have been changed to Scythe Minebea fans on rubber fan mounts, so they are fairly quiet. Currently they are disconnected though, they don't seem to do much temp wise, so I may leave them turned off.

[AuroraProject]

AP,

Nice job! The padding on the back side of the case, is that sound dampener?

Thanks! Yes, it's the Akasa stuff, it doesn't work very well. I'd recommend Dynamat for some real sound dampening.

[troisanh]

nice rig there bro.

[Solarfall]

very clean looking rig... qualifies as WC :banana::banana::banana::banana: for sure ;)