Project uSyn (discussion and planning stage).....

[Tsaroth]

Hello all. I've been around these boards for a little while now and I have decided to do what I can do with what I got and am probably going to need some help along the way, maybe some suggestions and any tidbits of information would be great.

Here are the pictures of my stuff right now:

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/frontimage.jpg
The front of my case. I am going red/black with this one.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/gpuandpsu.jpg
This is my 2900pro and my corsair 620

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/hsfandram.jpg
My Tuniq Tower and my Crucial Ballistix 4-4-4-12 1:1

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/wholeinside.jpg
The whole inside of the pc and the ratsnest of cables that I will be rectifying in the near future.

Just wanted to give you guys an idea of what I was starting with.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Right now (before I ordered the watercooling stuff) what I have:

Antec Nine Hundred Case fans replaced with red led (the front are replaced already and I got another fan to put in the back, just haven't done it yet)
Asus Maximus Formula SE
Q6600 w/ Tuniq Tower & AC MX-2
2x1GB Crucial Ballistix (can't remember the exact name but they are D9 and run at 4-4-4-12)
Corsair 620
HD2900pro (probably going to get the 3870 but that is a different topic)

I have done no modifications to anything except overclock the processor and I plan on doing alot of stuff to this computer and I'm hoping that it will work.

So far I have ordered a few things:

I ordered a right side panel from antec so that I can cut out my own window and design next to the window for my uSyn case (In case anyone was wondering uSyn stands for Unholy Syndicate which is my gaming clan). This should be here today if the UPS lady would bring her butt.

Watercooling parts:

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/wcstuff.jpg

Swiftech MCR-220 Rad
Laing D5 Vario/Swiftech MCP655 (with speed control)
Stainless Steel Worm-Drive Hose Clamps
10ft of 7/16" Masterkleer Tubing
Swiftech Micro Res
2x d-tek high flow barbs
2x swiftech 1/2" high flow barbs
An additional Red Zalman LED fan for the back of the case with 4 rubber pull through anti-vibration thingies.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/fuzionwithnozzlekit.jpg
D-Tek Fuzion w/ d-tek nozzle accelerator kit.

Edit: I have the backplate because of the Tuniq Tower. Can I use the same backplate and the same screws for the Tuniq Tower to mount the block, or can I use the same backplate and then use the screws that came with the Fuzion to mount it?

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/pcice.jpg

PrimoChill PC-Ice Blood Red....... I wish it was a deeper red and not so washy.


I thought those were good choices since I'm only going to be cooling the CPU and probably the northbridge because the maximus formula has the waterblock already built in, so I figured why not.

Anyways, this is my plan.

I am going to spraypaint the inside of the case and the back panel black. I don't like the silver/ugly color and I just want black and red for the main color themes.

After this (or before it) i plan on cutting holes in the mobo tray so I can route the cables behind it, since I have flat cables with the corsair 620, it should be a good easy process :yepp:

I want to mount the 220 inside the case behind the front 120mm fans. I've been looking at it and have thought about several ways to do so but I may have to drill out holes from the front of the fan holder to the back so I can put the screws in from the front through the fan and into the radiator. I will have the HDD cage removed since I only have one I'll put it up top near the DVD Burner. With the HDD Cage removed on both 120mm fans I can place the rad but up against it, that's why I would have to screw in from the other side. Then I would be able to screw in the front mesh part just like another 5.25 bay cover and it SHOULD hold just fine.

I may have to move both fans up 1 5.25" space so that the bottom of the rad (where I want the inlet and outlet to be) will have some space to hang down.

I mean I can just buy this http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2156/ex-rad-35/Swiftech_MCB-120_Revision_2_Radbox_RadiatorFan_Housing_-_Black.html?tl=g30c95s162
but then that would be the easy way out and I'm considering it as a last resort. I don't want anything hanging out of the case. I want it all contained. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on this please let me know.

If I can accomplish this then I'll have to have a way to mount the HDD up top underneath the DVD Burner which isn't possible now due to the way the hdd cage holds the HDD. so there's like an inch of clearance on each side if not more with the HDD all by itself. If anyone has any ideas on this please let me know.

While I'm talking about fans, I wanted to ask about this here.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rubberscrews.jpg
I was wondering how to get those on the fan in the back of the case and through the case the right way. The first 2 zalman fans I bought came with long rubber ones that I had to pull with a pair of pliers about 6 inches to get it to pop though when I was using my other case (I don't really know where those are but I'm looking for them. If I can't find them I need to use these). Well anyways, I got the fan without any screws and called performance-pcs.com and pointed out that they gave false advertising because I didn't get the rubber screws that were described in their posting bla bla bla. They at least made it right and sent me 4 black rubber screws for an open chassis fan.

The thing is I don't really know how to go about putting them in, like which way should be pulled through the case etc. I don't want to mess em up seeing as they are the only ones I have at the moment.

As for the swiftech micro res. I was hoping I could just put it next to the side panel onto the area that you put the thumbscrews into the hdd cages but it's too tall for that to work. So I am going to have to find another home for the res. I should have done some measuring and more research before I ordered parts. Maybe I'll have to go with a 5.25" bay res but I'd like to use the micro res if I can. Once my cables are cleaned up with the new holes in the mobo tray I can find a home for it. I may even have to place it right behind the radiator inside the area that the HDD cages once were. I just don't know how that would work. I guess if I place it high enough up top of inside there and and the radiator with the barbs at the bottom of the case it will give enough space to run some tubing without kinking. If anyone has any ideas on this please let me know.

So all in all this may turn out to be a bit of a project but I want it to work and a friend of mine has a bunch of nice tools that I can use over at his place.

Any suggestions would be appreciated and I can't wait to get this done to show you guys all the help I've gotten from being a member here.

PS. This is my first watercooling system and when I bought the computer components a few months ago, was my first real custom computer. I have built ones before, but never one of this magnitude.

[Tsaroth]

I'm very sorry to the people that have subscribed (all 2 of you)..... but I've been very very busy and some things have changed.

I was on vacation for about 19 days and not near my pc. Along with that, the other days my work has decided that we need to be working 12 hour days instead.

With that and my family I haven't had time to get started.

I play on starting on it tonight. Although it won't be the antec nine hundred I'll be modifying.

I went to buy a case to house my stuff while I worked on it yesterday and I went to bestbuy. I picked up an all aluminum full tower case that was supposed to be 119 according to their site. I was thinking of taking it back when I was done with the 900 build but.............

The case was on sale for 49.99 and when I got it home it was all aluminum (brushed black aluminum at that) with a locking front door, which I'm not a big fan of but it's nice all the same. It has tool-less optical drive bays and sideway facing tool-less hard drive cages that hold like 6 hard drives along with the 6 optical bays and 2 floppy drive bays. Also seems like I can take off the top of the case and the front via screws instead of having to drill out rivets and re-pop them.

It has a 120 in the front with a 120 in the back and the one in front has a removable cleanable filter so dust doesn't get into the case. The PSU also mounts in the bottom allowing for some awesome room up top for possibly a 3x120mm rad in the future.

I have a question on that though:

If I put a 2x120mm rad up there (the swiftech one I already have) can I later in the future drill out one more fan (if it will fit) and put a 3x120mm rad in there as long as it's swiftech? I figured I could because if it's a 2x120 then a 3x120 should lay right over it with 1x120mm fan extra that would need cut and drilled out. I am only guessing on this though. Can anyone give me some insight?

I looked around for this case and have read some things online that it's a re-badged case made by Lian-Li and sold in best buy. I have ripped open all the stuff and the case fans say Lian Li Corp on them so I'm praying that I just got a good case for 50 bucks. It's discontinued now more or less but it's a Rocketfish aluminum full tower and it seems to be a very good case. Here are a few pictures. Now my planning process starts all over again, although I know what I'm gonna do.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/lianlifan.jpg

I hope it's a lian li and they didn't just go through the garbage and steal their fans :rofl:

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/bigdifference.jpg

The tower against my 900. I'd say it's a bit bigger.

Here are just some pictures of the case. If I find anything intriguing about any particular image I'll mention something underneath it.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/frontpanel.jpg


http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/backpanel.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/sidecase.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/stripped.jpg

This is a picture of the case with all the parts taken off. I was able to take off the top and front with just some screws. The HDD cages also come out with some screws from the bottom so I can take everything out but the optical drive holders I think without having to pop some rivets. That's awesome to me, I can strip it and then paint it.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/topstripped.jpg

That's just asking for a radiator to be put in there.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/bottomstripped.jpg

I don't know why the bottom of the case has holes in it. I'm sure it's for ventilation but I don't see anywhere to put fans under the hdd cages so who knows.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/front.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/frontfan.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/backtopscrews.jpg

More ventilation holes I presume, along with the screws to take out to lift the top panel.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/alumdrivecovers.jpg

Yes those are aluminum drive bay covers all the way down.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/dustcover.jpg

Nice little washable dust cover to stop my cat dander from caking the inside of my case :up:

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/sidegpufan.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/sidegpufan2.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/sidegpufan3.jpg

Those are all images of the side gpu fan that is inside the case as seen in picture five. I am not sure if I am going to use it or not, it may make for some nice aesthetics if I were to paint it red with a black logo on it to show through the side panel I'm gonna cut into the window.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/hddcages.jpg

I like the way the hdd cages are facing and I like how they can come out with a few screws. I will probably wind up taking out the one closest to the back to make room for the pump I am using since I will only probably ever run 3 hdds and I only have 1 now.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/toollesshdd.jpg

With the tool-less part of the hdds.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/toollessoptical.jpg

And the tool-less optical bays.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/topbottom.jpg

The firewire and usb wires along with the HDD to AC97 for the front if I chose to, which I don't. I think I may have to re-sleeve those cables with black with red tracer so I can make it look good. I'm assuming I can just take it right over what's there.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/3pinheader.jpg

All three fans come with 3-pin headers and a molex adapter. I really appreciate that because I hate fans with molex only. I take them out, smash them on the ground and buy ones with 3-pins.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/allblacksidepanels.jpg

Another pet peeve of mine is when I see a case that is one color on the outside of the side panel and then on the inside it's another color completely. These side panels are all black and so is the top and front (except the inside of the swinging door, which I will rectify soon).

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/powerrestart.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/leds.jpg

The led headers and the power/restart buttons. I like this because they are both easily removable which means I can change the color on the one if it's green or something to red without much problems. I'll probably sleeve all those to make the case look good. No reason to let those show when I'm painting and cutting the inside to hide psu cables etc.

------------------------

Overall I am very very happy with the case and I can't believe that I got something like this for 49.99 on clearance at best buy.

I plan on making it all black and cutting out the top to put a rad grill there to hold the swiftech 2x120mm rad I got. I may add a triple rad later on but right now I'll work with the 2x120mm. Later on I can go ahead and make a triple cut with the kikbox rad grill I plan on using.

So I'm still sticking with the red and black theme and I'm hoping it looks good, now I just have to probably buy some more fans so I can have 2 red ones up top on the rad, 1 red one in the back and 1 red one in the front. I'll probably just leave the black regular fan on the side gpu fan because I plan on painting it red so it will have that touch of red there.

Any feedback is welcome and I can't wait to get it done to share with you guys.

[Tsaroth]

Sorry guys, I have been very very busy with work and my computer had a bit of a leak and I was using primochill PC-ICE blood red and lets just say that all my parts still work. The :banana::banana::banana::banana: started dripping out of the fusion block on the asus maximus formula and wound up dripping onto my GPU, Sound Card, PSU and then down the bottom of my case and out the back forming a puddle that I saw and was like oh :banana::banana::banana::banana:. This all happened while it was RUNNING.

All my parts are in tact and working flawlessly. Maybe the stuff is non-conductive afterall lol.

Anyhoo. I have a few updates and I'll post them over the next few days. Here is the first one...........

Just some pictures of the case after I spraypainted it and cut it up a little bit. I have never spray painted anything before so it was a learning experience to me.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1376.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1377.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1378.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1379.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1380.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1381.jpg

The above one you can see where I didn't spraypaint the one little square. I did this for the adhesive pad for the pump.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1382.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1383.jpg

The above picture is with the top panel on (with the modified top for the triple rad grill. It has the pump in it also. I see to have misplaced some of the pictures before this. I plan on finding them and posting them because they showed my cuts and such which I am pretty proud of... first time using a dremel also. :)

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1384.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case1/IMG_1386.jpg

See I painted the vented slots in the back also. I was only going to paint what was viewable but wound up doing it all.

Thanks for any input and I'll post some more pictures up either tomorrow or the day after.

Sorry again for the long long wait but I hope it was worth it.

[smee]

Let me just say:
This is going to be an awesome build!!
Subscribed!

All the components are right! And things should go pretty easy :)
Can't wait till you start putting in the watercooling stuffs!:D

[TopherTony]

hey man, looking good so far. keep us updated, and good luck. always great to have another take the plunge!

[disruptfam]

looks good...

as for the cable management cutting holes in the mobo tray and routing the cables behind it will help alot.

OLD 939 RIG
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/631/nupc267et8.jpg

[Pedalmonkey]

sounds awsome. ive seen the 120x2 rad done in a 900, just you use alot of space. your on the right track with the mounting of the rad.

Just and idea on the rad, you could use some heavy duty velcro to atach the rad to the bay sides and the just screw the fans to the rad. this would isolate the fans from vibrating and alow you the perfect amount of space for the barbs. etc. You could then just use some moders mesh to cover the front of the fans.

Many companys likes Scythe make hdd solutions for mounting in a 5.25 bay. there are also some very creative people on this forum that may be able to give you an idea.

The only thing with the microres is it should be right before the pump to prevent cavitation, you can, to bleed your loop move the res around to make it the highest point. with all those cables behind the mobo you should have some room behind the rad somewheres.

GL with everything

[InfamousChu]

Looks like a good plan! Im kinda in the same situation, although im trying to fit a PA120.3 in the front of my TT Armor case w/250mm side window. Will only leave me with 1 5.25 drive bay and im not even sure if it will fit after that. might just have to give in and get a MM U2-UFO

[Tsaroth]

Update # 2 posted up above.

[iadstudio]

there's not a lot of room behind the mobo tray to put cables so you might eed to figure a different way to manage cables. Either way, I'm subscribed. I'll be starting my work log on this case soon as well.

[Tsaroth]

there's not a lot of room behind the mobo tray to put cables so you might eed to figure a different way to manage cables. Either way, I'm subscribed. I'll be starting my work log on this case soon as well.

The case I just bought from best buy (the rocket fish one) or the antec nine hundred?

With the corsair 620 having the flat cables I may be able to get away with it. I know for a fact that there's a rolled part that blocks the back part of the mobo tray from coming (wire wise) to the front where the optical drives are and stuff so I'm gonna have to cut notches in there. I'm pulling out the 620 from my rig tonight and putting it in there and getting measurements and making pencil marking to see where I need to cut and what I have to do.

I am also thinking of just getting a triple universal rad from kickbox and cutting it from the start and just putting an extra exhaust fan up there along with a fan controller. Now just to find a relatively inexpensive yet good fan controller for 6 fans. I don't even plan on turning them down, I just plan on having a controller so I don't have to plug all that crap into my mobo lol.

[iadstudio]

I'd suggest the sunbeam controllers. You can find them for $15 if you look around and with a modded bay cover they look awesome.

And I was talking about the RocketFish. I'm off to home depot now for supplies.

One thing I'm wondering about is cutting the aluminum with a hole saw on this case. I'm doing a lot of the same stuff this guy is:
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=271940&mpage=1&key=

and I'm wondering if cutting with a hole saw on this thin aluminum, if it would be necissary to use some sort of backing so the aluminum doesn't tear while it's being cut. I was thinking of clampign some plywood to the aluminum on both sides (kinda' laminating it) to protect it as I cut.

Any thoughts?

[FallenCow]

I have that Rocketfish case as well.. though it's not on clearance around my neck of the woods... :(
I was thinking if you only needed to run 3 hdds you could take out the hard drive cage on the right and maybe fit a PA160 in there so you have a nice watercooling setup w/o having to cut holes.

[Tsaroth]

I have heard the sunbeam one works awesome. I know that performance-pcs sells that one Here (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=3227).

I think that is the one you are talking about. I can buy it premodded from them for 39 bucks and it's a brushed lian li cover.

Is that the one? If not then could you please shoot me a link so I can see what you are talking about.

As far as the cutting the aluminum. I would take off the top panel and lay it on a board or on a cardboard box and use a slower speed if you're using a circle cutter thing on a drill. I don't see why the alum would rip while you were cutting it unless you pushed as hard as you could and went full bore at it.


I'd suggest the sunbeam controllers. You can find them for $15 if you look around and with a modded bay cover they look awesome.

One thing I'm wondering about is cutting the aluminum with a hole saw on this case. I'm doing a lot of the same stuff this guy is:
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=271940&mpage=1&key=

and I'm wondering if cutting with a hole saw on this thin aluminum, if it would be necissary to use some sort of backing so the aluminum doesn't tear while it's being cut. I was thinking of clampign some plywood to the aluminum on both sides (kinda' laminating it) to protect it as I cut.

Any thoughts?

Sorry about it not being on clearance, I've seen people posting that it is, I got mine for 49.99 but the site said 119 so I went in and bought it expecting it to be 119 and got a pleasant surprise.

As far as the PA160 I'm going to put the pump on the bottom and put the rad up top. I WANT to cut it. So I'm not worried about messing it up. I may mess it up but if I do, then I learned something new didn't I? :yepp:

Thanks for the advice though.


I have that Rocketfish case as well.. though it's not on clearance around my neck of the woods... :(
I was thinking if you only needed to run 3 hdds you could take out the hard drive cage on the right and maybe fit a PA160 in there so you have a nice watercooling setup w/o having to cut holes.

[iadstudio]

Yep, that's it. I got mine at Petras.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/surhfanspcob.html

but Newegg has them for $13
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998808

I got an extra bay cover for $4 and I'm going to mod mine myself.

Personally, I'd get this one before I pais $40 for a modded sunbeam
http://www.petrastechshop.com/5sckmamufuco.html

This is another option. Looks to be the highest powered controller out there.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/5surhexfansp1.html

Can't go wrong with any of the, imo

[Tsaroth]

Thanks for those links. The only problem is I'm looking for something that has red leds or a red display on it due to the build being red/black. I can probably mod out the leds but I'm not sure how involved that is and I am not sure if I know how 100%. I can always try though. I'd gladly buy stuff from petras because they are awesome and that's where I bought damn near all my stuff for my wc build and they were amazing to me and their customer service is top notch.

I like the 6 channel one, then I don't have to buy 3pin y splitters yet. I can use my 6 fans and then when I have more then I can start and could probably theoretically run 12 fans on those 6 controllers.

Now to call petras and ask them how hard it would be to mod it. I'll worry about making the face for it some other time, I'll deal with the sunbeam tech stenciling on it but I have to get it to be red.

[Tsaroth]

Sorry to be so long between posts but between my 2 little sons, my wife, it raining (so I can't freaking paint) and other stuff it has taken forever for me to finish.

I have taken pictures all along the way and I will start posting update threads with so many pictures each day or something. There are a ton so I can't just sit at one time and do it, my eyes would bleed to death.

Lets just say I'm very happy with how it turned out but I am extremely pissed off that the fluid is not blood red like stated. I wanted a solid or deep red color for my loop, not some washy red that almost looks like the UV reactive shat.

If anyone knows where I can get some dye that won't mess up the pump then please let me know so I can add it to the loop.

Until I post, thanks for everyone that has been waiting patiently.

:up:

[Tsaroth]

Finally an update.

[Tsaroth]

another update as promised......

If you guys want to see the shots in their entirety (3000xsome other godly number lol) then you can view them here.... http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/original

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1392.jpg

Just an image of the interior with my awesome power supply.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1393.jpg

Another shot.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1397.jpg

Something I should have posted a long time ago. Q6600 SLACR running at 3.6ghz with 1.272v and stable at prime with temps ranging from 30 idle to 55ish under prime 95 100% load.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1398.jpg

The Fuzion block which I later would up taking out of the loop because the :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: started to leak and pissed all over my hardware as I mentioned earlier (although all my stuff miraculously works still)

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1399.jpg

A shot with the hole I cut into the top there to run the mobo connector up the back, trying my hand at wire management lol.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1400.jpg

Just another shot of my stuff.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1401.jpg

Another shot.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case2/IMG_1402.jpg

A panned out shot of the whole interior. I'll post some more images tomorrow when I get a chance.

Any comments are welcome :)

[N3it1]

Small hole for the 24pin?So it would sneak out from the cut and the wire would be behind that mobo rack.
Just a thought,could be also that your case is gonna look like cheese soon if you listen to me.

[Tsaroth]

Small hole for the 24pin?So it would sneak out from the cut and the wire would be behind that mobo rack.
Just a thought,could be also that your case is gonna look like cheese soon if you listen to me.

The computer is already built and running so I can go back and make these adjustments if they are worth it to me.

I thought about that. But opted not to because I got a good enough look from bringing it from the side.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Tsaroth]

Here is another update.

Once again, the images in their full resolution can be viewed at http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/original

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/IMG_1403.jpg

My d-tek fuzion along with the fusion block built into the motherboard. In theory it's a pretty good idea. But when it boiled down to it it leaked or the pieces that came with it leaked (the little connectors and tubing). It would have been so much nicer if they just used 1/2" barbs instead of 3/8".

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/IMG_1404.jpg

My swiftech micro-res.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/IMG_1405.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/IMG_1406.jpg

Leak testing. I am using a power supply tester that I had laying around. It worked wonderfully as far as flipping the switch and it doing it's thing. I was able to start stop it so that I could get the fluid pushed through the system without having to be continually pouring stuff into the res.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/IMG_1407.jpg

Here's a picture of the upper part of the tubing while it was leak testing, it was frothy and stuff when it had first started.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/IMG_1408.jpg

There's it after leak testing. No problems. Although I was truly disappointed at the "blood red" coloring of the PrimoChill Pc-Ice fluid. It was very light pink and clear. This turned out to be very bad for me. I'll tell you why in my next update ;)
http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case3/IMG_1409.jpg

[Chewbenator]

Might be able to add some red food coloring, shouldn't do anything to the loop and get you a deeper red.

[Tsaroth]

How much red food coloring would be safe without messing with the pump and or res and or the cpu block?


Might be able to add some red food coloring, shouldn't do anything to the loop and get you a deeper red.

[Patriote]

Darn dude, that looks great! Keep it up m8! I like the case and the job really!

[Tsaroth]

Another update.....

As always, please feel free to take a look at the really good quality pictures here........

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/original

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1410.jpg

Just a shot of my case put together.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1411.jpg

Again.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1412.jpg

My skull fan hole. It is a kikbox 120mm fan grill that I put on the front of the computer because I wanted some more airflow besides the side vents where it is coming in normally. I bought some good ole honeycomb modders mesh from MNPCTech.com and spraypainted it the same color as the red that I have throughout my case.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1414.jpg

My triple skull triple 120mm radiator grill also from Kikboxes. They make some awesome grills so I had to go with them. I only have a 2x120mm radiator under there but I got the triple so that in the future if I ever upgraded I wouldn't have to mess with buying another rad grill. I also have some red led zalman fans in there so it looks really nice when it's on. I'll be posting more pictures of it later on.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1415.jpg

Just a side shot fo the case without the side panel on. I like the color scheme.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1416.jpg

A close up of the cpu to northbridge tubing. (I no longer have the northbridge cooled via the fusion block seeing as the :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: leaked).

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1417.jpg

In the dark. I'd say it's more phantom CLEAR than Blood red ;)

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1418.jpg

Side shot of the inside (as if you guys didn't know that already.

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1419.jpg

My awesome red/black corsair 620. I love this power supply. It has been great, even when liquid got spilled onto it (from the leaking fusion block) it didn't give up :clap:

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1420.jpg

My new mushkin redline 2x2GB 4GB Kit running at 5-5-5-12 480MHz running 5:6 until I get done messing with my damn overclock and seeing if I can't get higher than 3.6ghz and still have a very nice idle vs load temp.

Now remember when I said that the light color wound up being bad for me......

Well somehow the dye wound up clumping together etc but I didn't see it. I don't know how I missed it but it happened. Maybe it's because when I first got it, I opened it up and did the dye bomb with the primochill pc-ice clear fluid because I wanted to see the red, or maybe it's because it was introduced to really crappy climate/climate control where I bought it from but whatever the case the dye was bad.

It was bad from the moment I used it but I didn't realize it. I just thought it was not quite blood red like they promoted and it was more pink (what seems to be the main issue with red uv and other red cooling liquid). Well anyways, it sat on my shelf for a while before I finally got my build going and when I put in the fluid it was damn near clear with a pink tinge. I was like, "This doesn't look very red to me, oh well I just won't buy from them anymore."

Well for some reason after my build was all nice and leak tested and everything was good I somehow turned my res upside down and there was a rush of liquid from the pump back up into the res. I then noticed a bunch of stuff in the res floating around the top that looked like some rat turds.........

:gay:

anyways........... I didn't know what it was. I was like :banana::banana::banana::banana:... I didn't clean out the pump and there was a bunch of :banana::banana::banana::banana: in there and now my loop is all jacked up.

Well that wasn't the case. I happened to look at my bottle of fluid and saw this atrocity:

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1421.jpg



http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1426.jpg

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1428.jpg

So I called up primochill and to make a long story short they sent me out another free bottle overnight and I redid my loop. It still wasn't as dark red as I'd have hoped for but you can see from the bottles how much darker it is than the crap I had in there before.....

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1704.jpg

Anyways before I put the loop back together I decided I was going to hook my sink barb up to the tubing and flush everything with very hot water. Sounded like a good idea at the time but right after I did that I developed a leak on the fusion block. I thought maybe the tubing had stretched out from being so hot and it was leaking where the tubing was butting up against the block because I didn't have the clamp tight enough.

Well I tightened it down and then I proceeded to blow compressed air to get the water off my motherboard and then put it under a fan for a while. After leak testing some more there was no more leak. I figured it had cooled down and was good to go.

Sorry for the long winded update but I'll make sure to get some good pictures now it's all up and running with the red fans and the BLINDING fan controller made by sunbeam tech, MY EYES MAN.

Thanks for looking and I hope you like it so far.

EDIT:

This Rig has been put on Hiatus, I have a new build I'm going to be starting up so stay tuned.

[xtclocker]

Same happened to me with those cooling fluid! The color is OK, but left a mess, and extremely hard to clean it off. In long term use it might still show up those craps, so consider changing another new one not primochill. Good luck!

[Tsaroth]

Yeah, we'll see what happens and if it does that with the dye again I'll just go ahead and get some 1/2" red tubing or something. Not sure but that's a while from now. Right now it looks good and seems to be working fine.


Same happened to me with those cooling fluid! The color is OK, but left a mess, and extremely hard to clean it off. In long term use it might still show up those craps, so consider changing another new one not primochill. Good luck!

[xtclocker]

Very nice setup love the red! They''re like roses ^_^

[MomijiTMO]

Looks good. Yeah the Fusion system is a complete joke.

[Tsaroth]

Darn dude, that looks great! Keep it up m8! I like the case and the job really!

Thanks man. For anyone that cares Patriote is the man that helped get me into watercooling and pointed me in the right decision.

[Lloyd]

I was going to use the Asus Fusion block on my Maximus Extreme, but when i looked closly - it just looked like cheap plastic. So i thought i'd give it a wide berth.
Love the black and red - looks awesome

[Tsaroth]

Yeah, I think next time I'm gonna just go with either aftermarket air cooling for the chipset or perhaps go all watercooling when I upgrade to more stuff. I have room for it I just have to do it in the future.


I was going to use the Asus Fusion block on my Maximus Extreme, but when i looked closly - it just looked like cheap plastic. So i thought i'd give it a wide berth.
Love the black and red - looks awesome

[Tsaroth]

Well I'm back at it again and I need your help.

This project is not complete and I want it to be perfect for the first real project I have done.

I'm happy with what I've done so far as a first time watercooler but I have that thing inside me that just nags at me that it has to be completed.

Basically the case looks like this as it sits right now..........

http://www.unholysyndicate.com/images/computer/rocketfishcase/case4/IMG_1415.jpg

And I want to do some things to it.

I am not getting any more hardware unless it fails me. My current config (seen in my sig) works great and I can push it more than I have, I just have to finish what I started.

I am just re-doing some aspects of the whole watercooling part which I should have done from the beginning but you know what they say.... hindsight is :rofl:

Anyhoo.......

(This is planning, the only thing I can really get atm is the nickel block. The rest will have to wait a few weeks till I get the money all together but I am doing it and as soon as possible)

This is what I have planned so far:
(all links are from PPCs for the simple fact I could add them all to my cart to keep an eye on what I'm wanting and not necessarily where I'm getting it)

Replace the 7/16" masterkleer tubing with red tubing. I am dead set on getting red looking tubing and I'm done with the red liquid. I'm going to run straight distilled water and some iandh killcoils (if I can ever find them in stock).

I was thinking of getting this tubing right here:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=23609

Possibly be getting it from Danger Den though as I hear they're getting different kinds of runs of this stuff from TFC.

I am also adding a GPU block to my rig. I have a Visiontek 4870 512MB GPU and I am not upgrading anytime soon. It runs my 24" monitor just fine and I want to keep it. So I'm planning on getting the 4870 CF Nickel .......

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=24222:be03f82f9666e9ecf752e9c5037f52b6

I have heard good things about this FC waterblock and am hoping I can overclock my GPU and not have to listen to the god awful fan noise of the 4870.

I want to change to this radiator:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4309:5bc9948ecd4f652c81990a571a4c7520

I have the 2x120 version right now and I think that this should be fine with the pump I have and the fans etc. I have pretty good fans on there and I know you don't need high fans on the swiftech IIRC.

I can't really get the 120.3 even if it is a better rad. It's just too expensive for me. I am willing to bet the degrees are only a few degrees at most.

I was also thinking of putting an aftermarket on the pump since all these aftermarket pumps are increasing head pressure and making the pumps better:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=24823:39101ee50bd0fe8c715c649505d24d8b

I am thinking that this head will allow me to put whatever barbs on it and make it a bit better pump overall.

Now the biggest endeavor will be removing the north/south/pwm heatpipe and either reseating it or just being done with it completely. I have seen some bad things and I have seen from someone that took it off that the thing was actually made of aluminum insides. I can't for one second believe this is true but I'm not going to plumb my loop into it and hope it's not.

I have seen the pieces I need to put on there to watercool all of it but I've read some things but I want to go over them.

If I am able to get the heatpipe assembly off of there I saw that these are the blocks I would need.....

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=23333:94d4a25699c9932ad83ed34461bc0bab - for the SB

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=22863:74445a5b2bb6695684249e1281aa7db6 - for the NB

and

2x http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=22376:f3dd144141c6855c4a8797422dc040ba - for the PWMs

Now if I get those do I need to get these backplates for the PWMs?

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=23244

I figured I could just use the backplate that was on the board for the NB.

Now I've read that the SB runs so cool that there is no reason to WC it. That's fine with me but I wasn't sure if I should get a little heatsink with a fan attached to put on the SB. I want something that looks good along with being functional. I'm working so hard on getting my PC looking right, it's turning into my baby and I'm not gonna have pure ugly stuff on there that's taking away from all the hardwork of making it look nice.

On that note, I was wondering if it would be safe to just use heatsinks for the NB and PWMs instead of putting them on water. I saw that the heatsinks for them would be half the price of the WC but I wasn't sure if I would have enough airflow over them to justify using them. I didn't know if passive would be ok with that NB getting so hot (with me oc'ing and trying to go higher).

I also plan on sleeving the PSU cables and SATA cables with Murdermod sleeve and doing a little something special to the 24pin to make it look sweet.

I have more to ask, but the wife is telling me it's time to go for now (got to go out) but when I get back I'll finish.

Thanks for any input on what I've posted and I look forward to getting this all done.

[Tsaroth]

Nothing? :idea:

[exe163]

Nice black and red combo!

[Lagaaja]

Go with air atleast for pwm. Nb is imo more important to cool, but with good aftermarket cooler it won't be problem if you go with air on that too. Case has surely enough airflow, don't worry about that :) Sb doesn't need additional cooling, it basically handels the SATA ports and such. Some small passive sink surely is enough.

[Tsaroth]

Nice black and red combo!

Thanks. It will look better when I get done later on.


Go with air atleast for pwm. Nb is imo more important to cool, but with good aftermarket cooler it won't be problem if you go with air on that too. Case has surely enough airflow, don't worry about that :) Sb doesn't need additional cooling, it basically handels the SATA ports and such. Some small passive sink surely is enough.

I thought it didn't have enough airflow because the 3 fans are pulling from the top and putting air into the case. I'm not sure if I should be changing that or not but.

I have the 3 fans pulling air into the case from the top and then the front fan and the back fan. I hope that would be enough.

I may go with WC'ing the NB and putting some simple stuff on the southbridge and the PWMs. I just wasn't sure what to use on those.

If anyone could help make suggestions on what to put on the PWMs to look good and be functional that would be great.

Then I'd have the CPU, NB and GPU in the loop.

If I had the 4870 FC Block and the Q6600 and the NB cooled, the swiftech 3x120mm rad would be good enough right? I don't want to spend the arm and the leg to get the PA120.3 even though I have heard it's a really good rad. My 2x120mm Swiftech Rad I have now has done me right so I was just gonna stick with the swiftech series.

Thanks for any more input.

[Serpentarius]

something you ought to know ... i recall reading some post bout the built-in waterblock for the NB/SB is actually aluminium ... painted in copper color
i still recall the xser complained bout corrosion .. i recall it's also Asus mobo

anyhow it's a nice work

[Tsaroth]

I heard that also. That's why I'm not going to use it. I'm going to find a solution to the NB (probably WC) and the SB and PWMs are probably going to be air.

I'll post some more when I get some more information to ask opinions.


something you ought to know ... i recall reading some post bout the built-in waterblock for the NB/SB is actually aluminium ... painted in copper color
i still recall the xser complained bout corrosion .. i recall it's also Asus mobo

anyhow it's a nice work

[SGwillis]

red and black themes always look awesome! good work!

[Tsaroth]

Just wanted to post one last time and say that I appreciate every ones posts.

I'm putting this rid on Hiatus so that I can start building my new MM case. I'll be posting a beginning to the worklog before too long.

Please stay on the lookout, it's gonna be sick.