~~Watercooled Rocketfish *Work Log*

[redphoenix]

So the basis of this whole project started because of the badass deal with the Rocket Fish "Lian Li" cases. $47.99 + tax, you cant beat it.

I didnt need it, but for the money, why not. So this whole project started because of this one case. This project was to update my computer with a minimal fee. I shopped around a lot and found the best deal I could. I did very well I think. This is the components that it will have in it.

Computer Components

RocketFish
Abit IP35 Pro
Intel Q6700
4gb Crucial PC2-8500
X1800XT (waiting for the 4xxxx series of a 3870x2)
OCZ600w PSU
LiteOn DVD Drive
Seagate 250gb Main Drive
Seagate 750gb Storage

Watercooling Components

Pump - Swiftech MCP655
CPU - Swiftech Storm (soon to be Fuzion V2 if it ever comes in stock again)
GPU - Swiftech MCW60
Res - Swiftech Mini
Radiator - Swiftech MCR320
Tubing - MasterKleer 1/2 ID
Fans - 3 Panaflow 120x38mm
Fill/Drain - 2 DD Acetal Fill Ports
Anti Fungal - Petra Nuke






5/12/08
Took apart the entire case and cut the top for a MCR320 radiator.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20001.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20003.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20004.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20005.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20006.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20007.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20008.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20009.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20010.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Radiator/Picture%20011.jpg

I will update tonight after work with info about the project :D

[smee]

Subscribed!!

Nice work on the cutting!! :up:

[RockfordFosgate]

Clean work ;)

[fluke420]

Nice job cutting the top. Why does everyone leave the tabs for the fan mounts. Why not make one big rectangular hole?

[Nanometer]

Maybe for more support?

[rbsmontemor]

Subs :)

Rbs.
:wave:

[MINIz guy]

Clean cuts! Hope to see more of this.

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Subscribed!

[Istasi]

Those RocketFish cases look superb, a steal for the BB clearance price for sure. Can't wait to see how this turns out, Lian Li cases are gorgeous.

[HaCKs]

I remember there was a thread about those rocketfish cases being sold at best buy under another name for practically free, does anyone know where that thread is?

[MINIz guy]

Well, these Rocketfishes are being sold as low as $48, which is a steal for this kind of quality. I don't believe there is another name for this case at Best Buy, this is sold at Best Buy and there isn't another one like it there.

[BNDMOD]

Nice start..

[Gunlance]

I remember there was a thread about those rocketfish cases being sold at best buy under another name for practically free, does anyone know where that thread is?

These are Lian-Li cases that are sold under the rocketfish name. I have 2 myself.

[redphoenix]

Nice job cutting the top. Why does everyone leave the tabs for the fan mounts. Why not make one big rectangular hole?

Radiator got in the way of the 4 corner holes, so 4 faux screws will go there.

[HaCKs]

Sorry my mistake, I got the names mixed up in my head somehow, my local best buy has two more for $87


I found the thread.

[disruptfam]

good job so far...

[redphoenix]

Just made a Petra Order - Loads of MasterKleer tubing, Acetal Fill Port, EK 150mm Res, Cyclone Addon, clamps and fittings. On payday hopefully a Fuzion will be ordered, but I need the tubing asap haha.


*edit* also got a bunch of allen head socket cap screws for the radiator, pump, res etc.

[redphoenix]

Okay here is a little update!

Pics tell the story.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/IMG_3139.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/IMG_3140.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/IMG_3142.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/IMG_3144.jpg

Top is from rad, bottom to pump. The extra top is for fillport.

Stay tuned.

[Lusken]

Nice! Very Nice!
Waiting for the real results before I comment more, but it looks nice so far.

[MINIz guy]

I am starting to love these Rocketfish builds. So much eye candy!

[redphoenix]

Just a quick picture before the next batch.


MRC320 w/ Panaflos. Rubber grommets and weather stripping for leak protection :)

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/IMG_3104.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/IMG_3111.jpg

[disruptfam]

sleeving them fans? :)

[MegadetHCl]

sleeving them fans? :)

...and installing dust filters? You will regret it in the future if you don't...

[Bubbaxm2]

Nice work!

[biftek.]

What screws/gromets are you using for the fans, they look clean and really effective.

[redphoenix]

5-17-08

I added in the floor, cut outs for wiring and tubing. Also rotated the hard drive rack. I found some new filters in my junk box I bought from compusa maybe 5-6 years ago.

NF7-S Test mobo

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20003.jpg

Whenever Home Depot restocks my bolts I want I will replace them with shorter ones, but I already bought their last 10 for my project haha.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20004.jpg
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20005.jpg

Perfect fit all around
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20007.jpg

Evercool (AOC) aluminum fan that I have in mu junk box too. Quiet @ full speed mind you, I thought they were louder. But it will see a fan bus soon.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20008.jpg
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20009.jpg

Mounted some stuff
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20010.jpg


Stay tuned!

[MINIz guy]

Nice! I like that floor idea right there, would make things a lot easier to mount and it would be cleaner.

[redphoenix]

Heres an update. Last night looked like this.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20011.jpg

Filling and bleeding air.


And these are some pics from this morning.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20018.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20020.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20023.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20024.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20027.jpg


Everything is fine an dandy, except my motherboard fried from a fan being unplugged. Weaksoz.

So I am waiting on an RMA from Crucial for 4 sticks of 1gb Tracers (PC28500) and now Abit IP35PRO.


Not sure if I should leave it clear or dye it. But I am kind of digging the very "clean" look. I ram out of the proper size sleeving for my pump. Oh well. And if anyone is trying to figure out why there is only 1 intake in the top part, well I will be getting one of those Lian Li 120mm fan converters for 3 of the 5.25 bays. Link (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=130_151_257&products_id=21092)

[disruptfam]

looks nice man that rocketfish case is a real steal!!

sorry to hear about your hardware woes though

[redphoenix]

looks nice man that rocketfish case is a real steal!!

sorry to hear about your hardware woes though


It happens to everyone. Just gives me time to spend getting the little things done on the case I would of normal given up on haha.

[MotF Bane]

That looks very nice. Well done. :clap:

Any chance of another picture of where the tubes go from reservoir to radiator, with flash?

[Polizei]

If you were going to have that setup, why go through the effort to hide the pump but not the res? I would've just mounted the pump to the motherboard try immediately under the res and not bothered with the holes in the false floor. I think it would make routing easier.

I like the floor. :up:

[redphoenix]

If you were going to have that setup, why go through the effort to hide the pump but not the res? I would've just mounted the pump to the motherboard try immediately under the res and not bothered with the holes in the false floor. I think it would make routing easier.

I like the floor. :up:



1) I just liked the whole idea of the floor. I got the metal free from my friends shop.

2) I also wanted to keep a lot of useless heat out. Heat from hard drives, pump and power supply will be isolated.

3) I am trying to keep the wire mess from the power supply away from the clean part of the computer.

4) If I decide to do a window, you wont see the junky stuff, psu wires, hard drives etc.

5) If a leak occurs, the chances of it hitting the power supply or hard drives are minimal now. I had only 1 leak since I have been doing this that killed something. Took 2 750gb Seagates, that were in raid 1. Never again.

6) Air flow in this case is hindered because the minimal amount of fans and how large the case is. If I cut down a big portion of the case, add one of those Lian Li fan modules for the front bays and make the rear fan an intake, my radiator should have plenty of air thats cooler now. Also overall case temps should decrease.

7) It looks sexy. :D

[redphoenix]

That looks very nice. Well done. :clap:

Any chance of another picture of where the tubes go from reservoir to radiator, with flash?


Hard to get my Canon S5 in there but hope these help. I have a fill port connected to the res.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20029.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20030.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20031.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20033.jpg

[silverphoenix]

I'm gonna steal some ideas for my bro's rocketfish, credit will be paid where due :D

[MotF Bane]

Thanks for the extra pics. :up:

[Kougar]

Very impressive, you're making me regret not picking up one of these cases to experiment on!

I do like the overall clean look, would definitely vote for leaving the water clear. That looks to be a very efficient WC loop. :)

[H2omg]

A very nice RF build! Confirms ideas I've had as well as giving me new ones. Thanks for clean work and nice photography. I look forward to the "final product" picture. : D

[Yeknom]

Credit will be paid when my RF begins work :)

Great job!

[redphoenix]

Thanks guys, really appreciate it! There shall be more added. Just gotta do the "bills" thing and then we will be good :)

[hillywav]

now i really want to W/c my new rig :mad:

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Updates yet?

[redphoenix]

Waiting on Abit... you know how they are. I sent it in on 5/17... So maybe this coming week? Dont know haha.

Im working on a fan controller mod right now, ill update with pics when I finish.

[MasterChiefElmo]

Looks grate man keep it going!! Very nice clean simple to it that I like..

[Vidar]

Wow looks sweet, can't wait to see more as you progress.

[Sadasius]

I love what you did with the res. I am now thinking of doing the same thing as I have one rad on the top as well and would save from using a longer tube to go to the bottom of my 250. Goo job! Very clean!:up:

[RockfordFosgate]

Your Rocketwish better than SS TJ07 well done bro ;)

[redphoenix]

5-28-08

Hey, just a little update. I want a very quiet case. I have everything volt modded to 7v, but I figure this will fill in one of the 5.25 bays.

I bought one of those Ultra Rheobuses. Trust me, I hate the way it looks. However, I got it for $6.05 at work discounted.


The casing is nothing but cheap plastic. And damn is it big...
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/ult1.jpg


Oh look... what a WASTE of space. I didn't expect anything less really.
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/ult2.jpg


They use blue leds. However, they only put 2 in there, but there are spaces for 4!
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/ult5.jpg


Thats okay. I desoldered the 2 blue leds and added 4 5mm white ones for a very LOW/LITTLE amount of light in the dark. You wont be able to see it til later on when its dark though, so pictures later of that.

Got some new knobs to replace the cheap flimsy POS's that were on their stock. These 2 pics have the board being attached to the Lian Li 5.25 bay cover. But what a difference. Cannot believe its the same one!

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/ult3.jpg
http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/ult4.jpg

So overall, $6 for the fan controller and an extra couple of bucks for the leds and knobs, worth it to match my case!

P.S. That 2" space will have a small white lcd (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=22022) screen to show my water temperature, but I am awaiting that still.

[Snyxxx]

On your reservoir, do you really need the anti-cyclone device if the reservoir is turned upside down? I thought the vortex was created by pushing in and pulling out water near each other.

I have a G70 build in progress and want to also put the res like that. Nice build and thanks for taking all the pictures, looks great.

[redphoenix]

Well I never ran it without the anti cyclone, but.... when I was priming the system, when the res fluid was under the anti cyclone, it was making a tornado inside the res. When it was filled pass the anti-cyclone it wasnt.

But that doesnt mean that the anticyclone stopped it, it could of been the amount of fluid too. It was like $3, so why not...

[sbinh]

5-17-08

Evercool (AOC) aluminum fan that I have in mu junk box too. Quiet @ full speed mind you, I thought they were louder. But it will see a fan bus soon.

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20008.jpg



This fan makes "NO" noise when those 3 Pannaflo fans running ... :D ... So yes, it's "quiet" .. :D

[atlxkevinx]

So any updates on this build? I will have a very similar setup and is interested in the result. Is the build done yet? What kind of temps did you get? BTW, Great build and Great work!

[redphoenix]

So any updates on this build? I will have a very similar setup and is interested in the result. Is the build done yet? What kind of temps did you get? BTW, Great build and Great work!


Hi yes I am very anxious to finish this. But Abit STILL has my motherboard for RMA. Its been almost a month. It supposed to ship this week. I got a call from them saying that. My Athlon XP 512mb ram shuttle is killing me... cant do much with it haha.

[Clue69Less]

Looking good! Slow RMA returns suck.

[ctgilles]

Nice and clean! :up:

[Anemic]

Looks great!!

[lyl]

good work! i knew i should have picked up a RF

I really like how your floor is removable if needed.... for things like making holes for tubing. I am wanting to do the same thing my V1000, but i dont want to derivet/rerivet my floor.

Only suggestion i could make is you might want to put some gromets on the floor holes where you have tubing running through... even if they arent that sharp. gomets dont look bad either.

Fillport -> res is sexy

:clap:

[redphoenix]

Only suggestion i could make is you might want to put some gromets on the floor holes where you have tubing running through... even if they arent that sharp. gomets dont look bad either.


:clap:

Funny you should say that. Since I am waiting on my stuff still, I decided to pull the floor and go from 3/4" to 1 1/8 to add grommets. My machinist told me the same thing - to use grommets just in case :)


http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20049.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20054.jpg

http://mysoarer.com/computers/rocketfish/modding/Picture%20057.jpg

[Serpentarius]

looks nice and very original

[redphoenix]

My board comes Wednesday... I dont know about you but I am STOKED!

[philbrown23]

nice man! to bad about the board though

[redphoenix]

In the mean time I treated myself to some Yamaha 390 BL's for my audio. No worries, ill be able to play my TF2 without lagging soon.

[chinkgai]

mine is such a monstrosity compared to yours...

great job!!

[redphoenix]

Got my Abit IP35Pro back from RMA. Tested it... wouldnt turn on. Also found out my OCZ600w PSU is failing epically. -5v doesnt work. I bought a CoolerMaster Real Power Pro 750w for less than you would imagine, brand new in box. I guess its good I work in a computer chain haha...

Computer is running, I am typing on it right now. I just need to button it up together.

Stay Tuned!!