Liquid Mango Project (lots of pictures)

[Mangofire]

Thanks to all the advice off this forum I was able to go from not knowing a thing about water cooling to building my first rig. The Wizard project on here really caught my eye while doing research.
It gave me a lot of ideas on what I wanted to build and what to choose for parts. I hope by posting a few of my on photo's it might help someone else out as Rincewinds helped me out a lot.
I still need some more lights, a fan controler and wiring work but I need to add some colored fans first but I just can't decide on the color, red, green or all blue.

This was my first try water cooling and if you can afford it, do it!
I built this system after months of picking out the right parts. Believe it or not the case is the hardest thing to choose. There are so many good cases but I saw this one and I just love the design
and those hardrive bays are just plain cool.

Anyway here is a breakdown of the computer, and the water cooling.


Liquid Mango

Cooler Master COSMOS 1000 CASE
Cooler Master COSMOS 1000 Custom DIY Bolt-On Full Window Kit
5 X Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fans
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Processor 3.16GHz
MB: EVGA 780i
GPU: 8800GTS 512 x 2 SLI
RAM: 4GB OCZ 1066
OCZ OCZTXTCC Memory Cooler
PSU: OCZ 700W
HD: 2 X WD 250 gig
OS: XP 32BIT
DRIVERS 175.16 BETA

Cooling

Flow path ...........Pump-220Rad-CPU-Chipset-120RAD-GPU-GPU-Reservoir

Swiftech MCR-120 "Quiet Power" Series Radiator
Swiftech MCR-220 "Quiet Power" Series Radiator
Swiftech MCP655 12 VDC Pump
D-TEK FuZion Universal CPU Waterblock - 1/2"
D-Tek FuZion Accelerator Nozzle Kit
2 x Danger Den IONE Full Cover GPU Waterblock (For 8800GT and G92 GTS)
Viperjohn 780I SPP/NF200 Chipset Water Block & Vcore Mosfet Heat Sink Kits G1/4 Support
EVERCOOL EC-VC-RE Ball All In One Vga Cooler Kit
XSPC Dual Bay Reservoir 5.25" with Bubble Window - Clear
About 15' of 1/2" ID (3/4" OD) Tygon R-3603 Laboratory-Grade Tubing
Koolance Swiveling Angle Fittings
Feser One Non Conductive Cooling Fluid - 1000 ml - UV Blue
15 x Herbie Clip Nylon Hose Clamp Size H
Arctic Silver Ceramique Thermal Compound


Here is the old rig. Since EVGA was offering me a step up to 780i from the 680i and I really wanted one of those new E8500 cpu thats when it all started.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Picture002.jpg

Bought a new case another gpu some more memory and a window kit.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Picture032.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos061.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos068.jpg

Transplant is complete
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos074.jpg

Just can't stop there

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos005.jpg

It's like Christmas

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos008.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos015.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos017.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos003.jpg

Now to put all of this inside the case.

First I mounted the pump in the upper HD bays, its hidden and easy to access.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos024.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos022.jpg

Had to cut two holes in the side of the bay to get the water in and out
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos028.jpg

Next, setting up the MB, by the way the toothpick idea of lining up holes for heatsinks is priceless.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos032.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos035.jpg

Mistake number 1, I put the cpu bracket on incorrectly, thought the intel should line up with the Dtek but I fixed that later.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos039.jpg

Mistake number 2, Should have sleeved the Evercool cooler before putting this all together

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos041.jpg

Now the GPU's

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos040.jpg

The 220 Rad was easy to mount, the 120 however would fit in the back but it interfered with the closing latch for the door no mater how I mounted it so I took this time to ponder where I could put the 120. I wanted to keep it inside the case. Hmmm

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos001-4.jpg

I decided to mount it in the bottom floor, no cutting required, until you try putting the bottom back on the case. Had to grid a bit of plastic off to clear the screw heads.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos048.jpg

Note to self. Leave more slack in your lines just in case you have a problem
and don't use a battery as a plug just because your tired and want to see this puppy run. The fluid will leak thru the battery. Dumb idea I know.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos049.jpg

So I used the wifes plastic bead container instead, lol.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos059.jpg

Ok bleeding and leak test is complete, lets fire it up.

Not good! Booted into windows fine then crash BSOD, this is not what I was hoping for. All that work and she won't even turn over now. What did I do wrong it started up fine then died. After hours of checking and testing my new gpu had shorted out.
Not sure if it was something I did or the card just was bad. I did notice that when I removed the stock heatsink that one of the spings on the back and welded itself to the board so I concluded that the card had started to fry before I did anything.
So now it was time to drain everything and run with one gpu during the RMA process.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos004.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Computer%20Stuff/Cosmos015-1.jpg

After waiting 2 more weeks to get the new gpu I decided I didn't like the layout and moved the 120 Rad to the back, using some 3/4 steel and 1/4 nylon spacers and some 2 1/2" 6/32 screws I made my own offset bracket
for the rad.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos124.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos125.jpg

Now I'm done except for lighting, wiring and a fan controller.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos037.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos052.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos063.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos071.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos098.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos103.jpg

And the results speak for themselves

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/21604-1.jpg

I can't seem to ge this cpu stable past 4.635Ghz even with 1.7vcore but hey I can't complain It was a lot of fun building this computer. Thanks again to all of those who post there info. I could not have done this without you guys.

[TedShred]

Good job on the cosmos. THat looks great!

Stealthing the pump in the HDD cage was a plan I'd abandoned for my upcoming loops, but after seeing yours in action I'm rethinking the drop. Very cool. I was wondering about the fit of a 655 inside the cage so the pics were especially handy.

[DarthBeavis]

First let me say . . .you need a an etched window that says ' Do not touch the Mango'
http://people.uncw.edu/tompkinsj/105/daybyday/flash/angelyn/mango.jpg

Nice loops tho and great build.

[dubtown]

howd you mount the 220 in the top? any pics with the black plastic off?

[DavidP]

Looks good :clap:

[ANP !!!]

Looks damn good. Is the OCZ 700w able to handle the SLI GTS + OCed E8500 ??

[MomijiTMO]

ROFL @ the Energizer battery plug

Keep up the good work mate.

[-Evo-]

Looks great! Congrats on the first WC build.

[Mangofire]

You can only line up 4 of the holes in the top of the case with the 220 Rad but once scure its not going anywhere.
I'm think of adding a triple in the top, cut an extra hole and then put the 220 in the back and the 120 in the front and cut a hole there. The
best thing about this case is your choices are not very limited. Here's a shot for you dubtown.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/Cosmos.jpg
So far the OCZ 700w is doing just fine but its only a matter of time and new gpu's before I'll be needing a +1000W.

[bullet2urbrain]

not bad for a n00b ;)

Cheers Mango from Jim ;)


If you can please this tough crowd, you've done well :D


EDIT: Welcome Mango :D

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Turn around the radiator on the back so you don't have those massive tubing runs. Drill new holes below the radiator if you need to. :welcome: to XS

[NaeKuh]

Arent Mango's suposed to be Orange and Yellow? :rofl:

Nice build, shows you put a lot of time into it.

However a little warning, you really dont want to push a wolfdale higher then 1.4-1.45 on prolong periods of time. Trust me, i killed mine @ 1.57 and it wasnt a happy moment. :T

[headala]

First let me say . . .you need a an etched window that says ' Do not touch the Mango'
http://people.uncw.edu/tompkinsj/105/daybyday/flash/angelyn/mango.jpg

Nice loops tho and great build.

LOL! That's exactly what I was thinking of when I saw this title.

Nice build. Hope the RMA goes well for you.

[Bubbaxm2]

Hella fine job for your first time. I like the pic of you pondering what to do. I did the same thing for about 2 hours when I set up the water cooling in my Thermaltake Armor. My wife thought I had lost my mind.:)

[Mangofire]

Yes I'm a Noob Jim, but I'm trying.
Naekue, I game at 3.8 to 4.0 with 1.45 rock steady so yes the volts are high but when going for the max output of the E8500 I had to push it, had it been a $1000 Quad I might have been a bit more cautious.
The thing I found is I could hit the same OC on air so IMO its not temps that limit me on this chip its volts. I can get it to post at 4.8 but its not stable enough for an 06 run. Maybe on a cold day I'll try 1.8:)
Mango's are a different color hence the long tubes out the back make it easier to drain and flush for a new color when I get bored with blue. I may buy colored sets of lights and fans so I can change it when I'm bored.
Besides I didn't like the T junction when I had the rad on the bottom. Pondering is something we all do along with months of research. My wife would ask me what are you doing, my reply for months was "choosing a case for water cooling."
This is addictive stuff, mods, water cooling, phase cooling, and overclocking. Once you done with a build your already thinking of how to change it, what can I add or better yet my next rig will be.........

I hear a lot of stuff about Mango on SNL, but I love the pic Darth I'm saving that one!

[nikhsub1]

First let me say . . .you need a an etched window that says ' Do not touch the Mango'
http://people.uncw.edu/tompkinsj/105/daybyday/flash/angelyn/mango.jpg

Nice loops tho and great build.
ROFL. One of the best SNL skits EVAR!

[DarthBeavis]

Best skit was with Garth Brooks . . .

[disruptfam]

nice tidy setup mate looks good nice perf 2!

[septim]

looking good...

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Very nice :up:

[Hijack]

You have a very impressive build. Good work!

[Mangofire]

Thanks guys, I got a bit higher today 21683 on Mark06 today. I'm just stuck at 4.63Ghz and 2030 on the FSB and can't seem to get past it. The gpu's are clocking well and now it's time try some volt mods or bios changes or both. The cpu seems maxed out but the gpu's are at the point where more power is needed. I'm open to suggestions?

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/mgriffi3/Cosmos/21683.jpg

[Mangofire]

Opps that FSB sticking point was 2060, 2065 and she BSOD's

[elpibe10]

Very impressive :up:

[Serpentarius]

very nice!
though the tube placement can be revised more ...

[Atal]

wow impressive work there, How much vcore are u puttin on that E8500???

[Anemic]

Awsome build! The Cosmos is an impressive looking case.

[Prizy]

helped me out heaps in where to mount my pa 120.2 in there :D thankyou !

[Mr_Mike]

looks good