Project: T*Type 9

[NaMcO]

With a name clearly based on a widely known shooter (R-Type), here are a few pictures and comments about my main computer build. It all started back in March 2008, suffered a few updates along the way, and finished this week, after i'm completely satisfied with it.

The only thing that remains to be done is replacing the rear radiator fan (it's a SilenX there and replacing with a Noctua, far better, far less noise) and it's officialy done.

So let's start with the pictures...


These are the oldest pictures, you can see the initial stuff i bought to replace my Abit IC7-MAX3, P4 3.2Ghz and a 6800GT graphics card:

Fan, pump, temperature controller, the Aquaero:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel01.jpg

A few connectors, initially the tubing was 8/6 with plug-n-cool connectors:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel02.jpg

Beginning the assembly, that's an EVGA 680i motherboard and Team RAM:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel05.jpg

Everything already inside the Silverstone TJ-09, pump in place and the LCPOWER Arkangel 700W which was replaced later on. It proved to be a low quality PSU.

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel06.jpg

Pump and reservoir in higher detail:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel07.jpg

This is the 8800GTS 320 which powered the 3D Graphics back then, you can also see the southbridge waterblock:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel08.jpg

A bit of cable management, i really hate cables flying all over the case:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel09.jpg

All done and already pumping FESER cooling fluid:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel10.jpg

This is the final build, as it stood back in March:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel11.jpg

A few months later, the 8800GT came out and although it was a better card than the 8800GTS, i didn't really think it deserved an upgrade. Everything i played was okay for my resolution (1400x1050 at the time) so i stuck with the GTS. Even later, the new GTS 512 came out and then i decided to upgrade the videocard, this time with the new copper version of the waterblock. The power supply had already been replaced by Corsair's phenomenal HX620 too:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel20.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel21.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel22.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel24.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel25.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel13.jpg

Also tried these OCZ Reapers, but they proved far worse overclockers and performers than the Team Elites (is that even possible?):

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel15.jpg

Another small update along the timeline, the superb XSPC + Laing DDC combo:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/intel18.jpg

After a few months, decided to ditch the 680i and bought myself a P45 motherboard, the ASUS P5Q Deluxe. Here's what i did to her :D:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_1.png

And then this:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_2.png

Bought a new CPU waterblock - Barbs: You're out! (Can't stand High Flow tubing):

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_3.jpg

And then this happened:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_4.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_5.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_6.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_7.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_8.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_9.jpg

Getting ready to spice things up with cable management:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_10.jpg

I will continue the worklog in the next post...

[NaMcO]

So... here we are.

This picture is a bit more advanced in time with the new 9800GX2 already in place and the new tubing and blue FESER running:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_11.jpg

Cabling:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_14.jpg

Turned the HDD cage to the back so it's much easier to connect all the cables:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_16.jpg

Still filling up and removing a few bubbles here:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_17.jpg

Illuminated with two white LEDs (can be turned on/off with a switch in the back of the case):

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_19.jpg

A few more pictures of how it was back then:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_20.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_21.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_22.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_25.jpg

UV neon effect which can also be turned on or off with a similar switch to the LEDs:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_30.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_31.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_32.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_33.jpg

Preparing the 9800GX2 to go with the EK waterblock:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_36.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_40.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_43.jpg

And here he is:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_45.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_46.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_47.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_48.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_50.jpg

Now you don't have water...

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_51.jpg

Now you do...

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_52.jpg

Seems to work well:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_53.jpg

Also got a 24" monitor meanwhile:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_63.jpg

And an OCZ ram cooler:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/p45_68.jpg

And finally exchanged the 9800GX2 with a GTX280. There were several reasons behind this decision, as the PC was already excellent and performing *almost* as i wanted it to. The idle consumption of the GTX280, single GPU solution and a little bit more performance than the 9800GX2 made me change. I spend a lot of time on my computer and i'm not playing games all the time, so idle consumption did make a difference and i practically traded in the GX2 for the 280, not much money involved:

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_1.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_2.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_3.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_4.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_5.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_6.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_7.jpg

http://www.allsinclair.com/project/280_8.jpg

Well, that's all for now. I might skip the whole Nehalem thing (i kept my P4 for 3 years and intend to do similar with this rig) so it's going to be a long time before i do anything else ;)

Thanks for looking!

[LogAn'sRun]

Sweet pics! I like the compression, and I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but your system now looks a 1000 times better! And I'm not talking hardware, the whole thing looks very clean and well done.

[just a noob]

i like the looks of those gtx coolers, is there an sli option with them?

[BlueAqua]

Damn nice!! I haven't seen that much Aqua Computer goodness in a single thread in a LONG time. Was your cpu block and AC Cuplex Double Impact?

Your setup really does look great and looks like it's performing quite well. I have the same gpu temperatures as you did with your 9800gx2. I have the same block.

[Extigy]

your latest build looks very nice, those aquacomputer blocks are V nice, a fine piece of german engineering!

I love push fittings, shame you can't get them in a larger diameter!

[NaMcO]

Thanks everyone for your comments. The waterblock i had was the CuplexXT before i changed to the Swiftech model. I did this because the Cuplex was a bit restrictive. I don't think there's an SLI version of this block, but with this tubing it's dead easy to add another GTX (if you have the motherboard for it) and cool both with water.

I love the AC waterblocks, i prefer them over the EK in looks and they're as performing as EK's. I was trying to get one for the 9800GX2 but the EK model showed up in the store first and i wanted to cool off that beast so... ;)

[Lagaaja]

Yeah right you're keeping that build, even in this log you changed parts like ten times or so :D

Anyway, nice rig :)

[inCore]

When I saw the pictures of your green build, I was waiting to scroll down to see the hateful posts from the 90-degree-barbs-hater-club. I definitely prefer the way it finally turned out! Good stuff.

And score, 300 posts. What an uneventful and disappointing milestone. :p:

[NaMcO]

Yeah right you're keeping that build, even in this log you changed parts like ten times or so :D

Anyway, nice rig :)

Yes, i am. Found what i wanted, happened the same on my last PC. :cool: