Project: LucentTide - V1000 LC Build

Project LucentTide
Welcome to my build log for my watercooling setup. Ive been planning this project for a while, just been waiting for the right time to buy parts, and of course having the funds :)

I'll start by keeping an updated list of what I've used in this project:

Quote:

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Waterblocks:
- D-tek Fuzion v2
- MIPS UD3 Northbridge & MOSFET blocks
Radiators
- Swiftech MCR220-QP
- XSPC RX120
Pumps:
- MCP355 w/ XSPC res-top
- MCP655 w/ EK D5 X-Top V2
Reservoirs
- Swiftech Micro-res V1 (retired)
- EK multioption 150
Tubing:
-Tygon R-3603 7/16" ID (retired)
- Primochill LRT 7/16" Blue UV (retired)
- Clearflex 1/2"ID 3/4"OD
Air Cooling:
- Thermalright T-Rad 2
Fans:
- Petras Yate Loon D12SM & D12SH
- Scythe Gentile Typhoon H
- Scythe Kaze-JYU 100x12mm (On T-rad)

Hardware:
- Intel Core2Duo E8400
- Gigabyte P45-UD3P
- 4GB G.SKILL DDR2 PC8500
- Sapphire HD4870
- Corsair 620HX
- Abit IP-35 Pro (retired)

Misc:
- PT_Nuke
- Lian Li EX-23NB HDD bay
- Arctic Cooling MX-2
- AC Ryan 240mm "Stripes" Radgrill
- Silverstone TJ09 Case Feet
- Sunbeam Rheobus on Lian Li Faceplate
- Sleeved ATX 24pin 12" extension

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Before I begin: Unlike many XS builds, this is my modest college-student budget build! I'm not going to blow you away with outrageous products & hardware, but hopefully impress on practicality, cosmetics, and photography! I hope you find my build log useful and or enjoyable. Thanks!



Log

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0212.jpg
Opteron 148 system half dissembled

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0215.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0222.jpg
The case is actually a rebranded Lian Li that i got from Microcenter for $120 a few months back.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0218.jpg
I assume that PowerSpec got to rebrand these because of Lian Li factory defects... here you can see some marks on the mobo tray. no biggie.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0224.jpg
First shipment of parts! Thanks Jab-Tech

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0225.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0226.jpg
While waiting on everything else to come, i started cutting the case. Here's where the first cuts will be made. This cut will open up a lot of area for cables to be routed/hidden

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0228.jpg
After initial cut, but not finished... You can see the minor scratches on the rack that i made while filing :\

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0238.jpg
Not too bad, could use more filing... damn scratches



Well, that's it for now. Next updates when the rest of the parts arrive!
Stay tuned, lots more to come!

I'm staying tuned!

Can't wait to see the finished product.

good luck on your project..awaiting more pics ^^

New shipment of parts! This time its from Performance-PCs; thanks guys
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0240.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0242.jpg
mmm.. parts

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0243.jpg
Rheobus guts with stock and lian li faceplate before cutting

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0245.jpg
The radgrill and the case finishes are not a perfect match, but it'll do

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0246.jpg
potential location

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0247.jpg
trying out the case feet. (not mounted)

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0248.jpg
TJ09 feet

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0250.jpg
i like.... gotta do something with hat badge though


Mods TODO: (from this shipment only)
-Rheobus Lian Li faceplate drilling & mounting
-Rheobus LED modifications (dimming)
-Fully sleeving the 24pin ATX power extender (individual wires)

Petras (rest of the w/c stuff) and Newegg (new hardware) come tomorrow, see you then

Those feet are pretty good. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.

nice man now just to finish it!lol

great idea on buying the psu extender and just sleeving that, thinking i'l be giving that a go myself:up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by requ13m

great idea on buying the psu extender and just sleeving that, thinking i'l be giving that a go myself:up:

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Yeah, it was an idea from a member on hardforum... ive seen a few people do it here too.

Ive actually completed the sleeving, and got the rest of my parts in, however my camera was hijacked (temporarily)... Ill probably find another camera soon

Im in the process of cutting the opening for the rad.

The 3/8" tubing has proven too small for the 1/2" barbs. I didnt try heating with hot water however. I had to order some barbs for the pump and some more sleeving, so i just went ahead and bought some 7/16" Tygon.

Expecting a completion date sometime next week.

I have finally decided on my loop setup.

Although my initial loop will not be the most optimal, it will work best with my intended final loop.

My final loop intension is when I add the GPU block, to add a 120.1 radiator to the fan slot at the rear of the case. Potentially a NB block too

Initial loop: Res -> Pump -> CPU -> 240 Rad
Final Loop: Res -> Pump -> 120 Rad -> CPU -> GPU -> 240 Rad

The final loop will be whenver a worthy block comes out for the ATi 4870. How long do you expect a block to come out for the 4870 once its released? (that is, if a different block doesnt already work) I am speaking of course about a full coverage block, not one that covers just GPU.

Subscribed :up:

Well, my camera has been returned, so heres a rather large update! I have some pictures missing in between, sorry! Feel free to ask any questions

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0251.jpg
The extenders came already sleeved, so i just cut the sleeving halfway, and
sleeved the other side. Cable tie in place to prevent the inevitable unraveling

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0257.jpg
Tie off, shrink in place

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0256.jpg
just getting a feel :cool: I really need a black connector

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0260.jpg
Completed shot along with the tools used.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0261.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0266.jpg
Dont be a noob :shakes:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0268.jpg
Petras order!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0269.jpg
Newegg order!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0270.jpg
Block and pump after some cleaning

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Ok, heres where I didnt take pictures. But here's what's been done:
-Radiator hole cut
-Pump L bracket fabricated
-Radiator, Res, Pump, CPU block+mobo mounted
-7/16" Tygon tubing fitted

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0372.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0373.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0374.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0375.jpg
I lost 1 of the rad mounting screws, but i am replacing them with black screws anyway

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0376.jpg
TJ09 Feet attatched

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0379.jpg
Filled up and leak testing!
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So i really like the loop. That being said.... the hard drives dont fit when the res is installed :ROTF::shakes:

I have this on order to remedy the problem
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ts/EX-23NB.jpg

Thats all i got for now! Sorry for the terrible pics, i will be taking final pictures with my DSLR.
Rheobus mods to come

looking good mate :up:

I envy you guys that live so close to petras & PPc... if I need a new part its a 1-2 week wait on USPS :(

b@llz0r... my sympathies go to you and other non-US/UK w/c'ers :)

haha i get impatient when it takes more than 3 days :shrug:

in other news, HDD rack should be here on friday :rolleyes: (this time from FrozenCPU)

How did you cut the top? More detailed pics please :) (I'm going the same route)

like the way you mounted the pump & reservoir. :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ctgilles

How did you cut the top? More detailed pics please :) (I'm going the same route)

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Sorry, i didnt take a bunch of pics during the process as i planned, I didnt have my camera at the time

I cut the top with a Dremel and Reinforced Cutting Disks (dont skimp out on the disks... other cutting disks will break very often -- ie. flying shrapnel). I used about 2 disks total (none broke, just got too small to use)

I used the template provided with the AC Ryan Radgrill.

The cutting was fairly easy, mostly due to the soft nature of aluminum. Cutting ON the lines of the template, otherwise youll be able to see edge of your cut when the grill is installed. As everyone says, go slow, let the dremel do the work. Dont apply too much pressure either.

My method for cutting a line was to lightly cut into the metal for the wholbre length of the cut, then going over it multiple time until i completely cut through. Dont try to get your dremel through the metal, then move it down the line. Youll loose a lot of control of your cut, and not to mention break a lot of disks and put a ton of stress on your Dremel.

Also, i cant stress this enough, make sure the holes on the rad fit the ones on the rad grill before using the radgrill's template for screw holes! I made this mistake, and realized that 4 (one fan's worth) of holes were about 1mm too far away. I had already drilled the holes in the case, and had to enlarge them. (not a biggy because they are covered by the grill anyway).

Hope this helps

Quote:

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Originally Posted by emoners

like the way you mounted the pump & reservoir. :up:

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Thanks! This is my favorite part of the loop too. Even though it did put both my hdd racks out of service :rolleyes:

nice work mate very clean :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lyl

I have this on order to remedy the problem
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ts/EX-23NB.jpg

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WTF is that? Link?

nice. more pics please...

skinnee thats a hard drive bay, can be found on PPCs' Lian Li Section...
also available 3slot 4 hard drives EX-34N...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skinnee

WTF is that? Link?

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As septim said its a HDD bay for 5.25 slots. Takes up 2 bays, holds 3 hard drives.

Heres where i got mine
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/61...oling_Kit.html

Small update later today

Woot. I'm waiting :D

Great job so far.

in the mean time of my hdd rack arriving, here's a small update of what i did yesterday

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0383.jpg
target: header cables

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0384.jpg
pins out

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0385.jpg
finished product.... the sleeving i used in these pictures was TERRIBLE! not to mention extremely poor quality heatshrink, which i probably will be re-doing in the future. dont mind the ties holding some of the sleeving on.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0386.jpg
fans sleeved

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0389.jpg
i wanted to sleeve the pump, but didnt have a molex tool. so i found that the tip of a ink pen worked surprisingly good for removing the pins. i'll be sleeving this after i get molex pins because i am going to shorten the wires.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0393.jpg
hard drive rails removed from the bottom. atx power in place

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0395.jpg


http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0396.jpg
this makes me thirsty :yepp: haze in the tubing is due to flash

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0397.jpg
pain in the arse to plug in w/o taking out the rad.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0398.jpg
the starting of a (sleeved) wire-mess

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...8f57b460a6.jpg
before...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/IMG_0399.jpg
...and after :p: (1 of 2 of my workspaces)
================================================== =
let me know if any of these pics dont work... i am at work and some arent loading.

My rheobus mod is taking longer than i thought... i am still contemplating on the best way to drill the holes into a bay cover. But I am getting the resistors to dim the LEDs today hopefully. and will solder them in tonight.

HDD bay tomorrow too

-Logan

load fine for me. beautiful product man!!

a very clean desk you have there. i envy that...

nice sleeving, how long a roll did you buy, my guest its more than 50ft, hehehe...