Mountain Mods Extended Ascension Build (stage 5 water) COMPLETE!

Hi Guys,

Well with a baby on the way it was time to clean up my setup and consolidate my computers, and resize for a smaller area in the dining room.

I have bought some new grey glass desks for a nook in what has become the new dining/office room. As you can imagine, she who must be obeyed has an eagle eye on what ever I do in this new room.

I have built the tables and started disassembling my old build into a new MM extended ascension case in gloss black with smoked windows.

Wow it's a lot of work, im sore all over, (moving a treadmill up a flight of stairs and disassembling a 8 seater solid timber dining table will do that!) Even my fingers are sore from 5hrs of computer construction.

Im about 1/3 of the way on the MM build with 2 of the triple GTX360 mounted with air boxes and the mother board with GPUs mounted.

I'll post a couple progress pics tonight.
For now here is the before shot and pic of the new MM.

http://w7st5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...ut2.jpg?psid=1

http://w7st5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...ng1.jpg?psid=1

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...ng5.jpg?psid=1

http://w7st5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...ion.jpg?psid=1

Progress on the new build.

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Test fitting all the components... need some serious cable management here before Im finished!!!

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wow i can't imagine how much you spend on that stuff

Last update for today...
Quick fan test.

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While it's not listed in the Laing manual, I would take great care bleeding the system with the pumps in that orientation as it will allow air to stay in them. The best thing to do would be to unmount the pumps for bleeding so that all the air can be bled out and then remount them only after you are 100% certain all the air is gone and there is little chance of any being reintroduced into the loop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waterlogged

While it's not listed in the Laing manual, I would take great care bleeding the system with the pumps in that orientation as it will allow air to stay in them. The best thing to do would be to unmount the pumps for bleeding so that all the air can be bled out and then remount them only after you are 100% certain all the air is gone and there is little chance of any being reintroduced into the loop.

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outlet should always be pointed up as WL is trying to say.

Because when you got outlet down, the direction of water is now down.

This can lead to an air pocket getting stuck in the top portion of your impeller which could allow it to run dry and burn itself out.

This is why we recommend u possitioning your pump so even if your pump was off, gravity itself could push out the bubbles u had in the pump.


Also, bro, get a couple of these guys:
http://www.jab-tech.com/images/D/d_2...?1298400779276

Then mod a new wire from the middle 4 pin molex, to a simple fan header on the other head.

And then connect the fan header side onto a high powered fan controller.

This way u can hide all that messy wires below your rad, and only have 2 or 3 each going to one of those nexus junctions and then to its respectable radiator.

love this case, i'm ordering this case in anodized finish for my sr-2 build.
so - your pics done great work for me about the smoked glass.

what about cable management & sleeving?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NaeKuh

outlet should always be pointed up as WL is trying to say.

Because when you got outlet down, the direction of water is now down.

This can lead to an air pocket getting stuck in the top portion of your impeller which could allow it to run dry and burn itself out.

This is why we recommend u possitioning your pump so even if your pump was off, gravity itself could push out the bubbles u had in the pump.

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I'm running DDC's this way for years and never had air trapped inside (i know cause i have plexi tops). The vortex is so high in the impeller area that i don't think that it'll ever trap air.

Nice case, it's very biiig :)
What abuout with cable?

wow that case is huge, i like where it is going for sure :) maybe some rig specs though? did i miss em?
psu? fans?

wow mate nice setup, Are those 3x HDTV's or what ? Looks slick with really thin bezels..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Computurd

wow that case is huge, i like where it is going for sure :) maybe some rig specs though? did i miss em?
psu? fans?

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This is the spec im rebuilding (from the before shot) in the new MM case with an i7 950 in place of the 930.

Thermaltake Xasier VI CPU Case with
1 x i7 930 @ 4.4Ghz 1.44v @ 210x21 with Swiftech Apogee XT waterblock
3 x 2GB (6GB) g.skill ddr3 2000 @ 1.66v 1680Mhz 8-8-8-20 1T with 3 x Koolance RAM-35 Waterblocks with sliding connectors
1 x 5970 @ 1000/1300 1.3v EK waterblock (2 GPU)
2 x 5870 @ 1000/1300 1.3v EK waterblocks (1GPU per card)
+
1 x 8800Ultra nvidia dedicated for physx (air cooled)
Total 5 GPUs yeah total overkill....

1 x Gigabyte X58A-UD9 with 1 x EK-FB KIT GA X58A (UD9) Full Board NB/SB waterblock
2 x Vertex LE 100GB SSD Raid 0
2 x Vertex 120GB SSD Raid 0
2 x Seagate 1.5TB SATAII Raid 1
2 x Seagate 500GB SATAII
1 x LG Blu-Ray DVD
7 x coolermaster 2000rpm 90CFM 120mm silent fans
1 x Aero cool touch 1000 4 ch fan controller (deleted from new build - no space!)
1 x Coolermaster 1250W supply
3 x 24 inch 1920x1080 monitors (no they're not HDTV's they're proper 2ms gaming LCDs)
1 x Asus VK266H 25.5inch 1920x1200 for when im not using eyefinity (now to be permanently setup as HDTV/media centre)

Coolermaster Stacker 810 dedicated cooling case
3 x Blackice GTX 360 rads (push-pull fans) (now with rad air boxes front and back)
22 x coolermaster 2000rpm 90CFM 120mm silent fans
3 x Scythe Kaze Server 4 ch automatic fan controllers
2 x D5 12V Speed Variable speed water pumps in push-pull
1 x EK-Bay Spin Reservoir Acetal

Gaming kit
Trackir 4 pro
Saitek x52pro (with hall sensor mod)
Saitek Pro Rudder pedals
Logitech G19 Gaming keyboard
Logitech G13 Gaming Keypad
Logitech performance MX darkfield laser mouse
Logitech Z-5500 5.1 surround with Sony 70ES speakers and 10" logitech sub (this has to be down sized in the new computer area to the thin sony tower speakers that are hidden behind the monitors slightly)

Stuff thats likely to make it's way into this build shortly..

Koolance TMS-200 software controller with expansion board to replace the scythe fan controllers and help reduce cable clutter (higher amperage per fan channel)
1 or maybe 2 New Koolance RP-452X2 Dual 5.25" Reservoirs to replace the the EK and remount the pumps, possibly with a 3rd D5 pump
A fourth GTX360 mounted in the back of the case.
New fans allround. Sounds like the coolermaster are starting to get bearing noise after only 6 months of continuous use.

Sleeved cabling and a complete rethink of cable management generally.

Like to have, but gotta stop somewhere stuff.... ;) yer right!

2 x Koolance 1000W water cooled power supplies.
2 x ATI 6990 dual GPU cards water blocked
980X CPU

I have a similar build and am going to be adding a Phobya Nova 1080 rad in the front and thinking a couple quad 120's on the right side.

I already have a swiftech mcp 655 water pump. Would i need to add another or something better?

[QUOTE=NaeKuh;4756069]

Also, bro, get a couple of these guys:
http://www.jab-tech.com/images/D/d_2...?1298400779276

Then mod a new wire from the middle 4 pin molex, to a simple fan header on the other head. - What do you mean, cause i was thinking of doing something similar...

i went and bought 3 of these guys, because i thought i was gonna be using a on/off type fan controller, but i went for a rhoebus style... and now, those things are useless, and i dont really wanna go buy tons of fan splitters. So a more detailed description would GREATLY help me :D[QUOTE]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zaxis01

I have a similar build and am going to be adding a Phobya Nova 1080 rad in the front and thinking a couple quad 120's on the right side.

I already have a swiftech mcp 655 water pump. Would i need to add another or something better?

---

Depends on your system water blocks and how restrictive the loop is now, rads are pretty low restriction but they will add a bit. I would probably recommend another pump in series. My long loop only just manages to turn the flow meter in the res if i turn off 1 of the D5s. The system doesnt overheat or anything, but its a lot of load to put on one pump. My system actually runs 4-5c cooler if I turn off 1 pump but I dont trust it on one. When i finish the MM rebuild i will be running the D5s at a lower speed to slow down the loop to give the water more time to cool in the rads and reduce heat dump from the pumps.

RE: Sunbeamtech power splitter.

Thats why I have so many fan controllers, I have them setup for automatic fan control to ramp up fan speeds with temperature load on the water temp. I can only run 2 fans per controller at the mo' and even then the fans dont reach max rpm, only get 1800 out of the 2000rpm max, which is why I want to replace the setup with a TMS-200 that can handle 2amps per channel. The fans normally run at 650rpm with system at idle to keep things quiet and they ramp up to about 1000rpm for a medium load and near max rpm for something like metro 2033 or benching.

I dont want fans at full RPM all the time!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phatboy69

Depends on your system water blocks and how restrictive the loop is now, rads are pretty low restriction but they will add a bit. I would probably recommend another pump in series. My long loop only just manages to turn the flow meter in the res if i turn off 1 of the D5s. The system doesnt overheat or anything, but its a lot of load to put on one pump. My system actually runs 4-5c cooler if I turn off 1 pump but I dont trust it on one. When i finish the MM rebuild i will be running the D5s at a lower speed to slow down the loop to give the water more time to cool in the rads and reduce heat dump from the pumps.

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Well I'm using a Swiftech apogee xt xtreme CPU block, 2x Koolance VID-NX580's
And An ek-fb re3 full mb waterblock.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zaxis01

Well I'm using a Swiftech apogee xt xtreme CPU block, 2x Koolance VID-NX580's
And An ek-fb re3 full mb waterblock.

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I think you'll benefit from another pump then once you put in more Rad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phatboy69

I think you'll benefit from another pump then once you put in more Rad.

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Cool. Cause i was thinking about picking up a laing D5 Vario. :)

What would you recommend?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zaxis01

Cool. Cause i was thinking about picking up a laing D5 Vario. :)

What would you recommend?

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Well.... it might not look like it, but im still fairly new to water cooling, Ive basically contantly upgraded my system over the last 6 months and its my first water cooled system. This is my 5th revision to the setup in 6 months and the biggest change. It all started a short time ago with a Thermaltake bigwater system to cut my teeth on before I got the confidence to go custom.

Based on my humble and limited experience, 2 x d5s seem to be better than some of the more exotic higher power pumps and you get redundancy if running them in series. If you have a D5 or equivalent already, better to keep with the same wouldnt you think?

You can see my complete build log for the original system here with lots of pics and some benchies>http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...d.php?t=909664

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zaxis01

Cool. Cause i was thinking about picking up a laing D5 Vario. :)

What would you recommend?

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2x 35x pumps, best flow/head performance imo, go check out martin's extensive testing of pump roundups.. :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phatboy69

Well.... it might not look like it, but im still fairly new to water cooling, Ive basically contantly upgraded my system over the last 6 months and its my first water cooled system. This is my 5th revision to the setup in 6 months and the biggest change. It all started a short time ago with a Thermaltake bigwater system to cut my teeth on before I got the confidence to go custom.

Based on my humble and limited experience, 2 x d5s seem to be better than some of the more exotic higher power pumps and you get redundancy if running them in series. If you have a D5 or equivalent already, better to keep with the same wouldnt you think?

You can see my complete build log for the original system here with lots of pics and some benchies>http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...d.php?t=909664

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Yeah. I'm kinda thinking the same thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Johnny87au

2x 35x pumps, best flow/head performance imo, go check out martin's extensive testing of pump roundups.. :up:

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Can you post a link?

Its Alive!!!!! Almost!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Leak tested and all ok...:thumb:
I used all my koolance high flow quick disconnects so that I can remove equipment more easily in the future and experiment with different loop routes....

Just need to do some wiring and I can power her up and bring it to life.

I'll be doing some temp monitoring with the new loop config on the i7 930 before I put the new 950 CPU and see what she can do!!!

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...927.JPG?psid=1

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wow.... that thing must be what the cookie monster is to cookies of dust!!!!

All up and running! Looks unreal! :cool::cool:

Got the DSLR camera out for these shots so they are better quality.
Sorry about the reflections, not much I can do about it without setting up a studio!

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Can't see the pics :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RCG_Bex

Can't see the pics :(

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I can, and looks nice! Black and purple awesomeness! :D

OMG photohop the macbook out :)

Nice setup I love when i see someone with too many computers I show my girlfriend and say see!! I'm not crazy :)

HOLY CRAP!!!

1st attempt at 4.6Ghz with new i7 950.....
Havent stress tested yet but this is the fastest Ive ever been!

http://w7st5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...dle.jpg?psid=1

Wow that's a lot of quick disconnects. Do you find yourself connecting and disconnecting quite frequently?

^and quickly? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DexNfX

Wow that's a lot of quick disconnects. Do you find yourself connecting and disconnecting quite frequently?

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Its easier for maintenance and safer for the components, since I can remove any component from the system without flushing the whole loop out.

Less chance of a spillage as they are high flow no spill quick disconnects.

Yes I have also changed my setup a lot in 6 months.
I have even changed the loop since initially building it because there wasnt enough pressure to push an even flow rate through the GPU's in a parallel setup, so they are now in series and it took 5mins to change without flushing the system.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RCG_Bex

Can't see the pics :(

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Did you manage to see the pics in the end? No one else has had problems?

I notice my ipad sometimes doesnt load them all as it runs out of memory sometimes.

Nice build, looks really good in the new case. And it also looks like your new CPU will do great. :up:

I'm just glad I'm not your pump though... Have you ever measured the flow of your system? All these blocks, 90C turns and tubing must keep that pump under some serious pressure?

New bench with memory at 2000mhz 9-9-9-27 and CPU @ 4.6Ghz

Vantage P41995 GPU 50440

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...ge2.jpg?psid=1

Here she is finished.. maybe a video another time.

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Woah! Core temp is reporting that your CPU reached 85C at some point? :shocked:

Now all u need a sweet wallpaper :D , i can hook uop with a awesome eyefinity 5760x1200 Res wallpaper, black background with eyefinity in RED GRAPH writing saying Eyefinity which covers all 3 screens, looks wicked man :)

thats come out very nice... :clap:
i cant wait for my EX- Ascension.

you need to tie all those cables behind your screens ...

Quick 3min video of IL2 in Eyefinity


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbmEEi3R1lo

The companion cube. :)
Very nice build Phatboy69.

Any update on those temps?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wega52

Any update on those temps?

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Yeah normal gaming peak temps are 76c. Only benching and stress testing pushes the temps to 88c. Thats with an ambient air of 26c to 28c as I dont have A/C down stairs in the new space.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phatboy69

Yeah normal gaming peak temps are 76c. Only benching and stress testing pushes the temps to 88c. Thats with an ambient air of 26c to 28c as I dont have A/C down stairs in the new space.

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Is that with the fans on full power?

No that's with fans at 900-1200rpm depending on water temp.
Going any faster just creates noise and doesnt really cool much better, maybe 2-3c better with fans on max and not worth the noise.

Ok, where do you measure the water temp, and are the rads hot?

Are you satisfied with those temps? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wega52

Ok, where do you measure the water temp, and are the rads hot?

Are you satisfied with those temps? :)

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The water temp is measured in the res and the rads are not hot at all.
For the OC i've got Im happy enough with the temps, though because I have room I will probably add another BI GTX360 rad at the back on the bottom 3 fans.

Why not take out the rads, and wire the fans on each of them together and only have 1 plug for the 3? Some heat shrink tubing to clean up the soldering and sleeve it and presto. Went from 3 to 1 single wire to control the fans on your radiator.

Forget about cases, fans, rads, etc .. what he really needs is this! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michowski

Why not take out the rads, and wire the fans on each of them together and only have 1 plug for the 3? Some heat shrink tubing to clean up the soldering and sleeve it and presto. Went from 3 to 1 single wire to control the fans on your radiator.

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Simple really, the fan controllers don't have a high enough current rating per channel to put 3 fans per channel and still get a decent rpm from the fans.

I do have a solution in the works though. A koolance tms-200 software controller with expansion board is on it's way along with 2 of their new reservoirs, another 2 D5 pumps, another BI GTX 360 with fans and shrouds.

This way I can run a full rad with 6 fans per controller and have it managed in software. I'm also creating another loop dedicated to the CPU with 2rads and 2 D5s to each loop. I'm very seriously considering a couple of koolance water cooled 1000w supplies too as the power supply fan is what makes all the noise now and I'm right on the limit of the 1250w supply too so I'm not sure I could power another loop with the existing power supply.

I really dont think you need more rad than you already have, I think your problem is poor flow in the system.
If you are reaching 82C on the CPU's and the rads arent hot at all, I dont think there is enough flow to transfer the heat to the rads. Also your gain of turning up the fans are too small IMO.

You are pushing you pump pretty bad, and I believe that's your problem.

More upgrades are on the way.
Just ordered a Aquaero 5 fully configured with 6 poweradjust2s
2 koolance 452x Res
Koolance 370 CPU block
Another 2 D5s
Another gtx360 rad
Compression fittings for everything
Flowmeters, res level meters, and inline temp sensors
A few more fans and bits n pieces.

Still trying to decide between a 970 or 990x CPU as well. Given this system is already over the top a 990x seems appropriate but I just can't bring my self to spend $1400 for a CPU when the 970 is less than half that!

Should be finished the revised build in about 2-3 weeks if everything shows up as planned. The Aquaero isn't released yet but planned to ship mid this month.

I will add a few things to the system as they arrive and post updates.

Here's some pics of the new components.

The Aquaero 5 XT in black as Ive order it.
http://forum.aquacomputer.de/images-...xt_schwarz.jpg

Animated screens from the menus
http://forum.aquacomputer.de/images-..._animation.gif

Water block for the onboard fan amp
http://forum.aquacomputer.de/images-...r_montiert.jpg

Infrared remote
http://forum.aquacomputer.de/images-...aquaremote.jpg

A video demo. Im getting 6 of the poweradjust 2 USB high power controllers as well to fully expand the system. To run 6 fans per controller(1 Rad) and a couple for D5s as the main head unit will only just manage 2 D5s with the water block on it.

For the poweradjust 2s im going to mount them on the 5-1/4 mount as per the video below but inside the case mounted face up to a rad for some airflow.

http://www.youtube.com/user/aquacomp...re=KjlC58W3v3Q

Also getting these goodies from Koolance.
http://www.koolance.com/water-coolin...roduct_id=2025

http://www.overclock.net/gallery/dat...p-452x2_p1.jpg

Koolance 370 CPU block
http://www.thekoolroom.com/image/cac...p0-250x250.jpg

Did you liquidize Barney and put it in a Koolance res?

The 4th GTX360 rad and the Koolance 370 CPU block arrived today!!

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Nice and smoooth!!
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Mirror Finish!!
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Decided to Lap the 950...

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A quick pull down, the benefit of quick connects and removable motherboard tray!!!

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And installed...

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The 4th GTX360 installed as an exhaust Rad!

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...760.JPG?psid=1

QDC are great!
what the CPU temp now?

I could only imagine the temps you'd be getting if u used panaflo's with those gtx's :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by arkadur

QDC are great!
what the CPU temp now?

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Quick GPU load test. Just finished a 30min furmark run.
Ill do an OCCT CPU load test now.

Fans 1800RPM
Ambient start 28c max 30c (measurement taken outside case top right corner)
Water start 29.5c max 35c
GPUs start 30c max 49c (worst GPU)

http://w7sp5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...st1.jpg?psid=1