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Miguelnotrabajo's Liquid Cooled SFF Gaming Project
I see a lot of really fantastic machines here in the worklogs and the galleries, but not very many SFF ones so I'll post mine. Build just starting, components on their way.
My first build was a 486DX2 66Mhz back in 1993 and have done many since. This one however will be my first water cooled machine (and I'll post every blunder I make along the way).
Build Plan:
MOBO: ASUS Maximus iV Gene-Z/Gen 3 mATX
CORE: i7 2600K processor - got the K to OC a little, wont go to the limit
RAM: 4x4GB GSKILL
GPU: GTX680 - low power and small for performance, perfect for this (out of stock arghhhh!)
SSD1: 60GB Corsair Force GT for OS
SSD2: 240GB Corsair Force GT for programs
DVD: Lite-on external USB DVD drive - hardly ever use an optical drive anymore so I'm leaving it out.
PS: Silverstone Strider Gold 850W (want to run at 50% for max efficiency + future room to expand)
CASE: Lian Li V600F - big for a SFF, small for a mini-tower. Just right for this project.
Liquid Cooling Components:
Danger Den Monsoon Reservoir
Danger Den fill port
D5 variable speed pump
EK water blocks
Magicool 180mm radiator
Phobya G-Silent 180mm fans for rad in push/pull
Aquaero LT system controller
Could find no performance data on 180mm rad/fans so this will be an excellent test. I will need to dissipate 290W of TDP. I will track and post system temps as reference for everyone.
Here is the case + sketch of component placement
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Oh Keplar wherefore art thou?
Most of the junk has arrived, but the filet mignon of the build is still out of stock.
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Exposed metal search and destroy
I think one of the easiest ways to make your build look more professional is to get rid of any exposed metal areas in the case. Spent some time today removing all remaining bare metal parts of the case and painting them. The hardest part about removing rivets is getting the pieces off your drill bit afterwards.
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Using rustoleum satin black and candy apple red as the color scheme. Tough job in swirling north Texas winds. How does one go from " I need a new system" to " I need to paint the bezel of the bezel in the back of my machine"?
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More equipment has arrived
Another pile of goodies from FrozenCPU:
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Learned quickly that the replacement Lian Li feet in black were much larger than the silver ones I removed:
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They stick out over the sides and look horrible. Going to the backup plan which is to get some cheapies from Lowes/Home Depot and glue them on.
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Starting to Come Together
Got lots accomplished on the build this weekend. Now that the case modification is mostly complete, the assembly can finally start. I still have a long way to go, but its finally starting to look like something I can be proud of. That ugly stock Intel cooler is ruining my glamor shot for now. And still my only screw-up so far are those misdrilled holes in back that I still need to paint so they look less obvious:
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