Project: LucentTide - V1000 LC Build

[lyl]

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:

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

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


Opteron 148 system half dissembled




The case is actually a rebranded Lian Li that i got from Microcenter for $120 a few months back.


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.


First shipment of parts! Thanks Jab-Tech




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


After initial cut, but not finished... You can see the minor scratches on the rack that i made while filing :\


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!

[MomijiTMO]

I'm staying tuned!

Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Giannis86]

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

[lyl]

New shipment of parts! This time its from Performance-PCs; thanks guys



mmm.. parts


Rheobus guts with stock and lian li faceplate before cutting


The radgrill and the case finishes are not a perfect match, but it'll do


potential location


trying out the case feet. (not mounted)


TJ09 feet


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

[MomijiTMO]

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

[philbrown23]

nice man now just to finish it!lol

[requ13m]

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

[lyl]

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

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.

[lyl]

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.

[YMAA]

Subscribed

[lyl]

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


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


Tie off, shrink in place


just getting a feel I really need a black connector


Completed shot along with the tools used.



Dont be a noob


Petras order!


Newegg order!


Block and pump after some cleaning

================================================== ==
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








I lost 1 of the rad mounting screws, but i am replacing them with black screws anyway


TJ09 Feet attatched


Filled up and leak testing!
================================================== ==

So i really like the loop. That being said.... the hard drives dont fit when the res is installed

I have this on order to remedy the problem


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

[b@llz0r]

looking good mate

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

[lyl]

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

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

[ctgilles]

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

[emoners]

like the way you mounted the pump & reservoir.

[lyl]

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

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

[lyl]

like the way you mounted the pump & reservoir.

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

[disruptfam]

nice work mate very clean

[skinnee]

I have this on order to remedy the problem

WTF is that? Link?

[septim]

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...

[lyl]

WTF is that? Link?

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

[MomijiTMO]

Woot. I'm waiting

Great job so far.

[lyl]

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


target: header cables


pins out


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.


fans sleeved


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.


hard drive rails removed from the bottom. atx power in place





this makes me thirsty haze in the tubing is due to flash


pain in the arse to plug in w/o taking out the rad.


the starting of a (sleeved) wire-mess


before...

...and after (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

[i found nemo]

load fine for me. beautiful product man!!

[septim]

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...