[ Project ] : Altair | A Lian-Li PC-P80, dual loop, all internal build

[eponymous]

So here it is; after waiting many months for the stuff to arrive.

This project has been in the planning stage since Christmas so it's nice to be able to finally get round to making a project log

The hardware is as follows:

• Core i7 920 D0
• 12 GB Corsair Dominator 1600MHz CL8 RAM
• 2x EVGA GTX 285 SLI
• ASUS P6T Deluxe V2
• ASUS Xonar D2X
• 2x Intel X-25M SSD with backplane
• WD RE3 1TB (WD1002FBYS)
• Corsair HX-1000W
• Lian-Li PC-P80
• Dell 3008WFP 30"

There will be two loops: one for the GPU's + NB/SB and the MOSFETS and one for the CPU.

EDIT: I decided to go with motherboard cooling in the end I didn't want to have to put whiney 40mm fans in the case.

Watercooling gear:

• Koolance 350AT
• 2x Koolance VID-NX-285
• Bitspower Black Freezer AIX58NS NB/SB
• Black Freezer MOS AMOSII POM Version (MOSFET 1)
• Bitspower Black Freezer MOS AMOSIII POM Version (MOSFET 2)
• 2x Laing DDC 3.2 / XSPC Acrylic top Rev. 3
• 2x EK Multioption 150 Res Ver. 2
• 2x Thermochill PA 120.3
• 6x Scythe S-Flex 1200 RPM Fans
• 7/16" Primochill Pro Green LRT
• 7/16" Primochill Pro Blue LRT
• B.P. Silver Shiny 1\2" Barbs,
• B.P. 'T' / Alphacool Ball Valve
• B.P. M-M Rotary drain

This will be an all internal build with one of the radiators on the bottom of the case and one of the radiators in the front drive bay area. Please ignore the radbox in the case photos below - this was an initial idea but I've since decided not to bother using it.


So, here are a few photos of stuff so far:
----------------------------------------------

Computer gear:





Case:


NOTE: (I'm not actually going to be using a steel radbox - this was just an initial idea)






















The backplane I bought for the SSDs:









Heatshrink anyone? (Yes, some of those are 150m rolls )



The watercooling stuff:















I'll add more stuff soon!

[eponymous]

This is going to be a fully internal build and so that means cutting the case!

Hmmm, only one problem, no drill...

So I went and got one :

behold the DeWalt DC925KB Hammerdrill, with 56NM of Torque, three gears and 21 speed driver!:







Now that's all well and good, but how am I supposed to cut out holes for the fans with just a drill? Ah, I need a holesaw. Wrong, I need a 121mm holesaw!




Oh, I forgot about the heatshrink, so here's a heatgun as well :P:




As you can see I love DeWalt gear

[eponymous]

I built a little work area in the corner of my room to do work at. This is likely to get changed around as I need more space and move things etc...







For anyone doing work with sensitive electronics, I really recommend you get one of these anti-static wristbands. The cost very little and keep you grounded:



Another useful tool - the handy holders with magnifier:

[eponymous]

Ok, so first things first, I got the old tops off of the DDC 3.2's and replaced them with the XSPC Acrylic Tops (V3):

[eponymous]

Next step was to begin flushing the Thermochill rads, but since this is an ongoing process, I'll be updating this post as I go along:







I'm currently on Flush 11, and I've moved from using boiling water from the tap and letting them stand for 12/24 hours to just letting them stand for 3-5mins and then shaking vigorously.

[oggie]

I love the work so far, keep it up mate

[eponymous]

Next step is the removal of the old heatsinks from the graphics cards and the installation of the Koolance VID-NX285's:







After a good clean up with some lint-free cloths and some Artic Cleaner:







Marking out the sizes for the thermal pads:



All cut out and ready to be place on the blocks. These will bridge the gap between the RAMs/MOSFETS etc:



These blocks are of such a high quality, I'd recommend them to anyone:









The finished article after applying some Artic Cooling MX-2



These things look amazing but weigh an absolute ton! I'm going to have to use my cases PCI-E brackets to provide extra support and also stop the weight putting too much strain on the motherboard.

[D0BR0]

Yeees mate!!! Nice to finally see this build!! Haha, we even have the same taps!!
Nice rigs, looks reaaaallyyy good man, waiting for you to begin assembling all this stuff together and drilling tha P80!

[eponymous]

I love the work so far, keep it up mate

Thanks man, much appreciated

[eponymous]

Yeees mate!!! Nice to finally see this build!! Haha, we even have the same taps!!
Nice rigs, looks reaaaallyyy good man, waiting for you to begin assembling all this stuff together and drilling tha P80!

Yey!

Keep an eye out for my random questions I'll throw at you! lol...

[illidan]

wow that one awesome workbench

subd here!

[eponymous]

I was about to start fitting the CPU-350 the other day but I found that it had a faulty thread and so I've had to get a replacement.

Here's the old one:













I should be getting on to fitting the new block tomorrow so I'll post the results when I'm done

That's it for now, thanks!

[eponymous]

I've noticed a lot of people will post random pictures of their cats in these posts so here's a picture of a cow and and some ducks near my old uni :P

[oggie]

Jersey Cows Love how cute they are Also ducks Very nice photos mate

[Semicycle]

Man, you have some serious hardware for this build. Very interested top see how this turns out.

BTW, why so much shrink wrap?

[eponymous]

Jersey Cows Love how cute they are Also ducks Very nice photos mate

They're not bad for a camera phone. Shame I forgot to switch the date and time stamp off tho

[Rise]

They're not bad for a camera phone. Shame I forgot to switch the date and time stamp off tho

hah, i think its great... you took the picture of the ducks on my birthday

[ILikeCosmosS]

I like that your giving the noobs of water cooling tips on there own build
very nice

[MomijiTMO]

-Reporting in-

Looks good. Keep going.

[D0BR0]

yeah you do a lot of pix while assembling/working, that's very cool

And those waterblocked GTX285 look sooo great!!
I received the other day my second 285, but it's the new PCB version, so not compatible with my EK block!!!! Sh*t!

I'll keep an eye on this thread for sure!

[eponymous]

Man, you have some serious hardware for this build. Very interested top see how this turns out.

BTW, why so much shrink wrap?

:P I got it cheap from an online electronics store. They were selling off reels of it for like £4.50, so I just bought up a load of sizes.

hah, i think its great... you took the picture of the ducks on my birthday

Hehe, there are lots of ducks at that place :P

I like that your giving the noobs of water cooling tips on there own build
very nice

Cheers man, I hope people find it useful.

-Reporting in-

Looks good. Keep going.

Thanks

yeah you do a lot of pix while assembling/working, that's very cool

And those waterblocked GTX285 look sooo great!!
I received the other day my second 285, but it's the new PCB version, so not compatible with my EK block!!!! Sh*t!

I'll keep an eye on this thread for sure!

Ah that's too bad about the waterblock. Can you exchange your block for one of the newer ones? If it's EK they might let you do that.

[pingpong1455]

Jersey Cows Love how cute they are Also ducks Very nice photos mate

sorry jersey joke coming hehe live on a farm with all holsteins

"jerseys to proud to be a holstein to tall to be a goat"

to make like an oval hole youd make 2 small holes then link em with a dremel right ?

[Maxspam]

Please tell me you arent planning on hanging one of those rads off the back of the case on that radbox mount.
please oh please say no

[eponymous]

sorry jersey joke coming hehe live on a farm with all holsteins

"jerseys to proud to be a holstein to tall to be a goat"

to make like an oval hole youd make 2 small holes then link em with a dremel right ?

You can do that or use a router if you have one.

Please tell me you arent planning on hanging one of those rads off the back of the case on that radbox mount.
please oh please say no

No, the steel radbox was an initial idea which I've since removed. I just liked those photos that's all. There will be one rad mounted on the bottom of the case and one rad mounted in the front drive bays.

[D0BR0]

Well yes I could, but I already have the old 285 with the right block, and I wonder if the barb holes on the new block are in the same place, because if not, that wouldn't allow me to use the SLI connector dor the blocks.
And I could change the block, especially because one of them is still factory sealed, so that would be possible, but I prefer changing the card, according to the fact that the blocks aren't the same design...