[Project] Saifu

[Olly_K]

Well it's about time I make another build, I got bored with my current setup.

Hardware wise, this project will consist of the following:

EVGA 4 way Classified
i7 920 D0 (will get a 980 X retail when released)
Corsair Dominator GT 6GB 1866MHz
2 x 480 GTX SLI
2 x 60GB Corsair Force SSDs
Fractal Designs R2 1Kw PSU

Cooling (single loop) will consist of:

EK Supreme HF CPU Block
EK 480 Waterblocks
EK full board classified block
Thermochill PA120.4
SR360
2 x DDC 18w in series
Unsure of whether to go for a Bayres or a cylinder res until I get the case and can figure placements out

Thats it for now, thanks for looking

Update 5/3/2010

The classified turned up today, and I think I've made a mistake ! I knew the board was WIDER, but I didn't know it was also LONGER !! Need to see if it will fit in the case



In all it's glory:









And just how big it is compared to a normal ATX board:





And how its all currently sitting, until my case arrives:

[Antioch]

I'll just make the observation that Saifu = wallet in Japanese. So does this mean you're breaking the bank to build this? Heh.

[Olly_K]

Right, I can now start this build again. A bit of background:

I wanted a case that fits the EVGA 4way Classified, but only a handful do, and none of them are to my liking. None of them are very good for watercooling either (for my needs, anyway).

So, after talking with 4 custom case builders, mainly in the USA, it seems that getting a truely custom case was going to prove too expensive....around £1000. Cheaper to buy an ATX motherboard....right ?

Well, I then had a chat with Debbi from DangerDen, about a double wide cube case. This again was proving to be expensive, so I ended up buying the Tower 29.....a single tower case, which is very tall, and can house a 120.3 and 120.4 radiator..perfect for mmy 480s and 980x.

So, I got the case delivered today, and I've learnt a couple of things:

1) American Companies are not good at communication !!!!! I've ordered 2 cases from Mountain Mods and now this one from DangerDen, all 3 orders have been wrong. I asked for non-branding and got a DD branded front panel

2) Acrylic shows fingerprints, and reflects light....A LOT !!

3) I'm gonna have a hard time photographing this build !!!

So, without further ado, some very quick and dirty pictures, as I've only just finished putting it together:











I might actually change the front panel for a double 5.25" bay rather than a single

[Olly_K]

Right, been busy today !

Thanks to psmawson for the loan of an M4 tap, I thought I'd do all my rads:





Then, break down my current setup, and start to transfer it over to the new case, so I can start to think about placement of pumps, res', tubing, etc:

Motherboard is in, looks small !!







480's in:





RAM, PSU in:





Fans in, test wiring and lighting:

[Olly_K]

soooooooooooo, I've been testing some configs, single loop vs dual.:



For those that can't follow the loop, it goes:

Res > dual ddc pumps > CPU > Mobo > 360rad > 480gfx > 120.4

Temps seem totally fine, same as a dual loop I'll go as far to say. Just looping vantage on max res extreme settings

[Olly_K]

I went for the sickleflows in the end !!

UPDATE:

So here they are, I think they pull it all together. They're not too "in your face", they look quite stealthy:

[Olly_K]

very minor update !!

The Aqua Computer aquabox came on friday:



got my red pre braid today. Probably not the best quality but at least its red !!!



Should look good when its all in too:

[Olly_K]

little bit more of an update:

Finally got my 2.5" to 3.5" HDD bay adapters so I can mount my SSDs....I love the way these go together:



And fitted into the 3.5" drive cage with my HDD:



And fitted into the case: (you can mount another one next to it too)



Got my new front panel so had a quick trial fit:



Might paint the bay res black, not sure.

Also sprayed the clear plastic black as it showed through the front panel too much:

[Olly_K]

right, another update for you all:

Bitspower fittings came....had to remortgage to afford it all !!



Can you see what it says ?

First bit of tube in !! Still need to put some thought into the routing of the rest of them though:



Painted the aquabox black.....I kinda like the silver screws....I'm guessing you'll all say spray them black too !!



And a quick shot of the front slam panel sprayed black too:

[Raiden]

I like it , good choice of case =D , got to love it !

More !

[Olly_K]

thanks !!!!! I did think about a double wide like yours but thought i'd try a single loop and a single tower this time, as I've had a MM cube before.

Got some longer m4 bolts coming tomorrow so I can fix the rad to the inside panel and fit the front of the case

[ScottALot]

Where's the third RAM stick?

[Olly_K]

hahah well spotted, I've lent it to a friend while his RAM is being RMA'd......im not using it so I though why not

[ScottALot]

hahah well spotted, I've lent it to a friend while his RAM is being RMA'd......im not using it so I though why not

Ah, I was thinking "I really hope he doesn't try booting with that missing..."

[Razor_Blade]

Another Danger Den build, nice! They are great cases, albeit the tower 26 is a lot smaller and harder to get stuff into. I am beginning to think that I should have just gone for the big one...

Maybe for the next build...

(Runs and hides from wife)

[zigzag]

Looking damn nice. The coolermaster fans look really good in there, much better than the xiggys. Really love the case also, may very well get that once i get back into watercooling.

All in all its looking mighty fine and cant wait to see it completed.

[Olly_K]

(oooops, missed 2 more pics that should go here first)

Fans in:



And front panel on:



Need to paint most of the screws black so they don't stand out

[Olly_K]

thanks for all the replies guys !!

here are a few more for you, plus my novel idea which you will all hate !!!!!

Painting the black screws for the front was easy, I only needed the heads doing, so a quick spray with black and a bit of laquer. Here's the rig I used:



And here's the front with the screws all painted:



I still need to do the bottom rad screws, and I'll need to paint the whole screw:




So, my little idea, was to find a monitoring solution, and I was eyeing up the Kaze Server controller. It monitors 2 fan RPM speeds and also 2 temp inputs....but the beauty is that it's all displayed on the screen at once. So, the RPM sensors will be used for my 2 pumps, and I'll have a in/out inline temp barbs on the rads to monitor the temps on the Kaze:



And the reason I chose a 3.5" bay:







Which will be viewable through the clear perspex side panel. Need Tom @ Chilled PC to make a clean front panel for it, will rip out the rheobus's so it's all flush.

Hope you all like

[closetredneck]

No problem with the heavy OC and two 480's with that 1000W PSU? I'm putting together a build and worried about my total power draw...480's SLI, i7 920, 3x D5 pumps 20+ fans, etc...

I have a corsair HX1000

[zalbard]

These fans look sick!

No problem with the heavy OC and two 480's with that 1000W PSU? I'm putting together a build and worried about my total power draw...480's SLI, i7 920, 3x D5 pumps 20+ fans, etc...

I have a corsair HX1000

I'd get something more powerful.

[Creekin]

love the fans, and that controller, very clean look.

hx1000 would handle that load no problem, fans dont draw enough to make a dent, even 20!
BUT, i would run the fans and pumps off a 2nd psu to avoid interference from all those motors on your mobo.

[Olly_K]

thanks for the comments guys, I've ran my 980x and 2 480s off my 1kw PSU with absolutely no problems at all, even heavily overclocked

[Church]

Maybe you can buy instead of painting black screws for that rad? I see rather wide selection here including black ones 30-60mm length.

[Olly_K]

thanks for the link, I'll check it out

[zigzag]

Your making me love this case more and more now, does look rather nice!!!

Neat idea with the scythe controller location also