Building my new 7700K gaming system...

[Talonman]

Final parts have been purchased for the new build.

CPU - (1) Intel 7th Gen Intel Core Desktop Processor i7-7700K (BX80677I77700K)

Motherboard - (1) ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero LGA1151 DDR4 DP HDMI M.2 USB 3.1 ATX

(1) M.2 fan mount from ASUS 3D printed mounts: 3D printed M.2 fan mount: Red Strong & Flexible Polished: Pinkish red, richly colored nylon plastic with a smooth finish.

(1) Fractal Design FDFANSSR340WT Silent Series R3 40 mm Fan Cooling FD-FAN-SSR3-40-WT (For M.2 drive)

GPU - (1) EVGA GTX 1080 TI FTW3 Elite in sexy RED

Memory - (2) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 3200MHz (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C14D-16GTZR (** 32GB Total **)

Storage:
(1) Samsung 960 EVO Series - 500GB NVMe - M.2 Internal SSD (MZ-V6E500BW) (To install the OS on.?)
(2) Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E1T0B/AM) (To be run in RAID 0 for Game storage.)
(1) WD Black 3TB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD3001FAEX (For System backups.)

PSU - The EVGA Super Nova 850 G3 80 Plus Gold, Fully Modular PSU.

(1) Replacement set of ModMesh CableMod? cables, in Black and Blood Red made for my PSU.
(4) of the CableMod? 24" SATA 3.0 data cables in Blood Red.
(1) Set of CableMod? Cable Combs, made for the ModMesh cables.

CPU Cooling - (1) EVGA CLC 280 Liquid / Water CPU Cooler, RGB LED Cooling (400-HY-CL28-V1)

Case - The Phanteks PH-EC416PTG_BR Eclipse P400 Steel ATX Mid Tower Case Black/Red, "Tempered Glass" Edition

Mouse - The Mionix Castor Multi-Color Ergonomic Optical Gaming Mouse, MNX-01-25001-G

Mouse Pad - The Reflex Lab Large Extended Gaming Mouse Pad Mat XXL, Stitched Edges, Waterproof, Ultra Thick 5mm, Wide & Long Mousepad 36?x12?x.20" Red

Keyboard - The HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Cherry MX Blue (HX-KB1BL1-NA/A1)

Speakers - Audioengine A2+ Powered Desktop Speakers (Red)

Gaming controller: (1) Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows & Xbox 360 Console

Lights:
(1) CableMod? Addressable LED Strip ? RGB: that is compatible with ASUS Aura Sync.
(1) Thermaltake Riing Plus 12 RGB Tt Premium Edition 120mm Software Enabled Case/Radiator Fan -Triple Pack- CL-F053-PL12SW-A
(1) Thermaltake Riing Plus 14 RGB Tt Premium Edition 140mm Software Enabled Case/Radiator Fan -Triple Pack- CL-F056-PL14SW-A
(1) Phanteks RGB LED 4 Pin Adapter, Specified for Cases with Multi Colors RGB Control (PH-CB_RGB4P)
(1) UEB 12in 4 Pin Fan Power Extension Cable, PWM Connector Case Fan Extension Power Cable for Computer (5PCS )
(1) NZXT Internal USB Hub Controller, Black (AC-IUSBH-M1)



She should be a runner!!

Things are going good so far...

I believe that I will have enough space, to run two 140mm fans outside the case, and under the front cover.

This will enable me to run my RAD in a push-pull config for sure....

This is the front cover with two 140's sitting in it, just ensuring that I would have some fan clearance.




This is how the front was looking after installing a few things...



And the back, sporting my two Sammys...



Putting the EVGA fans on the outside of my case, for running (4) 140's in a push-pull cnfig....




I still have some good room going, for adding my second set of 140mm fans, to be attached to the inside of the RAD... Sweet!




I did finish up on hooking up the case wires.


I installed my PSU...

I am waiting on my 8 Official EVGA fan mounting screws, that fit in my EVGA RAD. Customer Service was sending me some out a few days ago, so there should be here soon.



Figure no need to install the GPU if I am going to need to get my hands in there to install my 2nd set of 140mm fans...

And the back...
It has my thermaltake RGB fan controller, waiting to accept it's last 2 fans. The 2 140's.
That controller can take up to 5 fans, and I will be filling er up!
I think the thermaltake fan controlling software, looks like one of the best currently out.
All 5 of my RGB fans will be running in sync. (3) 120's and (2) 140's... Should look decent.


One build note if you use this case...
I bought (1) Phanteks RGB LED 4 Pin Adapter, Specified for Cases with Multi Colors RGB Control (PH-CB_RGB4P) $5.00 from Amazon.

I did 2 things for me.
1 - It's primary function, to allow the case to be powered from an RGB header from your Motherboard (Not the molex connector hanging on the back of my case...).

and 2, the surprise...
The RGB light strip that is included with this case is a looker, but does not have enough length to be placed dead balls even in the center of the window. You will be about an inch or two short, after going around the frame with the power wire.

After plugging this adapter in, it ends up giving you the extra slack required to put your RGB light strip, in mathematical center of the window.


Update: I was staring at that open spot below my 2 EVGA fans, and figured I could fit 1 more fan in there to cool my Hard Drive...


I just ordered (1) Noctua 60x25mm A-Series Blades with AAO Frame, SSO2 Bearing Premium Fan - Retail Cooling NF-A6x25 FLX (3-pin connector.
The fan is a fatty, but there looks to be ample room to fit it in there. Not sure the best way to mount it yet...


I also was talking to some of my gaming friends, and the word is that they all use gaming headsets, and talk during the game.

Well I wanted in too so I ordered The ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Gaming Headset for Xbox One, PS4, PC ? in Black.
They say the Headset uses your PC's on-board DAC, which will determine the quality of your sound...
Let's hope my ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero Z270 Motherboard is up for the task!

[StyM]

nice one..

[Talonman]

Thanks!

[StyM]

any reason why you didn't wait a little longer for the new CPUs to come out ?

[Talonman]

Yes, wanted to build now, convinced the the 7700K will be the best gaming CPU for a few years.
By then I will want Cannon lake with faster PCIe lanes, and DDR5.
This is strictly a gaming rig.

Update!!!


Please don't hate me EVGA, your RAD screws are still on their way to my house, at my request....

But I clicked buy on these babies a few days ago, just to see if they would fit correctly into the RAD:

XSPC Radiator Screw Set, #6-32 UNC, 30mm, Black, 16-pack

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Well guess what? I just used my fingers to thread them into the RAD, and with little pressure, the were going right in.

They do in fact have the correct threads to fit in the EVGA CLC 280's RAD.

I also did a test where as soon as the screw would grab it's first threading on the RAD, I would count how many full rotations until contact was made with the RAD fins.

It was 7 full turns. If you were to go 8, you would be doing damage to the RAD.


I needed this info as I would not be able to see the screw, once the fans were put in their mounting position.

I was not going to turn any of the screws over 7 full turns.


Wire Management tip. I was able to run these fan power wires on the inside of the screws as in the picture below:




I actually ran the wire for the lower fan like in the picture, but also continued to run it's wire into the upper fan, also putting it inside the screws guides.

Both fans were like 1 attached big unit when I put them in...

I first sent both of their remaining fan leads out the top of the case.

Eased both fans into place...

Using my fingers, started each screw in to the RAD where it just began to have the teeth bite. Got my screwdriver out and began counting until the fans firmed up.

5 full turns. Wonder-full!!! I am happy with 5. I knew after 7 full turns would cause damage to the RAD's fins.

These screws are 100% correct for this RAD.



Cant even see the fan wires... Sweet!


Well my Fan controller was now full with 5 fans.

It also pushed me into needing a USB 2.0 Hub. I broke out the NZXT.

Well looking at this monstrosity, I had to start coming up with a plan to house this amount of wires.




I opted to place the USB Hub up in front of the case, to actually save some room in the back.



It has a magnetic base, so it sticks in place very well.


I also installed my 60mm Hard Drive fan:



I am not real proud of it, and it it proves to rattle or cause any issues, I will take it out.

But so far, it has convinced me that it can hang in there for a while, so I am going to give it a try.


I also installed a M.2 drive fan:



The red is a little off, but I can live with it...


I folded my fan wires up as small as possible, and then was able to fit the wires, and controller under my hard drive tray.




You can barely tell that it is all in there...




And finally, the main event, installed the GPU!!!




Adjusted the power cables so they would not hit the glass...




Everything is now hooked up! Final back:




Final Front:




Front with glass:



I just realized, I probably wont want that RGB strip pointing out at the glass...

It might be too bright.

[Talonman]

Here is how she looks all lit up:




And a wide angle of my cold Ohio basement, where the PC enjoys about 65 degree air all the time.


So far I'm loving it. Huntington has already shut my Master Card off twice in the last week for downloading games from Steam.
Too many transactions, triggered the fraud alert. I told the bank after my first call, that I just built a new gaming system, and was downloading some new games.
After the second time, they told me that no human read the notes on my account. It was a computer who shut my card off twice in one week.
It is back on again and working fine.

I was happy on how many of my older games installed just fine on Windows 10.
I took this screen show a few days ago.... before all my games were installed.
I now have 70 Games installed, and it is just taking up 50% of my 2TB RAID array storage.

[LagunaX]

Very nice...you need these for each bottom corner to complete it:

[Revv23]

Great looking build! Wish I had more time for games these days

[anker_by]

Nice build. :P

[Talonman]

Thanks guys!!