Big Black Box (U2-UFO Build, 56k is death)

[Istasi]

Recently Philly_Boy sold off his U2-UFO ("Wraith") and I was the lucky buyer of that case. Went to pick it up in person the other day, and just had to buy a few WC parts while I was there Props to Philly_Boy for explaining WC to my dad.

This will be my first WC project, albeit a pretty standard one at that. Here are the goals:

-Quiet -> Yates all @7v is the plan
-Fast -> Looking for a higher overclock
-Cool -> Why WC if your temps are any better?

Here are the parts I bought from Philly_Boy
*Swiftech MCR220
*DTek FuZion (will be getting this once he's finished testing it, he loaned me a TDX in the meantime)
*Swiftech MCW60 w/ RAM Sinks
*Swiftech MCRES Micro
*Few ft. of Tygon
*Hose clamps

Just ordered the finishing touches from Petra's
*DDC w/ Petra's Top
*Pentosin
*PT_Nuke
*Petra's Gel-Stuff

Other Misc. Parts Being Installed
*Scythe 5.25" Fanless HDD Box
*Yate Loon D12SL-12 Fans
*Sunbeam Rheobus

That will all be cooling the rig in my sig (and hopefully a C2D/Barcelona/Whatever rig within the next 8 months) and housed in this puurdy new UFO. Let me just say: this case is AWESOME. It's positively jaw-dropping in person. Not to mention, it has all the room in the world.

While I'm waiting for that shipment from Petra's, here are some pics...

What the case looked like when I brought it home


Stripped down and ready for a bit of work


Side Panels/Mobo Tray/HDD Rack


Ran into my first problem when test fitting the Mountain Mods bay covers and the Scythe HDD Box: The HDD Box wouldn't fit with the bay cover installed! The lower part of the bay cover was preventing the HDD box from sliding up/screwing in. There's a simple fix for that...

Cut a notch out of the bay cover, and now the HDD box fits like a charm! First ever mod (however minor) 100% successful!

All my fans and 3 pin extensions/splitters sleeved


And a little pic of my workspace


More to come...

[2k7zero]

Really nice Istasi, looking forward to this. I was wondering how to get the inside black-look of that case, does anyone know? Doesn't have to be exact, just similar.

[Istasi]

Well the entire case is powder-coated, you could probably get that done to yours at a local auto body shop. Not sure how much it costs though.

[2k7zero]

Hmm, do u reckon some sort of special spray paint and some special cover if there is any will do?

[Patriote]

If you wouldn't have been a local buyer, it would have been mine!

But after all that tease, and when Philly told me that you bought it from him, i decided to order one directly from MountainMod! lol It should be there in a week.

Same exact case. But with different fan grills and stuff.

Anyway, have fun! I will too!

[Okda]

subscribed for the love of UFO

[SiGfever]

Lookin good!

[Istasi]

Hmm, anyone have any ideas on where I should mount my pump and res? My MCR220 will obviously be mounted on the rear two 120mm holes, and I just can't seem to find a good way to route the tubing.

[SiGfever]

If you had of bought the AlphaCool top with rubber isolation bushings you could have mounted it in your 3.5" HD rack. I have my micro-res mounted to the top right side (facing case) of my 5.25" bay and my UFO is newer and came with two smaller 3.5" HD racks that mount to a 120mm fan so my pump is in fron of the right bottom rear fan (D12SM-12) with the fan blowing cooler oustside of case air on to the pump at 12v.

http://www.mountainmods.com/product_...roducts_id=325

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=4506

[Frostbyte]

Looking great. Man, I was really torn on which U2-UFO to go with. Finally went with the 1203, but these posts REALLY make me jealous. Nice build out.

[Istasi]

Here are all the WC parts cleaned and ready to go!



Should be getting the pump and the other finishing touches tomorrow and Weds, so then the real fun will begin.

[2k7zero]

All my fans and 3 pin extensions/splitters sleeved

Could u give me a close-up pic of the sleeved fans connected to the extenders? Really nice build.

[Istasi]

Just received my DDC, and it did not come with the mounting brackets seen here



Any idea why? It's a blue impeller MCP350 if that makes any difference.

[Grinch]

have no clue why it would not be there...*-(

[clone38]

If you have the blue impeller DCC make sure the petra top is the 01s as i killed my pump with the 01 top.

[Istasi]

Top is the 01s. Got the pump, rad, and res all fitted in the case, gonna be installing the rest this afternoon (with lots and lots of pics of course.) Ended up not needing those mounting brackets on the DDC.

Note to self: NEVER use an Accelero X2 on your vid card if you want to remove it in the future. Had to pry it off the chips with a razor blade.

[septim]

how come, hmm mind telling which TIM you used?

[Istasi]

Used the RAM pads which came with the X2. It's a widely known issue that these pads bake on over time, but I was unaware at the time of purchase.

Hit a HUGE stumbling block a few minutes ago. The TDX I was loaned has hairline cracks in the top of the block. It's able to hold water just fine, but I'm 99% positive I don't want to risk running it in its current state. Hopefully I can get another loaner block from Philly_Boy, or I might just have to buy a new block online.

[carholmes]

Wow so far it's looking great. It's odd you didn't get a mounting bracket for the pump. What kind of fan grills are those on the front of the case? They look cool.

[Istasi]

The grills on the front are from here with standard aluminum filters underneath.

[serialk11r]

Here are all the WC parts cleaned and ready to go!



Should be getting the pump and the other finishing touches tomorrow and Weds, so then the real fun will begin.

Whoa careful man, yesterday I found out alcohol eats acrylic Hope you didn't put any on the acrylic tops.

[Istasi]

Whoa careful man, yesterday I found out alcohol eats acrylic Hope you didn't put any on the acrylic tops.

Nah, that was just for cleaning the toothbrush, funnel and the base of the MCW60.

Although that would have explained my cracked TDX top, but I'm positive I didn't use any isopropyl on it.

[Sparky]

Note to self: NEVER use an Accelero X2 on your vid card if you want to remove it in the future. Had to pry it off the chips with a razor blade.

Uh oh.... My X1950XT came with the accelero preinstalled (powercolor did that). I hope it won't do any damage coming off the card

[Istasi]

Just be gentle and you should be okay. I followed a cycle of 1) wiggle/twist Accelero, 2) Wedge razor inbetween RAM chip and Accelero, and 3) Pry very gently, and repeated over and over again.

[Philly_Boy]

Lucas, YGPM re: exchanging loaners.

I'll leave you a new boxed Swifty Apogee GT on my doorstep.
Just drop off the TDX when you come to pick it up.
Note to self...that TDX was new...must rma to DD.