My first all out case build worklog (56k warning)....

[serial099]

So, don't have the laptop up and running yet, but did pull the new card reader/floppy drive out of the new computer the result is I have a few more pics to post.



Here is the pump/micros res setup. I had to think for a bit where to situate this at in the case, but I think I picked a good spot based on the way it looks.



Rheobus Fan Speed controller is in the back, just in case you were wondering.



Here is what I have right now with plenty of back-lighting.



Things brighten up a bit when we turn off the lights.



I've never had UV lighting before, but I'm digging the results.

That all I have for tonight. The leak testing is done I do believe there are no leaks in the system. Like I said before in this thread, only a few things left and this beast is built.

More to come.

[Nate P.]

Damn, looks like the rad is about to fall off the case!

[disruptfam]

i rekon!!! hahaha

[serial099]

I know, I've checked it a 1000 times, but it's on there tight and not going anywhere.....well, unless I rip it off, but seriously, who would do that to their machine?

[Nate P.]

I know, I've checked it a 1000 times, but it's on there tight and not going anywhere.....well, unless I rip it off, but seriously, who would do that to their machine?

Maybe my accident... have you ever considered like a 120mm "backplate" for the rad?

[serial099]

well, it's hooked into the back of the computer via a swiftech radbox now. what exactly do you mean by a 120mm backplate? Like a support bracket or something I assume? Just so you are aware of my setup, it's hooked into the 80mm holes on a 120mm fan slot (and atm the 120 fan is installed). If you have another suggestion on how to do this, I'm all ears of course. It's need to be placed pretty much exactly where it is though, because otherwise I couldn't hook both rads up in series like they are now.

[Nate P.]

Maybe like an empty 80mm fan frame in the inside of the case, so the screws for the radbox to all the way through the fan frame, case, to the radbox.

Follow?

[serial099]

I'll look into that. Have to get up super early tomorrow, so off for tonight however.....

[pikkashoe]

Serial099 great build. Im almost done with my Armor build too, just got in my Dtek pro mount tonight. Quick question, I see you put the microres down low in the case. I was under the impression your supposed to have the resevoir as high as possible in the loop. Is there any advantage to have it where you put it. Reason I ask, is currently I have my pa120.3 up on top of the case like you, with the resevoir mounted to the side of the swiftech box, but I dont like all the tubes outside the case in the rear. Im thinking about putting it back in the case (the res).

[serial099]

It's too damn early....yeah, I'm up at 430 in the morning. Anyway, no real advantage to that except that less tubing is involved. Also, I wanted to set it up so my upper drive bays were the ones being used (the case is going to be on the floor, so it would be more convenient/closer for me). It did take a bit longer to get the loop built/bled than I remember it taking with my old loop (especially since some things are mounted weird like the 120.3 flat and the 120.2 upside down) but it's on there now together and running good. Just put it in there and keep cycling the pump on and off. Eventually all the bubbles will get out of the loop.

[septim]

nice, it looks sturdy enough. but like they suggested, an old 80mm fan, preferably non working, rip out the blades and center motor, and use that external square to help balance the radbox...

nice tidy loop you have there. i like...

[mike8913]

I dont mean to be a friggin killjoy or anything so don't take this the wrong way. But have you thought about maybe getting a case you could fit all this into to? The way it is it almost looks like the case doesn't want to be there.

[Xilikon]

Poor screws, I doesn't want to be there when they will snap off !

As others said, you need to consolidate this since it's also possible you can distort the case rear by a accidental bump.

[serial099]

Actually I'm a goofus. The pic I took up there that said here it is with plenty of backlighting. Well, I took that pic before I installed the w/c loop (in case you couldn't tell). As far as the 80mm/radbox thing wondering about this do you guys mean put an 80mm fan square in a (inside radbox), b (between radbox and case) or c (on inside of computer case where it bolts into).

[Xilikon]

put it on B so the screws won't hold the whole weight and spread it along the 80mm fan box.

[serial099]

Well, after a quick look around don't have any 80mm fans, but do have 92mm ones that came off of this case that I'm not going to be using for anything. Guess I could strip those out and see how it goes (there are places for me to move the radbox around a bit so no worries on that). Also, instead of having a screw in a spacer (the black things below) and spacers themselves (the silver things) maybe if I get some bigger, longer screws it might hold the weight a little better. I think that these screws in here now are only #6 screws ATM.

[rehpyc]

Haha, and I thought the Tt Armor was monstrous on its own.. D:

[serial099]

So, here's the plan...just have to wait a few days to get parts in to implement it. Got some new extra long screws, some bigger washers and some nuts from Mc-master Carr and got a el-cheapo $2 80mm fan from newegg and going to throw that on there. Should tighten up that back end where the radbox is a bit (hopefully).

Have to wait for that newegg stuff to come in (should be at the latest by Tuesday) to get the computer all up and running. Am able to pull bios up now, but don't have a hard drive to install windows to (I have a 320gb in there right now, but I'm using it for storage only and it has stuff on it anyway, so I can't really do a format/fresh install off of that).

Will have some pics of the beast up and running as soon as all that is straightened out.

[serial099]

Here we go a few pics of the system idling in bios....nothing too exciting, but at least everything is working (and no leaks too, yay!)



This shows how tall this thing is in relation to my desk. Unfortunetly, even w/o feet on it, it's still way too tall to fit in it, under it, or in front of it (can't open drawer). So, it's home is going to have to be off to the side I suppose.



Here is a bios screen shot of the health of the pc after about 1 hour idling in bios. Core temp is sweet, but the chipset/vcore temps blow. I'm not thinking it will be so good after running some stress tests.

In my newegg order that's on it's way I have a fan to hook up to the transpiper unit on the back of this. Hopefully that will knock at least a few degrees off of this. Would thermal paste somewhere on the heatpipe assembly help out as well? If so, would it be better to put it on the heatpipe itself that goes out the back or on the hold down plate for it or what exactly?

That's going to be all I have for a few days, but I'll make sure I post some more shots when I get something up and running on it. It's pretty darn close to the end now (well, the initial build, I'm sure I'll tinker on this forever).

Things left to do:

Install os hard drive
Install os
Install fan on transpiper for nb/sb/mosfet heatpipe assembly
Zip ties wires on inside
Install floppy drive/card reader
Put on side panels
Tigthen up mounting on back of case where radbox is

[serial099]

got those on performance-pcs. What kind of case are you using pikkashoe? you might have to use 2 radboxes (one on each end) of the pa120x3 for enough support just so you know.

Eventually I'd like to run a line from the top of my res to the top of case for filling, so it's not 100% done by any means. I figure that's not that big of a deal, so I'll just wait until I need to order something off another site that sells the DD fillports before I take care of that.

[serial099]

I dont mean to be a friggin killjoy or anything so don't take this the wrong way. But have you thought about maybe getting a case you could fit all this into to? The way it is it almost looks like the case doesn't want to be there.

Sorry I didn't respond to this sooner, but was thinking about maybe getting a mountain mod case a long time ago, but at the time I got this case (was almost a year ago now) I just didn't have that little bit extra to spend.

Also, all the pictures I have on here are of the sides off, but on the left-side panel there is a huge 250mm fan installed, so there are other reasons why I got this case. Also, sometime after I got this case (actually fairly recently) is when I decided to get the 120x3 rad and throw it on top. With just the 120x2 on there it doesn't look nearly as messy and cramped, but wanted to get a little extra cooling power. One last thing, I spent like $100 getting this thing painted (not to mention how long I had to wait on the place to get it back to me) so if I did get another case and get it painted it would probably cost upwards of $400 or more just so it fits a little better.

I'm sure for my next case it'll be bigger and badder (this one is light years ahead of my last computer), but for now I'll make due with what I have. Thanks for the comment though.

[Romain]

Wow, lookin great! I'm goin with the 120.2 + Swiftech too

[serial099]

Romain, do you have the same TT armor case?

[Tallpaul]

wow nice cooling like hot pc setup like i used to do my own modding too but i just started to get into water cooling so ill get some pics of my rig when i am sorted

[serial099]

@Tallpaul

Thanks, should have this actually running some benchmark programs this weekend. Just got the last of some stuff now (hard drive, some fans, etc.). I've said it a few times, but everything should be done at that point. It's pretty close now. This weekend should be able to get that finished off.