Project: RainMaker (PC-343B w/ Horizontal Mobo and Triple Loops)

[ShoNuff]

WOW...VR your attention to detail is incredible. Your project is well thought out and executed as well.

What are you going to use to control fan speed/noise?

[JvT]

Very nice build you've got going there

Could you please explain a little more about how you mount the pump to the radiator? I'm guessing that you are using some kind of "Male-male" fitting with outer thread on both ends... But as I said, I'm guessing
Please enlighten me

I look forward to your next update!

[S1mon-]

Simply gorgeous

[Statts]

Excellent build in the making, subscribed!

[Talonman]

I hope he is comming back!!

[virtualrain]

Hey guys, thanks for all the positive feedback! Criticism is welcome too!

To answer some questions:
-In hind sight, the PA120.3 might have been better utilized on the GPU loop rather than the CPU but with my current "luck of the draw" hardware, none of my OC's are temp limited with the way things are.
-IanY, you are correct about these tanks being a PITA to bleed, especially on the high flow loops (GPU and CPU)... but with the small screws I put in the top of the caps, it is a lot easier to purge air with an oral syringe when I slow the pump speed down a bit to trap the air in the top of the cap. After about 10 or so cycles of starting/stopping/filling it's pretty much bled. I'm using fanamps to control the pumps so I can easily throttle them down during bleeding. I'm concerned the alphacool sponges would adversely affect flow... maybe unfounded.
- I'll provide more info on the pump and fan control in a future update
- The pumps are connected to the rads using G3/8 to G1/4 M-M couplers from McMaster... I have a pic that I'll post later tonight of the fittings used including these ones.
- I hope to post the rest of the build pics over the next couple of days and then some pics of the final rig config next week. Stay tuned!

[togaman5000]

i must say, this is looking like one of the best build logs/projects i've seen in a very long time!

keep up the good work!

[bball4ever39]

Just amazing..

Its one thing to have an idea like this,
but to execute it like you have so far is just awesome.

[mjassbong]

Wow! Amazing! This has got to be THE ULTIMATE 343B build. I love how you put so much attention to details. Keep it up and keep 'em coming.

[InfamousChu]

Loving the build! One if not the best build ive ever seen! can't wait to see finished product!

[SiGfever]

Fantastic build, what temp probes are you using in the Alphacool? I had an issue with the Alphacool probe fitting in the front inlet.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=20435

[jabski]

lovely build. Looking forward to the updates

[Jedda]

Those alphacool res will get a lot more use if you come up with a combo that bleeds without too much crazyness.
They've major footprint advantages.
Nice VR, very nice indeed!

[voigts]

Being a custom wood case man myself, I am usually disinterested in regular builds. But I have to say that the custom mounting, redoing the interior layout, brackets, and especially the chrome work really makes this very, very nice. The attention to detail is also unusual to see. This has the making of an unusually sweet build.

What I want to know is where you folks come up with the money for this kind of stuff.

[Nate P.]

Incredible build man. Puts mine to shame.

[Pedalmonkey]

attention to detail is amazing. way to plan it all out. might have to steal the moders mesh idea for the cables in my MM.

[lowfat]

Legendary build going on here, with excellent documentation!

Thanks for the post virtualrain. You rig has a very unique look to it.

Keep up the good work.

agreed. I can't imagine the time and money that went into this thing.

[IanY]

Hey Virtualrain,

When you have the time, mind showing me how you drilled a small hole in the reservoir cap? I've got two of those reservoirs sitting idle and I would like to use them since I use Alphacool tops.

Much thanks.

[Dark Prodigy]

Serious and well thought out build going on. You have my attention.

[peebee]

Very great job dude! That is amazing

[virtualrain]

It turns out I didn't get time to post some more pics tonight but should have time tomorrow.

Some additional comments...

In regards to attention to detail, thanks... this is my main hobby these days and so it's as much about the journey as the destination. The consequence of this is that by taking several months my electronics were nearly obsolete by the time I was finished. The good thing is that this case and the core cooling setup should last for several future PC builds.

In terms of money, it is excessive by some standards, but perhaps more practical than you might think. What annoys me the most about this hobby is that you have to buy most parts sight unseen over the internet based on a picture or two and when you are doing a seriously custom job with a lot of planning you end up making assumptions about parts size, fitment, and compatibility that simply don't pan out. I don't know how much money I wasted on brackets, fans, shrouds, modding parts, etc that I ultimately couldn't use or didn't want to use once I had the parts in hand. With shipping costs what they are, it's not always practical to return stuff you don't want/need either. Sadly, I could probably build another entire rig with spare parts I have lying around from this one. That's where most of the money is wasted in my opinion.

This case is expensive as everyone knows, and the accessories are steeply priced as well, but things like nickel plating, powder coating, sleeving for cables, and modders mesh to hide unwanted things, are really insignificant and well worth it.

One last thought on the the cost... perhaps the most expensive part of custom computer building is the investment in tools. I have a very modest tool set compared to some folks around here (i.e. I don't have a machine shop!) but the right tools can make a project like this so much simpler... but those tools can add up quicker than a pair of SLI graphics cards.

By my calculations, without the cost of tools factored in or my time... just the parts, materials, and outsourced plating/coating, I spent about $5K which is not much more than a high-end Vodoo or Alienware rig would cost and it's a lot more satisfying (albeit frustrating at times) than ordering a rig from a catalog.

Some specific questions...

IanY, I simply put the res cap upside down in the drill press vice and drilled a 7/64" hole in the center of the cap and then tapped it to #8-32 and used a #8-32 x1/4" cap screw with a rubber washer to seal the hole. Bleeding it is then a simple matter of bleeding as much out of the loop using the big main cap off and then working with just the bleed screw out and using the syringe to purge the last remaining air with more coolant. As I said, it does take about 10 rounds of this nonsense to purge all the air but once done, there's not a single bubble of air in the loop. PPC's sells spare caps for these tanks and you may want to get a spare in case you screw one up. I had one crack on me after about a month of being in service... probably the result of the drill/tap over time... the crack was so small it was hard to detect and wasn't really causing a leak but I discovered it because I was getting small amounts of air in my loop from somewhere.

SiGfever, the temp probes I'm using are from Innovatek... http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2...de=FanTempFlow

[ladderman]

This is going to a fantastic thread on how a perfectionist does his work.

I had goose bumps up the back of my neck while I was salivating over your pictures.

I thought I was obsessed with detail, but you’ve just gone to a higher level.

Do you suffer from OCD like me? LOL

[bf2142lol]

just looking at ur sig, you have a pa120.2 on the GTX's and a PA120.3, shouldn't it be the other way?

i would seriously chuck the pa120.3 on the GTX's.. and a pa120.2 should handle a q6600 quite easily

I assumed his reason for this was the extra heat load produced by the peltier?

[dualbrain]

Did I hear MDPC? This system will not be forgotten Great one!

[Aldy402]

i commend you for the attention to detail and the amount of man hours you've put into this..

the open bench motherboard orientation is genius
keep up the great work.