Shazza's Modest Mountain Mods Build

[shazza]

After months and months of collecting parts, letting them collect dust, and a couple of RMAs later - I have a working computer. This is my second MM build ... the first was a journey (some might say a nightmare) into the world of liquid cooling. This will be an abbreviated worklog, but I did want to share my progress, and posting pics of the project motivates me to keep going to to the next step. Also an opportunity to pick up advice from folks here.

EDIT: (2/14/09) This project has turned into a monster ... it's no longer a "modest" build, and obviously no longer an abbreviated work log Many parts have been changed out, and it's still evolving.

Hardware:

Rampage Extreme
Corsair HX 1000W PSU - sleeved using murderMod PSYCHOPAK sleeving kit
E8600 (QX9650 will go in after I'm sure everything is working)
2 x 2 GB G-Skill 1600MHz RAM
WD 750 GB 7200RPM HD
Sapphire 4870X2

EDIT - this is now an i7 920 build, using an EVGA X58 mb, Corsair 3 x 2GB 1600MHz mem, and nVidia GTX 285 video cards with EK water blocks.


LC Components:

changing by the minute ... but here's where we are as of 12/20/08

CPU Loop: XSPC Acrylic Res Top > MCP 355 > Thermochill PA 120.3 > Swiftech GTZ | Red Primoflex Pro Tubing 3/8" ID 5/8" OD | Bitspower Compression and Assorted Fittings

GPU Loop: XSPC Acrylic Res Top > MCP 355 > Thermochill PA 120.3 > Danger Den 4870X2 Water Block | Blue Primoflex Pro Tubing 7/16" ID 5/8" OD | Bitspower Compression and Assorted Fittings

NB Loop: XSPC Acrylic Res Top > MCP 350 > Swiftech MCR 220 > Swiftech NB-Max | Black Primoflex Pro Tubing 3/8" ID 5/8" OD | Bitspower Compression and Assorted Fittings


Case:

Mountain Mods CYO, Horizontal MB tray with Duality Front in Black Anodized Al


Casualties to date (there are sure to be more):

Striker II Extreme Motherboard
2 x 2GB of G-Skill DDR3 RAM (bought it so long ago I couldn't find it when I finally started building ) edit: Found the original RAM!
Rampage Extreme Motherboard - 1st one had issues, 2nd one seems fine
2 x 8800 GTX video cards - using in other systems, replaced with 4870x2
GTX water block - user error, somehow stripped the threads in the top when trying to install BP compression fittings - second one OKAY
2 x 4870x2 video cards - still working, but replaced with GTX 285s
2ND Rampage Extreme motherboard bit the dust when installing second 4870x2




A few early photos:


I said it worked ... didn't say it was pretty




4870X2 with Danger Den Water Block:




Swiftech GTZ Water Block - a delight to install




I use 3DMark06 to see if everything seems to run okay...




Temps look okay on this temporary loop (CPU and GPU on 1 PA120.3):




And, before you get all excited, let me make a few disclaimers:

1) Yes, the tubing is much too long -- this is my setup for leak testing outside the box, which I just set up to make sure everything worked in the case.

2) The drive bays are sticking out of the case ... kind of a nice look, don't ya think?

3) Wire Management - a tangled mess at the moment.

4) Silver Screws on the front fan grills - will be replaced with black

[2low4u]

Lookin good Shazza! I saw the 8800 GTX's & got all excited lol. I'm using 3 in my build is why heheh. Are the fans for the rad behind cause I don't see them in the front? Hope you find the missing ram to! Pesky little ram gnomes lol.

[Astratuner]

That's some nice equipement you've got there mate!

[N19h7m4r3]

Modest? Modest?! You sir, are a LIAR!

Oh can I have all the old parts you are not using?

Pwetty pwease!

( Looking good so far )

[BlueAqua]

Looks good Shazza. Do you plan on cooling the northbridge? Swiftech makes a nice block specifically for that board. Put some love into it and sleeve your cables.

[shazza]

Thanks for the kind words ... this is basically just the start, I know there is lots left to do.

Modest? Modest?! You sir, are a LIAR!

lol ... "Let me clarify," she says; "Modest in the sense that it is not EXTREME. While I'm fortunate to be able to buy good hardware, there's nothing tricky here except putting everything together. No cuts / no painting / no EXTREMELY complicated and creative work many of the folks here do. BUT, for me ... just putting it together and getting it to work is a treat."

And yep, BlueAqua ... sleeving will be done. I will not be sleeving my PSU, as that's beyond me. But I can handle fans, pump leads, and the like. Just the simple stuff for me.

[shazza]

Rube Goldberg came to play today:

[Asgard_thor]

Yah Shazza is a Mam
thats three whips for YOU
there's only a short list of girls in here, YOUR SUPPOSE TO KNOW THEM ALL
jk :P

I haven't seen you around lately!
good to see you back

[Cutless009]

Coffee mug installs to processor block and adds +10 to awesome speed granting the user the ability to overclock an extra 10%.

[twwen2]

Well i think it looks awesome!

Anodised black aluminium FTW

[skinnee]

glad to see you finally started another worklog shazza...best of luck on the build ahead!

[shazza]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. Worked all day ... got the CPU loop all hooked up and it leaked (during leak testing, fortunately). Tried compression fittings on my Apogee GTZ ... leaky, leaky, leaky. It worked fine yesterday with regular barbs, but I think I borked the threads in one of the holes. Every thing I try to screw in now goes in crooked, so can't get a good seal. I'll have another go this week.

Got a few odds and ends on order, so gotta wait before I can do much more.

[GbrilliantQ]

Lovely as always. Miss your worklogs elsewhere shazza. =(

[shazza]

A little update ... got my replacement GTZ block and everything is working - still not sure I'll use the compression fittings because I'm not sure I can get a good seal.

But ... thought I'd share a little diversion. Some of you may remember my first adventure in water:




This machine stayed at our house in Florida when we unexpectedly moved to Arizona in January. Back in Florida for the Holidays and decided to do an upgrade. Having a liquid cooled machine at a house I only get to every few months is not practical, so decided to stick with air until I move back here permanently.


Some fun stuff arrived:




Here she is, my new plain Jane setup. The X58 and i7 920 build was a breeze, especially compared to my early nightmares with my Rampage Extreme X48 board. Definitely have to fill those bays. My MM case looks so empty now!




And, this will make you all cringe ... some of you may have never seen a stock Intel HSF installed It will be replaced, but works ok for now.



Thanks for looking.

[MomijiTMO]

D=

What is that . . . .. thing?


Oh now I know what hell is like. Stock Intel coolers everywhere. Make it stop, oh make it stop it hurts.



Awesome stuff dude.

[Hulioni]

Looking great as always shaz !

[shazza]

Looking great as always shaz !

You shamed me into it, Hulioni!

[dualbrain]

Shazza - nice blue tone on your tubing!

[2low4u]

Heheh nice goin Shazza! Yeah don't feel bad I am going to be using my stock hsf for the first time ever using a stocker to I might add. Oh well it'll hold us over till we get the proper gear what? Looks good though keep up with the nice build. Are you going back to water eventually or staying with air? A nice True Copper would look some sweet sitting on top of that i7 I think if you are staying air.

[atomic ferret]

Great build man!

[InfinityNX]

I really envy these MM builds. The cases are really versatile. Keep up the good work! And btw, MOAR PICS PLX

[2low4u]

D=

What is that . . . .. thing?


Oh now I know what hell is like. Stock Intel coolers everywhere. Make it stop, oh make it stop it hurts.



Awesome stuff dude.

Great build man!

Shazza's a Lady fellas!

[MomijiTMO]

I use dude and guy as universal terms .

[zlojack]

I like the MM Horizon sooooo much.

[2low4u]

They are nice I agree but a U2-UFO with a Pedestal would be pretty sexy to wouldn't it? lol