Project Illuminated - XtremeSystems Tribute

[xaxis]

Preface
This project WAS intended to be in part a tribute to XtremeSystems.

Now the only tribute I'm making is the contribution of yet another build log (hopefully a good one).

At first, I wanted to create a community project, w/ purchase decisions etc the result of user feedback and what not, but didn't seem to be enough interest, so I winged it (though with lots and lots of friendly help from vendors and community members alike.)

I've dubbed this Build "Illuminated". It is to be a no limits build that spares NO expense. I picked the name based on my intent to pack as many bright white LEDs, UV LEDs, and now perhaps well hidden arrays of RGB LEDs because A) they need to be used and B) I hope that the shear intensity of this build in all its brilliant glory will emulate the same white light one may or may not see upon enlightenment or perhaps death or a good dose of *pick your favorite hallucinogen* (mine's sleep deprivation - not really intentional though)

So let's get on with it!
RED: represents items I still need to do or buy.

General Computer Hardware

- MoBo: 1 x EVGA X58 Classified w/ NF200
- CPU: 1 x Intel i7 975 Extreme
- RAM: 3 x Corsair Dominator-GT DDR3 2000Mhz 2GB
- GPU: 3 x EVGA GeForce GTX 285
- HDD: 4 x Intel X25-M SSD 80GB (RAID0)
- PSU: 2 x SilverStone Strider ST1200

Cases

Extended Ascension CYO
- Acrylic Color: Smoke Black
- Back Panel Fan Spacing: Swiftech/HW Labs/Feser
- Back Panel Type: Horizon
- Finish: Custom Powder Coat (Frost White 90% High Gloss)
- Front Panel Fan Spacing: Swiftech/HW Labs/Feser
- Front Panel Type: Trinity
- Side 1: Big Window Panel
- Side 2: Big Window Panel
- Side 3: Triple Quad
- Custom Side Panels (In the works)

Pedestal 24 - CYO (The MM Ascension sits directly on top of this)
- Back Panel Fan Spacing Swiftech/HW Labs/Feser
- Back Panel Type Triple 120
- Bottom Panel Type Smiley
- Finish: Custom Powder Coat Color (Frost White 90% High Gloss)
- Front Panel Fan Spacing Swiftech/HW Labs/Feser
- Front Panel Type Triple Optical
- Side Panel Fan Spacing Swiftech/HW Labs/Feser
- Side 1 Panel Quad
- Side 2 Panel Quad

Custom (UN) Grills

Fan Grills
2 - 3x3 UN Designs (outside and inside of the ascension front panel) - 1/8" Aluminum
2 - 4x3 UN Designs (outside and inside of the ascension top panel) - 1/8" Aluminum
2 - 1x3 UN Designs (outside and inside of the ascension back panel)
4 - 1x1 UN Designs (outside and inside of the ascension back panel & back of motherboard tray)
1 - 1x3 UN Designs (outside of the pedestal 24 back panel)
2 - 1x4 UN Designs (outside of the pedestal 24 on the left/right side panels)

Painting & Other
Powder coated sparkly black fan grills, radiators, PSUs, waterblocks, drive bays, etc.
Custom fabricated side panels or side panel covers (partially nickel coated sparkly black)
Custom touch panel LCD display in bottom pedestal for control and monitoring of all things cooling.
UV Fiber optic lighting controlled by PIC18 series chip for various effects.
Custom milled 3 Bay Reservoirs (x2) with inbuild LCD screens
b-itspower pump covers to be powder coated as well
Other stuff. Lots and lots of other stuff.

Water Cooling Hardware
Pumps, Reservoirs, and Radiators
(Inside the Extended MM Ascension)
- 8 x MCP655 12v DC Pump - with Speed Controller
- 3 x EK Waterblocks EK-Multioption RES 400 rev.2
- 3 x EK Waterblocks EK-Multioption RES 250 rev.2
- 2 x Custom RES as mentioned above
- 3 x EK Waterblocks EK-ANTI-Cyclon
- 8 x b-itspower D5 / MCP655 Pump Mod Replacement Top
- 8 x b-itspower D5 / MCP655 Mod Kit - Black Sparkle
- 3 x Feser X-Changer Triple 120mm Xtreme Performance Radiator
- 3 x Feser X-Changer Quad 120mm Xtreme Performance Radiator

(Inside the MM Pedestal 24 stacker base attachment)
- 2 x Feser TFC Xchanger - Monsta Extreme Radiator 420/360
- 6 x TFC Triebwerk TK-122 NB-Multiframe® 120mm x 55mm Mid Speed Fan - 1800 RPM

Water Blocks
- CPU: EK Supreme LT (Nickel Coated courtesy of SNiiPE
- GPU: 3 x b-itspower GTX285 (Nickel Coated Sparkle Black) (maybe) Otherwise EK Blocks
- NB/SB/MOS: UPDATE: EK EVGA Classified full board block

Metal Connector Bits
- 20 x 1/2in. Compression Fittings for 3/4in OD Tubing
- 16 x Shining Silver Male to Male G 1/4 Fitting
- 16 x G 1/4 Shining Silver Case Top Water Fill Set
- 14 x Shining Silver Stop Fitting G 1/4
- 14 x Shining Silver Rotary 45 G 1/4
- 10 x G1/4 Silver Diamond Stop Fitting
- 9 x Shining Silver Rotary 90 Fitting
- 9 x G 1/4in. Silver Shining Fitting for 1/2in. Tubing
- 9 x Shining Silver DUAL Rotary 45 G 1/4
- 9 x Silver Shining Rotary 90-Degree G1/4 Adapter
- 8 x G 1/4in. Temperature Sensor Stop Fitting
- 8 x Aqua Computer Ball valve internal thread G 1/4
- 8 x Premium PLUS Silver Diamond Series Dual G1/4" High Flow Fitting
- 6 x G1/4" Silver Shining Male to Male Rotary Adapter
- 4 x Shining Silver Rotary T Fitting
- 4 x G 1/4 Shining Silver Triple Rotary Angle Fitting
- 4 x Shining Silver Rotary Q Fitting
- 4 x Shining G 1/4 Silver D-Plug Set for Direct Connect
- 4 x Shining G 1/4 Shining Silver Mini D-Plug Set
- 4 x G 1/4in. Silver Shining Stubby Fitting for 1/2in. Tubing
- 4 x G 1/4 Shining Silver Angle Fitting for 1/2in. Tubing (low pass)
- 2 x G 1/4 Adapter set for Eheim 1046 Pumps
- 1 x Shining Silver Y-Block With Triple Rotary

Other
- 22" x Feser Tube Active UV Hose - 1/2" ID (3/4"OD) Anti-Kink Tubing - White/UV Blue
- 22" x Feser Tube Active UV Hose - 1/2" ID (3/4"OD) Anti-Kink Tubing - Black
- 22" x Feser Tube Active UV Hose - 1/2" ID (3/4"OD) Anti-Kink Tubing - Clear/UV Blue
- 3 x Blue Laing DDC O-Ring Replacements
- 12 x EK Reservoir Aftermarket Mounts
- 5 x Feser One Non Conductive Cooling Fluid - 1000 ml - UV Clear / Blue (F1-0010)
- 9 x UN Designs Z2-Brackets
- 9 x UN Designs Absolute Pump Bracket Rev 3 for Laing DDC
- 4 x UN Designs Rad Spacers

Misc
- 2 x White Illuminated Bulgin Style "Momentary" Vandal Switch - 22mm - Black Housing - Ring Illumination
- 40 x ENERMAX CLUSTER 12CM CASE FAN TWISTER BEARING 500-1200RPM Fans (Remarkably I was able to find them for $11.00 each!)
- 1 x 4 x 2.5IN SAS/SATA RAID For 5.25IN Bay
UPDATE: I'm going to unsleeve much of my work and change the sleeving over to either murdermod white or if I can't get it soon enough this carbon fiber variety I found.
- 2 x murderMod MDPC-X Psychopack
- 6 x murderMod 4.4 Sleeve - Black
- 3 x murderMod Small Heatshrink - Black

Quick photo of some of the computer hardware.


Status: Waiting on the last of powder coating and a few other minor things. Custom Mods are in my focus atm. More to come soon.

[pingpong1455]

if you e-mail kirk i bet you that he could come up wit something just tell him what youd like itd probly be a bit better then just buying 2 psychopacks

[xaxis]

if you e-mail Kirk i bet you that he could come up wit something just tell him what youd like itd probly be a bit better then just buying 2 psychopacks

I take it Kirk is the proprietor of MurderMod? That would be great. I'll give it a shot.
Though, I'm really hung up on the color decision with the sleeving. Solid white may contrast to much with a powder coated black mobo tray even if the rest of the case powder coated high gloss white...
Any opinions? Should I just go the traditional black sleeving route?

[Prince21]

This is just beautiful, very detailed, you have taken time to prepare this list I appreciate it...look forward to updates will be checking each day.

[pingpong1455]

I take it Kirk is the proprietor of MurderMod? That would be great. I'll give it a shot.
Though, I'm really hung up on the color decision with the sleeving. Solid white may contrast to much with a powder coated black mobo tray even if the rest of the case powder coated high gloss white...
Any opinions? Should I just go the traditional black sleeving route?

kirk runs the u.s. murder mod store

i think nils said something about white sleeving

[xaxis]

This is just beautiful, very detailed, you have taken time to prepare this list I appreciate it...look forward to updates will be checking each day.

I would like to clarify some of my intentions:

MM Pinnacle 24 - CYO (Case 1) will contain no radiators, no reservoirs, no pumps. It will house the computer hardware, provide inlet/outlet holes for cooling tubes and possibly a phase through-hole. It will have lots of white LED fans and on the interior, black rad grills that contrast with the high gloss white powder coat exterior/interior of the pinnacle 24. The case will also have it's inner motherboard tray replaced with a high gloss powder coat black tray to provide more contrast. Fans are undecided on this unit, rad grills (I'll need a matching style) 360 and 480 are undecided and needed. Suggestions welcome.

MM ...???... - CYO (Case 2) "the cooling beast". To contain at least 3 x 360 Feser rads, 3 pumps, 3 reservoirs, lots of fans, possess inlets/outlets for hooking up to exterior systems in order provide liquid cooling and eventually phase change cooling. Based on those specs I guess we can assume the MM Case needs to be at least a U2-UFO or an Ascension - CYO... any suggestions as to which configuration? Where outlets/inlets should come out, etc. I will be color coating Case 2 the same as Case 1. Anyhow, Case 1 is ordered and in production, Case 2 is where advice would be greatly appreciated. Basically an MM case oriented for the so far mentioned criteria... I'll experiment around. I would like to custom design my own schematic to have built but I don't own a copy of Solid Works... only Rhino3D... I'll have to look into that as well.

Oh, does anyone know the usage restrictions on the XtremeSystems logo? It's not like I'm manufacturing and selling anything, so I suppose no one would care if it or a modified version of it (with the word Tribute) perhaps were laser etched into a few acrylic panels for this (these builds)? If anyone gets a wild hair and wants to design the mentioned Xtreme Systems Tribute logo, I'de be honored... and of course the creator's name beneath their art would be an obvious inclusion.

[armeniandave]

Looks pretty awesome!

You would want the Z2 Bracket and the Absolute if your going to mount them to the rads.

Any questions feel free to ask.

[xaxis]

Looks pretty awesome!

You would want the Z2 Bracket and the Absolute if your going to mount them to the rads.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Will the Z Bracket suffice in place of the Z2? I would rather get the Z2s but they seem a bit sparse. (I don't like shopping at performance-pc because they usually charge absurd shipping rates).

Last, will the Rad Spacers work with Feser Xchangers?

Thank you in advance.

[MomijiTMO]

D=

Holy molly this build will be epic.

[atomic ferret]

That's a lot of fittings.

[MomijiTMO]

That's a lot of fittings.

Try work out the cost

[dingdong555]

AWESOME! Can't wait for this.

Buy one murderMod kit and then get the 4.4mm refill + heatshrink.

[xaxis]

AWESOME! Can't wait for this.

Buy one murderMod kit and then get the 4.4mm refill + heatshrink.

I'm going to be sleeving 2 PSUs. Will one MurderMod kit + 4.4mm refill be enough? Or will two be closer to the mark. I'de rather overshoot than undershoot. Let me know what you think, then I'll go ahead and make the purchase.

In the mean time I'll be working on the custom MM case design. I really need to pick up a copy of the student edition of SolidWorks or some such thing... Currently doing CAD in Rhino... rambling now.

[armeniandave]

Will the Z Bracket suffice in place of the Z2? I would rather get the Z2s but they seem a bit sparse. (I don't like shopping at performance-pc because they usually charge absurd shipping rates).

Last, will the Rad Spacers work with Feser Xchangers?

Thank you in advance.

If you don't want to get them at Performance-PC's then
Sidewinder's has them also but there just not posted, email Gary and he will take care of you.

There are two different radspacers that will fit standard rads or the thermochill rads. Petra's has the anodized aluminum ones and Sidewinder's will have the powder coated black ones next week.

[dingdong555]

I'm going to be sleeving 2 PSUs. Will one MurderMod kit + 4.4mm refill be enough? Or will two be closer to the mark. I'de rather overshoot than undershoot. Let me know what you think, then I'll go ahead and make the purchase.

In the mean time I'll be working on the custom MM case design. I really need to pick up a copy of the student edition of SolidWorks or some such thing... Currently doing CAD in Rhino... rambling now.

Depends man, are you going to sleeve the cables individually or as a bunch? If it's individually, get one kit and get some refills, if you're doing the cables as a big bunch, get 2 kits.

[xaxis]

Depends man, are you going to sleeve the cables individually or as a bunch? If it's individually, get one kit and get some refills, if you're doing the cables as a big bunch, get 2 kits.

Yeah, right you are. I just went ahead and bought what you recommended for the time being and I can always buy more later if the need arises.



QUESTION TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT KNOW: I would like to have the XtremeSystems logo laser etched onto the acrylic side panels of my MM Ascension. Does anyone know where (if possible) a larger image, vector based perhaps of the Xtreme Systems logo can be had? ... On the same note of not knowing, does anyone happen to know what MM's criteria for images submitted are? I couldn't find any information on the website...

[CptDreadFlint]

Great details! I'm looking forward to your progression! Lots of pics, please!

[shazza]

Great details! I'm looking forward to your progression! Lots of pics, please!

+1

I believe I saw a reference before that said it was ok to use the XS logo as long as it wasn't for commercial purposes. You could ask for a vector image in the Photochop section.

[hausner]

This is the most expensive project i ever seen!

Sub!

[xaxis]

Great details! I'm looking forward to your progression! Lots of pics, please!

(read below)

+1

I believe I saw a reference before that said it was ok to use the XS logo as long as it wasn't for commercial purposes. You could ask for a vector image in the Photochop section.

Thanks shazza I'll look into that.

This is the most expensive project i ever seen!

Sub!

Well, I hope that as soon as I get all my stuff delivered and begin working on this build, that's not the ONLY reason you subscribed. I hope to make it as beautiful as possible too. I guess you can be a judge of that.

Photos (Real Soon... I Promise)
I promise lots and lots of pictures within the next couple of days (week at the most). I want to take a group shot of all the equipment being used for this project (minus the case) together, before I start taking everything apart and out to do the individual photo shoots.

Update
So It's starting to look as though I'm going to purchase a MM Pedestal 24 which will be affixed to the bottom of the already massive Extended Ascension. In it will be housed dual Monsta radiators, a pump (undecided), and reservoir (may or may not end up being installed within the pedestal... not sure, also which reservoir? ... perhaps a 4th EK reservoir mounted on the upper 3 Feser radiators like the other three... (these upper radiators are to be affixed to the 3 x 3 fan intakes on the front panel of the case)... The Pedestal and all of its components sole purpose will be to cool the NB/SB/MOS while the three radiators above will be assigned to their own video card.

The Pedestal 24 box ...
(Here's a link to to MM's Pedestal 24 for anyone that hasn't seen it: http://www.mountainmods.com/pedestal-24-p-492.html)
... with the dual Monstas: I want to get an extremely powerful pump to deal with passing all that liquid through those two monsterous (arghhh... semi-pun ) radiators. Suggestions?

The details as far as the phase change unit are still being figured/ironed out between myself and runmc. I'm hoping very much that I won't end up needing to use a SS phase change unit as apposed to a cascade, but worst case scenario, that wouldn't be all that bad either.... just not AS extreme I suppose.

[pingpong1455]

im guesing that your going to have a lot of tubing so maybe one pump in one case and one pump in another in series so that flow doesn't drop

pump wise maybe 2 mcp655's with the top of your choice

[xaxis]

im guesing that your going to have a lot of tubing so maybe one pump in one case and one pump in another in series so that flow doesn't drop

pump wise maybe 2 mcp655's with the top of your choice

Well, I feel the tubing won't be a problem due to the manner in which I intend to organize it which is demonstrated in the below image to some extent. Mainly however this diagram will give an idea as to what I'm planning on doing with the 3 MCP655s, 3 EK Reservoirs, (UN) brackets and 3 Feser X-Changer 360 radiators. I'm planning on configuring them like so:



I want to get an even more powerful pump to go in the below pedestal... I'm thinking about the Aquastream XT USB 12v DC Pump - Ultra Version or the
Innovatek Eheim HPPS i High Power 12V Water Pump (501280) ... I really need to research each more. .... Does anyone have any opinions or other recommendations as far as high powered pumps are concerned?

[bullydog]

that is some real serious hardware you have there
looking forward to this built

[ctsoccer13]

Great looking build. Make sure you don't hit the same roadblock I wrote about in my recent topic.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=225604

[xaxis]

Great looking build. Make sure you don't hit the same roadblock I wrote about in my recent topic.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=225604

Thank you for your concern, in fact I did hit this road block but I was fortunate in that Gary from sidewinder computers went above and beyond (as usual) and refunded my waterblocks. ... Also, I hear EK and Bitspower are both working on re-versions that are compatible with the new PCB layout and will be released very soon.