Pr3dator8's Red raven (wc'd rv02)

[Pr3dator8]

Red Raven introduction


Hey all!
This will be my first computer mod/build of this size. So im hoping you guys enjoy this journey as much as i did. Since this is my first build, i have actually already finished it. i started a few months ago doing bits and peices, but had to wait till after christmas to get the watercooling bits to finish it. i didnt want to start a thread posting progressively coz i wasnt sure how long it would take me to finish.

I wil be calling this build the “Red Raven” basically coz im taking my raven rv02 and adding some red (Stroke of genius)

First off i would like to that everyone who helped me in this thread:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=239444
I apologise if my build appears to have ignored some of your suggestions. I did take them into consideration how ever some dicision's were made simply because it was easier in terms of availability in Australia.

Also if you are not familiar with my window etching check it out here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=235801

What i hope to achieve during this build is:

• Firstly, significantly lower cpu temps so that i can push my clock to hopefully over 3ghz. (but will settle for 3)
• Secondly, but not far behind the “firstly”, make my case and all its components look awesome!

Now here are all the bits i used. (NOTE: i used the majority of my existing hardware listed in my sig.)

Watercooling:
Swiftech Apogee GTZ CPU Waterblock
Swiftech MCR320-QP Radiator
Swiftech MCP355 waterpump
XSPC Laing DDC Bayres One
PrimoFlex PRO LRT 1/2″ Tubing

To get a bit of an understanding for how i want to set up my watercooling, i used THIS LINK as a starting point for my ideas. Only i will be removing two of the 180mm fans on the bottom of the case and mounting 3×120mm fans on the rad. This will give me better cooling of the radiator and give me a bit more clearance in between the rad and the graphics card. (if my measurements are accurate :S)

Bling (Lighting)
4x Coolermaster Silent 120mm Red led fans (3 for the rad, 1 for the case)
2x Logisys 12″ inverterless Red cold cathodes
Im going to sleeve the main power supply cables from the PSU using red and black sleeving.

Ok so now the introduction is out of the way, i just want to apologise in advanced for my poor photography skills...the first couple of photos were taken from my camera phone. but i eventually got my hands on a decent camera so they get better. but they are still not the greatest photos.

Too make this thread a little less cluttered ill post the photos in sections ie. Sleeving, stripping down the case, watercooling...etc. Hope you enjoy! please let me know what you think! if there is any specific photos you want me to take i would be more than happy to do so!

[Pr3dator8]

PSU Sleeving


Main ATX plug stripped of its original sleeving


I made sure i labeled everything so i didnt stuff it up


Sunbeam psu tool kit


I found THIS METHOD to be much more effective (and cheaper) than the crappy psu tool


blood on my labeling :S????


Turns out i sliced my thumb when i pulled one of the pins out of the plug...has this happened to anyone before? was in an anoying spot on my thumb too


ATX all finished. not perfect but not bad for my first go


The other cables i sleeved


the power switch, hdd led and reset switch cables sleeved


Top fan and fan controller for the remaining 180mm fan sleeved


Every build log i see has a little helper...so this is mine lol

[Pr3dator8]

Stripping the case


Naked case! (last of the crappy camera phone pics)


Removed 2 of the 3 180mm fans


im going to be keeping the filters under the rad. i think they are pretty important since the fans will be sucking up from the bottom of the case.


Test fitting the radiator bracket. basically a 180mm to 120mm adaptor (included in the rv02 package)


My temporary rig location ended up staying there for a few months lol

[Pr3dator8]

Lighting


I didnt take any detailed pics of this process unfortunately. i replaced the stock blue led's with red ones.


One of the two rocker switches i will be using to control the cathodes in my case


Another angle


Front pannel cover + weapon of choice


Not the neatest cut but they get coverd up


switches fitted


turned out alot neater than i thought it would


I tested out the cathodes to see how they looked (this inverterless stuff is all new to me) i dunno if its just me but red cathodes look more of a pink than red! i have a solution for this though...

[Pr3dator8]

"Fixing" my Red Cathodes


i found this at work. it was used for spraying brake light lense when the colour starts to fade. this is a really old can so im not sure where u can get it from.


(crap photo) masked off the areas that didnt need to be painted


waiting for the first coat to dry....ps dont do this in ur bath like i did lol...its really hard to get rid of the over spray (as u can see in this pic)


for before and after comparison. oh btw i did 2 coats. the more coats u do the redder it gets but the dimmer the light is.


before


After. its a bit hard to tell in the photos but in person its a massive difference.


Mounted the cathodes


We have power


With my bat-side panel fitted. So happy with how it turned out.

[Pr3dator8]

Small update

I noticed the mesh on the top cover of the case was easily removed so i decided to paint it red. i did it at work and forgot to being the camera so i only have before and after photos.

before

after

mounted

different angle.

[Pr3dator8]

The Watercooling bits

I got all the water cooling bits for chrissy as i mentioned earlier. I paid for them and mum decided she would take them off me and give them to me for xmas coz she didnt no wat else to get me lol. damn her.

yay!

hardware ready for some liquid cooling goodness!

[Pr3dator8]

CPU block


GTZ with compression fittings...fitted? :P

mounted to mobo

[Pr3dator8]

Radiator




Fans mounted

180mm to 120mm adpater fitted

Both adaptors

Rad mounted

Clearance between gtx275 and rad :o

[Pr3dator8]

Reservoir

These photos are pretty crap. stupidly i took photos without checking them and i kept getting glare off the acrylic u get the idea tho

compression fittings and pump

again

pump

res mounted (taken during the bleeding process...hence the red coolant)

[Pr3dator8]

Bleeding






ran it for about 2mins and noticed a leak from the cpu block so i had to drain it and start over.

i used the o rings that came with the fitting but they were too thin. so i used the o rings that came with the cpu block that were thicker. stupid mistake i should have done that in the first place. i left it running overnight like this, came back in the morning with no signs of leaks !!! time to remount the cpu block and finish her up!

[Pr3dator8]

FINISHED!
























So happy with how it all turned out! Its my first watercooling build and i dont think i will go back to air cooling after this. it looks awesome, temps are down 8-10 degrees compared to my previous set up! all that is left to do is to overclock her. not sure when i will get the chance to sit down and give that a go but i will post my results! thanks heaps for following my build log. let me know what you think in the comments. if u guys want any specific photos i will be happy to put them up….until nnext time….Happy gaming! hope u all had a good xmas! and all the best for the new year!

P.s. Here is my temps. Ambient (room temp) 25 deg, Temp @ idle 27 deg, Temp @ load 33 deg! plenty of room for overclocking !

[Brick]

nice build man! I hope your playin some batman arkham asylum on there!

[Pr3dator8]

lol cheers brick. yep its definately in my list of games. check this out if u havent seen it btw. http://www.gametrailers.com/video/sp...n-arkham/59828

[Brick]

yeah i hadn't seen that until now, thanks Also, I was wondering: did you find it hard setting up a water cooling system for the first time? Is it significantly worth it versus aftermarket air coolers?

[Pr3dator8]

im not going to say it was easy. at first i was really nervous about doing it. but i read ALOT about it to the point where i felt confident. if you take your time and do ur research its not too bad. For me it was worth it. i had a 8-10 degrees temp drop which should give me some more room to play with an overclock. if ur room is fairly hot its might not be worth it tho coz it can only cool as cool as your room is if that makes sense. my room used to be really hot (being summer in aus) but i spent $180 on a portable airconditioner off ebay. which was probably the best thing i could have done for this build. if i didnt get that i dont think i would have bother watercooling my pc.

[mav2000]

Great build. Very nice setup and some really interesting bits.

[Brick]

im not going to say it was easy. at first i was really nervous about doing it. but i read ALOT about it to the point where i felt confident. if you take your time and do ur research its not too bad. For me it was worth it. i had a 8-10 degrees temp drop which should give me some more room to play with an overclock. if ur room is fairly hot its might not be worth it tho coz it can only cool as cool as your room is if that makes sense. my room used to be really hot (being summer in aus) but i spent $180 on a portable airconditioner off ebay. which was probably the best thing i could have done for this build. if i didnt get that i dont think i would have bother watercooling my pc.

yeah i'm not entirely familiar with assembling a wc loop, but im lucky enough to have central ac - the room is chilllyyy

[Pr3dator8]

hmmm thank you to those who did reply but i was kind of hoping to get a bit more feed back from this....anyone know any more specific forums i could post this on?