ABS/Tagan Black Pearl - evolution of a water-cooled rig

[kgtiger]

Excellent work Shazza really nice to see you back at work on this build.
I am really glad you went with the red mobo tray, it looks excellent and it's nice to see in the case.

Looking forward to you next update very soon.

[busterben]

nice shots shazza
maybe you could use this rad up top

[closetredneck]

Looking good Shazza! Red & Black looks great, but I guess you could say I'm somewhat biased.

Anyway, are you still planning on using a rad at the bottom too or did you just mod the side panel for future growth / different setups?

[shazza]

dajum, candyred

Yep - definitely red - but you won't see it as much when everything is closed up.

that last shot is just too sexy great job Sharon!

Gracias, CP.

that is looking really good !!!

but how do you connect the tubing from the motherboard area to the tubing in the lower compartment ...

Thanks, melle. Utnorris is correct on the fitting. Also - see CptDreadFlint's work log for some good detail on these fittings.

Taking a guess here, but it might be this:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=22957

Correct!

I like it!
My only suggestion is on the straight tubing run. It's hard to make out against the red tray. And it's straight, versus the other sexy curvy runs to the right of it. Do you plan to have a res? What about turning that straight run into a top-inlet (+melvin pipe) / bottom-outlet cylinder res running top-to-bottom?
Above comment in small font because it's only a minor suggestion...

I'm with ya, Kibbler. Not 100% set on the straight tubing run, but want to try leaving that area fairly clean (res in bottom compartment). Still experimenting, so feedback much appreciated).

love it!

and I like the suggestion Kibbler made

Thanks, aka_GK.

Great components you got there @shazza. I've always wondered how the Evga X58 SLI Micro looks with top radiator replacement on the Black Pearl or V2000. In my opinion, RX360 could be great top of your case and it could be fit out there but Swiftech also good choice. One way or another, you have great case and lots of area for your radiator replacement.

By the way, I heard what Evga X58 SLI Micro motherboards have limited 1.6vcore. Cannot Micro owners increase its vcore more manually or some other way? I assume that you aware of that problem too? If you can give positive answer or solution way about it, that would be great for me in near future.

Your last update is really good and we are waiting more progress.

Cheers,
Arthur

Thanks, Arthur. About the top radiator - I tried an RX up there - still just a little thick. This is purely a supplemental rad, so the Swiftech should be fine. Still uncertain if I'll use it.

About the Vcore on the board - not sure if it will go past 1.6 or not. I was running it at with no problem at 4 Ghz with 1.35 Vcore, so the 1.6 limitation won't hamper me, if it is the case.

Excellent work Shazza really nice to see you back at work on this build.
I am really glad you went with the red mobo tray, it looks excellent and it's nice to see in the case.

Looking forward to you next update very soon.

Thanks, kgtiger - let's see how it looks when the midplate is red as well.

nice shots shazza
maybe you could use this rad up top

Thanks, busterben - I'll check it out, not sure if the X-fire radiator would help my straight run?

Looking good Shazza! Red & Black looks great, but I guess you could say I'm somewhat biased.
Anyway, are you still planning on using a rad at the bottom too or did you just mod the side panel for future growth / different setups?

Definitely going to use at least one rad in the bottom. One on top is just for fun (Guess I'll forgive you for bringing this log back to life, since I'm having fun with it again )


No rain today, so I'll get back on the project just as soon as I finish folding the laundry.

[melle.k]

OK mystery solved. now I can go back to my normal live again thanks Utnorris and shazza

[Red-5]

I have been following your worklogs on the forum but have never commented on them till now. I must say they are all excellent, so neat and tidy.
The fantastic photos do help too.
Glad to see this project up and running again and look forward to seeing it completed. Love the red motherboard tray by the way.

[taters mcgee]

looks nice shazza, also looks warm there(i loath you for that one )

[Laine]

Shaz, I almost fell of my chair when I saw how you've routed the tubing.

That's like beyond clean.

[shazza]

OK mystery solved. now I can go back to my normal live again thanks Utnorris and shazza

I have been following your worklogs on the forum but have never commented on them till now. I must say they are all excellent, so neat and tidy. The fantastic photos do help too. Glad to see this project up and running again and look forward to seeing it completed. Love the red motherboard tray by the way.

Wow - thanks Red-5. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting - keeps me going.

looks nice shazza, also looks warm there(i loath you for that one )

Thank you taters. I guess it might not help if I tell ya I'm getting ready to jump in the pool

Shaz, I almost fell of my chair when I saw how you've routed the tubing.

That's like beyond clean.

Much appreciated, Laine. It's almost a bit boring, but that's okay for me.



Plodding on. Something like this, with the res in line, might be more traditional:




It lines up nicely ...




Don't have to use that res - just had it lying around. I thought of one of Frozen-Qs, but it might be a bit fancy for this build. Any ideas, folks?




Very quick test of my potential/tentative/maybe PSU cable routing (this is not the PSU, nor is it the sleeving job, that will be used):










Didn't have much time to get any better photos, or fiddle with the cabling, since the sun was setting - tried to capture it through the case, but I'm afraid I'll have to keep working to get this shot right:





Note - I realize the greenery might be a bit distracting to the photos, unfortunately, that's what's sitting behind my workspace. Keep the ideas coming.

[Antioch]

Just one question. How to refill the loop with the res like that?

[shazza]

Just one question. How to refill the loop with the res like that?

I'd need to reverse the res, or add a spare top I have with inlet holes to the top - then figure out a way to stealthily (is that a word, don't think so) route a small piece of tubing for a fillport.

[Kibbler]

Just one question. How to refill the loop with the res like that?

Do it like how it was done in one of the murderboxes, fill via GPU block.

[Antioch]

Sorry, I meant how do you add water to top it off as some evaporates through the tubing over time. The way its setup now you can't really do the GPU-> fillport at top corner of the case trick. Even if you tilted the case to sit on it's face, the air would go up from the res into the rad and get stuck, never making its way to the fillport.

That is, if we're talking about the same thing.

[aka_GK]

awesome pictures Sharon, you on par with Captain made my day

[ward0]

I hope you have more luck then me shazza, project plain crazy(MM build) is down motherboard RMA'd yesterday. getting a new one next week.

ps : Your build is looking nice keep up the good work (y)

[kwscore]

wow shazza case looks really great
perfect painting

[headala]

Hi, Sharon, it's good to see you're still making progress on this beauty.

I like it with the res, I think your best bet for filling/topping would be to turn the whole case on its back and then fill from the front of the case (now top) via a T or extra port on the res. Would help the rad bleed better anyway. I had the exact same rad in the same spot on a build of mine a long time ago, and it was a real pain to bleed without tipping the case.

Take care,

A

[InCredible]

Do it like how it was done in one of the murderboxes, fill via GPU block.

this is how i killed my 4870x2 now i have an x550

[kgtiger]

I am not sure about painting the midplate red, it's a very bold colour.
If the midplate was painted say black then it would allow the red mobo tray to be a feature and not just blend in to the case.
I also feel this would help to highlight the red accent colour on the mobo, plus the red tubing and coolant.

Looking forward to see how you work around filling this loop Shazza.

[masxerofkartis]

Great build, i couldn't expect anyless after that mountain mod beast you made before,

As for the filling/emptying, you could use a fillport above to fill the thing, and the another one on the bottom to empty it, use a t splitter to connect to the tank, and from there to a fillport beside the radiator. Then the other side to one of those alphacool drain valves, a piece of tubing going down through the midplate and end in another fillport on the floor of the case

Of course i guess that it would be a shame to risk wrecking that paintjob but thats going to make life so much easier, i regret not doing that on my cosmos before i built it

[shazza]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone . I won't quote each comment for the sake of brevity - but I appreciate them all.

OK - as for filling the reservoir. Let's not worry tooooo much about that just yet. My thought is, I'd probably attach another top to the EK res that would allow me to fill it from the top (and drain from the bottom). BUT, not too concerned yet, because the res may not survive in that location. While I agree it probably looks better than the straight tubing run when the case is only half full, I'm not sure that will be the situation once everything else is in place. We'll just have to see as things move further along.

I was actually a bit surprised at the lack of love for the straight tubing run, but was glad for the feedback, cause it gave me the impetus to try the reservoir. Also had a suggestion to run the res right thru the midplate. Also worth a thought.

kgtiger expresses a valid concern - should I paint the midplate red, or perhaps black? I still haven't decided, but will work that out as I move forward - maybe do a quick red spray on the existing plate to check it out ( the final midplate piece will ultimately need to be redone once I do decide on all the tube/cable routing).

Sorry about your motherboard problems, ward0!

Currently working on cable management ... may have pics later, not sure.

[Antioch]

I liked the straight run. It made me feel more confident about a similar run I was planning.

[Oli4v]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone . I won't quote each comment for the sake of brevity - but I appreciate them all.

OK - as for filling the reservoir. Let's not worry tooooo much about that just yet. My thought is, I'd probably attach another top to the EK res that would allow me to fill it from the top (and drain from the bottom). BUT, not too concerned yet, because the res may not survive in that location. While I agree it probably looks better than the straight tubing run when the case is only half full, I'm not sure that will be the situation once everything else is in place. We'll just have to see as things move further along.

I was actually a bit surprised at the lack of love for the straight tubing run, but was glad for the feedback, cause it gave me the impetus to try the reservoir. Also had a suggestion to run the res right thru the midplate. Also worth a thought.

kgtiger expresses a valid concern - should I paint the midplate red, or perhaps black? I still haven't decided, but will work that out as I move forward - maybe do a quick red spray on the existing plate to check it out ( the final midplate piece will ultimately need to be redone once I do decide on all the tube/cable routing).

Sorry about your motherboard problems, ward0!

Currently working on cable management ... may have pics later, not sure.

looking forward, an extra bottom wit 3 holes is perfect dit that once to and also for my yet to start build ...



and also did it to my RLD build a while a go

[ward0]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone . I won't quote each comment for the sake of brevity - but I appreciate them all.

OK - as for filling the reservoir. Let's not worry tooooo much about that just yet. My thought is, I'd probably attach another top to the EK res that would allow me to fill it from the top (and drain from the bottom). BUT, not too concerned yet, because the res may not survive in that location. While I agree it probably looks better than the straight tubing run when the case is only half full, I'm not sure that will be the situation once everything else is in place. We'll just have to see as things move further along.

I was actually a bit surprised at the lack of love for the straight tubing run, but was glad for the feedback, cause it gave me the impetus to try the reservoir. Also had a suggestion to run the res right thru the midplate. Also worth a thought.

kgtiger expresses a valid concern - should I paint the midplate red, or perhaps black? I still haven't decided, but will work that out as I move forward - maybe do a quick red spray on the existing plate to check it out ( the final midplate piece will ultimately need to be redone once I do decide on all the tube/cable routing).

Sorry about your motherboard problems, ward0!

Currently working on cable management ... may have pics later, not sure.

oh well, going from x38 to x48 for only 30$ more

but my pc is out ot work for atleast 2weeks ( almost 1week passed)

[CptDreadFlint]

I cant get enough of your pics, Sharon.

The greenery to me isn't distracting. Me audibly going "Oh! Ah!" is.

I'm actually torn between the look of the straight tubing run and the res. They both look great.

I like the idea of red as the midplate. If the side panel behind the mobo tray is to be black, I think both the tray and the midplate in red will look like a win, maybe?