[PROJECT] Jersey WaterWorks

[closetredneck]

Introduction:
It's been 10 months since I finished with Osiris. The bug has bitten again. I have the itch. I attempted restraint and decided only to upgrade a few things with Osiris. And then I realized the effort wasn't worth the return (in terms of satisfying my need to build). So, I decided if I'm going to tear down my loops and add new components, I may as well go all out.

I'm starting a new build. Primarily focused on cooling components - I may upgrade my video cards now, but will most likely keep the same mobo/cpu/ram combo until the new arch lands.

Right now, I'm obviously in the planning/pricing phase. I will most likely build this system over my Christmas vacation, so I have plenty of time to identify components, design, mock-up, re-design, etc.

Also, since I'm in the very early stages of the process, I invite and would like for your opinions. Critique my selections, plans, and process as I go.

Liquid Cooling Components

Case:
This will be a Mountain Mods build. I'm leaning towards the Extended CYO-UFO with horizontal mobo tray and Extended Pedestal Base.

Loop 1: CPU
Block: EK Supreme HF (on hand)
Res: EK Mutli-option 250
Rad: XSPC RX480 Extreme
Fans: Gentle Typhoon 1150rpm, 37CFM in a push config
Pump: D5 with some kind of replacement top - maybe BitsPower.

Loop 2: Mobo / RAM?
Block: EK EVGA Classified Tri full block (on hand)
RAM: some yet to be determined RAM block if I decide to LQ RAM.
Res: EK Mutli-option 250
Rad: HL GTX 360 (on hand) - may swap this out for XSPC RX360
Fans: Gentle Typhoon 1150rpm, 37CFM in a push config
Pump: D5 with some kind of replacement top - maybe BitsPower.

Loop 3: Vid Cards
Block: 2x EK GTX 460 Blocks (on hand), maybe a block for my 9800gt physx card or I'll use one of my 285's with EK block.
Also, may or may not sell the NIB 460s and get 480s with EK blocks instead.
Res: EK Mutli-option 250
Rad: XSPC RX480 Extreme
Fans: Gentle Typhoon 1150rpm, 37CFM in a push config
Pump: D5 with some kind of replacement top - maybe BitsPower.

That's where I'm at for now. I'm trying to find a balance between efficiency, aesthetics, quality, and (insert a good buzz-word for future-proof). As far as placement, initial thoughts are to put the two quads in the pedestal bottom with fans pulling cool air in, push through rads, and a fans exhausting out the rear. Also, all 3 pumps would be located in the pedestal. The 360 rad would be in the main case in a similar config (fans pushing cool air through rad into case, exhausting at rear and top).

Obviously, I'm very early in the planning phase and this post is just helping me get some of my thoughts down.

This is an ambitious build.

[ScottALot]

I don't think there's need for three loops... you don't want a mess of tubing, maybe plan a two-loop?

[defect9]

I agree with scott. I would put the cpu in the same loot as the mobo/ram.

heck, you could even do one enormous loop for everything which would give you redundant pumps on the very, very rare chance a D5 actually went out.

[shazza]

Plenty of room for 3 loops in the Mountain Mods Case - I say, "go for it," if that's what you want to do

[ScottALot]

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/98...ement_Top.html

It's the answer... (I've never seen one in a build before and it'd look sooooo epic)

[closetredneck]

@ ScottALot and Defect

You're right, probably don't need three loops, but what's a good build without a little overkill? I think I can do it without a mess of tubing...I hope.

I thought about just putting the CPU/mobo/RAM on one loop. Later, if I wanted to add a dual proc mobo or something I could add the third loop and rad at that time. But it would be fun (and cool) to add it now.

Also, I fee having each set of components on a separate loop is easier to manage from a maintenance point of view.

@ ScottaLot

That top is pretty cool! What's the advantage to stringing the pumps together outlet to inlet other than redundancy? Is their research showing a significant increase in flow rate or pressure with that method? The motor of the pump can only rotate at a specified max so I'm not sure there wouldn't be diminishing returns by the time the water reached the third pump. Still, pretty interesting!

@ Shazza

Thanks Shazza! Nice to have you checking out another of my builds. You're mountain mods builds were quite inspirational!

What do you guys think of the fan/rad combo. The XSPC info says those rads are made for low speed fans, but I didn't want to go too (<1000RPM).

How about suggestions for the other case fans? I have some Scythe S-Flex laying around and was thinking of utilizing them for this build.

[Church]

closetredneck: with three loops even most spacious cases will become very crowded inside (hmm, from another hand big custom MM case .. ok, i'll change it to most spacious common full tower cases ), so from maintenance POV it will not be easier because of much more tubing and many extra redundant components like more pumps, reservoirs and imho more total radsection count and less compact mount of them (compared to less loops like 2 or single). If you want ease of replacement of loop components without draining all loop, rather employ wider usage of quick disconnect fittings imho.

[ScottALot]

Does anyone have the link to the pump top comparison? I feel like that article will show exactly how much 3 355/350s would do in series.

[closetredneck]

Ordered my case today. And so it begins....

[closetredneck]

Ok, well the ball is rolling. I've got some parts on order, and I'm starting to mull things over in my mind and on paper. Things like layout, airflow, rad placement push/pull in/out... you know the drill. Right now though, I still have a few unanswered questions.

1. Still deciding on fan type and speed. GTs or Yate loon. Looking at a low to mid speed to go with the XSPC rads. Also, on a related note. Grills for the fan holes..steel mesh, filter style, or regular grills. Or none?

2. Not sure of what to use as my Physx card...one of my 285's with EK block or my stock air cooled 9800GT.

3. Selecting a RAM block...not too many options out there?

4. Fans for regular case airflow.

5. Thinking about an aquaero.. still not sure what the real value of that would be.

6. Purchase 2x GTX480 and blocks now and sell the brand new 460's and blocks to a friend. Or just save my money and stick with the 460's.

[ScottALot]

Ok, well the ball is rolling. I've got some parts on order, and I'm starting to mull things over in my mind and on paper. Things like layout, airflow, rad placement push/pull in/out... you know the drill. Right now though, I still have a few unanswered questions.

1. Still deciding on fan type and speed. GTs or Yate loon. Looking at a low to mid speed to go with the XSPC rads. Also, on a related note. Grills for the fan holes..steel mesh, filter style, or regular grills. Or none?

2. Not sure of what to use as my Physx card...one of my 285's with EK block or my stock air cooled 9800GT.

3. Selecting a RAM block...not too many options out there?

4. Fans for regular case airflow.

5. Thinking about an aquaero.. still not sure what the real value of that would be.

6. Purchase 2x GTX480 and blocks now and sell the brand new 460's and blocks to a friend. Or just save my money and stick with the 460's.

1. Quiet performance = GTs, Budget = Yates (which do well actually), mid-range = http://www.frozencpu.com/products/96...-_1000RPM.html

2. 9800GT or GT240 are like the peak of PhysX performance ... you'd do a better thing to sell the 285 if you're not going to use it as a full GPU.

3. Mips or bust usually...

4. My #1 applies to case fans more or less.

5. I approve of the aquaero, but my experience with the Fan-Atic 5 Channel makes me lean towards Lamptron.

6. It's a tad late for the 480s ... really, I suggest choices a) Keep 460s or b) sell 460s now and get 580(s) or 6800/6900 series.

[closetredneck]

Made some moves today.

I *think* I have the 460's and blocks sold. As long as I put the blocks on the cards for the guy...which is quick and easy and pretty fun if you ask me. That said, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a set of 480's. I don't know when the 5X0 cards will drop, and I don't feel much like waiting. Also, from the sounds of it the 6870 isn't any better than a 5870, and not sure when the caymans or antillies will be out. Beyond that, I'm just not an ATI guy. Never really liked their cards and their linux support is sub-par at best. The only thing I'm worried about now is if my 1000W psu will be enough for all this. I guess I may have to grab a 750 or something just to power the 480s.

On the fan front, I decided to try some medium speed yates for the rads. If I don't like them, I'll go with the GTs. I don't have enough S-Flex laying around for the rest of the holes in this case and I didn't want to mix and match. I read up a little and looked to see what other people are using, and I decided to go with the Enermax Magma's.

For orientation, right now I'm leaning to mounting the fans against the case walls, pulling air from the case,through the radiators, and out to the air. At the back of the pedestal, I will have some fans pulling cool air in. For the main case, I will have the same configuration for the 360 rad. Airflow through the case will pull air in from the back and exhaust it out the front (back is closer to air/conditioner).

On the controller front, I am leaning to just using regular fan controllers. I started a thread about the aquaero and have been soliciting responses and I'm learning quite a bit about the unit. It doesn't sound like it can control D5 pumps though. Also, I'm not a fan of the interface. That got me thinking about another worklog I may start after I complete this one... A fully custom, 3 or 4 x 5.25 bay color touch screen controller that can do everything the aquaero can and more, all in one package. I have access to some nice equipment and quite a few electronics/computer engineers at work who are smarter than me and always looking for a fun side job / challenge. That's down the road though....

The case should be delivered on Tuesday which is nice because I'm leaving work early to vote. For those of you in the US, don't forget to VOTE ON TUESDAY!

As parts start to come in, I'll begin adding pictures.

[malkiewicz]

I love pictures more than words.... Lets see some....

[closetredneck]

I love pictures more than words.... Lets see some....

Hah! You don't enjoy my blabbering? You mean I'm the only one that likes to hear myself talk?

Unless you want to see a picture of the boxes of parts that have started to show up, I don't have much for you at this point. My case is supposed to arrive tomorrow so hopefully I'll be able to snap and post some pics of the assembly.

[Creekin]

why not kill 2 birds with one stone,
post pics of you talking....

[slotrod]

I see the three of us gettin in trouble here better yet pics of you talking sitting on box's

[Creekin]

it's not the pic gallery, shazza wont mind *ducks*

pics of you talking while WEARING boxes..??

[closetredneck]

it's not the pic gallery, shazza wont mind *ducks*

pics of you talking while WEARING boxes..??

With the size of the boxes I received from mountain mods and PPCs, you may not see me.

I've got all kinds of crazy parts in and tore down my 800D build the other day and cleaned all the blocks and fittings and flushed the rads. That was part one. I have an X58 SLI LE board and a new in box D0 920 I bought almost a year ago sitting around that will go back into the 800D at some point.

In the meantime though, I'm going to dig my trusty TJ-10, Q9550, and Gigabte EP45-UD3P out of retirement and set it up to hold me over until I finish the big MM build. Just so happens I have the swiftech 220 and 120 still in the TJ10 waiting to do the job again. I'll post a picture of that later.

[shazza]

We like pics of boxes of stuff You get that monster case put together yet???

[slotrod]

I am busy prepping and painting my case parts but will check in to see how your doing. Show us some stuff!!!!!