Work log Project TJ07

[ladderman]

I thought is was about time to start my work log.

This is my first attempt at watercooling, so please feel free to voice any concerns or opinions you have about how my build progresses.

My plan is to have two loops, one for the GPUs, and the other for the CPU and NB. I’m unsure whether to include to also include the SB with the CPU as well.

One of the reasons I was against adding the SB was because of what I’ve read about flow restriction.

I plan the watercool the OCZ Flex later, and I thought I might include the SB with that loop.

The reason I plan to watercool the ram later is because I want to get the first two loops running, also I need to find away to incorporate a third loop. I will have to use ¼ ID tubing on the Flex ram because of the size of the barbs.


Maybe I should have bought a Mountain Mods case instead of the TJ07 ha ha.

Loop one will go: RES > D5 > PA120.3 > GPU > GPU > RES

Loop two will go: RES > D5 > B I P > CPU > NB > RES

I plan to have the PA120.3 and the two D5 pumps down in the base with the PSU.

The Black Ice Pro II mounted up were the top case fans are.



System parts

Case Silverstone TJ07B-W
CPU Intel E6600
Mobo EVGA 680i
GPU 2 x Asus EN8800 GTX
Ram 4 x 1gb 6400 OCZ Flex
PSU Enermax Galaxy 1000w
Sound Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
HDD 150gb Raptor x
HDD 250gb Deskstar
MCubed T-Balancer bigNG 4-channel Fan Controller
Sunbeam Rheostat fancontroller
Fans Yate Loon 120mm blue led


Watercooling parts

CPU block D-TEK Fuzion
GPU blocks 2 x EKEK-FC8800 8800 GTX – Acetal
NB block EK-NB EVGA 680i Acetal
Pumps 2 x D5
Rads PA120.3, Black Ice Pro II
Res 2 x EK-Multioption RES 200mm
Tubing Tygon ½

[ladderman]

Thought I'd put everything together to make sure it all works ok.

[ladderman]

I thought I'd have a go at lapping my CPU, first time for this too.

I didn't go for a mirror finish, but it wasn’t far off one.

Then the next job was to work how to fit the Black Ice ProII up were the top case fans are.

I've already done a thread on this, so this is just a few pics

[ladderman]

My next job will be fitting some casters to the base of the case.

Silverstone don’t do casters so I had to get a set of Lian Li casters. The casters have a brake one set, so if I do have it on my desk it won’t roll off, ha ha

The reason I’m fitting them is to make it easier to move the case. Everyone who has this case and has watercooled it complains how heavy it is.

[ladderman]

I want to hide as much of the cable as possible so I had to drill a few holes in the motherboard back plate, and the base divider shelf

First few pics are of the Galaxy PSU, it's a bit of a beast

[ladderman]

Planed were I wanted the holes drilling.

I also drilled hole were all the blocks fit.

[ladderman]

While I was drilling the holes in the base divider I thought I might as well cut out the areas for the tubing to come up from the base

[ladderman]

Just thought I’d make sure the cables all fit through the holes.

The 8 pin +12v CPU just fits!

I still have to sleeve all the cable yet, I’m just going to use black

[Emerica]

All I can say is, WOW. That is one kick ass rig.

[ladderman]

I’ve raised the PA120.3 up because I want the fans to show fully through the mess.

I’ve also drilled three sets of hole so I can move the rad right or left of centre.

The reason for this is because I still need to work out the best way to get the two D5 pumps down there, and the rad might need to go to one side to make room.

[carholmes]

Everything looks amazing. I love how you mounted your rads, very original. Keep it up.

[ladderman]

My other res and NB block came from EK today. For some strange reason the top cap doesn’t have a threaded hole drilled in it.

You can see it next to the one I already have.

Do some reservoirs come like this or is it a mistake?

I have a set of taps and dyes, but I’ll have to get a ¼” tap because all of mine are metric.

The reason I want a threaded hole on the cap is because I plan to run a piece of tubing from a barb as a fill port.

[ladderman]

Everything looks amazing. I love how you mounted your rads, very original. Keep it up.

Thanks

They are ½" tap washers

[zgundam]

cool, looks like the rig will turn out amazing oh, have you thought about replacing the mesh on the side panels (and the top exhaust vent for that matter) with something less restrictive?

While they look nice, the mesh panels that come with the case don't let much air through them.... I replaced side panel mesh with some cheap wire mesh and my idle temps dropped like 3C

[ladderman]

cool, looks like the rig will turn out amazing oh, have you thought about replacing the mesh on the side panels (and the top exhaust vent for that matter) with something less restrictive?

While they look nice, the mesh panels that come with the case don't let much air through them.... I replaced side panel mesh with some cheap wire mesh and my idle temps dropped like 3C

Thanks for the kind remarks.

I'll be leaving the mess as it is for now. I might change it latter if I feel the need to

[ranker]

Damn. I love that attention to detail. I'm just afraid of using the dremel, drill, hole cutter on my cube or else I'd go nuts like you did with your custom work.

My hat's off.

[ladderman]

Damn. I love that attention to detail. I'm just afraid of using the dremel, drill, hole cutter on my cube or else I'd go nuts like you did with your custom work.

My hat's off.

You just need to plan out what you want to do and then take your time doing it and you'll be ok

[ranker]

You just need to plan out what you want to do and then take your time doing it and you'll be ok

Time...wish I had some. The few moments I get for myself these days, I spend on these forums or catching up on an NBA game. Law School, congressional internship, being mentored to take over my families various import export businesses, the lady... I'm lucky to get 2-3 hours to tinker with the computer a week.

I've been buying more computer parts and water cooling parts just to keep myself mentally sane by convincing myself that I'll eventually get around to it.

Annnnnnyhow, enough of my moaning and back to graphs, flow charts, and ledgers.

Keep up the great work. I look forward to seeing more pics/write ups that include your work bench, actual cuts, etc. It's more exciting than seeing a finished product as you get to see the attention to detail each step of the way that most would take for granted.

[burton]

where did you get the rubber things where the psu comes through

[ladderman]

Time...wish I had some. The few moments I get for myself these days, I spend on these forums or catching up on an NBA game. Law School, congressional internship, being mentored to take over my families various import export businesses, the lady... I'm lucky to get 2-3 hours to tinker with the computer a week.

I've been buying more computer parts and water cooling parts just to keep myself mentally sane by convincing myself that I'll eventually get around to it.

Annnnnnyhow, enough of my moaning and back to graphs, flow charts, and ledgers.

Keep up the great work. I look forward to seeing more pics/write ups that include your work bench, actual cuts, etc. It's more exciting than seeing a finished product as you get to see the attention to detail each step of the way that most would take for granted.

You are certainly right about how much time you have.

I have been planning this for weeks now, it just seems to take an age.

I can't think how many times I've put things together and taken them apart again just to make sure the mods workout ok.

I'm in the middle of putting all the blocks on to the board so I can see if the tubing will run the way I want without any kinks. Also I need to see how the D5 pumps will live in the base with the PSU and Rad.

I keep thinking I should of gone for DDC pumps to save on space. What put me off them was what I've read in threads about them burning out.

I'll post pics of the test loop setup so people can give me their views.

I need advice on wether I should WC the SB in the same loop as the CPU and NB, or add it latter with the OCZ flex on a thrid loop using ¼" id tubing.

If it's add it to the CPU and NB would it cause too much flow resriction?

I've got a little Evercool chipset fan for the SB for now

[ladderman]

where did you get the rubber things where the psu comes through

Are you talking about the holes on the motherboard tray?

If you are. it is just some rubber trim cut to the length I need for each hole.

you can buy it from any web site that does modding for PCs

[Grinch]

subscribed....

[burton]

sweet thanks for the info what size drill did you use to make the holes i am having a hard time finding a 5/8 drill bit that doesnt cost 40 bucks

[ladderman]

To day I wanted to put my loops together to see if everything would go the way I had planned.

This is only a test run because I need to clean all the watercooling parts meticulously before I put do the proper build.

Everything will be cleaned then sealed until it goes in to the loops

The cleaning of all the parts will be a major problem for me because I use to suffer with really bad OCD. Anyone who has ever suffered from this will know what I’m talking about. I’ve spent more time worrying about the cleaning than any other thing on this build.

First job was to make the brackets that would hold the reservoirs in place.

I used some light alloy that was easy to bend in to shape.

[ladderman]

I had to drill and tap two sets of hole in each side of the brackets because the first set of holes had the res too far back