vDarkness Build

[Crankyhobo]

My Worklog for this 'Darkness' build, which Ive been putting off for years now. Hope it inspires someone.

Parts:
2x DD GTX580 Blocks
2x EK Res v1
EK D5 Dual Loop Block Acetal + 2x D5 Pumps
Heatkiller CPU
EK NB/Mos x58 Blocks
TFC Monster Lite 3x140mm
GTX M160 2x80mm
Black Ice Stealth 240 2x120mm
Tygon Yellow Fuel Tube 1/2-ID
DD Custom 3x140mm Front Panel
DD 7Slot IO in Black
Black Oxide Fasteners

System
Black Series Tower 21 - Nightmare (Black+Clear Sides)
SLI Zotac GTX580
Ultra x3 1000w PSU
EVGA Mobo
i7 920
12GB Patriot PC3-1280

Update 1

Update 2

Update 3

[Crankyhobo]

My order from fastener-express.com came in today (shipped really fast) and fit well. It looks like the default screws for DD cases are 82 degree heads but my 100 degree screws work just fine.

[Johnny87au]

subb'd

[Crankyhobo]

* Cut 120mm fan mounts/holes into the bottom panel
* Disassembled Enermax twister/enlobal bearing fan blades
* Painted fan blades yellow
* Painted capacitors and ram
* Got my front panel thanks Danger Den
* Test mounted all three radiators
* Checked clearances
* Stubbed out tubing
* Ordered some more fittings
* Not impressed with 2x80mm high restriction inlets
* Amused at how heavy the case is getting
* Monster 3x140 consumes the entire front panel
* Switched tubing to TYGON F4040A Yellow Fuel Tubing - very impressed with it

[barfastic]

nice pictures but im confused as to wtf is going on.... is it a tower or horizontal case?

your pics are a little dark... but im subd

[Crankyhobo]

It is a vertical standing case, its just right now i am reluctant to stand it up for long due to the weight of the graphics card water blocks. I don't want to bend the pcbs or slots but it should be fine once partially supported by tubes.

Over the weekend i started to disassemble to sleeve the fans and plan the wiring, i'm hide all the wiring by running it up the back side behind the 2x80mm radiator, behind the HDDs and along the side of the PSU. With the individually sleeved mobo cable i think the res will still fit on top of it like planned, but its tight.

[Johnny87au]

Dual loop I take it ? Thanks for the update mate looking good!

[Crankyhobo]

Dual loop I take it ? Thanks for the update mate looking good!

Yup dual loop!

#1 is res>pump>rad(2x120)>cpu>mobo>rad(2x80)>res.
#2 is res>pump>SLI(parallel)>rad(3x140)>res.

I haven't seen anyone do a rad at the bottom of this case before and i thought i would need a very thin one but having the gfx in parallel means there aren't nozzles coming out the back and it saves about 40mm.

I would warn anyone to avoid Lamptron 3/4 clamps because even at max clampage they barely grip 3/4 OD. I guess they expect the barb to push out the tube beyond 3/4; the problem is that barbs which this does work for are so snug on 1/2 tube that you wont need clamps. What you need clamps for is the fittings where the tube slips on easily. To me this means they're completely useless for the task they're designed for.

[fatherTime27]

Wow awesome!

[Crankyhobo]

Its up and running! i will organize some better pictures soon.



Had quite a few problems pulling this together and also learned so much. A few thoughts:

* This tygon fuel tubing is very good, i think its better than any of the clear tygon or primoflex i have used previously.

* I will never buy these enzotech fittings again, they are too loose on the tube - requiring some serious clamping to not leak, the black paint chips easily, they are difficult to start the thread properly and hard to keep tightened due to the thin hex and especially if you need to rotate the fitting at all then it tends to come loose.

* I found that these graphics cards need extra support when they have heavy blocks filled with water. I built a plate that rests on the bottom radiator with threaded rods that insert into it. Nuts on the rod space and support the end of the cards properly. I really like this solution because it's fully adjustable.

* I regret not taking the time to do a few extra coats of paint and clear coat on various parts because they tend to scratch quite easily.

* One of my fans got damaged somehow and wouldn't start so i had to abandon my plan to have yellow painted fans and just bought some crappy ones from best-buy in order to get it running asap. I should have bought extra fans to start with just in case.

* No good option seems to exist for a 2x80mm radiator, the magi-cool one i purchased doesn't have standard fan spacing and the M160 is really horrible because the inlets squeeze down to about 6mm diameter. I thought about cutting them off and widening the hole and braising the inlet/outlet back on but i ran out of time.

* Very impressed with the build quality of the stealth 2x120. The paint seems very durable and they have these stop plates underneath the screw holes so that you can't puncture it from over tightening.

* I'm going to avoid buying from frozen-CPU in the future.

* Finding black scews can be quite difficult - around my area you cant find them at all in local hardware stores etc but there are a couple of good retailers online. I think it was really worth it though, its made a big difference to the end result. Let me know if you want the specs or links for danger den case screws and nuts.

* This weight of this thing is ridiculous, i struggle just to lift it up onto the table.

[Crankyhobo]

[barfastic]

that case seems PACKED!

what is it again? MM ?

[Crankyhobo]

barfastic: its a DangerDen Tower21 Black Series in black /clear, with some custom pieces.

You know i just realized that in my hastiness to wire up the final tubes that i crossed the res intakes and both loops are connected, whoops.

[CedricFP]

So it is essentially running in series? Haha nice!