Build Log: Overhaul

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 13:09

Tried my first watercool setup back in December, since then i have wished i had done a bit more and been more patient. Now that i am home on leave for a while i decided to give the rig a bit of an overhaul. I am planning the following,

Change I/O brackets on 7970's to single slots

Install Back Plates to 7970's

Install crystal link bridge between 7970's

Install brighter LED's to raystorm GPU & CPU Blocks

Install a Aquaero 5 XT controller and inline temp/flow sensors

Change out all barb fittings to compression

Install a drain point to loop

Apply MX-4 to GPU's and CPU's (used xspc's own stuff first time around)

Install quick disconnects to external rad to allow moving and cleaning of rig easier.

Install waterblock for VRM's/MOSFET's

Replace 3 140 fans in 800D case

Here is a photo of all the Kit, going to make a start today

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 14:07

Just stripped the graphics blocks to remove the 2 slot I/O bracket, i used glue to keep the LED's in place, now one is completely stuck and the wire broke :mad:

time to get the drill and bore it out

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 14:54

Single slot I/O brackets on, should free up some space!

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 14:56

Managed to bore out the stuck LED from the lighting hole, scratched the surface a bit but it face a non visible area anyway, happy i got it out without affecting the size, new LED fits perfectly!

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 14:59

EK recommends applying some MX-4 to he thermal pads on the motherboards VRM's, anyone else done this before? is it worthwhile applying to the 7970's thermal pads?

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 17:26

Re assembled the 7970 blocks (used a bit of MX-4 on the pads) and got the backplates on. Nice clean look now.

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 20:27

Thermal pads are missing for the VRM's EK block :mad:

Just ordered some 0.5mm thermal pads from ocuk hopefully get Saturday. So annoyed right now! Will continue with the rest.

RJC · 15 Aug 2013 at 20:37

Nice range of parts

PSU overkill!

Diagro · 15 Aug 2013 at 20:47

I put paste on my pads. Dropped the temps abit

hughesy627 · 15 Aug 2013 at 21:23

Cheers mate, you never know when you will need the extra power

CPU block finally back together with Aquacomputer inline temp sensors installed.

hughesy627 · 17 Aug 2013 at 12:00

Thermal pads arrived so block for the VRM's now on

Got the crystal link bridge in and the drain port, i wanted the valve to swing around and sit under the 7970 but the only way i have the space is by putting the sound card between the cards, if i put the sound card on the bottom the drain port will have to sit how it is in the second photo. what do you guys think sound card between or below the cards? Anyway got a wedding to go to, not drank in 4 months so should be interesting

dreep · 18 Aug 2013 at 08:32

hughesy627 · 18 Aug 2013 at 21:44

Now started leak testing, what a hangover today was an absolute struggle!

All going well with the leak test i will hook up the Aquaero and sensors.

Divx · 19 Aug 2013 at 13:01

dunno if you already wrote this, but how are you lighting the crystal link?
The link looks really nice, but doesn't really match the liquid (flexi tubing always looks different to the solid stuff)
i had a similar issue with my build, the liquid in the res was a different shade to the rest, so i decided to switch to coloured tube.

hughesy627 · 19 Aug 2013 at 13:42

I used a monsoon light fitting (http://monsooncooling.com/plugs.php) used the narrow beam LED, the camera does not do it justice it looks the same when the other LED lighting is on, will get more pics later.

Divx · 20 Aug 2013 at 20:53

oh nice, i hadn't seen these before, cheers

hughesy627 · 21 Aug 2013 at 22:56

Well system stress tested so my 3930K @ 4.4Ghz Idle 32c under load (prime) Max 66c
7970's idle 28c under load (furmark) 48c, only disappointment was the aquacomputer MPS flow meter was dead and had to be sent back to Germany, at least i got to try out my new drain port

Still a few bubbles making there way out but all in all very happy with the overhaul, off to South Africa to see the inlaws on Monday so will install the MPS when it is back!