[Huge Update]
Alright guys, Finally got it 99% finished, Just waiting on a single spare LED light for the GPU block as well as a new top window and a new side pannel with a button hole and usb holes too.
So to get things started off here is the pump that I have used for this project. An EK D5 Combo res. My old EK DCP 4.0 pump was on it's last legs and I think I had some growth in my old loop so I wanted new parts so to avoid contaminating the coolant.
Here it is anyway with the cables sleeved up. I moved the EK sticker to the side that I wanted facing the front too as to hide the inlet port. Wish they did this in the frosted CSQ style though!
Next here is me deciding on where to slot the pump. I wanted to have the res on display but without the end of the pump making it look like a stubby lightsaber. I ended up cutting a hole in the bottom of the case for it to slot in and stand upright in.
Here's some small progress with me installing the rest of the fans and radiator. Still so much room for activities!
Now we can move onto installing my motherboard which has already been used so no real glamour shots of it yet. I decided I wanted to have individual white LED's in all of the blocks but the mosfet one didn't include any holes. Easy enough to drill an extra hole for one right?
Next we can add the CPU block. Again, already been used and I like that it matches the rest of the blocks. Didn't fancy paying another £60 for something that looks nearly identical and will only offer a few degrees cooling.
Now we get to move onto the Ram blocks. This is my first time doing Ram blocks as they are really only for aesthetics. Shame that this build is all about looking cool then eh? All in all they were really easy to do and just adds again to the overall CSQ theme.
Now its time to strip the GFX card down and block her up. I was bloody suprised how much thermal paste there was on there though. Zotac, chill out lol. Again, easy process for this. Managed to keep the back plate on too which will help later on in the build!
Here's a bare shot of the back and my storage solutions. 2x SSDs (64GB and 128GB) and a 640GB WD Black. There is a little give in the mounting solutions but it wont be seen and when the back plate is on they will be out of sight and out of mind!
Now comes the bloody tedious bit! Bending all this acrylic. What a pain in the butt it was but I only had one tube that broke due to me trying to bend it when it was too cooled down. I managed to use that tube elsewhere though so no real loss. Ended up with a full unused tube out of the 6 I bought!
I was originally going to fit eveything first, leak test it, then frost the parts if everything was okay. I decided against that since it would be a huge ball ache and began frosting them once they fit. No point making more work taking everything apart if no leaks are there right?
Before filling up for the first time I did the blowing in air pressure test and it felt all good. No loss of pressure I could feel anyway. MOMENT OF TRUTH!
SHE LIVES!
Sleeving up the LED lights for the blocks.
Installing the RGB Lighting. One on the top pictured. Two behind the rads, and one behind the GPU.
The front looks really cool when lit up different colours!
Here is the final form. Notice in the later pictures I have added white cable sleeving kits!
High res glamour shots to follow in a week or two once I get a nice backdrop and a better camera! Hopefully it will be 100% finished by then too.
As a reward for scrolling all through that, here is a demo of the RGB lights cyling through the colours!
Hope you all enjoyed the process even though it was a huge rush over the easter weekend.