First full custom loop

[alexhaslam]

First full custom loop|Project MonoChrome

This build started as just simply an upgrade... but soon got out of hand and has become a brand new build. The goal was to upgrade my current pc with a water cooled cpu... but then I expanded it to GFX cards and then later decided that It was too risky to try it on my current work pc since this is my first water loop.

Anyways new build!

Spec:
Asus Rampage IV Black Edition - (Cooled by XSPC Rampage 4 Black Waterblock Set)
Intel i7-4930K - (Cooled by XSPC RayStorm Block)
2x Asus R9 290 DCII (Cooled by EK-FC R9-290(X) DCII - Acetal+Nickel)
16gb Ram - Avexir Blitz 1.1 Original 2x2x4gb 2400MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit
XSPC H2 Case (will be doing a review of this case, but I think it is a discontinued line)

Colour Scheme: BLACK & WHITE

Black case, Black Rads, Black Mobo, Black blocks.
Highlighted with white lighting, PSU and fan cables and Tubing.

I use my pc for both work and gaming, so I hope to build a quite system that I can overclock to a fast but stable amount. I already overclock my current air cooled build, but it is not quite.

(edit 19/06/2014: added loop diagrams)
I have two loop layouts I am thinking of using:

Loop 1


Loop 2 (Chosen layout)


Not all the parts I need have arrived yet (mainly blocks and cooling parts) but I had enough to start fitting parts to the mobo:


Opened all the boxes with child like glee (I LOVE building pc's) heres the mobo sat on an anti-static mat:


Removed the blocks:


Using my Actriclean to prep everything for new TIM:


Applying some to the chipset:


Mostly clean, just needs residue removed:


Using MX-4 as my choice of TIM:


Applied the paste to the chipset and then used a piece of plastic to spread it thin:



Fitted the block:


Going to leave it here for now and post more later.
I would appreciate suggestions later in the build and hope you all enjoy watching this build grow.

(Edit:16/06/2014 Using thumbnail images)

 

[alexhaslam]

Looks good,
are you going for hard or flexy tubing?
colour scheme in mind?

Color scheme will be Black and White.
Tubing is flexy white and cables will be in white.
Case itself is black.
I already have white lighting in my current pc which I will move into this one.

Pics are massive mate, can you resize please!!

I will do so later (they are already 1/2 size)
(edit: done, images are now thumbnails)

 

[alexhaslam]

time for a bit more!

Preping to clean and cleaning the mosfets and VRM



Once they were done I started to peel off the plastic on the TIM Pads then apply them to the Mosfets and vrm.


A LITTLE modding too place here... the instructions were to remove all the stock blocks... but I liked the look of the heatsink over the back ports that was cooling the Mosfets sooo... I kept it by using a pair of pliers to cut off the cooling pipe:

Kind of surprised and disappointed that it was not a solid copper inside...

Here is all the mobo blocks fitted:


Both Mobo blocks fitted so moved on to fitting CPU and its block, here you can see the cpu fitted and the posts for the cpu block screwed in. (yay for no additional backplate fitting)


And then it all fitted:


I used two thin lines (about the total mass of two peas) then used a piece of plastic to spread it thin so It could cover the entire CPU in a thin layer for maximum contact. I am sure everyone has their own methods, and I myself normally just use pea blob in the middle and let the compression of the block spread it... but I felt a need to do it this way... besides I can always redo it if I'm not happy with temps.

At this point I am really excited!
Forgot to take pics of building the case... but its a little boring so Ill just take pics later of the mobo fitted in the case.

Considoring using right angle fittings instead of straight to compression due to the flex of the tubing.

 

[alexhaslam]

Heatpipes have a tiny amount of liquid/vapour in them because of how they work. Cutting them lets it out and stops it from working. It might not be a big deal on motherboard components but I wouldn't recommend it.

ah, makes sense.
Makes no difference in this case though since it was No heat sink (as per block instructions) or keep that as decoration rather than something functional.

 

[alexhaslam]

UPDATE!

Just a short update.
I got 3 AlphaCool rads on ebay, but will only be able to fit two of them (thanks to pgi947 who pointed out the size restrictions)

Anyway, here they are:



What will probably happen is I will use one mounted at the top and one mounted under main area in the case, then use the XSPC rad that came with the cpu block and dual day res kit.

Here the first image of the case built, didn't take pics of building it because it was boring


Hope to get GFX blocks this weekend... no idea if I will tho :/ Preorders...

 

[alexhaslam]

After thought and advice from the forums I have decided to route the loop like this:

 

[alexhaslam]

Looking good, but it's a big no no putting your board onto an anti static bag, the outside is conductive.

You mean the antistatic mat? It is meant for this purpose... Not like im turning it on on the mat

 

[alexhaslam]

What are those rads? Looks really good/nice

They are Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta 360s.
Been trying experiments all day to try fit two in at the bottom... Because of where the PSU needs to go, I do not think it is possible... One last thing to try, but would require removal of the lower 5.25 bay area down there.

otherwise, as plan, fit one and then a 240... (RX240)

A little update. Waiting on fittings to come in stock, then the rest of the required parts will be delivered.
Some sleeved cables arrived today, opted out of sleeving them myself so bought some corsair sleeved cables. a nice bright white. Pics to follow either today or in a couple days.

 

[alexhaslam]

Nice one Alex and that H2 case is huge and will make it nice and easy to build in.

Loads of space. Wishing it had the PSU mounted elsewhere atm tho... Maybe Ill find another place to mount it.

 

[alexhaslam]

Another quick update.

Still waiting on fittings coming in stock...

But I've been trying out fitting things.

XSPC RX240 with two cougars fitted.

Since these are not within the theme they are going to be hidden, but I had these spare from my other pc... and I love their performance.

Corsair AX860i mounted on the blackplate for the lower section of the case.


Alphacool Monsta 360 mounted at the top of the case with SP120's in pull.

Might need to flip this so the ports are on the other side of the case yet, wont know until I start tubing up.

You can see the mobo and an SP120 pulling air into the case.


Here you can see another Alphacool monsta 360 with 3 sp120's pulling air in (the cougars are behind pushing it out though the XSPC rad.

You can also see an SP120 mounted on the front pulling air in and over the HDD trays.

Rear of the case where you can see the mounted PSU and the mounted XSPC rad.

 

[alexhaslam]

Loveing the xspc case how much did it cost

At OCuk it costs £419.99
I belive it is end of line now though. I think XSPC have stoped selling cases.

I can understand why you would. I preferred it there as it was easy for cable management but I only had the one 360 rad in the bottom of mine.

Kinda a bummer these isnt more customisation options build into this case... I can see a bunch of small tweaks that could have been made to expand the case options at no expense.

 

[alexhaslam]

Wow I thought my 900d was expensive lol did you look at any caselabs cases before you got that case

I hadn't, no. The XSPC H2 was what I was wanting... but I wish I had seen it before buying it, two different versions on advertising images.

Main with this image:

Although that does not exist on this case...

 

[alexhaslam]

Have you seen the mono block for your board

I have, didn't like the aesthetic much.

 

[alexhaslam]

Rads!! out of curiosity why mx-4?

A few reasons.
A) Reasonable performance whilst remaining non-conductive.
B) It does not scratch the surface of what its on during removal.
C) The XSPC mobo blocks recommended it.
D) MX-4 seems to have good reveiws and bench marks all round.

 

[alexhaslam]

Bought some waxed cotton cord to weave the PSU cables together... Something to do whilst I wait for these XSPC fittings I need to come in stock.

Ive got Black and white cord, ill try out both but would like to use both...

Cable | BlackWhiteBlack | Cable

Might be a lot of work... but if I was afraid of that I wouldn't be water cooling.

 

[alexhaslam]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!

The rest of the parts I need are arriving today... I will see how it looks when I tube it up, may need to buy some right angle fittings if the tubing kinks with the Mobo blocks.

 

[alexhaslam]

A fair bit has happened.

Majority of my required fittings arrived, as well as the tubing (I ordered WAY too much >_< ) and EK graphics blocks.


I had imense fun fitting the blocks to the gfx cards, love how they look.







Once I had both done I measured up the tubing and fitted the cards together.


Tried them in the case



At this point I am concerned about backpressure and air getting traped in the top rad. so a little loop layout is going to be happening.
Also ordered some Right angle and 45 fittings to neaten up the loop and allow me to tube up the mobo and cpu without issue.

Basicly, what I think I will be doing is removing the top rad. and having the flow as follows to avoid any air in the loop.

res -> pump -> Bottom rads -> Mosfet block -> cpu block -> chipset block -> GFX -> res

Ultimatly If I am no happy with the performance I will modify the loop to include the top rad. Using the quick disconnects should make modifying the loop easier.

 

[alexhaslam]

ID size? or length?

YOUR BASKET
1 x Koolance QD3 Male Quick Disconnect No-Spill Coupling, Panel Female Threaded G 1/4 BSPP Black £11.99
1 x Koolance QD3 Female Quick Disconnect No-Spill Coupling, Male Threaded G 1/4 BSPP - Black £11.95
Total : £28.93 (includes shipping : £4.16).

 

[alexhaslam]

ID10mm
I have been waiting on those for a month, just order and wait is all I can recommend.

Edit: Ordered two Kingston HyperX 3K SSD 240GB White edition's to put into raid 0 for the OS and programs, and I will use my current 240gb ssd for games and my HDD for files.

Edit: got my right angle fittings Wednesday, tubed everything up that night. Pic will follow shortly. My tumbs peels 3 layers of skin or something tightening all these. From cpu to chipset block took about two hours to get right. Tried so many combos. Eventually it ended up like this 45 -> m2m -> f2f rotary -> 45 -> 90 -> compression. Love how it looks, so proud atm.

 

[alexhaslam]

Looking nice dude!

Thanks

I will be filling the loop and leak testing tonight. Friday night I will be powering it on if the leak test goes well. SUPER Excited.

Edit: Filled the loop, 5 hours in an no leaks found, most of the air out, but every so often give it a shake and can hear some small ones dislodge, top it up as necessary.