Hopefully not a TJ07 fail

skylineboy · 3 Apr 2013 at 01:56

I am hoping to over the next few weeks transform my TJ07 build into something a bit more special. I am not much of an overclocker or a modder but I will have a go.

A little teaser:

As it stands 5/4/13:

The components and peripheralsI have:
A TJ07 case (big hole in motherboard edition)
1 7970
I5 2500k @ 4.2ghz
2 SSDs 1x 512GB and 1x 128GB
1tb Sammy F3
MSI P67-GD65 motherboard
16GB XMS3 (4x4gb)
Xonar DG sound card & Sennheiser PC350 Headphones
Corsair HX650 power supply
RAT 7

As it stands 25/ 3/13:

Watercooling:
EK PSC compressions
Supreme HF CPU waterblock
7970 EK plexi waterblock & backplate
EX 480 radiator (I think)
6x gentle typhoons 1450rpm
Mayhems Raspberry Purple (previous colour)
Mayhems X1 UV Blue x2 litres
3metres of tubing
D5 pump with top
EK150 tube reservoir

Cable management? I really need to sort this out.

Here's a list of thoughts for the next steps

Ideas: order and install Coldzero motherboard tray, midplate, backplate and PSU plate!
Sort out cable management
Better overclock (currently using genie button @4.2, temps are good though)
Crossfire 7970s?
Get a higher resolution monitor?
Better keyboard?
Larger res?
Bay res?
Braid all cables with MDPC-X. Colour/s?
~~Get a Dremel and rivet gun.~~
~~A Shoggy Sandwich to dampen the vibration~~

Cut gap in rear of tray for cable routing above PSU onto rear of tray.
Cut a gap in the USB3 plate to allow tubing?
Insert a drain point into the loop, underneath?
Create a better mount for the pump.
Add a 240 to top?

skylineboy · 3 Apr 2013 at 11:49

Brownie points to anyone who spots the build error on the first pic.

I hate the colour of the fluid. That was the first thing to go. I was torn between the Pastel Purple or the blueberry. After that disaster I am going back to X1 Blue.

I think at this stage I would like to adjust the cable management. So over the next few days I will be ordering a dremel to cut the back of the midplate like this:

I hope that should get the cables away from the radiator and up behind the motherboard tray.
Like this:

I also hope to cut away the inside of the 5.25" bay floor so I can route tubing through there like so:

But first I have to get rid of that fluid, it is driving me nuts:
Apologies for the poor shot:

OOOO a box:

Wasn't happy with it's condition.

Unfortunately I didn't get an internal box shot... sorry folks.

skylineboy · 3 Apr 2013 at 12:42

Avathar77 said:
It is normal if he does not want to change the front of the case!

Yep I hate the LEDs on it. I need to sort that or grab a different controller.

I aim to powdercoat but I can't afford it right now. That might be summer task as I have school holidays. (July and August best bit about teaching!)

skylineboy · 3 Apr 2013 at 13:04

Avathar77 said:
If i am seeing it correctly it is a Zalman ZM-MFC1 Plus fancontroller?
I used to have one in my earlier Antec1200 builds and I have the "hate LED syndrome" as well So I inserted a piece of black cardboard between the LEDs and front panel of the controller.

Thanks, I will have a go at this

How much did it cost you roughly to get yours powdercoated Avathar?

skylineboy · 3 Apr 2013 at 20:29

darren73 said:
Is the res upside down?

Brownie points to you sir!

Yeah I couldn't fill it properly, always an air bubble in tubing!

skylineboy · 3 Apr 2013 at 21:43

Bluntwrapped said:
How about painting the inside of the case man instead of powder coating? Would save you quite a bit and if done well would look every bit as good.

I will happily consider it, not sure where to start though... :s

skylineboy · 4 Apr 2013 at 15:25

Bluntwrapped said:
You'll need to clean the inside of the case with a damp cloth and mask off any areas you don't want to paint. Spray two coats of black primer then two coats of matt black on top.

Really easy and it'll cost you about a tenner

Thanks Bluntwrapped. I will do that for my Summer update.

BIG UPDATE

Just arrived!!!

skylineboy · 4 Apr 2013 at 18:54

Avathar77 said:
£40 to powder coat all internals. It was a local workshop.
I had to de-rivet and clean the parts my self mind you, but not hard if you have a drill/Dremel.

Thank you...Hmmm I will get some quotes me thinks in the summer. I thought it would be more.

To be honest I only want the midplate tray,motherboard support mechanism, support beams and 5.25" bays done as the rest will be Ricardo's work. I hope to order tomorrow.

UPDATE:
I have been working on today's package

Photos will be up as soon as I clear up the room, desk and bed are a real mess right now.

I have another 7970 fully blocked and ready to go. One issue though is that I now have a CSQ and a non CSQ card to connect, there is a single gap between them, it might be a fiddle job.

Tomorrow I will get some photos up as I attempt to drain and cut the case with my Dremel. I will then begin cable management and a dry fit.

skylineboy · 5 Apr 2013 at 12:29

Time for a photo update:

This is how it all stands at the moment.

This is the in the box shot of my new package:

I managed to pick up a B-Grade 7970 on offer. I was really impressed with the service. I was told it would ship. I didn't receive a shipping confirmation until the next morning. So I thought it wouldn't be coing until Friday. I go out. Come home. DPD parcel missed, EH?

OOOOO Package

Anyways I have a second 7970, a new psu, my old 650HX now for sale and a new block and back plate. Most importantly, 2!!!!! bags of Haribo

Anyways for those of you who skipped that blurb here is some more piccies:

Reference cooler removed:

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Block unwrapped:

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Block screwed on, some screws left off for the backplate:

Fitted Back:

Fitted Front:

That's is it so far. I had hoped to begin draining and cutting today. But that may not yet happen.

skylineboy · 19 Apr 2013 at 22:17

Big Update coming!!!

Photos of a new arrival tomorrow

skylineboy · 8 May 2013 at 17:01

Sorry for lack of photos, I have been acquainting mr Dremel with case today. As soon as I can I will be putting up a barrage of photos, including those of the Coldzero parts

This is beginning to be a much sexier build compared to my previous noob attempts.

I am halfway through cutting out a section if the rear tray for cable routing. I hope to finish that tomorrow and begin a rebuild!!!!

skylineboy · 15 May 2013 at 18:15

I have promised update after update and failed in that respect. But today I will do the big reveal...

First the packages that arrived:

This includes, motherboard tray, back plate, PSU plate and midplate.

I am really pleased with the quality of all the parts and am particularly chuffed with the ease of putting it all together.

Motherboard tray quickly installed

The rad is not staying like that

Next after close inspection the CPU block needed a clean out.

This is where things started to get tricky. I had to cut a hole for the tubes to pass through and to also cut a gap at the rear of the motherboard to allow cables through. If I am honest the workmanship is poor and I think this is an area which in my opinion is an oversight for Silverstone.

I'm gonna leave it there for now but will be back with more asap.

Next: How not to tube up the CF gpus?
How not to cut holes in your case
Final images etc.

If anyone has any questions about any of the Coldzero products I am happy to answer them.

skylineboy · 15 May 2013 at 19:55

I installed the SSDs but ended up turning them the other way round so I could cable them easier:

The rear of the case is looking soo much better:

My poor craftsmanship. I intend to better this in the summer after I finish my course and am on holidays.

and again:

skylineboy · 18 May 2013 at 13:01

there is 2 screws one just above the psu and another closer to the 5 1/4" bays. Both black hex screws provided. You can't see them in the pics because the lip of the structural midplate is in the way.

It is a tight fit to get in and you need to take the motherboard tray out to fit it.

skylineboy · 18 May 2013 at 17:59

nope

EK 250 has just gone in, looks huge!

more images coming tonight!!