Kiwi's Squad Build / Refresh
- Thread starter 1kiwi
- Start date
So after getting the CPU sorted on Friday night I was straight back into it on Saturday morning. Max was not happy that I would be spending most of my day working on the PC instead of playing with him hah.
The GPU was next on a list. Another warranty voided
One of the annoying things about these cards is the screws they use to hold the block down. It's like they are intentionally making it more difficult to dissemble the card.
Unfortunately for me my precision screwdriver set had seen better days so I had to drive down to the local computer shop to get a new set. With LA traffic this cost me the better part of 1.5 hours.
Another example of great thermal application. No wonder these cards run so hot.
The card looks much better this way
Leak testing after cleaning out the case with compressed air. I highly recommend this method for those of you that struggle with dust. After putting everything back together I successfully installed windows and have been setting everything back up. It's been able 6 years since I've had to play around with a new bios so it's been a fun learning curve playing around with the settings.
With that said I'm happy with my temps at stock so far. Will post another update once I start clocking the GPU and CPU.
The GPU was next on a list. Another warranty voided
One of the annoying things about these cards is the screws they use to hold the block down. It's like they are intentionally making it more difficult to dissemble the card.
Unfortunately for me my precision screwdriver set had seen better days so I had to drive down to the local computer shop to get a new set. With LA traffic this cost me the better part of 1.5 hours.
Another example of great thermal application. No wonder these cards run so hot.
The card looks much better this way
Leak testing after cleaning out the case with compressed air. I highly recommend this method for those of you that struggle with dust. After putting everything back together I successfully installed windows and have been setting everything back up. It's been able 6 years since I've had to play around with a new bios so it's been a fun learning curve playing around with the settings.
With that said I'm happy with my temps at stock so far. Will post another update once I start clocking the GPU and CPU.
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Well she is more or less done for now. I'm considering replacing the case - however the only case I would buy right now is Caselabs and they are expensive. Fortunitely they are based in California so I would be able to pick it up direct.
You would think so right? Because it's an alpha it's actually very CPU limited. I used to get around 70fps using the 2600 @ 4.7 with the 1080ti. Now I get 120fps with the 5Ghz clock. I have also seen that memory makes a difference and the DDR4 @ 3200 is a big upgrade from my DDR2 @ 1600.
Is it highly threaded? (I'd be interested to see if my 4.4GHz CPU could best your 5GHz..) Memory wise I'm only at 3Ghz, but that's quad channel
Is it highly threaded? (I'd be interested to see if my 4.4GHz CPU could best your 5GHz..) Memory wise I'm only at 3Ghz, but that's quad channel
It is multi threaded but not as optimized as say BF1 - one of the reasons why I went for raw single threaded performance. Squad also does not really work with SLI. PS: Sorry I didn't make it on for Sunday - I was still benching at that point
Did some more shopping today as part of my quest for better airflow and control. I purchased the following:
- Aquacomputer aquaero 5 LT USB fan-controller
- Phobya temperature sensor G1/4 - silver nickel
- Phobya extension 3Pin Molex ultra long 90cm - black
- Extension 3Pin Molex 30cm - black
Soldato
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Nice!
NICE
So it's been a while since I have done an update. Sadly that's because the case above was damaged in transit and I have had to get a new front panel made 
It appears that Caselabs don't hold stock of these parts so there is a 3 week turnaround to get it made.
While I have been waiting I have been slowly been buying parts for the new build and doing allot of research regarding similar builds to see what works best in terms of loop order. This will be my first hardline build so I've decided to get the rad, res/pump and fans into the case first to visually see what fittings I will need before ordering the fittings.
Loop Design
But then another user put me onto Singularity Single V3 Reservoir Mounts which will end up looking similar to the below build:
The idea is that instead of having to buy the bracket and drill I can bolt the Res/Pump combo directly to the 360 in the front making it one unit.
Next weekend I'm planning to test fit everything so will post pics when I have another update
It appears that Caselabs don't hold stock of these parts so there is a 3 week turnaround to get it made.While I have been waiting I have been slowly been buying parts for the new build and doing allot of research regarding similar builds to see what works best in terms of loop order. This will be my first hardline build so I've decided to get the rad, res/pump and fans into the case first to visually see what fittings I will need before ordering the fittings.
Loop Design
- Hardline
- Black and White using Bitspower Black Sparkle and Mayhems White Pastel
- Fans and Pump will be controlled using temp and flow sensors via Aquero 5 LT
- Noiseblocker NB-eLoop B12-3 1900 RPM X 8
- EK-CoolStream XE 480 (Top)
- EK-CoolStream XE 360 (Front)
- Bitspower Dual / Single D5 Top Upgrade Kit 250 (Black POM Cap)
- Alphacool VPP655-PWM - Single Edition
- Bitspower D5 MOD TOP (Black "S" Model)
- Bitspower D5 / MCP655 Mod Kit V2 - Black Sparkle Finish
- Singularity Computers Ethereal Single V3 Reservoir Mounts - Black X 2
- Bitspower Hardline Black Sparkle Compression Fittings
- Various Bitspower Black Sparkle fittings (90's, 45's, extensions etc)
- 1 X Bitspower Flow Sensor
- 1 X Bitspower In Line Temp Sensor
- Lots of Hardline tubing
- Aquacomputer SPLITTY9 X 2
But then another user put me onto Singularity Single V3 Reservoir Mounts which will end up looking similar to the below build:
The idea is that instead of having to buy the bracket and drill I can bolt the Res/Pump combo directly to the 360 in the front making it one unit.
Next weekend I'm planning to test fit everything so will post pics when I have another update
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Lots of stuff has arrived recently leaving only the fittings left to buy once I test fit everything.
Really happy with the black sparkle mod kit, res and top. I also splashed out on a Alphacool VPP655-PWM which should perform well combined with the Aquaero 5 LT
I also invested in some Mayhems Blitz for the rads and a threaded rivet insert kit so I can attach the splitty and aquero to the back of the case like this:
I'll post anther update on the weekend once I get everything into the case
Really happy with the black sparkle mod kit, res and top. I also splashed out on a Alphacool VPP655-PWM which should perform well combined with the Aquaero 5 LT
I also invested in some Mayhems Blitz for the rads and a threaded rivet insert kit so I can attach the splitty and aquero to the back of the case like this:
I'll post anther update on the weekend once I get everything into the case
Soldato
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^ you see it's the small details that make builds stand out. Nice use of the riveting tool by the way
^ you see it's the small details that make builds stand out. Nice use of the riveting tool by the way
Thanks - definitely nerve racking drilling into a case this expensive! I still need to do the SPLITTY once it arrives which will complete the riveting and hopefully give a nice and clean look
Managed to get both rads and the pump into the case today It must be said, working with the SM8 is so incredibly easy. Caselabs have literally thought of everything.
Note - The Singularity V3 Mounts were really east to install and are very high quality. Using them I also have avoided having to drill into the case or use a separate mount for the bottom.
Max decided to photo bomb the last pic! With the rads in I had a much better idea of the fittings I needed and have now ordered he following parts:
It must be said, working with the SM8 is so incredibly easy. Caselabs have literally thought of everything.Note - The Singularity V3 Mounts were really east to install and are very high quality. Using them I also have avoided having to drill into the case or use a separate mount for the bottom.
Max decided to photo bomb the last pic! With the rads in I had a much better idea of the fittings I needed and have now ordered he following parts:
Aquacomputer SPLITTY9 x1
Bitspower Premium Male G1/4" Black Sparkle Aqua-Pipe I Fitting x1
Bitspower Black Sparkle Enhance Rotary 90-Degree Multi-Link Adapter x9
Bitspower Color O-Ring Set For Multi-Link Adapter 10PCS x2
Bitspower G 1/4" Black Sparkle Dual Rotary 90 Degree IG 1/4" Adapter x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle Enhance Multi-Link For Acrylic Tube OD 12MM x3
Bitspower Black Sparkle Enhance Rotary 45-Degree Multi-Link Adapter x4
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle TII- Rotary Adapter x3
Bitspower Mini-Valve - Black Sparkle x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender x5
Bitspower BP-BSWP-C60 G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender - 15mm x3
Bitspower BP-BSWP-C73 Black Sparkle Dual IG1/4" Extender - 25MM x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender - 30mm x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle Low-Profile Stop Fitting x2
E22 Clear Extruded Acrylic Tubing - 12/10mm - 50cm x4
Bitspower G 1/4" Black Sparkle Temperature Sensor Stop Fitting x1
Bitspower Premium Male G1/4" Black Sparkle Aqua-Pipe I Fitting x1
Bitspower Black Sparkle Enhance Rotary 90-Degree Multi-Link Adapter x9
Bitspower Color O-Ring Set For Multi-Link Adapter 10PCS x2
Bitspower G 1/4" Black Sparkle Dual Rotary 90 Degree IG 1/4" Adapter x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle Enhance Multi-Link For Acrylic Tube OD 12MM x3
Bitspower Black Sparkle Enhance Rotary 45-Degree Multi-Link Adapter x4
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle TII- Rotary Adapter x3
Bitspower Mini-Valve - Black Sparkle x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender x5
Bitspower BP-BSWP-C60 G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender - 15mm x3
Bitspower BP-BSWP-C73 Black Sparkle Dual IG1/4" Extender - 25MM x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender - 30mm x2
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle Low-Profile Stop Fitting x2
E22 Clear Extruded Acrylic Tubing - 12/10mm - 50cm x4
Bitspower G 1/4" Black Sparkle Temperature Sensor Stop Fitting x1