PROJECT: BLACK

matt100

matt100

matt100

Soldato
Joined
31 Jul 2004
Posts
13,683
Location
Surrey
I had a pc65b for ages, it was my 2nd ever case and I've kept it for 3 years(ish) through countless motherboards/gfx cards, from just about knowing how to put a pc together to first watercooling efforts to mastering (i think) watercooling, to phase and back again.

It was looking a bit worse for wear and I fancied something new.. but what?? Something different, as a business venture I'd been checking out anodizing so I decided the thing to go for was...

A pc7+ lol.. I got a black one, took it to bits and had the insides sent off to be blackened up.. wound up with this..

DSC00211.jpg


DSC00210-1.jpg


So I thought.. whats to go in it??

I thought phase was a laugh but too high maintenance for my liking, my favourite ever pc was my dual loop pc65 so I decided to go back to it and do it better than ever..

The plan was 2 120.1 rads, one for the cpu, one for the gfx (at the time that was an x2 3800 and x1900xt lol.. things have moved on in the last 4 months!)

I didn't want to trash the case, just tastefull mods.. I decided I wanted thermotubes on the outside of the case for the crazy scientist look and everything else inside so just 2 small cuts on the roof.

DSC00289.jpg


Wound up with this..

DSC00290.jpg
 
quick message about the cooling/components...

I wound up putting it together when I had a E6700-ES and 7950GX2.. I first thougt about trying the gx2 spacer kit and 2 maze4s like this..

DSC00320.jpg


But unfortunately the gap was still too close, I couldn't link them with tubing without it kinking so I went for an EK 7950 block and an EK cpu block.

I also wanted no spare wiring so I got a sata dvdrw (HATE ide cables), black sata cables and sleeved everything including the psu and fan wires, then I had the power and ide leds changed from the pc7 standard orange and green to red and blue courtesy of welshtom (rip lol) and set about hidining all the cables...

DSC00337.jpg


I learned from experience that its almost impossible to connect a dual loop system up outside the case and then get it into the case with finger intact so I measured all the tubing with it installed and clamped it all inside too, very time consuming and painful but it worked..

DSC00339-1.jpg


Finally once it was all connected the read fan went in with foam spacers (blue peter style) incidentally I used the supplied gasket on the rads to dampen fan noise.

DSC00335.jpg
 
Last edited:
So, it was all together, I stopped up for ages filling it and tipping it around to get rid of the air, I appear to have 1 nopisy pump but it sounds to be getting a bit better so I'll wait before I pass judgement..

I also used orange dye instead of red because the red looks pink and the orange looks red.. go figure.. anyway, the finished article..

DSC02419.jpg


DSC02426.jpg


DSC02424.jpg
 
Last edited:
DSC02425.jpg


DSC02416.jpg


with air and crap cable management my 6700 was idling at 45ish, its now showing 28 which I doubt is correct but still like for like a 20 degree drop I'll take that.. similarly the gx2 is idling at 32, not had time to load them up yet.

Things I would/might change? the rubber slip mat under the thermotubes.. Not sure about that but they won't stay in their holders and lay flat due to tubing bend and I don't want them scratching the case.. I might just cut the mat down so you can't see it.

More lighting, there is a 4" uv cathode in between the thermotubes and one in the case but I think I'll get 1 more long one for inside so you can really see the tubing but thats it!

What do you think??
 
Last edited:
Very nicely done Matt. Im loving the blue/red contrast. Weird how the orange looks really red as well. Does it look as red in real life as it does in the pics?
 
Jonny L said:
lol that looks awsome dude.
Click to expand...


lol thank allahn i dont speak like an american, i like it, perhaps you could install water for me ;) :p

btw are those black boxy things at the base of your case pumps?!
 
Last edited:
messiah khan said:
Very nicely done Matt. Im loving the blue/red contrast. Weird how the orange looks really red as well. Does it look as red in real life as it does in the pics?
Click to expand...

yep, I probably used too much lol.. but yes its very red unlike the pink I got from using a whole bottle of "red" last time.

TaKeN said:
Looks ace :)
( RIP TOM ) << He get banned or something ?
Click to expand...

yeah, silly man

FrostedNipple said:
lol thank allahn i dont speak like an american, i like it, perhaps you could install water for me ;) :p

btw are those black boxy things at the base of your case pumps?!
Click to expand...

I could but then I'd probably wind up going the same way as tom lol.. and yes, they're pumps. DDC12v pumps to be precise.

messiah khan said:
Yup. Too much pimping his own company afaik.
Click to expand...

yeah, 'fraid so :(
 
Last edited:
SpudMaster said:
thought you could only get ddc pumps to fit 3/8th tubing unless they had a different top like the alphacool plexitop??
Click to expand...

nope, they're 3/8 outlets with jubilee clamps tightened right down.

the difference between 3/8" and 1/2" is nowhere near as much as all the fuss would have you believe :)
 
Very tidy, the blackened internals makes a big difference.

That orange dye is the best red I've seen, how much did you use?
 
erm.. probably about a third of a bottle? tiny bottle though.. probably about a teaspoon?? maybe a little bit more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom