Project : Evolution : TJ07 : By Avathar77

[Avathar77]

So I have finally started to make a project log!

Before I start with this build let me show you what I had before.



Link to my Old build log

CPU : Intel Q6600 @ 3.2GHz
Motherboard : Gigabyte GA P35C DS3R
RAM : 4GB OCZ Reaper PC2 8500 @ 1066MHz
GPU : Gigabyte GTX460 1GB OC
HDD : Samsung F3 1TB
PSU : Themaltake Toughpower XT 775W Modular
DVD RW : Sony Ad7241S LightScribe
Case : Antec 1200
Monitor : Benq G2420HDBL 24" LED
Keyboard : Advend Wireless Keyboard
Mouse : Logitech MX-518

Watercooling components

CPU block : EK Supreme HF Full Nickel
Rad : XSPC RS Series 240mm Dual Radiator : RS240
Pump : Laing DDC-1+ Ultra Pump 600 L/hr 18W (MCP355) : DDC-1+ T
Pump top/Res : XSPC Laing DDC 200ml Reservoir Pump Top : Plexi
Tubes : Masterkleer 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD (13-19mm) Flexible Tubing : White / UV Blue 3m
Fans : Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 3-pin 120mm High Performance Case Fan x 3
Fittings : 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD Silver Compression Fittings x 6
Fittings : 1/4" Thread 45° Rotary Adapter with 1/4" Inner Thread : Silver
Petra's Tech PT Nuke Concentrated Biocide 10ml
Distilled water 5l(£4.99 from local chemist)


After that, did some minor changes to hardware.
Changed the motherboard, upgraded GPU

I've always wanted an Abit IP35Pro board so even if they were out of business, when I saw this board in the bay I just couldn't resist it!
Sold my HD5770 and GTX460 and went for a HD6950.
Unlocked and overclocked it!

But then I saw the temperatures of the 6950! at idle it was sitting at 50C and at load with OCCT or Furmark it was reaching 80C - 85C

Did some research on adding a second RAD to the Antec 1200, there were 2 options.
1. Add 240mm RAD to the read fans
2. Add 240mm slim rad to the top

External RADs were out of the question as I wanted every thing inside the case.

Found a Hardware Labs GT240 Stealth RAD for a bargain in the bay and garbed it!

As for the GPU block, I got a new EK VGA Supreme HF Core Only block

I was looking for some enzotech ram sinks but they were out of stock every where, so I found some aluminium heatsinks from my old Arctic Cooling Accelero twin Turbo cooler! Just had to use some thermal tape and there you go!
Had to bend few fins from the VRM sinks as they were touching a capacitor and one of the heat sinks had to be cut off to fit to the single VRM near the top left side.

Fixed just 1 drive cage at the bottom 3x 5.25 slots, and fixed the watercooling platform which came with the Antec 1200 case as a support for the Pump/Res combo and RS240 RAD at the front of the case.
Got some new Noctua SFlex Fans for the RS240 too! They were sooo silent!

GT240 Stealth RAD went to the top as I needed more space to fit the F12 fans.

Also got some Koolance VL4 Quick Disconnects!
Put them in the loop so I can remove the GPU easily.
I usually change the GPU more frequently so I thought this would help! They helped when draining the loop as well.

Temps were very good!

This was during the summer heat wave when my room temp was 24C-25C!
Ahhh those were good days


Stay Tuned for the TJ07 part!

 

[Avathar77]

Part 2

Here is the new case, when I say "new", I got it second hand. But it is in very good condition apart from the bottom compartment where the RADs have been fitted.

Case is with out a side window at stock, but I am going to cut a window, have not finalised on what side, size or shape yet!

It didn't have the hard drive cages at the bottom. But it did come with the Silverstone CFP51 Unit, which converts 3 x 5.25 bays to a 4x3.5" HDD cage with a 120mm fan!
I was planing on putting 2 RADs on the bottom compartment so I didn't need the drive cages and CFP51 was a plus! But I just have to see if I am going to use it or not

Yep it is the one with the "Big Hole" in the Mobo tray!

You can see from the below image where the previous owner have fixed the RADs!

So I took apart the whole loop. In preparation for the new case upgrade.
But I stumbled upon some problems!

First it was the Silver kill coil.


Went in like this

and came out like this, after just 3 months of use!

It was much worse actually, I cleaned it, so most of the "stuff" has gone. But these black marks feel bumpy and would not go even if I scratch them!
After contacting the manufacturer and the place where I bought it, I was issued a choice of refund or replacement.
I opted for a REFUND!



Here is my second and most worrying problem.

My Ek Full Nickel Supreme HF Water block which was just under 11 months in distilled water + silver kill coil, was having the "Nickel Flacking Issue".

Contacted Ek directly.
They were very helpful, even refunded my postage costs, but a little bit slow on return postage. It took about 2 weeks for me the get the new "EN" block from the day they shipped it to me(only took 2 days for it to get there when I posted it)

Anyway, 2 weeks later I got the replacement "EN" full nickel block.
It is still with me not even opened, I have not made up my mind on using it or not.

I got some more stuff for the build



Hardware Labs BlackIce GTX480 RAD

480RAD Stand

Koolance CPU 370 CPU Block Going to use either this or the new replacement block from EK

All important Dremel300-30!

Some more stuff

Stay tuned for the next Part!

 

[Avathar77]

Part3

Started braiding fan cables.
This was my first attempt!

This is how the tube route going to be

Res -> Pump -> 240 RAD -> 480 RAD -> GPU -> CPU - > Res



Cleaned the EK VGA Supreme HF GPU Core only Block.
Fit it back to HD6950.

Inlet and outlet are fixed in the EK Core only block.
Port nearer to the display outputs is the Inlet and the port nearer to the power connectors is the Outlet.

Used the EK 90 degree rotary adaptors this time and an extension (rotary) fitting to by pass the GPU PCB.

Also placed the 480 and 240 RADs on the case floor with the RAD stands and some fans(and fan husks) to check the spacing and the tubing arrangement.

Wanted to cover the TJ07 switch panel with something so I used some foam pads I have.
Braided the cables on that switch panel as well.
Also used some cable ties to hold the tubes in place.

I think I can place the pump between the 2 RADs.



On with the modding part with Dremel!

I wanted to drill a hole in the front part of the stock mid plate, so I can route the cables from the fan controller and SATA and/ or power cables through.

But the USB front header part which comes with the TJ07 case is fixed to a metal part which extends and it needed to be cut.

This is where the hole is going to be drilled.

My drill is a 9.6 V rechargeable cordless one and it is rubish at this work.
Or the 2mm thick aluminium of the TJ07 is very though! Because I could only do this from a full charge till it goes dead!

So I plugged the drill back to charge and got on with some more Dremel work.
This time I wanted to cut a small piece from the mid plate so I can route the 24 pin and 8 pin cables.

I think this might be too small, I may have to make it big later.
But one thing I did realise is the amount of dust and small aluminium particles that shoots off from the cutting process is immense!
I didn't have protective eye gear on so I had to stop when I felt a sharp pain in my left eye as some thing defiantly went in!
After that I called it a day and went to the shower, and fortunately I can still see




I also wanted to make a big opening in the middle part of the mid plate.
This would help route the tube from the RES which is going to be fixed to to the mobo plate by the mother board and tube going to the GPU.

This time I was wearing my old Aviator Sunglasses

Finished drilling the hole.

Drill with the attached hole saw bit wouldn't cut through so I had to use the Dermel to cut small insertions and finished the hole.

later used the sanding disks to get a better finish.

But this is what happened to one of the cutting disks!
I heard something going pass my ear at great speed and when I stopped the Dremel to have a look, one part of the cutting disk has broken off!

I am already wearing a pair of sunglasses and doing the modding stuff and now I have to dig out my old Halloween masks?
Note to self : Be very careful with Dremel!



Want to extend the opening in the mid plate bit more to the back.

And this is what happens to the second disk

I must be doing some thing wrong!



Kept on going with a new disk and with my head far away from Dremel

With a little bit of grinding

Next up : Plexi work!

 

[Avathar77]

And Some More Updates!

Plexi Work!

Ordered a piece of plexi and I got a huge one
That was the last one they had and at no extra cost!

3mm 500 x 600 mm Black Tinted

Plan was to use the plexi to create a Mid Plate and Side window of the case.
I know aluminium blank mid plates are easily available but my set up needed some thing else. Besides I didn't like the look of those mid plates or the standard window.

First I used my Dremel to cut a big enough piece for the side window.

I used the remaining part to make a mid plate - or at least I tried to

I am going to use 2 Koolance Quick Disconnects. I first had them in the Antec 1200 case so that I can remove the GPU with out draining the loop.
GPU is the most upgraded/changed part of my PC, so I thought this would help. But they became very handy when draining the loop as well!

So this time I thought I would include the 2 QDCs so that I can drain the loop much easier.
2 tubes will be going through the mid plate, one from 480 RAD to the GPU and the other from RES to the Pump.
2 QDCs will be placed between these places to it is easier to remove the whole motherboard tray!
Cleaning, Draining and upgrading GPU can be done easier this way.
QDCs are VL4, not the VL4N version, so there is some amount of liquid (about 5-10ml) when I remove the connectors of a QDC. But with some cloth or kitchen towel I have done it with out spilling a single drop!


This is the result

(Motherboard is a dead one I am using to get the measurements)

It didn't turn out all as I expected!
I was doing it as a trial any way but I was hoping it would work at the first go

My measurements were a bit off.

and I have not compensated enough for the thickness of the cutting disk and sanding! Lesson learned!

Plan was to have 2 parts for the mid plate with half circular cut outs where the QDCs pass through.
That way I can remove the part near the window side and disconnect the QDCs!


I have a new plan now

 

[KiiYzOo]

can't wait for the tj07 no 6950 fullcover?

 

[Avathar77]

can't wait for the tj07 no 6950 fullcover?

Hik hik hik more incoming!

 

[KiiYzOo]

cool just a case/watercooling upgrade, or spec upgrade too?

 

[Avathar77]

cool just a case/watercooling upgrade, or spec upgrade too?

Spec upgrade as well

 

[KiiYzOo]

cool 2500k by any chance?

 

[Avathar77]

cool 2500k by any chance?

There is a good chance

 

[KiiYzOo]

I'm trying to get enough together for a 2500k too

 

[Avathar77]

It will be a brilliant Upgrade!
I saw your £20 mobo purchase from the MM other day!

 

[KiiYzOo]

yeah hopefully it works and I don't have to rma it

 

[Avathar77]

Part 2 Live!

 

[KiiYzOo]

looks good can't wait for more!

 

[Avathar77]

Thank you.
Working on the modding part now.

 

[Avathar77]

part 3 Up!

 

[KiiYzOo]

looking good

 

[panyan]

looking good - i really dont understand everyones fascination with the antec 1200

 

[KiiYzOo]

same here , last christmas when I was researching a case to get, I saw just how many people had it on youtube etc, and ruled out it and the 902 immediately