Project: H2GO

[Danm54]

Been a bit quiet on this for a while, a bit of progress has been made though, ive bought a Scythe Kaze Server fan controller,
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BB-009-SY&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=189
This is an awesome controller and while the PC is not under any load the fans are off, when the temps rise (you can set these) the fans will spin quicker as the heat rises or spin at a speed you set, this means a quiet pc!

Ive also decided to watercool the CPU and possibly the GPU (not a full cover block) ive bought various bits of MM and ill re-use the pump from my last build, a couple more bits to get and ill be ready to carry on.

 

[Nemesis379]

nice work..like the fans

 

[Danm54]

After a bit of saving we have an update!

Just bought an ASRock P55 Pro mobo and 750 i5 CPU

Dirty stock Intel heatsink!!!

These pics are of my initial testing, worked a treat so its in the case now, a quick blend test with Prime95 and it reached 75c in about 5 mins

Ive got most of my watercooling bits, just need barbs and CPU block, going to have to buy them new i think, ill update with pics in a bit.


Watercooling bits

Liang DDC 18W pump with XSPC acetel top
Thermochill 240 radiator
EK Multioption RES 100 rev. 2
EK GPU acetal block

Im not sure how the 240 rad will cope with CPU and GPU, the GPU runs at about 50c and hits 64c with Furmark, the CPU im yet to see the temp with anything accept the stock cooler. Im not after really low temps, just a good OC and reasonable temps, I may have to add a 120 rad in the loop later though.

 

[Danm54]

Well its started, ive got all my watercooling bits now, had to fork out for a new EK-Supreme HF CPU block, should be worth it though.

It comes in a very smart box, should do for the price!

With some lovely bits inside

Got my rad in the back of the case, its a very snug fit. Ideally id like to put the fans on the inside of the rad but ill see about changing that over later.

Got my loop connected together and filled for leak testing the blocks, rad etc

Im going to try and mount the res in the top part of the case, original plan was to have it all under the mobo but it'll look better and be easier to work with on the top.

 

[gt_junkie]

Nice work!

Looking great!!!

gt

 

[Phoenixdancer]

can i get that case in the UK?

Looks perfecy for a Dual loop with 2x 120.2's.

 

[Danm54]

Got mine off the MM.
Mountain Mods are based in America but they do ship to the UK, there is also a UK supplier as well.

Not sure if you'd fit another 120.2 in the front of the case, would sit over the mobo and be very close. Ill offer the rad up if/when i take it off.

EDIT; you wont fit a rad and fans in the front of the case, the rad will sit very close to, and over the mobo.

 

[Danm54]

Well i managed to get a few hours over the weekend to install the watercooling.


First thing was a strip down to mount the CPU block, the back plate for this is massive and therefore required me to cut a hole in the mobo tray to accomadate it, without the hole the mobo was too thick to sit on the stand offs.

The acrylic tray is easy to work with, so hole saw and dremel later.

With that the mobo fitted nicely with the CPU block and back plate installed.

Next up was the graphics card, i was going to leave this out and just cool the CPU but as i had the block i decided to cool it as well.
This card dosen't have a full cover cooler so just a GPU block is needed.

Off with the stock cooler

And on with the waterblock.

Next up i changed the rad and fans over, think it looks better and i can see if the fans are working!

Got a bit carried away at this point and forgot to stop and take pics.

The case came with 2 plates to mount 3 HDD's on the back of a fan, as im using 3 SSD's ive used one plate to mount the SSD's and the other to mount the res, just a little bend and drill mod required.

Pics of it piped up.

The pump is suspended via the tubing so i didnt need to make up and soft mounts to absorb the vibration, may not look the best but its out of sight of the window and more importantly, quiet.

The tubing looks a little messy as ive taken it back under the mobo between the CPU and GPU blocks, its all to make it neater from the top and sides.

During filling, a funnel and barb mod make it very easy.

Few pics during leak testing, and before anyone points it out, i know i need a nice table instead of a cardboard box!

Thats it for now folks, ill have more pics with the side and top on soon.

 

[gt_junkie]

Nice - was trying to figure out what's different compared to mine... eventually worked out that your motherboard is rotated 180 degrees.

It's essentially the same layout just reversed!

It much quieter now?!

gt

 

[Danm54]

Yea you can swap the tray and panels over, works a bit better the way you have it but its the wrong way for my desk.

I like the top window, may look at cutting the centre section out of mine too, does block the view a little. Was also going to cut a window in the lower section but my case isn't that tidy on the bottom!

As for noise its just a hum, the power supply is the loudest thing in the case now and only 1 fan runs when its on idle, the other fan on the rad is on a temp sensor so only comes on when needed and the front 2 fans are on a temp sensor on the graphics card, they come on when i start gaming.

Even with all fans on max its still very quiet though.

Temps at idle are CPU 26 22 26 21 and GPU 31
In game all max out at high 30's

Now for overclocking the i5, 4Ghz is the target

 

[Danm54]

Holy thread revival!!!!

Well its been ages since I updated this, still got the same case and had the same hardware until the other day!

Id flushed all my loop out earlier this year, tidied the tubing up a little, new res mounts and another SSD I think...


Anyway, decided it was about time to treat myself to a new graphics card as the GTX 260 just wasn't cutting it in 3D games anymore.

As its not a straight swap with watercooling I decided to replace my hoses and fluid, went for Mayhems Aurora Extinction Green fluid and some Masterkleer clear tubing.

So this is with the old 260 in plus a few months of dust!

Say hello to my new card, a GeForce GTX 580 [EVGA 3GB Edition] with a nickel and acrylic full cover water block.

Ordered on a friday night from OcUK and recieved monday, thats awesome service as usual!

=p~

Made up with plugs and barbs and fitted to the mobo.

Tubing going in

And the tubing finished.
Loop is Res-Pump-120 rad (on the bottom so cant see it in the pic) -240 rad at the top-CPU-GPU-Res

Can just see the 120mm rad in this pic.
My 4 SSD's, made a little ally plate up to hold them last time it was cleaned out...

Loop filled and leak testing, only gave it half hour but I was confident!

And all back together

Running pics

Result is much smoother graphics and Dirt 3 in 3D is amazing!
BF3 in 3D is damn cool

Just fine tuning the fan controller, I have 1 fan on the 240mm rad ran off the CPU header so its running all the time, the other 5 are all temp controlled so only come one when gaming, make for a nice quiet pc.

In game (BF3) temps are good, GPU peaks at 47 degrees and the CPU temps peak at 52 51 51 52 degrees. Idle temps are GPU 38 degrees and CPU 39 38 38 37. Happy with that!

Now the graphics card isn't relying on the 2 front fans to cool the VRM's im going to get some dust filters for the 3 intake fans, should keep it cleaner in future.

Could a passing mod change the title to 'Project Green and Blacks' please.

 

[Danm54]

Right, its finished!!

Forgot the obligatory pic of box's last time, so here's one with all the upgrades!

Latest delivery was the Corsair AX750 PSU, 8gb Corsair Vengeance ram, 3 120mm fan filters and 2 barbs.


After seeing rjkoneill's TJ07 build and the way he piped up the block I decided to give it a try for myself.


First was a strip down again and a quick check of the CPU block this time, I also changed the jet plate in the block for the one with 2 slots

Made up again with new barbs in, I had to change these and put them on the gpu block as these had the short tails needed for the gpu block. Means they dont match on the GPU block but it'll have to do for now.

So the blocks are in and piped up.

Finished the loop alterations and fitted the filters.

And filled up.

As the new PSU is really quiet I took the chance to add some sound proofing to the pump, its still the only thing I can hear in the pc, you really have to listen for it though!!

New PSU

And I altered the SATA power cables on this one too, fits nice and neatly to the SSD's

New ram, 8gb goodness!!
Annoyed that OcUK have just released the Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer ram, would've bought those instead!

Ill update with temp changes once ive had time to play so games!

 

[w3bbo]

Nice build! I'm a big fan of MM cases. Was tempted with one of these and seeing this makes me go hmmmmm

 

[coolamasta]

Nice build, how does that twin rad cope with the CPU and 580?

 

[Danm54]

There's a 120.1 Black Ice Stealth in there too.

Max temps ive had in BF3 have been 47 degrees on the 580 and 52 52 51 52 degrees on the CPU, not bad I dont think.

 

[SFFNoob]

Love these cases but can't justify the spend, almost got one last week LOL.

 

[Danm54]

I got mine off the MM quite cheaply, mine is getting a little cluttered but then there's a lot crammed in there!!

Got another delivery today

Got myself a 1tb 2.5 HDD to slot in between my SSD's, should stop me relying on the external drive so much.

Also an NZXT led cable kit in white, this will replace/go with the green one ive got to show up the pearls in the fluid better.

 

[Danm54]

Bought some more toys......

1tb 2.5 HDD, save me relying on my external 1tb drive so much and save me transfering loads of data over a USB connection!

Nestles nicely inbetween the SSD's almost like it was planned

This is a really quiet drive anyway but I decided to mount all the drives on rubber stand-offs, there's actually for the pump but work nicely here. Will save any vibrations from the HDD transfering to the case.

Then replaced the NZXT green led cable with a white led cable, this shows the pearls in the fluid up better, not that they show up in the pics though!!

Right thats it, no more upgrading! On with the bike build!

 

[SouthEastBlue]

Very nice, and unusual case!