Project: Heart Of Obsidian

[Roverno]

HEART OF OBSIDIAN
Hi all,
After completing my last water-cooled build I said to myself I wouldn’t do it again, its just not worth it. Difficulties upgrading, excessive cost, negligible performance benefit, loads of effort if something goes wrong etc. etc.

So here I am, doing another water-cooled build.

Preamble
Before I start id like to ask that if anybody is able to help with respect to anodising, 3D printing, or CNC then your assistance would be greatly appreciated; please send trust. Also, I would really like a logo or banner for the project but my artistic skills are verging on appalling. If anybody feels like they would want to do this in their free time then let me know. Thanks

Objectives
This time I have a couple of criteria that I wish to keep to:
1. Use 120mm fans
I found that 140mm fans are worse than their 120mm counterparts despite their larger area. Pressure especially suffers.
2. Stick with thin radiators
Fin density and area seem much more important than thickness so im going to stay as thin as I can.
3. Silence
This has always been a priority for me as the main benefit of watercooling.
4. Customise
I have a couple of ideas that I wish to implement which you’ll find interesting I hope.

Coming From
This was my first watercooled build:

The Second (and most recent) water-cooled build was as per the following list (everybody loves lists right?)

1. Corsair 750D
2. I7 3770k
3. MSI Z77 Mpower
4. XSPC Raystorm CPU Block
5. Alphacool NexXxos 60 x 280mm (2x140)
6. Alphacool NexXxos 45 x 420mm (3x140)
7. Silverstone Air Penetrator fans x 6
8. XSPC Photon- Glass Reservoir
9. D5 Pump
10. Corsair 850W AX PSU
11. Samsung 840 EVO 500GB


During one the busiest parts of my degree, while designing a hydrogen fuel cell, my ‘wonderful’ MSI motherboard decided to catch on fire.
(see details here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18651440)

As a result, I went back to basics and am currently looking at this beauty of a rig:

Complete with loads of dust…

..and excellent cable management.

In addition, I seem to have an unrecoverable CPU issue related to WHEA errors. (more info here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18669307) This is probably due to me being a cheapskate and buying a 2nd hand 3770k from an auction site. Big mistake, won’t do it again.

I have not decided if I am going to going for a new CPU and motherboard now or if I’m going to wait. I think I need to do it though because I’m getting crashes and its getting on my nerves somewhat.


The Concept
The new build will be base around my 750D but I have a couple of ideas I would like to implement.

Idea 1
The stock side window on most cases, the 750D included, is very soft plastic. It scratches easily and is a dust magnet. I would like to have a toughened glass window. I have some experience designing so I have drawn up what I plan to do.

I plan to accomplish this using some 3D printed plastic blocks that will pull the glass toward some 6mm thick foam tape that will be bonded around the original window opening. The tabs used to hold the original plastic in place will be cut off with a Dremel and the small marks painted black.

Idea 2
The XSPC Raystorm block that I own has two issues that I want to correct.
The first is that the text on the top of the block limits how it can be fitted to the CPU (assuming you don’t want the text upside down) To solve this I want to get the top 1mm milled off the top. I can’t see this having any effect other than removing the text. The inlet will be marked with a small hole next to it.

The second is that the clamp is made from clear plastic that is quite flexible as it gets warm. Clearly they did this to get the lighting effect that some love. I want to solve this by replacing the two top pieces with a single anodised aluminium block with the profile water jet cut.

Idea 3
This is actually something I came up with quite some time ago, before similar things started appearing with computer cases, but I need a new version to fit a 120mm fan size.

Conclusion to First Post
This is what the general scope of the build looks like at the moment. It is very much a work in progress and will keep updates rolling as I continue.

Well it’s taken me quite some time to write all that so I will leave it at that for now. Again, if anybody is able to help with any form of manufacturing process please ‘trust’ me a message.

 

[Luggs]

Like it a lot! I'm subbed

 

[Deathjester]

HEART OF OBIDIAN

It all looks good, save the fact that you've misspelt the title.

 

[Booternet]

looking good, loving the graphics work you've got going there too!

 

[Roverno]

It all looks good, save the fact that you've misspelt the title.

Haha, there goes my claim of 'good attention to detail'. Thanks and fixed.

 

[ttaskmaster]

Wicked drawing skills - Wish I could do that!!!

I'd be a little concerned about Idea 3, as it seems to block a lot of the rad airflow. Might a 'stand-off' frame, such as the EK-UNI Pump Holder, be a bit more efficient?

 

[dacads]

nice m8, hope my mobo doesn't catch fire like yours did touch wood..

 

[Roverno]

Wicked drawing skills - Wish I could do that!!!

I'd be a little concerned about Idea 3, as it seems to block a lot of the rad airflow. Might a 'stand-off' frame, such as the EK-UNI Pump Holder, be a bit more efficient?

Haha thanks, i have worked as a junior design engineer so being able to design and draw stuff was pretty essential for that

The idea 3 that you see there is actually similar to the 140mm version i already have. The final product looked like this in the end:

I understand what you mean about restricting airflow though. It does look like it covers quite a lot of the rad but because most of the flow is toward the outer edges, and the flow is so slow, there doesn't seem to much negative effect. Will have another look over and see if i can improve though, thanks.

 

[macmodder]

I can't really see how much room yo have to play with from the image, but if you were worried about airflow I guess you could add 10-15mm spacers between the bracket and the fans. If they were made of something softish then they would also help reduce vibration. Only problem would be betting hold of approproiately long screws.

 

[colinmcr]

Look forward to seeing this, I really like your mounting plate.

 

[ShivP]

Looks very nice, will be interesting to see what the 750D can do when slightly modded

 

[Roverno]

PROGRESS UPDATE 1

First things first, thank you for the support so far.

1. I have been in contact with manufactures about the parts I want and the finishes I would like. The cost may be prohibitive unless I can sell on the extras so I will look into that next. I am also in contact with E22, hopefully they can provide some custom parts.

2. I have decided that I will probably be going to a 4690k and gigabyte gaming 7 board, but not yet purchased.

3. Will probably be going for XSPC EX360 radiators. Hopefully OCUK will get them in stock soon otherwise I will be from elsewhere.

4. I have deliveries!


Deliveries


Some very lovely fans!

Gaskets for my radiators

These beautiful quick disconnects from Koolance (more to come)

Some Rivets and a drill for when I dismantle the 750D for cleaning and cutting

And finally an EK Thermosphere block for my GTX 970

CAD Progress
As I said before, the modelling and design will be a continuous work in progress. Currently it looks like this (The floating quick disconnects are where they will be attached via tube but I have not modelled that yet.):

 

[ukxenon]

looks nice

 

[Roverno]

#Teaser. Been in communication with manufacturers. Got some quotes back and the news is pretty good. Next update is gonna be sweeeeeet

 

[Vinno]

Looks good so far. Sounds like the next update should be interesting then!

 

[Roverno]

PROGRESS UPDATE 2
So. Busy week. I have got parts on the way. I have taken a Dremel to TWO cases, made myself an open bench, got parts on order, and requested an RMA. Happy days.

PARTS ORDER

First things first. Final parts are on the way with regards to blanking plates, res mount, and Raystorm clamp. All made from aluminium. The plates will be black and the block Mount will be Red. Hopefully all anodised. The bad news is that the supplier I was hoping to get glass from for £14 wants to charge £68 for shipping so I need to look elsewhere; a bit of a pain as I have the 3D printed clamps on the way.

TEST BENCH
So I had an NZXT Hush H2 for a different project. It is an utterly horrible case so I was just about to throw it out when I realised I need somewhere for my PC parts to go while I work on the 750D. I decided to take the Dremel and drill to the case in a big way. I forgot to take many pics but am very happy with the result. It also gave me an excellent way to practice.

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750D CASE MODIFICATION
So the big moment was here. Often a Dremel can slip when working and you get a nasty scuff so I was a little nervous but it all went excellently. I removed a couple of rivets and cut some of the 5.25 bays out and the result is a very open case. It actually remained surprisingly rigid. I also cut a small bump out of the base for the blanking plate to fit better. Sadly the case fell off a wall while I was washing it and it scuffed the corner pretty bad but it’s not too bad.

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Thats all for now

 

[ahasnaini]

Looks really good. Thinking of getting quick disconnects as well but too expensive. £15 for one just one thing in loop means £60

 

[Roverno]

Ye, they are really expensive. But the way i see it, it saves so much effort when you try and upgrade something. Im going to have 4 pairs, so £120. :-/

 

[Roverno]

PROGRESS UPDATE 3
Apologies for the delays in updates, been pretty busy. Luckily I have still been making progress.

Going to let the pictures speak for themselves. Let me know if you have any questions.
HARDWARE ARRIVED
2X XSPC EX360 MULTIPORT
ASUS Z97 RANGER
4690K
CABLEMOD BLACK AND RED CORSAIR POWERSUPPLY CABLES

LASER CUTS ARRIVED
Floor blanking plate
Roof blanking plate
Raystorm Block clamp
Reservoir mount for 120mm

TEST FITTING
Didn’t go too well. Very difficult. Improvements to be made.

RETAPPING RADIATORS
Easy job, and happy with the results

POLISHING
Cracking results, very happy.

 

[colinmcr]

Fantastic update, my wife would have my guts if I did that on the dining table though!