Project: Lian Li PC7²

[Azza]

So im going watercooling again and I thought I would make a log of how everything goes, with lots and lots of pics inc my very special case thats in the works.

Any way onto business.


PC Hardware:



CPU - Intel Q6600 G0

Motherboard - DFI Lanparty LT X48-T2R

RAM - 4Gb OCZ 6400

Graphics card - BFG 8800 GTS 512mb OC (may be changed to a PNY 9800GTX soon)

Hard drives - 250Gb Seagate, 500Gb Samsung, 2 x 60gb 2.5inch (Fujitsu & Seagate)


PSU - Corsair 620W


Watercooling gear:


CPU block - EK Supreme Acrylic

Pumps - D5 Vario, D-Tek dB-1

Rads - 1 * Thermochill PA120.2 & 1 * Thermochill PA120.3

 

[Azza]

Res - 2 * Swiftech MCRES-Micro

The bottom of the res have been modded so the out let of the res is at the bottom. Can then put the pumps directly below the res, makes everything a lot easier.


Coolant - Feser One (Yellow & Purple)

Case - Lian Li PC7²


Some latest pics of the case...

Custom *competitor* PA120.2 backplate goodness.

Second rad will go in the top panel of case.


Right case for PC and left for watercooling etc.


Cases are attached together using some metal spacers so that both front panels can still fit on.




Thats all for now folks.

 

[Azza]

Please delete

 

[Azza]

Looks nice, can I ask why you're using a 680i board with an ATi card, surely you'd be better off with the increased overclocking/performance from using an Intel chipset as you're not going to SLi?

Got the motherboard waterblocks for mucho cheapness. Plus 3.6Ghz is enough for me.

 

[Azza]

Woah, thats a lot of pictures!

With that much space I'd be tempted to try and find some stupidly large resovoirs. I hope you're gonna put a nice window on the side to show it all off!

PK!

Couple of EK 150 res's will be used. Just trying to find an ideal position for them at the moment.

There will be a nice square window.

 

[Azza]

Pity to leave what will probably be the loudest of the components on air. Will you be going for WCing the 3870X2 once a waterblock for it is out?

Its quiet to me.


I may do but the EK block costs £83 at the moment and im not paying that much. Plus I change graphics card way to often.

Though I may if something happens.

 

[Azza]

Would a couple of Maze 4's fit on it instead?

gt

There is a thread on XS about this and to be honest it looks like a full block solution would be best.

 

[Azza]

A few changes...

Going for a PA120.3 (bottom) and a PA120.2 (top) and getting two Swiftech MCRES as it will be easy to find a decent a place them.

 

[Azza]

Sorry for the very late update but I sort of broke my knee playing basketball and my right leg is in plaster from groin to ankle.


Hopefully have the case next week. Only problem is though i left a pump and coolant in my uni room but thats no problem really.

Another thing is that im no longer going with the 680i board with watercooling mobo as me and Colossous (dont think he is on here but some of you may know him form other places) have been dealing again.


Will update as soon as any other news comes in.

 

[Azza]

Case is all done for the time being.

Here are some pics.

PA120.3 in the back with a *competitor* Anodised 120.3 Rad Grill. Custom back plate was made to fit the PA120.3 in the back.

PA120.2 in the roof with a *competitor* Anodised 120.2 Rad Grill.

Custom acrylic window cut into the side panel.

A couple of shots of the insides. You can see the modifed reservoirs here.

More pics to come once i start the build.


Big thanks to Tom at *a competitor* for making all this possible and everything he has done so far and for everything that is still to come with this build. You're a star mate


More updates soon.

 

[Azza]

Yesterday------------------>

Put everything air cooled into the case.

Today------------------->

Decided to put together a loop for the CPU.

Ek block on board.

Now dought I will re-route all the tubing once I do the second loop.

 

[Azza]

Hmm very nice!

But why are you thinking of getting a 9800GTX soon?

Should have it Monday hopefully as it was mucho cheapness.

 

[Azza]

Wow its amazing how much room there is in a PC7 when you have two bolted together I have very little room in mine.

How the 9800GTX was cheap, cuz I can't see why anyone would want one otherwise... and aren't they meant to be the noisest GFX solution while idling? >> you going to watercool that somehow aswell?

Graphics card will be watercooled.

Thats what the PA120.3 rad is for.

 

[Azza]

Subscribed

Looking good Azza!

Thank you Tom.

 

[Azza]

Todays box of goodies.

 

[Azza]

Gpu cooler off.

GPU all cleaned up.

Leak testing. (Dont mind the cables and what nots )

 

[Azza]

Yes you could do that.


Say you have a removable mobo tray.. fit all you watercooling into case into right positions, leak test for how ever long and then slide in the mobo tray with everything on and connect it all up.


I on the other hand for the graphics loop i did today wacked it all together, leak tested it for around an hour and a half and just fired it up.

Im using 7/16 ID tubing with 1/2 barbs so its quite hard for the tubing to just slide off. The pump and gpu block barbs for example where right ******* to get the tubing on. I couldnt get the tubing off if I tried.

'Cos you should be using non conductive coolant if you did have the blocks on CPU or what ever when you where leak testing and it did leak from the block and went on your mobo or what ever then it shoudnt be a problem as it wouldnt be on at the time. Just take it out clear it up and leave it to dry, and then test to see if its ok. Alsong as you dont power something up when it wet it should be fine after its dried.

I dropped one of my CPU in my fish tank once, dried it off and tested it within 10 mins of dropping it in and it was fine.

 

[Azza]

Thanks for the advice! I'm a bit wary of demolishing the GPU to fit a block on! Wouldn't it void the warranty? Or is that catch part of water cooling?
Oh, and once again I think you missed it! Is water cooling much quieter than a normal cooled system? I've read people having nightmares about whiney fans in the pumps, and "fluidic" sounds!

Yeah most graphics compaines apart from EVGA i think dont allow you to take off the stock cooler without losing your warranty.


Mine is very quiet. Loudest part of my system is my PSU fan and the hard drive.

Im using a D5 (non vario) and D-tek DB-1 and both are silent no vibrations through the case on the foam stuff that came with them.

Im using Yate Loon fans and they are non audible to me. Great fans they are.

 

[Azza]

Thanks for that. When i'm coming close to buying a few things in august/sept and a few questions i'll drop you an e-mail in trust if you don't mind.
Good luck with the project.

Yep sure no worries man and thank you for your comments.