Project: Majestic (Air540)

Adam182 · 7 Nov 2013 at 12:45

Hey everyone just thought i would start a build log for my new rig.

Its going to be my first Custom/Watercooled/Overclocked rig so ill be going into unknown territory in many areas.

The rig itself is going to be a joint Gaming/CG workstation.

The colour scheme will be the Standard Case exterior with either White/Vanilla or White/Orange Interior.

I'm still in the planning phase but heres the spec so far...

Hardware

CPU: Intel I7 4770k (Slightly OC'ed maybe 4.3 - 4.5) (received)
Motherboard: Asus z87 GRYPHON + ARMOUR (received)
Mem: 16GB Dominator Platinum (received)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 780Ti (received)
Case: Corsair Carbide Air 540 (received)
SSD: Samsung 840 Evo 240GB (received)
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 120GB (owned)
HDD: WD 1TB (owned)
PSU: Corsair RM750 (received)

Cooling

Fan: 7 x Noiseblocker e-loop B12-3 (received)
CPU Block: EK Supremacy Nickel Clean CSQ (received)
GPU: EK-FC780ti (received)
Backplate: EK-FC780ti (received)
Rad: XSPC AX360 White (received)
Rad: XSPC AX240 White (received)
Reservoir: XSPC Photon 170 (received)
Pump: D5 Vario (received)
Pump top: EK-D5 X-TOP Plexi (received)
Tubing: E22 10/12mm hard tubing (received)
Fittings: Bitspower Shiny Silver Fittings (received)
Coolant: Mayhems Ice Dragon Nano
Paste: Gelid GC-Extreme (received)
Delid Paste: Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra (received)

Extras

White Acrylic Sheet (received)
White Plasti-Dip (received)
White Connectors (received)
MDPC White/Vanilla Sands (received)
E22 Cable combs (received)

Any comments/suggestions along the way are very welcome and totally appreciated, Thanks - Adam

*Updated 31/01/2014*

Adam182 · 7 Nov 2013 at 12:47

Heres my idea for the build so far...

Adam182 · 7 Nov 2013 at 14:31

Roady said:
Very interested in the White Plasti-Dip as I've thought about using some myself on a 7950 backplate... Have you used it before?

I havn't used Plastidip before mate but i've noticed a few others have. Ill be dipping the GPU backplate, Res and Mobo Armor (if i get the Sabretooth). The reason I'm using it over normal paint is because its easily removed if i change my mind. I think one can at around £16 will suffice so theres not much to lose either way.

hakank68 said:
was that done using Sketchup ?

Yeah, i got the (pretty darn accurate) 540 model from a guy called pcfoo on another forum and just downloaded the free sketchup version. Ive never used the program before but it wasn't too hard to figure out the basics.

Adam182 · 15 Nov 2013 at 23:17

Quick update, as I've still got a few weeks before I order everything I decided to measure for the perspex panels and created some templates. I also made up a rad to scale and XSPC res to make sure everythings going to fit.

As of now ive decided to go for the z87 GRYPHON mobo with Armour. As always with a full size mobo I would just have a bunch of empty slots and I want this build to be as clean as possible. I also don't think ill lose any performance over the larger Sabretooth board.

I've also decided on NB eloop B12-3 fans all around, i think maybe the GTs offer slightly better performance but I'm willing to sacrifice a little for the look of the eloops.

I'm also toying with the idea of getting a 780GTX Ti aswell, can get one a good £150 cheaper over in the US.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, Thanks - Adam

Adam182 · 16 Nov 2013 at 10:46

Bart_Hunt said:
You might consider Akasa Apache PWM fans as well.
They are cheaper than other 2 and really good.

Thanks Bart i'll definitely check those out! great info.

Avenged7Fold said:
Will follow this build eagerly! Have my Reservoir mounted in my 540 similarly, good placement as it is out of the way of wiring, GPUs, Fans and Radiators.

I especially like your reservoir, I use a EK reservoir but have considered switching over to a cereal box based reservoir, as they stain less and are easier to clean/replace. How is your 'Shreddies' tube reservoir working for you?

Yeah the XSPC res is 75mm wide so having it here is going to be extremely tight, were talking mm so i may have to move it somewhere else or choose a different res. I actually have a few other layouts that might work if i do go for the mATX board.

Well spotted!, for now the Shreddies res is fine as it can be shaped by hand and fits in pretty snug, havn't tried filling it yet though as i ran out of semi-skimmed. Originally I planned to go for a Crunchy Nut version but the bag was far too full...

Thanks guys much appreciated, ill apologize in advance about the time it will actually take to finish this build as i wont be back in the UK to actually fit the final components until December 30th but ill keep this thread updated as much as possible with my ideas and progress - Adam

Adam182 · 16 Nov 2013 at 16:59

Avenged7Fold said:
The EK reservoirs are 60mm diameter and fit in with enough space to remove it and insert it, without having to touch the graphics card. My build sports a 250mm long one but if you use a 150mm long reservoir, you probably will be able to fit the exhaust fan above it.

Thanks for the confirmation that the EK will definatly fit! yours looks huge!, I've just had another play around in Sketchup and come up with this layout, i quite like it! I realised if i get the 780Ti it might have the extra pokey outey bit on the waterblock and i very much doubt my res would fit where it was planned to before....

Adam182 · 16 Nov 2013 at 19:57

Avenged7Fold said:
I wanted to place it there at first, or closer to the window. I had difficulties doing it because a full size ATX only has about an inch of clearance from the base of the case and so i had to move it to help me manage the wires.

Yeah that was my reason for not trying it there in the first place, i wasn't really aware of different sized motherboards until recently and my original sketch had a full size mobo. If i go for this ill grind out the lower unused case slots for a bit more room aswell - Adam

Adam182 · 18 Nov 2013 at 00:58

Another update, managed to get my hands on a dremel and a jigsaw today so i got stuck into some light case modding. First I cut out the bottom 4 card slots as they wont be needed then i got around to marking up and cutting the rear perspex panel. As this is my first case mod/custom build its comforting to now know i can cut in a straight line! Still need to cut out the area for the mobo but im chuffed to bits hows its turned out even though its not much at this time! - Adam

Adam182 · 18 Nov 2013 at 14:08

Thanks for the positive comments guys

Roady said:
Unsure if it was intentional or not... But no space for PSU in your pics there with the top rad and CPU tubes?!

Its the Air 540 case so the PSU will be in the opposite side compartment directly behind the res in the bottom left corner, any tubing will be manouvered around it

- Adam

Adam182 · 23 Nov 2013 at 14:58

Another update everyone...

Got a nice little package from OcUK...

Which gave me chance to measure out the fanholes for the next round of cutting/grinding...

Also measured and cut out the rear acrylic panel and mobo cutout...

Everythings coming together nicely...

Now its time to cut the new facias...

Think i might add another 240 rad in the top aswell, thanks everyone - Adam

Adam182 · 23 Nov 2013 at 17:46

Nickolp1974 said:
wheres your pump going adam??? with your res being that low you may have trouble filling your loop???
Looking good though mate

Good point, a lot has changed since my original plans but at the moment the pump will be in the bottom right of the other compartment flat to the base of the case. As its my first WC loop im not 100% sure how it will work but i guess i could turn the case on its back side fill the res, the put it upright again, run the pump and repeat the process? - Adam

Adam182 · 28 Nov 2013 at 17:53

Another little update everyone...

After a fair bit of time and a lot of soapy water and the use of a friends bosses workshop I managed to cut the fascia fanholes out without the perspex turning into a nasty melted mess, i then measured some standoffs and glued them onto the back of the fascias to hold them at the correct distance from the case...

My alloy angle arrived the next day to create the mounting plate for the top 3 fans, with this made and fitted it was also going to act as a rest for when i glued the top fascia to the front so i again got the correct distance/angle for it to be flush to the case...

To keep fan pressure in the gap between the front fans/radiator i made some acrylic plates that also held the fans off far enough to meet up with the new font fascia...

Once everything was in place i glued the fascias together, i didn't have the greatest tools available to me for this so i had to get creative with some card, a clamp, a magazine and some tape...

Really happy with the end result, The next morning i did a few vinyl tests with some samples i ordered...

Next up ill be wrapping the new fascia in my chosen vinyl and cutting up some more of the case to allow for my rads when i finally get them home. Leaving for the US on Sunday so ill be updating the thread with the various bargains i manage to land in the Black Friday sales - Adam

Adam182 · 3 Dec 2013 at 02:25

Just updated the spec in the OP, decided to add an AX240 and GTX 780ti to the mix, nearly had a fit when i saw the cost of all the fittings! never dropped this much on a system before, scary stuff - Adam

Adam182 · 3 Dec 2013 at 03:25

Bart_Hunt said:
Hard tubing fittings are very expensive, thats true.
I am still considering using hard tube in my rig, probably will have to pass.
Its insane to spend over 100£ on tube and fittings alone.

I could have saved a bit if my simplified my loop down a bit but i just thought what the hell, If i had to buy all my stuff at UK retail i very much doubt i would have done it. Im still hoping i have actually bought all the correct parts! - Adam

Adam182 · 6 Dec 2013 at 04:06

Recieved some goodies today...

- Adam

Adam182 · 13 Dec 2013 at 06:00

And some more awesome arrived today aswell...

- Adam

Adam182 · 13 Dec 2013 at 06:42

Bart_Hunt said:
Nice
Looks like you won't have much rest during Xmas, a lot of work to do.
I left building my rig for January

Haha your not kidding, although I dont arrive back in the UK until the 30th so i guess ill also be doing the most of my build in January aswell. I've done a lot of prep and planning so hopefully things will go relatively smoothly.

That bieng said after looking at my loop notes I've already noticed an error in my plan.... im going to have to figure it out when i actually get the rads into the case, it would just be guess work if i try to figure it out here DOH! - Adam

Adam182 · 16 Dec 2013 at 03:37

Bart_Hunt said:
I've seen someone posted on forums today about Primochill colored acrylic tubing.
Hopefully OCuk going to stock those.
I found some I'd like and some guide how to bend it, so wouldn't spend fortune on fittings.
I am planning to experiment with it a bit before starting with my rig, so will let you know

Yeah I've heard about that tubing, the problem i had with it is that it only works with the primochill fittings, and im not too keen on the look of those fittings i much prefer the smaller Bitspower ones.

I ordered my clear e22 tubing today so ill let you know how it goes when i get it home - Adam

Adam182 · 16 Dec 2013 at 17:35

Hukkel said:
Pardon me but this looks just like a copy of the build by Kier.

Kiers is one of my favourite builds ever and I've been inspired a lot by his work if this build turns out to be just 10% as good as his ill be a very happy guy. I'm sure he will be happy to inspire others.

As i don't have the resources/funds/experience to compete at his level and the amount of planning/work/thought I've had to put into this build myself i hope people don't just palm it of as a Kier copy - Adam

p.s Its actually even more Kier like than before since he recently added the Sabretooth + Armor and Dominator Platinum.... stealing my ideas tut tut *jokes*

Adam182 · 22 Dec 2013 at 00:46

The final piece of the puzzle came today so i'm all set when i get back to the UK, and a little bit of CLU for the Delid

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