Project: No Name Budget

[damov3]

Project: Thurst

Hello Guys,

Welcome to my first ever attempt at making my PC look anything other than a mess. I doing this on a serious budget so bear with me it may take a while

Spec:

CPU: i5 2500K(Currently clocked at 4.6 on air 24/7)
MB: ASROCK Extreme 4gen3
RAM: 16gb 1600mhz Hyper x Genesis
Drives: 2 x 60GB crucial M4 1 x 2TB WD Black
PSU: Thermaltake toughpowerXT 675W

I already own the above and need to hang as long as I can before I upgrade due to funds.

Watercooling kit so far is below:

YOUR BASKET
1 x asus radeon r9 290 "voltage unlocked" 4096mb gddr5 pci-express graphics card £299.99
1 x ek water blocks ek-d5 vario x-top - acetal (incl. pump) £89.99
1 x ek water blocks ek-fc r9-290x - acetal £79.99
1 x ek water blocks ek-supremacy - acetal £49.99
1 x ek water blocks ek-coolstream pe 360 (triple) £49.99
1 x ek water blocks ek-coolstream pe 240 (dual) £39.95
1 x monsoon 13/10mm (id 3/8 od 1/2) free center compression fitting six pack - white £27.95
1 x xspc razor r9 290x / 290 backplate £24.95
total : £672.40 (includes shipping : £8.00).



i have a phobya res already to go with this lot, just need to decide on fittings and tubing? fluid colour will be yellow thats for sure

so the plan is for the time being, well at least until i have sorted the card issue! to run just a cpu loop with the one rad, then later on add a second 240 rad and gpu water block to match the cpu.

all of this is going in here which turned up today:d











Finally all stripped ready for some work to begin.

 

[damov3]

budget whats that. Is there ever one when building a PC, i was like if i get this i might aswell add that, i cry when i add it all up

I suppose budget in the sense I could have spent out on a new MB, CPU and Ram, Im going to have to spend out on a new GPU anyway so it will tally up eventually i suppose

 

[damov3]

New name and update

I think I'm going to call this project "Thurst" as its my first

A few goodies turned today



So test fitted a few bits and pieces 360 rad in the top 240 rad in the front should work ok.



Top 360 holes don't line up on the ends, so only the 4 bolts in the centre will fit! hopefully not to much of an issue.



Res & pump position all sorted marked and ready for mutilation







The tools for the job


I have some White Arcylic on order plus all the sleeving.
Just had some money land so can get on an order the new GPU and water blocks, then need to find some money for the second rad, tube and fittings

 

[damov3]

The Dremel's alive

So I got the Dremel out tonight and made a start on the case! cutting a nice hole for my Res, need to make some mounting brackets and clean up the edges, then once my Arcylic turns up i can finish mounting the Res.





Any reason why I can't make a Backplate for GPU? I want to make something out of acrylic to match some other components in the build.

Thanks for looking.

 

[damov3]

This looks nice, I love having fun with dremmel as well
How do you like EK PE rads?
I just bough 3 360s and some screw holes are misaligned, makes hard to instal fittings.
Other than that, I think they are great.

The paint finish marks really easily but other than that they look great, Ive not noticed any misaligned holes with mine, but I've got to order a 240 version so will check to see if that suffers from the problem!

 

[damov3]

Small update today my white acrylic turned up so have cut to size and measured up for the Res.





Still waiting on sleeving and other bits and pieces, but have also ordered the GPU and second Rad today.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Asus Radeon R9 290 "Voltage Unlocked" 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £299.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-CoolStream PE 240 (Dual) £39.95
Total : £349.54 (includes shipping : £8.00).

 

[damov3]

Cool stuff

Missaligned holes were only 2 near the ports, but it made middle fan and one next to it very tight fit. I actually had to push the fan hard in order to be able to screw it to the rad. Fan frames were rubbing eachother
Fortunately it's out of sight and I didn't have problems like that with other 2 rads.

Must just be a one off or a slightly wonky batch hopefully my 240 will be fine.

 

[damov3]

Some more progression

So I've had some time to do some work on the build today, first off I'll start with the postie drop

Fans fans and more fans.





Sleeving arrived too Thanks Nils.



So still waiting on GPU and few other bits and I'm now ready to order the remaining components.

So i finished the Res mount today just got to get some white silicone O'rings from work for mounting and paint the brackets.

Mounting brakets:


Screw layout:


Test fit:


Finished article:






Ive still got a bit of work to do on the face that includes more Acrylic, but really happy with how its turned out so far, by all means let me know what you think good bad or indifferent?

 

[damov3]

Excellent, acrylic looks very clean. What did you make the cut with?

I used a Dremel to make first cuts then used different files to smooth it down!

That's looking really good

Thanks

 

[damov3]

Little update

Most of the bits are here now so can crack on with the build.

Goodies





Got this in yellow as well



Starting work on the GPU backplate(need to decide whether to keep this painted or make one out of Acrylic





Also i need some help with the screw colour, as the build is based round white, black, yellow. What colour do guys think?



Hopefully more updates later on this week

 

[damov3]

Plasti dip alert

Right guys have made some headway over the last few days, got the top rad in with the mobo which is a mighty tight fit and measured up round back for the pump and wot not. Got top rad painted and some detailing on the mobo done.

Top rad painted


Fans surrounds painted


Mobo detailing




All crammed in! rear 140mm fan and rad connections are a small issue at the minute, i need to decide whether to turn the rad round or move to a 120mm


Round the back, trying to gauge pump position.



Rear 140mm fan removed.



I think I'm going to make something to cover those SSD's as i don't like the label up look

Soon be the weekend so i can crack on a get finished as i have no PC now until this is done.

 

[damov3]

Looks nice.

For ssd cover, you can use some white acrylic. Just go to plasticshop.co.uk and type in the size, thickness and color you want in the calculator. They have good prices and are quick on delivery.

I have some sitting here waiting Just got decide how I go about it

looking good.

Thanks.

 

[damov3]

Hello Guys, managed to get a little more done today so thought i would update.

Got the pump fitted





I also made some SSD covers and blanked of the original HDD bay with some more acrylic(its not fixed properly in the photo)



I also fitted a 120mm fan in the rear but I'm still thinking its a little close for comfort

 

[damov3]

Nice work on the acrylic!

Maybe adding some LEDs will be nice

Thanks! LEDs are ready and waiting to go in

Nice build

Thank you!

 

[damov3]

Loop finished

Another update, managed to get a lot done today so hopeful this time next week I will be finished

CPU water block on


Holes cut for tube


Round the back, its a bit tight in there but it all fits, need to get another SP120 for the rad.


Some the tubing run round the front


Bit tight up there but it fits


On to the GPU, Cooler removed.


Back plate and water block on


Loop all complete.




Need to get some distilled water so i can get it filled and tested, just waiting on a few bits for the cables.

I do have a question, I bought some LED's marked as yellow but I've tested them and they are Amber. So does anyone know of single 5mm yellow LED's?

Thanks

 

[damov3]

Thanks

I need to say this before you even consider filling your rig with liquid... You have your connections on your pump WRONG! DO NOT RUN IT THIS WAY! the hole in the centre of your pump top is the inlet and should be fed from your reservoir. This is extremely important. Apart from that, looking fantastic! Might want to consider making a new front panel or modding the existing one to allow for better airflow. My gpu temps decrease by 20 degrees when I pop off that front cover (full loaf).

Im glad you noticed, cos i clearly didn't! I may look at modding the side panel, as i initially went for the case because the clean front matches my decor and desk

 

[damov3]

^ damn, give that man a medal.
Yeah, especially with the rad first, you're likely to have priming issues.
swap them round

Have just swapped them over Classic example of being and man and thinking i know best

 

[damov3]

Really pleased to say that I've managed to complete my first ever water cooling loop (thanks to phate1337 for saving me from impending doom), I have no leaks so far touch wood. How long do you guys recommend i test it for? just a couple of pics of the loop running.

 

[damov3]

Also, give that rig one hell of a tilt around, it can take it! That top rad will only let go of the air when you rock it quite far forwards (keeping front feet on the ground) hoping for no leaks!

Ive given it a right good shake around, and lent it right forward on its front feet, had a nice big glug and the res dropped a good 1/4 inch so hopefully most of the air is out

 

[damov3]

Cable update

So I finally got round to making and braiding some cables, got the PCI-e 8 pin and 6 pin done, I've also finished the 24 pin extension, have still got to sort the 8 pin ATX and make some aux bits and pieces.

8 pin


6 pin


installed


24 pin




Still plenty to do but hopefully I will get to fire it up over the weekend, the case top is currently in the workshop for some AIR improvements, so a little way off completion.