Project Smurf

Smffy · 19 Dec 2015 at 23:32

powelly2010 said:
Coming along great. not sure on that reservoir mount you've made though, Can't help but feel like it looks tacky from the pictures (might be the wrinkles in the wrap?) and as for the tubes personally i think it might be because they aren't parallel making it seem as if it doesn't look right?

I agree entirely on the mount, I said it's not perfect and it will be redone - annoying thing is I did the other side perfectly... I was being lazy, agenda was to get the thing in place so I could do the plumbing so once I know it's all working I'll remove it and do a proper job. If you look further up at the pics you will see the other side wrapped, looks better right?

I think you are spot on with the tube, but literally it's impossible to do a straight run with the angle on the card. I think tomorrow I'll flush the system all going well and I might have a go at making a new one while I do that...

Thanks the feedback.

Edit: Drunk me thinks I can get a straight run and do some incredible job on with a mid tube 25 degree bend towards the window... We will see if sober me agree's when the time comes.

cadmunkey · 20 Dec 2015 at 01:24

Your build looks smart so far, good job on all those bends! I've finally got around to putting my EK waterblocks and backing plates on my cards and like you say they are pure GPU porn

superb bits of kit!

powelly · 20 Dec 2015 at 01:39

Yeah i think the other side does look better, i think its a problem with mdf in general as well though. Once its sanded down it just looks too rounded.

keep up the great work either way, i look forward to seeing it finished

following this one closely

Smffy · 20 Dec 2015 at 02:27

powelly2010 said:
Yeah i think the other side does look better, i think its a problem with mdf in general as well though. Once its sanded down it just looks too rounded.

keep up the great work either way, i look forward to seeing it finished following this one closely

Indeed, I wasnt as offended with the stock EK res mounts on a bigger res but dam they look crap on small ones. I really dont see why you need to have it on the tube but mainly for me the issue was it was a different colour!! White + weird white. The issue is not so much MDF, well in part I shall explain - the shape makes wrapping tough, more so the size given its all so close. I wrapped a massive amount of my car interior with this and its great but needs time and care, the main thing I lacked was effort and the size was fiddly... Also used the heat gun out of laziness because it was out, I really think hairdyer is better on this stuff. Anyway, really when you use this you intend one side not to be on show, obviously not the case here, but the trick is to stretch well and get the finish without ruining the look. On small things it is hard but also it was burning me lol, like I said lazy, if I gave one tip it would be finish the MDF with something - its too dry and doesn't lend itself to reshaping.

It would all have been better with more effort in short (trust me I tried on that side but was not gonna happen) but as I said I just wanted to get the plumbing in and now i'll be fussing over the detail! Just hope nothin is defective when I fire it up

cadmunkey said:
Your build looks smart so far, good job on all those bends! I've finally got around to putting my EK waterblocks and backing plates on my cards and like you say they are pure GPU porn superb bits of kit!

Really nice finish arent they? Just a shame it says titan on it... Also if I was EK and made these plates i'd make matching SSD plates etc, just saying... would be awesome to make it all match and stuff like that is simple. Still nobody has gifted me a 2nd card

haha! So make me 2 plates already

powelly · 20 Dec 2015 at 05:45

Smffy said:
Indeed, I wasnt as offended with the stock EK res mounts on a bigger res but dam they look crap on small ones. I really dont see why you need to have it on the tube but mainly for me the issue was it was a different colour!! White + weird white. The issue is not so much MDF, well in part I shall explain - the shape makes wrapping tough, more so the size given its all so close. I wrapped a massive amount of my car interior with this and its great but needs time and care, the main thing I lacked was effort and the size was fiddly... Also used the heat gun out of laziness because it was out, I really think hairdyer is better on this stuff. Anyway, really when you use this you intend one side not to be on show, obviously not the case here, but the trick is to stretch well and get the finish without ruining the look. On small things it is hard but also it was burning me lol, like I said lazy, if I gave one tip it would be finish the MDF with something - its too dry and doesn't lend itself to reshaping.

It would all have been better with more effort in short (trust me I tried on that side but was not gonna happen) but as I said I just wanted to get the plumbing in and now i'll be fussing over the detail! Just hope nothin is defective when I fire it up

Really nice finish arent they? Just a shame it says titan on it... Also if I was EK and made these plates i'd make matching SSD plates etc, just saying... would be awesome to make it all match and stuff like that is simple. Still nobody has gifted me a 2nd card haha! So make me 2 plates already

Ah I understand now

Take a look at cold zero mate, they do backplates and covers for all sorts, even if they don't stock it I heard the guy will make anything if you ask via the likes of email

Smffy · 21 Dec 2015 at 16:32

Update time!

So i've been filling/flushing the beast today... Few concerns on that i've posted over in the WC section. Mainly around the initial flow being really weak and it being seriously tough to help the air around and get it going. Thread is here if you think you are well placed to comment:

New Build Flow/Air

So, better post up some pics hadnt I?

Flushing it out a fair bit and initial leak testing:

No leaks found...

Blue time (FYI I knocked this crap over all over my room haha!):

Lotta bubbles to clear:

Any pointers on how to get it all clear would be lovely, will do some more moving about of the case later on. Main thing is there are no leaks found just yet, fingers crossed! I do feel like I want white angled fittings now though but that will have to wait for the future!! I do have an LED cap mounted in the top of the res, hopefully a nice white LED there will stop it looking so dark.

Gaming4Life · 21 Dec 2015 at 16:56

I don't know anything about water cooling xD but if that was my PC and it had a windowed case, I would love to watch the bubbles while loading into a game

maybe I'm just weird though. But I guess that you have to clear all the air for a reason that you could maybe explain to me?

Smffy · 21 Dec 2015 at 16:59

Gaming4Life said:
I don't know anything about water cooling xD but if that was my PC and it had a windowed case, I would love to watch the bubbles while loading into a game maybe I'm just weird though. But I guess that you have to clear all the air for a reason that you could maybe explain to me?

Only the large bubbles would cause a problem but really it will work itself out in time. The temperature increase when the system is on will help no doubt, would be kinda nice to see fizz going round but it would impact the cooling properties when you introduce air in to the mix.

Smffy · 21 Dec 2015 at 21:58

More updates! Been wrap-happy again, I ordered a load with some stuff on Amazon to test a slightly cheaper white carbon with a view to doing the exterior... Started with this small piece:

Here it is for comparison next to the original glossy white:

And with a few more pieces done, this one with the mesh replaced to see how it looked:

And with the big ass top piece done,this must be one of the most awkward shaped things to choose to wrap EVER...

What do you think? I need a lot more wrap to finish so it won't be until after Xmas...

Luggs · 22 Dec 2015 at 07:58

I like it! Very unique finish. Have to say I think you've done an amazing job given how bloody awkward shaped some of the pieces are!

Smffy · 22 Dec 2015 at 13:48

Luggs said:
I like it! Very unique finish. Have to say I think you've done an amazing job given how bloody awkward shaped some of the pieces are!

I was literally thinking WHY did I buy this crazy thing, but looks good after its done

.

Wrapped a few SSDs this morning to match:

cadmunkey · 22 Dec 2015 at 13:54

Got yourself a nice rig there now

theaterix · 22 Dec 2015 at 13:54

Smffy said:
I was literally thinking WHY did I buy this crazy thing, but looks good after its done .

Looks absolutely class!

Smffy · 23 Dec 2015 at 03:18

theaterix said:
Looks absolutely class!

Thank you, just been eyeing up some new perspex for a few custom finishes... I think all that is left to do is the case wrap, custom perspex on part of the inside then replace the outer window because some how i've scratch the utter crap out of it

.

Also going to be ordering a few pretty sleeved cables for the GPU, 2 x SSD and CPU. Tomorrow I should be firing it up and seeing that it all works (PLEEEEEASE).

Luggs · 23 Dec 2015 at 08:09

Smffy said:
Wrapped a few SSDs this morning to match

I was going to ask you if you were thinking of any wrap on the inside of the case and/or components. From pics that wrap looks like it would reflect light in an interesting way? You got any lighting planned?

+1 for awesome looking build

Smffy · 23 Dec 2015 at 12:52

Luggs said:
I was going to ask you if you were thinking of any wrap on the inside of the case and/or components. From pics that wrap looks like it would reflect light in an interesting way? You got any lighting planned?

+1 for awesome looking build

You know what I was thinking of doing it with black carbon but when you look at it with the two rads and all the tubing in there really isnt anything to wrap. What I am doing is mounting a perspex sheet down the right hand outside of the drive bay, play is to wrap one in the white carbon then overlay a translucent blue on to it... Problem is I don't know where I will be to take delivery so can't order until after xmas

Most components would get a bit hot so would be worried about the wrap just shifting, any suggestions looking at the photo? My first though is the power shroud - remove the black plastic, wrap in black carbon and replace.

Final note, does anyone have any recommendations on good lighting?

OJ46 · 23 Dec 2015 at 13:48

Top work on the wrap mate, bet that was a right ****** to get right! Not sure on decent lighting but I'm going with Aqua Computer in mine so will hopefully find out if they're any good in a couple of days. Once I've got em set up I'll let you know how they look

Smffy · 24 Dec 2015 at 14:05

Small update before I head off few a few days of over eating and drinking

. Re-wrapped the stand for the res, as pointed out above it was a **** job the first time, still need to centre it on the res and stick the res down but it looks pretty good now:

The right hand drive bay wall is what i'm going to customise, I also want to cover all those holes to improve the airflow anyway.

powelly · 27 Dec 2015 at 00:42

That stand looks a lot better

try not to over do it with the wrapping though, too much and it'll start to look tacky

faceman123 · 28 Dec 2015 at 01:54

Epic..