Project Water 2.0 - Caselabs SM8 Upgrade

[RSR]

Welcome to my 2.0 Build Log.

After starting my original build log last year, I’ve not been happy with the thermals and build-up of heat within the case. So, I have now decided to pull the plug on setting the system up for not only my current X99 setup but to upgrade to either X299 or X399 platforms.

Here is the link to Project Water 1.0 > Here

So the new parts for this build are:

Case:

Caselabs SM8 - Black
Flex Bay 360 Mount with Vented Bay Covers
Drop-In Top Rad Mount 120.4
XL Window
USB 3.0 I/O Pannel

Singularity Computers:

Singularity Computers Reservoir Mount Ethereal Single V3 X2
Singularity Computers Protium Reservoir - Medium - Frosted Acrylic
Singularity Computers Protium D5 Pump Top - Frosted Acrylic
Singularity Computers Protium D5 Cover - Black / Silver Rings

Aqua Computer Components:

Aqua Computer Aquaero 6 XT - Blue
Aqua Computer Front Bezel For Aquero 5 and 6 XT - Black
Aqua Computer Passive Cooler for Aquaero 6 - Black
Aqua-Computer D5 pump with USB and Aquabus interface
Aqua Computer High-Flow Flow Sensor
Aqua Computer SPLITTY9 splitter x2
Aqua Computer farbwerk USB - Pending

Radiators & Fans

Black Ice Nemesis GTR 360 Radiator - Black X 2
EK Water Blocks EK-Vardar F3-120 X 14

WC Fittings:

Bitspower G1/4 Black Sparkle Rotary 90 Degree ID 1/4 Adapter x 9
Bitspower G1/4 Enhance Multi-Link For OD 16MM - Black Sparkle x 12
Bitspower G1/4 Black Sparkle Rotary IG1/4 Extender
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle TII- Rotary Adapter
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender X6
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle Anti-Cyclone Adapter
Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle IG1/4" Extender - 25mm x4
Bitspower Premium Sealing Plug 14 - Black Sparkle X4
Bitspower Stopcock 1/4 Inch, Silver Handle - Black Sparkle
Bitspower G 1/4" Black Sparkle Temperature Sensor Stop Fitting
Bitspower PETG Link Tube OD16MM x 4

Extra Parts / Upgrades:

Seasonic Prime Platinum 1200W 80 Plus Platinum Modular Power Supply
G.SKILL F4-3600C16Q-32GTZR 32 GB Trident Z RGB Series
DarkSide 3mm DarkSide Connect Modular LED - White X3
DarkSide CONNECT 3x Y Cable - 4-Pin - 12"
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut High Performance Thermal Past
MDPC-X Sleeving - Black & White

Peripheral Upgrade

Logitech C922
Corsair K95 Platinum RGB Rapid Fire Cherry MX Speed
Corsair M65 PRO Multi-Colour RGB
Corsair VOID RGB Wireless USB Dolby 7.1 Multi-Colour RGB

Parts Due Soon / Waiting

EVGA 1080 Ti FTW3 + EKWB or AMD RX Vega - Waiting
G.SKILL F4-3600C16Q-32GTZR 32 GB Trident Z RGB - OCD Kicking in again and may order another set so it doesn't look empty.

MDPC-X Full Custom Cabling - Ordered waiting to arrive.
DarkSide Connect Rigid LED White 12" x2 - Ordered waiting to arrive.
Black - M4 x 30mm bolts - Ordered waiting to arrive.


Edit 28/06/17 - Content Update.

 

[RSR]

Singularity Computers Pump and Res Combo, Ive wanted one of these for a while now and seems to be the best on the market at the moment.










Aqua Computer Parts, these have been highly recommended by a good friend.








This was my first attempt at cable sleeving and I am pretty pleased with the outcome on these cables. However, it took a lot more attempts than what I thought it would.







Fittings..... Ooooh look at the shiny shiny....








These rads seems to be very highly rated from my research.





Darkside Lighting:



The odd bits and bobs..

 

[RSR]

I've been looking at the paint options for the Caselabs SM8 as its been ordered in Black. However, I have been thinking about having the whole case painted in ether a pearl white or black.

However, I need to complete all the test fittings once the case arrives.

 

[RSR]

Case has arrived all safe and sound.



Time to start building.

 

[RSR]

So construction time........






Yes, I do need to hoover the floor as its covered in crap.

Quiet a few hours later and one finished case.





Time to start the test fitting and alignment.








So first technical problem, the bolts which came with the Hardware Labs radiators are miles to long, so rather than cutting them down I have ordered some which should arrive by the weekend. As a temporary measure I have used some M4 x 30mm bolts which are OK for test fitting but they are too short.

I've realised due to the configuration of the flow meter, I am going to require a few more fittings so these should arrive on Friday as I've had to order them for a store in the EU as not many people carry a full range of the Bitspower Black Sparkle fittings.

I'm very impressed with the case, as it seems to cover off all of my requirements. Once the test fitting has been completed, then I need to plan the mid plate / PSU cover. So i'll get that all measured up and sent off to be cut out. I'm not sure on the colour or material choice of that yet.

What I do need to get is side by side picture next to my Phanteks Evolv TG as a size comparison.

 

[RSR]

Few updates from the weekends progress:

New (SM8) Vs Old Case (Evolv - TG - Top Lid Removed)



Res and Pump Fitting



Motherboard trays making working on the main setup so much easier.






A few hours later, a loop apears.



Testing done & Time for the pastel white






I'm not overly happy with the bottom bit of tubing up to the GPU, so that will need to be re-worked. However, I have a mid plate to install next as well as get all the custom cables ordered. I'm also thinking about changing the pastel white, as it doesn't work with the Darkside LEDs on the reservoir so I need to have a look at the range of Mayhems Dyes.

Jobs List:

> Mid Plate
> Custom Cables
> Polish Tubes.
> Re-Work bottom GPU Tube
> Change Silver Fan bolts to Black
> Get a better Camera


I'm hugely impressed with the temperature results going from the old setup to the new setup, as the coolant temperature looks to have dropped 10/15c. Also load temperatures have also dropped by the same amounts under load.

 

[RSR]

Looking good dude... love it...

Stelly

Thank you.

loving the tube runs, everything fell into perfect alignment. Although for me personally the GPU portion looks a tad odd in that you've used a pair of extenders to raise above the sealing plugs, but you wouldn't have needed the extenders if you switched the inlet and outlet around; feels a bit off that you have this cross-over going on breaking the otherwise diagonal flow of the tubes.

Thank you.

Unfortunately I've needed to used the extenders as the 90 with the 16mm fittings rub on the GPU back plate, the GPU part of the loop is still up in the air at the moment till I can get the mid plate in and at which point I can finalise the design. However, it may all change again if the GPU is changed for a 1080Ti or Vega. I do think the Bitspower fittings do finish it off nicely even though they are far from cheap.

I'll going to redo a few bits of tubing as they are not perfectly square so its driving my OCD nuts at the moment.

Also I may change the pastel white back to clear or UV I am still not 100%

 

[RSR]

Thanks Chaps.

A quick update, I've just confirmed custom cable design today and it's going to be a week or two before they arrive. These are all going to be custom build AWG 16 wire with MDPC-X Sleeving, I've taken a risk with the colour scheme on them but I think its going to look epic!

My Darkside LED Strips have been sent today, so ill update the thread if they arrive by the weekend.

I'm also in two mind about the mid plate now, as my custom cables should layer all quiet nicely but I'll see once they arrive.

The last thing I've been thinking about changing the fans out for Corsair ML's but that's under review at the moment.

 

[RSR]

Thanks chaps.

I should have another update due next week or the week after depending on when the parts arrive.

 

[RSR]

Few updates, as I am still waiting on the custom cables to arrive.

Darkside - White LED Strips Installed.
Changed Silver Bolts to Black Bolts
Changes Fans to the ML120 - Whites

Updated Pictures:







Items still due:

Full Custom MDPC-X Cable Set - Quad Colour Combo
3 X Corsair ML120 Pro - White
3 X Corsair ML120 Pro - Black

Items Under Reviews:

EVGA 1080 Ti FTW3
AMD RX VEGA

 

[RSR]

Just had confirmation my custom cables are on route!

Here is a sneak peak.

 

[RSR]

This build is lovely and clean, wicked job, look forward to more updates.

Very nice. Looks clean, nice straight proper tubing.

Those stickers on the top fans though

Thanks Chaps.

Yes, they are stickers on the ML's which is how they arrive. I will document the fan upgrade on the front fan group so show this.

 

[RSR]

So the update.... its been a long month for waiting for various bits to arrive.

Updated Parts:

• MDPC-X full custom cable set - I am very happy with the quad colour combo.
• Changed Silver bolts to Black on the fans
• Changed Fans from EK Vardars to Corsair ML120's
• Re-Done a few parts of the PETG tubing

I've got a few little bits left to sleeve but its 80% complete now, I not sure about the mid plate now.

So an EVGA 1080 Ti FTW or RX Vega will be my upgrade from my current EVGA 1080 FE. So it all depends on the reviews this week on RX Vega on what one I go with.

 

[RSR]

I spent most of yesterday finishing off all the cabling and a full strip down to clean all the water blocks and install the new fans.

Other than a few final bits this project its completed.

Fan upgrade:



So the final pictures:











Powered On:






The Case:





A Few Arty ones:

 

[RSR]

I have just put my EVGA 1080 FE up for sale which will include the WB or back to stock if required but I am on the look out for the upgrade. So a FTW3 maybe ordered this week and water blocks but this all depends on RX Vega and also the X299/X399 upgrade is pending but that's later this year once all the results are out in the wild.

Update: FTW3 - Installed. Thread update needed.

Finial parts list:

Case: Caselabs Merlin SM8
MB: Asus Strix X99
CPU: Intel i7 6850K @ 4.5Ghz
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z RGB - F4-3600C16Q-32GTZR
GPU: EVGA Geforce FTW3 1080 Ti
PSU: Seasonic Prime 1200w Platinum
SSD: Intel 750 - 800GB (U.2) (O/S)
SSD: Samsung Evo 850 - 1TB (Games)
SSD: Samsung Evo 850 - 1TB (Steaming + Media)

Watercooling Parts:

Bitspower Black Sparkle fittings - I needed loads more than I originally ordered.
Bitspower 16mm PETG Tubing
EK Waterblocks and CPU Blocks
Hardware Labs Nemesis GTR 360 X2
Aqua Computer Aquero 6XT
Aqua Computer Flow sensor
Aqua Computer D5 Pump (USB)
Singularity Computers Reservoir Mount: Ethereal X2
Singularity Computers Protium D5 Pump Top Frosted Acrylic
Singularity Computers Protium D5 Pump Cover Black-Silver Rings
Singularity Computers Protium – Medium 200mm – Black Frosted
Mayhems - Pastel White (v4.1)

Other Parts:

Corsair ML120 Fans
Darkside White LEDs
Custom MDPC-X Cables.