Hive Fire (watercooled custom 800D)

[Rakior]

Hey all

This is my first buildlog and my first pc where i custom changed the look of the case, parts in it, and it is my first watercooling build.
I have been subscribing to LTT for some time now and the weekly build log on the WAN show and many builds here on this forum is what inspired me to do this build. So i started to look arround for parts, i drew some mockups in photoshop, and finally decided on my theme. I did not want something i seen b4 many times (one colour builds), i also did not want a multicolour mess so my Theme is Fire. The colours in the build is red, orange and yellow. Most custom parts is in brushed aluminium and the fittings and res is in black nickle.

Build parts:
Case: Corsair 800D
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Formula
CPU: 4770k
PSU: Corsair 860i
Ram: 4x 4GB Dominator Platinum 1866Mhz
GFX Card: MSI GTX 780ti
Storage: SSD 2x Samsung 840 Pro 256GB
HDD 2x WD Green 3TB
3x WD Green 2TB
Watercooling:

Radiators: XSPC EX480 in the top and EK 360 in the bottom
Pump: D5
Res: 2x Phobya Balancer 150 Black nickel
Fittings: EK black nickle csq 10/13mm and HD adapters 10/12mm and 90 + 45 degree adapters
CPU Block: XSPC Raystorm Black/red no led
GPU Block: EK-FC780 GTX Ti - Acetal+Nickle
Fans: 4x Xigmatek XLF-F1253 Orange 120mm (rpm max 1500)
1x Xigmatek XLF-F1453 Orange 140mm (rpm max 1000)
3x Corsair AF120 Quiet edition Led red 120mm (max rpm 1500)
Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet edition LED Röd Xigmatek XLF-F1253 Orange - 120mm

Mods:

Custom sleaving: Paracord red yellow gunmetal and black, Mdpc for sata cables and front io
Painting of Maximus VI Formula vanity cover + locks for PCI ports and DDR
Removing Optical Drive Bays and replacing them with a Smoke Plexi window in front
Extending Backplate (covering big hole left behind removed bays
Building ventilated enclosure for the 4 Hotswap bays
Modifying backplate
Building a Light Plate in bottom to backlit Fire flowers img.
Backlighting for the custom aluminium details (in the formula vanity cover style)
Backlit ssd Holders in the back
Painting of dominator platinums
Modifications for top rad
Custom window panel
And many more things (refering to pictures is probably best)

Overclock (all stable during numerous stresstests):

Cpu:
4.8Ghz at 1.28v (this one i prefer since fans dont rev up more then to 45-50%= arround 700 rpm, during max load stress tests) (pump at 2/5 speed, not changed it for higher clocks)
4.9Ghz at 1.3v
5.0Ghz at 1.4v (cores max temp 68- 82 degrees celsius max temp during stress test)
5.1Ghz not stable just able to start windows

Gpu:

Overclocked using MSI afterburner:

 

Power limit:106%

Core clock: + 306Mhz

Memory clock + 350 Mhz

 

This is my max and temp on GP maxed at 35 degrees celsius during Unigine Valley Benchmark 1.0.

I will not runn it overclocked untill i need the power (its just flipping a switch when you need it)

Incomming Completed build pics here:

 

EDIT: for some reason the camera added blue and magenta values (I am a camera noob so someone else can probably explain why) so the gray smoke look blue and the orange light look purple....

 

You can find colour corrected pictures on page 6  http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/120478-hive-fire-watercooled-custom-800d/page-6

[Rakior]

more info overclocks, pics incomming next few days (starting with "lightplate Mod")

 

Lightplate Mod

 

 

Made a collage of some stages in the making of the "lightplate"

 

What i dont have pictures of is the last layer in the lightplate but its made like this:

1. layer 1: 1mm semi opaque white plexi
2. layer 2: 2mm clear plexi
3. layer 3: To reflect all light to top and spread it even i made a reflecting layer (this i could not make to thick else it would hit the radiator) so i made it very simple: I laminated aluminium foil (or maby called tin foil in the US) in a normal laminator. Then i painted the bottom side in same colour as case (black doh).

 

Probably a few guides how to do a lightplate on the web...

Only difference i made is making it very slim since i did not have much room to play with else the bottom Radiator would press up against it. now i have 1-1.5mm clearance.

 

Last Step Add picture of Choise that i printed on OH film (Overhead film, not common anymore since all use projectors)

 

 

MB mod

 

 

first i edited a picture of the Asus Maximus VI Formula to get an idea of what i hoped it would look like when done.

then some pictures along the way (taken with a old phone)

 

steps:

• painted the black nickle imitation parts (used tamaiya light gun metal spray paint
• airbrushed the aleminium paint
• filled in the groves with black paint
• painted the grill and MB clips yellow/slightly orange and repainted the SupremeFX red

 

DDR Ram sticks mod

 

 

some pictures of the sticks in different stages of completion.

 

What many have asked is how did i color the lights. I used a good permanent markers (not opaque) to color this bit of plastic:

 

 

NOT this bit that comes with the dominator kit (i used the clear ones)

 

 

Backplate Mod

 

 

This was a huge task (well it took some time for me atleast).

Since i had taken out the 5.25" bays i had to extend the backplate to not leave a gaping hole i did that with a 1.6mm alu plate that i then painted in same color as case.

i also modified the original backplate by extending the cabel holes in centre, then drilling holes for each diod that later lights up the plexi behind the aluminium plates.

 

The Brushed aluminium backplates (3 of them) is made of 3 parts: 1 layer 2 mm plexi, then a layer of 0.2mm plastic i colored black, and finally aluminium plates i cut out to resemble the pattern on the Asus MB cover. The plates i then brushed to give them the look i wanted.

Finaly i wiered sleeved and conected all diods, i arranged them so red in bottom orange middle and yellow in top. (20 diods in total).

 

Case mod

 

 

Well its beginning to be hard to remember all. but i cut open the roof to fit the 480 radiator and radiator plate. (the original hexagon vent holes in roof 3x120mm i saved and used for the sidepanel mod)

I removed the 5.25" bays and the HDD cage in bottom. (saved the Hotswap bays in middle and built a new outer cage for them using black plexi brushed alu plate and aluminium net for vent holes.

I changed the mid horisontal plate as you can see in the "lightplate mod" and extended and modded backplate as you can see in "backplate mod".

I removed the 5.25" bay covers and fit a smoked plexi window.

The side panel i modded by buying a second "back" side panel. then cut out a new window, not showing bottom compartment and making it bigger horisontally. i cut a rad coverplate and painted it red and mounted the hexagon cover i cut out in roof behind the red coverplate.

(the blue hive logo is no longer blue and cover the back of the cpu instaid of the black plastic  "door" that comes preinstalled, its made of plexi that i used a dremmel to grind the logo into then lit it)

 

Backside

 

Not much to say (this is covered by a solid panel so noone will see this, but i have been asked to show it)

 

photo taken with mobile phone:

 

 

Final Touch

 

Today was the time to hook up all stuff to the computer for the first time and move it to its final place. I fast realised the light was not enough to see what goes where easy so i made my final mod to this build

 

 

idea stolen from a NZXT case. More handy then you think when clumsy me tries to find the correct spot for my cables.

[SAV1OUR]

it seems such as waste to water cool a main stream socket i would have gone with 2011 cool build anyway 

[TheDigitalRealm]

it seems such as waste to water cool a main stream socket i would have gone with 2011 cool build anyway 

What an odd thing to say...I'm really unsure of what your point is. Of course there's reason to water cool a mainstream socket.

[SAV1OUR]

What an odd thing to say...I'm really unsure of what your point is. Of course there's reason to water cool a mainstream socket.

1150 is a socket most consumers use, and water coolings for a extreme builds soooooo with the mind set of it being a extreme build id have gone with a 2011 cpu  

[TheDigitalRealm]

1150 is a socket most consumers use, and water coolings for a extreme builds soooooo with the mind set of it being a extreme build id have gone with a 2011 cpu  

Some people can't afford socket 2011? I plan on water cooling my Ivy i7. I disagree with what your saying about water cooling. Some (like me) do it mainly for aesthetics. 

[SAV1OUR]

Some people can't afford socket 2011? I plan on water cooling my Ivy i7. I disagree with what your saying about water cooling. Some (like me) do it mainly for aesthetics. 

its just up to opinions thats what it comes down to i have my views you have your we could be arguing over this for days 

[Rakior]

I chose this socket for a few reasons.

The design is based around the VI formula MB (you will see soon when I post more pics).

The use of the comp is mainly Gaming but also spending some time in Photoshop. No video editing and rarely 3D rendering.

Main priorities building it has been esthetics, performance for what I use, silene, and cost. (Some restrictions since I live in Sweden an importing parts or going to very small vendors can become costly).

So far i been lucky just finished stresstesting the 4770k at 5Ghz temps at 65-80 degrees Celsius (though the fans then ramp up) I prefer the 4.8Ghz over clock (1.28v) where the fans never go over 45% and pump at 2/5 speed and cpu stay extremely cool anyway.

[FlamingDefibs]

1150 is a socket most consumers use, and water coolings for a extreme builds soooooo with the mind set of it being a extreme build id have gone with a 2011 cpu  

 

If you think that watercooling is only for extreme builds, then you are living in 2002.

[SAV1OUR]

If you think that watercooling is only for extreme builds, then you are living in 2002.

well its un common how many people do you honestly see with custom loops?   

[FlamingDefibs]

well its un common how many people do you honestly see with custom loops?   

 

Literally dozens on this forum alone, for a start. And they're not always LGA 2011. The point is that they plan to overclock somewhat heavily, and even that is becoming less and less extreme.

[SAV1OUR]

Literally dozens on this forum alone, for a start. And they're not always LGA 2011. The point is that they plan to overclock somewhat heavily, and even that is becoming less and less extreme.

i know but custom loops still arnt common sure some people have it here but go out and find a average group of pc gamers not a large amount will have custom loops and i was using 2011 as a example, if your going to invest so much in a pc you may as well go extreme 

[Rakior]

Here a 4930k is740 usd compared to 380usd for a 4770k, + a similar 2011 socket Mb adds another 150usd.

When picking parts for a mainly gaming oriented PC, I nor my wallet can justify to dubble the cost for 2 more cores that won be used anyway. ( the 3930k is 675 usd here)

Besides that none of the 2011 boards has the vanity cover.

[Karumu]

@Rakior i think it looks really cool, is it finished and if so, can we see some pics of the loop filled? and with the pc all assembled with it turned on? wanna see what it looks like 

[Butterfish]

How did you do paint the motherboard, and add the brushed alu look?

[Jimstah87]

it seems such as waste to water cool a main stream socket i would have gone with 2011 cool build anyway 

whatever dude

[«ЙΩηFïČŧÌΩη»]

it seems such as waste to water cool a main stream socket i would have gone with 2011 cool build anyway 

 

 

Ignore this guy, no need to justify anything to him.

 

I love seeing these builds with all the time and care put into them, my build is more about about acoustics as things get noisy with multiple GPU's. Definitely an inspiration to step up my game a bit!

[TheDigitalRealm]

@Rakior I'd love to know how you got the brushed aluminium look on the thermal armor. I plan on doing the same on a Z77 Sabertooth (possibly colouring it white instead) and using an NZXT H440.

Thanks for sharing this with us though, it's a really great looking build, with a pretty unique colour-scheme.

[Rakior]

Yes the pictures are incoming. I ran into some trubble with a micro sd card in my phone that decided to stop working. Thursday I will take new photos with loop full and all things lit. Untill then i can only post pics that i mailed my friend (only copy i have atm). I will also buy a micro sd card reader for the pc so i can try and restore the photos taken.

All are aluminium that i cut out and then brushed using sandpaper then scotch brite except the MB that i painted using a airbrush and aluminium paint.

Dont take this as a finished pic.... It is still far from done when i took this:

[Karumu]

this is sooooo fucking baller.

[ohitsluca]

Looks amazing. Who cares what socket it is.

[CCap]

Dont take this as a finished pic.... It is still far from done when i took this:

 

-snip-

It looks absolutely awesome. I thing it the whole thing is really, really ironic. You are water cooling a fire themed build. I guess you could say the whole design is just hot. Heh. Puns.

[adriel604]

Some people can't afford socket 2011? I plan on water cooling my Ivy i7. I disagree with what your saying about water cooling. Some (like me) do it mainly for aesthetics. 

Literally dozens on this forum alone, for a start. And they're not always LGA 2011. The point is that they plan to overclock somewhat heavily, and even that is becoming less and less extreme.

I agree with you guys.  I plan on custom watercooling my Haswell i7 one day.  Socket 2011 is totally out of the question because I have what's called a budget.  Some people just have a burning need to be negative about something so cool.

[bob345]

That is one awesome build. Great craftsmanship on those custom aluminum pieces! Looks great!

[ShiverMePenguins]

Some people can't afford socket 2011? I plan on water cooling my Ivy i7. I disagree with what your saying about water cooling. Some (like me) do it mainly for aesthetics. 

if ytou can afford complete custom wc loops, dominator platinum memory, and maximus boards, you can afford ivy e