Phantom Reborn

[xTrekStorex]

Phantom Reborn

PCPartPicker

Hey guys, since my latest build ain't too shabby I thought I might do a build log of it. So here goes!
 
This is kind of a hybrid between an upgrade and a new build so I'll just call it a Rebuild
 
To start off, I listed up all the things that I hated in my previous build, which were

• overheating (GPU ~102°C -> case ~86°C)
• noise
• too small to fit all the hardware and still have room to hide cables
• looks/design

Taking apart previous build http://pcpartpicker.com/b/gDBmP6)

 
The first 2 points got me straight to watercooling and a "fanless" PSU, but since I didn't have the extra 1000€ for a custom loop (yes - custom loops are expensive in germany) I went for AiOs.
The point of looks and design mostly focused on lighting and cables so I decided to get an LED-strip, RAM with LEDs and sleeved cables. Since I couldn't decide on a color-scheme I went for RGB and white sleeved cable extensions.
To resolve the issue of room in the case without going back on the looks I decided to go with NZXT, a Phantom 530 to be precise.
 
That leads to the final partslist:

• NZXT Phantom 530 White
• Corsair RM850
• Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3
• 2x Crucial Ballisitx Tactical Tracer 1866MHz 8GB (OB/RG)
• AMD FX-8350
• XFX R9 290 Black Edition Reference 980MHz
• NZXT Kraken G10
• NZXT Kraken X60
• NZXT Kraken X40
• Kingston HyperX 3k 240GB
• WD Blue & Caviar 2x 500GB
• Bitfenix Alchemy Sleeved Cable Extensions 24pin/6pin/4pin
• NZXT HUE
• AeroCool  Touch 2100
• NZXT FZ-140
• Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound used for both CPU and GPU

Since 8pin PCIe and 8pin 12V-CPU cables were out of stock I went with 6+2pin and 2x 12v-4pin cables.
The 4pins turned out to not fit together into an 8pin and the pins on the 2nd one also didn't fit the board so I had to rasp some of the plastic off.
 
Rasping the pins

 
Another issue was the mount for the top fans in the Phantom 530. To fit both 120 and 140mm fans there are metal brackets that restrain the airflow if you mount 2 140mm fans. Since I mounted my X60 there it makes quite some noise but I didn't want to take it all apart again to cut those brackets off so it will have to stay that way for a while.
 
Kraken X60 top mount

 
A similar design "fail" of NZXT (in my opinion ofc) is the front panel which has some kind of plastic claws that grab behind your 5.25" hardware to provide additional stability and close gaps that might let lighting shine through.
These claws require you to mount your 5.25" stuff AFTER you put the panel back on, but what if you need to route cables while mounting them? Correct, you have to do it without the panel.
It of course did not fit on afterwards and again I rasped some of the plastic off.
 
Front panel

 
Speaking of the front panel and 5.25" hardware - my fan controller:
Whenever you install a fan controller NEVER do it without the temperature sensors even if you don't want to use them - just install them with it.
I removed them and all my fans were constantly at 100% and I couldn't get them lower. Let me say this - getting those installed after everything else is done is a pain.
 
Plugging in temperature sensors

 
The last major work was mounting the G10 on my R9 290.
Sadly I only noticed the warranty void while taking it apart - so my GPU is voided now.
My advice for anybody planning to install a G10: Don't tightend the screws too hard! In my final pictures you will see that there now is a small flex in the card - I already loosened them but the flex remains.

 

 
You know it's clean when it's like a mirror

 
Putting the cooler back together

 
GTX560Ti & R9 290

 
Alright so far from my textside, now let the pictures speak for themselves - enjoy!

 

 
At last I get to the technical settings:

• CPU is overclocked to 4.3GHz (~ permanent Turbo-boost)
• GPU is overclocked to 1.01GHz
• RAM is underclocked to 1333MHz since AMDs FX-chips can't handle more than 1600MHz when running 4 DIMMs and for some reason 1600MHz crashes in games after 20 minutes
• fans are at lowest speeds
• whole system (including monitors) draws ~500 watts from the wall

Overclocking weekend- aiming at 5GHz (crashed after 24 minutes)

 
A triple 1080p screen setup and a second R9 290 on an AiO are planned for this years summer~autumn/fall.

I hope you enjoyed!

Best regards,
Trek

Here is Upgrade #1
Here is Upgrade #2

[Altecice]

Is that 8350 really stable at that vcore for 5GHZ?!?!

 

Also i would be cautious of the VRM temps on that 290

 

Very nice though!

 

-----

 

Edit: Might want to hide your external IP from the last picture bud

[xTrekStorex]

Is that 8350 really stable at that vcore for 5GHZ?!?!

 

Also i would be cautious of the VRM temps on that 290

 

Very nice though!

 

-----

 

Edit: Might want to hide your external IP from the last picture bud

Thanks!

Well the VCore on the screenshot isn't what was set in the BIOS - it actually was 1.53V and not really what I would call stable

Yeah VRM-heatsinks are kind of a problem here in germany - I can't really get any that would fit.

I don't really care about the ext. IP but thanks for mentioning!

 

You should cool the entire graphics card, not just the gpu.

Yeah like 3 lines above, I can't get the heatsinks for it and according to AMD up to 70°C is fine - I'm at 62°C on VRM max (core maxes out at 48°C).

[LarsReviews]

@xTrekStorex 

A triple 1080p screen setup and a second R9 290 on an AiO are planned for this years summer~autumn/fall.

 

any update yet?

[xTrekStorex]

@LarsReviews

Nope, no money at all.

I'm also thinking about 1 4K monitor or 3x 2560x1440p

[xTrekStorex]

Upgrade Time

 
Done (10.01.2015):

• Coated Mainboard black (Plastidip)
• Coated heatsinks and SATA-ports white (Acrylic)
• Taped the PCIe slots with black electric tape
• Swapped black G10 for a white one
• Added RAM-heatsinks to the R9 290
• Cut the top fan mount from 120&140 to 140mm only for better airflow through the X60
• Swapped radiator fans for Noctua Redux ones
• Added EK waterblock-backplate to the R9 290
• Added another set of sleeved PCIe powercables
• Ordered a 2nd R9 290
• Improved cablemanagement
• Added dustfilter on last open intake fan
• Turned PSU around - fan facing up now to support natural convection
• Added internal USB-hub (NZXT) to support the 3rd AiO for the 2nd R9 290
• Sadly broke my USB3-header so front USB3 is dead

I'm not too happy with the coating and cablemanagement though.
Coating got too thick and some cables are too short to be routed elsewhere..
But fixing this is too expensive and A LOT of work (coating = new MoBo and paint, cables = buying extensions for USB/3pin fan/4pin molex).
What I thought about is a custom aluminium plate coated in white to be screwed between the inside of the case and those cables..

I also thought about copying this since black'n'white - Stromtrooper ya know?

The issue with this is that I can't find a sticker that isn't a single piece of transparent foil and so would allow airflow which the common stickers obviously do not at all.

ToDo:
Buy extension cable for USB for the 3rd AiO
Buy 2nd white NZXT G10 for the 2nd R9 290
Buy NZXT Kraken X41 for the 2nd G10
Buy VRM-heatsinks for both R9 290s
Buy RAM-heatsinks for the 2nd R9 290
Buy Noctua Redux fan for the Kraken X41
Buy cable comb for 24pin and 14pin (6+8) to improve looks of sleeved cables

For summer 2015 I got triple 1080p IPS setup planned and RAID0 SSDs to replace my HDDs - hopefully

Next update will be when I watercool my 2nd R9 290, so early february

Pictures:

Here is Upgrade #2

[c3p0_]

Can you put pics in spoilers? That almost crashed my browser But nice rebuild

[xTrekStorex]

Can you put pics in spoilers? That almost crashed my browser But nice rebuild

There you go

[xTrekStorex]

Upgrade Time #2

 
Done (17.02.2015):

• Added extension cable for USB for 3rd AiO
• Installed 2nd white NZXT G10 on 2nd R9 290 with NZXT Kraken X41
• Installed VRM&RAM-heatsinks on both R9 290s
• Swapped rest of the fans for Noctua Redux 140mm
• Installed Bluetooth and WiFi sticks to the interal USB-ports
• Broke the new USB3 to USB2 adapter by breaking of another pin.. I hate USB3

The X41 radiator almost didn't fit so I had to do it this way which imho damages looks but oh well, it does the job

 

ToDo:

• Finish custom side panel for case
• Build custom PSU shroud

Future plans are the ASUS MG279Q IPS FreeSync and 2 additional 1440p IPS screens for the setup. Also RAID0 SSDs to replace my HDDs and a Broadwell upgrade to i7 (1150 socket).
Although this might not workout due to money

Pictures:

[LarsReviews]

Niiicccceeee!

[HellaflushMcSwaggins]

Did you just bend that graphics card in the middle?

[xTrekStorex]

Did you just bend that graphics card in the middle?

Not just now but when I installed the first G10 because you get no feeling of tightness on those screws and then the pump can bend the PCB slightly. I loosened them the second I noticed but a slight bend remains. Card is running fine none the less and the backplates support both cards additionally.

[Bussinateur]

Aw you ruined the GPU backplate. 

[xTrekStorex]

Aw you ruined the GPU backplate. 

LOL

Not like I planned on CL with EK blocks anyway? Whats wrong with modding when you order the parts just for that purpose?

The back of the 290s is ugly with all those hard glued stickers and the solder joints and the G10 needs the 4 screws so this is the perfect solution imho

[JarJarBanksy]

 

 

Yo, where did you get these widgets on the right side of the screen?

[xTrekStorex]

 

 

Yo, where did you get these widgets on the right side of the screen?

Sorry for the late answer, just casually saw this post on Tapatalk. For some reason I never got a notification..

-> http://addgadgets.com/