Cool and Quiet 350D

[NimRock]

Hi guys,

 

My build is finally complete after several months of work, and then a few more months of getting around to this post

 

I had some trouble along the way, I'll explain as I go.

 

First up all the parts! so tasty.

 

Processor: 4560
Graphics: Asus Direct CU 770
Memory: Corsair vengeance Pro, Blue
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-B85-D3H
PSU: My existing Corsair TX 650
Case: Corsair 350D
Cooler: H80i (yes I know overkill for a non overclocked build but it was on special and cheaper than a H60 or an air cooler so why spend more to get less)
SSD: My existing Vector 3
HDD for games: WD Black
My existing 2TB WD Green
Monitor: 23EA53V-P LG IPS monitor
Fans: 4xAF120 quiet edition, 1xSP120 quiet edition
Sound card: I'l use my existing xonar DG Pci

 

Extras
1x 12led Blue alchemy strips ($30*)
Sleeved 24pin, 8pin, and 2 6pin cables in Blue

 

 

Then the old rigs comes apart, I reused the power supply, the SSD which was new, and the storage HDD which was also relatively new.

 

The test benching begins. I blame linus for this step, I would never had bothered before his vids. As it turns out the ram was flipping bits, which is where the problems began.

 

The ram would fail only in duel channel mode in Memtest. Each single stick was fine and would run for over 24 hours. So I got a second set of ram, still Corsair vengeance to replace the Vengeance Pros. The new ram had the exact same problem so mobo or CPU right, or so you would think. Got a replacement Mobo and was having the same problem!

 

So 3 mobos and a new cpu later (the guys at PB tech in Auckland were great just, they put it on there test bench and kept swapping parts till we figured it out, and I didn't even get everything from them) and it has to be the ram. Replace the second set of ram, and everything works! finally 2 weeks of test benching later, with no gaming rig because I pillaged the PSU!

 

The odds of two sets of ram both only failing in duel channel mode!

 

So in the case it all goes, you can see the new (and replaced once also) Vengeance ram here. Black not blue, I think it looks ok though.

 

Cooler in!

 

I had problems with this too, first it was running HOT, like 90C and maxing rising when stress tested,  loosened the CPU plate and tightened it again trying to take the pressure off the hoses to get it really flat dropped this to about 75 under load. Then realizing the MOBO fan header defaulted to medium not full got that down to about 65C.

 

The the most eye opening was turning the fan around from intake to outlet dropped it about 10C to 55C.

 

 

This is the back, I used blue extensions because I couldn't afford a new power supply with sleeved cables.

 

Graphics card in

 

You can also see that I've blacked out the power supply stickers (a corner is coming up in this shot) I've also blacked out any visible wires that were not sleeved.

 

 

Some cable management later and the back is packed but closes just fine.

 

And this is the final product! You can just see the blacked out cables under the drives, I just used black electrical tape for this.

 

A shot with the door on

 

And this is the whole setup.

 

And a shot with lights showing properly.

 

And this is a shot of the final setup after a few months of use.

 

And a shot inside the case.

 

You can see the rad has been moved, this was to put it on an inlet as mentioned above. I also had to RMA the cooler in the end, the developed a fault where the pump wouldn't run up to full speed after about a month, which made a very loud noise.

 

 

I hope you all like it! I enjoyed the journey though over 2 weeks of issues and down time, and having to RMA several parts was pretty stressful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ShadowCaptain]

I like it very clean and good looking

[nixproducer]

great job i really like the black and blue color scheme

[Carter]

Awesome build and great case too

[district_11]

nicely done.

 

I love the 350D

[Genecidalic]

Nice! How did you get the tape residue off of your psu. I really want to take off my psu stickers but dont want all the crap left behind

[Aw27]

Really nice rig, so clean

[NimRock]

Nice! How did you get the tape residue off of your psu. I really want to take off my psu stickers but dont want all the crap left behind

 

I didn't, I taped over the existing stickers with black electrical tape. Then I (my GF who is a biologist and has a very sharp scalpel) cut around the edges so the tape exactly matched the stickers underneath. The overall effect is that the PSU has plain black stickers.

[Genecidalic]

I didn't, I taped over the existing stickers with black electrical tape. Then I (my GF who is a biologist and has a very sharp scalpel) cut around the edges so the tape exactly matched the stickers underneath. The overall effect is that the PSU has plain black stickers

Okay I might try that Thanks man

[BenD]

with the corsairs clean look in front , does your rad. get enough airflow? i noticed you moved it from the usual spot to the front (i'm guessing for looks wich is obviously better )

i really like black&blue, i stick with the black/red because my ROG mb&gpu's

[zoWessel]

love blue its not the standard red color scheme like many people

[NimRock]

with the corsairs clean look in front , does your rad. get enough airflow? i noticed you moved it from the usual spot to the front (i'm guessing for looks wich is obviously better )

i really like black&blue, i stick with the black/red because my ROG mb&gpu's

 

When I moved it to the front it also went from being an outlet fan to an inlet fan, which netted me a 10C drop in CPU temp, so yep it's getting good airflow.

 

Bearing in mind that a H80i is way way overkill for a non overclocked build it's running at about 50C when room temp is 20C. If you use a pressure optimized fan I think there is no reason to not put the rad in this position, and it does look better imho. Puts less pressure on the piping too, to put it on the back was a very tight turn for the pipes.

 

I do worry that the radiator is a bit low compared to the pump, easier for air bubbles to get into the mix. But apart from the odd ticking noise it runs fine like this.

[BenD]

When I moved it to the front it also went from being an outlet fan to an inlet fan, which netted me a 10C drop in CPU temp, so yep it's getting good airflow.

 

Bearing in mind that a H80i is way way overkill for a non overclocked build it's running at about 50C when room temp is 20C. If you use a pressure optimized fan I think there is no reason to not put the rad in this position, and it does look better imho. Puts less pressure on the piping too, to put it on the back was a very tight turn for the pipes.

 

I do worry that the radiator is a bit low compared to the pump, easier for air bubbles to get into the mix. But apart from the odd ticking noise it runs fine like this.

i noticed with my h105 that there was some air in it when i installed it and moved it arround; i could here the air rising to the highest point. So maybe there is some air in your pump, wich leads to the ticking noise

[hawthorne]

Really nice *nods head*

[Jimstah87]

Nicely done there

[Not_Sean]

Awesome build, I've just changed to this case since the Air 240 doesn't fit the MSI 970. 

 

Love what you have done. very excited for my parts to arrive ! !