[Build Log] EREBUS - X99, 900D, H2O [Build Complete]

[ManOfGold93]

Mostly black with either some purple or orange, haven't decided yet. I haven't put it in the OP, but Mayhems are making me a custom coloured coolant to go with the theme.

just saying, I know you have the tubing already but some copper tubing would look fantastic if you went that route

[darwin1859]

Woah that's really cool! I might take that on my build with the 750D (The stealth mod) for a card reader I have.

 

What do you think about removing the 5.25 bay in general to free up space? Granted you have a fan controller, and a 900D so space isn't a problem, but I think I might do it to my 750D when I actually upgrade it and watercool it. 

 

Also isn't that front panel a huge problem for an airflow perspective? 

 

Edit: followed btw. looks like a fun project to watch!

 

Thanks. The mod was pretty straightforward. Removing the whole 5.25" bay would be a bit more tricky. You might be left with some uncovered/unpainted areas and potentially lose structural stability. But if you want to do it, you need to drill out some rivets.

 

 

just saying, I know you have the tubing already but some copper tubing would look fantastic if you went that route

 

I think copper or chromed copper would look awesome. But it's probably out of the scope of this build, unfortunately.

[JRS2K]

Loving all the alphacool parts!

Also, your photos are awesome!

[darwin1859]

Loving all the alphacool parts!

Also, your photos are awesome!

 

Thanks for your comments. I'm hoping to get the loop installed at the weekend, so more pics coming soon.

[darwin1859]

Fitting two of the three R9 290X with Alphacool blocks.

 

 

 

 

 

[darwin1859]

Happy to say I'm back up and running after successfully fitting the loop. I'll be catching up with logs for a while!

 

 

Spraying the Corsair SP120 and AF140 fan rings. No primer - I just sanded with about 200 grit paper, cleaned thoroughly and sprayed several thin coats. I'm happy with the paint, it has a good matt finish.

 

 

Tower of fans...

 

 

With painted rings

 

 

Flushing the (2x) Alphacool UT60 480mm rads, ready for fitting.

 

 

Fitting the top rad. I had to solder a female-female adapter for the 8-way fan splitter.

 

 

Top rad fitted. Also fitted the GPUs, CPU and MOSFET blocks. My planned tubing routes are marked by pipe-cleaners.

 

 

Drilled some holes - two in the midplate for tubes to pass through to the lower section, one above the res for a rear fillport, and a couple to mount the res holders further apart.

 

 

Both rads now fitted. I also used carbon fibre vinyl on the fans.

 

 

More coming soon!

 

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Custom gaming computers by Darwin PC

Darwin PC on Facebook

[gazabi]

 

 

 

 

 

hard pipe cleaner tubing.

[Necrodead]

I am a fan of the purple. More purple!

[k1llampt]

I am a fan of the purple. More purple!

Agreed, that deep purple is one I have always liked for pc builds and even cars. Looks sexy. 

[darwin1859]

hard pipe cleaner tubing.

 

They're actually pretty soft In seriousness, pics of the tubing coming soon...

 

I am a fan of the purple. More purple!

 

Thanks, me too. Mayhems are making me a custom purple pastel coolant, and the sleeving will be done soon too.

 

Agreed, that deep purple is one I have always liked for pc builds and even cars. Looks sexy. 

 

Thanks, I almost went for orange, but I've seen too many orange builds recently. Purple is still pretty rare, and I think it looks great.

[VegardBS]

This looks nice! My dream is to have a full blown x99 system, sadly it's wayyy too expensive 

[darwin1859]

Cutting, bending and fitting the rigid tubing. The tubing is 12mm ID / 16mm OD, which meant the bend radius was quite large.

 

This post shows a test fill with clear coolant - this will soon be replaced with a custom Purple pastel coolant from Mayhems...

 

Tools for cutting and bending

 

 

First tubes in place - reservoir inlet and outlet, and fill port routing to the rear of the case

 

 

90º bending mandrel. As it turned out, a tighter bend radius was needed...

 

 

Improvised tight bend 90º jig, using the original mandrels for alignment, and a plastic bottle  cut and nailed down for the bend itself

 

 

Bending a tube with the new tight 90º jig

 

 

Another improvised jig, used to secure the bent tube while bending again in a perpendicular plane. This gave perfectly-aligned bends

 

 

An improvised tight radius 45º jig, again using the mandrels as guides for the tubing

 

 

All bends done, tubing prepped and finished, and fitted in the system

 

 

Test filling the loop with clear coolant. This was followed by a (successful) extended leak test. The coolant will soon be replaced with a custom purple pastel coolant from Mayhems​

 

[Necrodead]

That is some thiiick tubing. Very nice, I love the tight bends.

[colinreay]

Nice! It looks like 16/12 is the way to go, especially for larger cases.

[darwin1859]

That is some thiiick tubing. Very nice, I love the tight bends.

 

 

Nice! It looks like 16/12 is the way to go, especially for larger cases.

 

Thanks guys. Honestly 16/12 is tough to work with. But I think it paid off. In a huge case like the 900D, there is a lot of space to fill!

[darwin1859]

Currently Blitzing the system before I fill with a custom Mayhems purple pastel coolant. More pics shortly.

 

I'll also be showing the finished build at the Alphacool stand at Insomnia 55, if you'll be there come and check it out!

[darwin1859]

After several months planning and work, the project has finally reached completion. The ultimate 4K gaming computer with trifire R9 290X, X99 and DDR4 RAM. Full rigid watercooling loop including dual D5 pumps and two 480mm radiators.

 

Thanks to Alphacool for displaying the finished system at Insomnia Gaming Festival 55. That was a lot of fun! And a special thanks to all the sponsors for this project: Corsair, Ebuyer, Alphacool, iiyama, E22, Mayhems and Lamptron.

 

Custom gaming computers by Darwin PC

Darwin PC on Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can see I brush Plasti-dipped the I/O ports black...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On display at i55

[X_Rated_Box]

Wow very impressed and veerry satisfied with the cable managment

[alpenwasser]

Yes, yes, I like this. Very nicely done!

[darwin1859]

Thanks guys

[darwin1859]

Featured build on PCPartPicker!