[Build Log] ERIS - Z170, In Win D-Frame Mini, H2O [Build Complete]

[darwin1859]

Introduction

 

Welcome to project Eris. Eris is the Greek goddess of chaos, strife, and discord.

 

My previous project, Erebus, was a Trifire R9 290X, X99, watercooled Corsair 900D behemoth featuring two 480 mm radiators.

 

Eris will be an ITX build based in the In Win D-Frame Mini, so on a different scale. The emphasis will still be on watercooled gaming performance, but this project will look very different.

 

The hardware is based around the new Intel Z170 chipset, with MSI's Mini ITX offering for the mobo and a Skylake CPU. Paired with a MSI Gaming GTX 980 Ti, Eris will pack a punch.

 

The project will be fully watercooled with a rigid loop, and I'm planning several mods to make this build something special.

 

 

Hardware

• Case: In Win D-Frame Mini (limited edition red anodised)

• Motherboard: MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC

• CPU: Intel Skylake

• GPU: MSI GTX 980 Ti Gaming 6G

• Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB

• PSU: Corsair HX750i

• Cabling: Custom-sleeved with E22 Teleios

Watercooling

• Radiator: Mayhems Havoc 240

• Pump/res: EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 - Acetal

• CPU block: EK-Supremacy EVO - Nickel

• GPU block: EK-FC980 GTX Ti TF5 - Acetal+Nickel

• Fittings: EK-HDC Fitting 12mm G1/4 - Elox Black

• Tubing: E22 Custom 12/10mm Ultra Clear Hard Tubing

• Coolant: Mayhems X1 red / aurora

Confirmed sponsors

 

Thanks to the following sponsors for making this project possible:

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

Updates

• In Win D-Frame Mini
• MSI GTX 980 Ti GAMING 6G
• MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC
• Corsair HX750i PSU and Vengeance LPX RAM
• EK Water Block and backplate for GTX 980 Ti
• Custom motherboard tray
• Custom IO shield for motherboard
• Custom watercooling loop
•  

Build complete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Jim]

Looks good! Love that case. May I ask how you got the sponsorship? Follwing

[darwin1859]

Thanks to the first sponsor, In Win, for providing this awesome limited edition D-Frame Mini. The anodised red finish is just stunning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[darwin1859]

Looks good! Love that case. May I ask how you got the sponsorship? Follwing

 

Thanks, I love it too, especially in this colour. If you can demonstrate good work to a brand, they may consider sponsorship. It's very competitive though.

[darwin1859]

Thanks to MSI for supporting Project Eris. First of their products is the graphics powerhouse, the GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G. The Twin Frozr V is a really nice looking cooler. This one however will soon be replaced with a water block...

 

 

 

 

 

[BeardRex]

Love these cases!

[darwin1859]

The Z170I Gaming Pro AC motherboard from MSI. This mini-ITX board will be perfect for Project Eris. The styling of the new Z170 boards from MSI look great. It also comes with a handy M.2 slot underneath. Looking forward to modding this board!

 

 

 

 

 

Crucial M.2 fitted underneath the mobo:

[darwin1859]

Thanks to Ebuyer.com for supporting custom gaming PC, Project Eris with these components.

 

The PSU is a Corsair HX750i, which will provide plenty of power for the system. It’s also fully modular and has few double wires, which will be helpful when sleeving the cables for Project Eris.

 

The memory is Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 RAM at 2400MHz. The Corsair Vengeance LPX RAM is both fast and good looking, and the red colour matches well.

 

As the only colours in Project Eris will be red and black (with minimal silver), the RAM was modded by removing the info and yellow logo stickers. This was done with an X-Acto knife and a steady hand.

 

As shown installed in the MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC motherboard, the colour matches well the heatsinks and design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BeardRex]

Can't wait to see it put together!

[darwin1859]

Thanks to EK Water Blocks for sponsoring Project Eris. Here are some of the main components that will form the watercooling loop.

 

The EK water block for the MSI GTX 980 Ti Gaming 6G is the EK-FC980 GTX Ti TF5 - Acetal + Nickel. This is paired with a custom backplate featuring the MSI dragon. This was made by Coldzero.

 

For cooling the CPU, the high-performance EK-Supremacy EVO - Nickel water block will be installed.

 

Finally the pump that will power the watercooling loop, is the EK-XRES 140 DDC PWM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[darwin1859]

I'm getting some custom-cut plexi parts to customise various aspects of the case and motherboard. Here are the basic designs - they'll be finished with vinyl graphics cut by myself.

Can you guess what the different parts are for?

[Heesleemer]

yummy

[darwin1859]

Since the theme will be all black and red, I decided to mod the silver parts of the EK Supremacy EVO CPU block. The thumb screws were primed, sprayed black and then finished with a matt clear coat.

I also plan to mod the EK badge, potentially to have a red logo on black background?

You can also see the Mayhems Havoc 240 fitted in the last pic, thanks Mayhems!

[darwin1859]

Custom motherboard tray laser cut from 3mm matt black plexi. It fits perfectly around the motherboard, and gives perfect mounting points for the pump/res.

I used only the minimal holes necessary for the cabling, to keep the clean look. The tray was mounted to the case with four screws, utilising the holes already tapped in the case backplate.

I also removed the front I/O and power switch panel, this will be relocated into the PSU module of the case.

[BuckGup]

I like this... alot

[Bob Jim]

Just add rubber grommets

[darwin1859]

I like this... alot

 

Thanks  

 

Just add rubber grommets

 

Ha, honestly I don't care much about noise, since it's an open frame anyway.

[starwarsguy99]

Damn this is looking good!

How did you get the sponsors? Previous Builds?

No one was interested when I asked (Although I don't have much to show them..)

[darwin1859]

Edited my last post as the colour profile was making the colours wrong on some displays.

Damn this is looking good!

How did you get the sponsors? Previous Builds?

No one was interested when I asked (Although I don't have much to show them..)

Thanks dude. I got sponsors based on examples of previous work, future plans etc. and a lot of perseverance and luck!

[darwin1859]

Dat finish

Thanks for commenting. It looks even better 'in the flesh'

[darwin1859]

Modding a custom IO shield to cover the IO ports of the motherboard.

The parts were laser cut from 3 mm matte black plexi, then welded together using a solvent weld for acrylic. This involved some creative clamping/taping, as shown below. Cure time was approximately 24 hours for a strong bond.

After construction of the IO shield, red vinyl details were cut with a cutter. These match the style used on the motherboard, and will be a theme running through the rest of the build.

Also shown here is another MSI dragon detail and a new red and black EK badge on the Supremacy EVO water block.

[darwin1859]

Custom watercooling loop for Project Eris - completed and installed. The loop will be filled with Mayhems XT-1 red / aurora red after the cables are all installed (the pump will need to be sleeved).

 

I've had a few comments asking what would be done with the black/blue Corsair HX750i PSU to fit the theme. The plan from the start was to construct a black plexi surround for the PSU compartment of the In Win D-Frame Mini, and here you can see it in place. Some detailing will be added to this section soon.

 

The PCB edge of the MSI GTX 980 Ti 6G Gaming graphics card has been pin-striped in red, and there is also additional vinyl detailing work on the motherboard surround to complement the IO cover. Again this is styled after the distinctive MSI PCB design from the motherboard. Also featured are custom stickers for the Corsair SP120 fans.

 

Only the 8-pin CPU power cable is installed. This cable was finished first to gauge the correct spacing for the pump and tubing. The remaining cables will be shown soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BeardRex]

God damn this is sexy!

[darwin1859]

1 hour ago, BeardRex said:

God damn this is sexy!

Thanks

[i-deluxe]

This looks amazing, so clean a build and different to many others. 10/10