[pic hvy] Soundwave Themed Rebuild (7700k/1070/Custom Loop)

Neomuffins · August 4, 2019

My TT Core V1 build was fun, but it's too much trouble to maintain, and my loop didn't really drain or fill properly because of where I had to install components in the case. I decided to rebuild in a Corsair Air240 because I liked the blocky look and thought it would be a good base for the rebuild.

Old parts:

Asus Impact VIII

EK M8I monoblock

i7 7700k

32gb Ripjaws V 3200mhz

EK Monarch block + ram modules

MSI Seahawk EK 1070

500 gb Samsung ssd

3tb Seagate hdd

Corsair 650sf PSU

EK D5 pwm pump

New Parts:

a ton of blue/gold fittings

Monsoon MMRS parts for res/pump combo

Hardware labs 240 extreme profile radiator

TT Riing+ premium rgb 120mm fans

Haven't bought parts:

Cable mod extensions (having trouble deciding color pattern)

NZXT internal usb hub

Razer HDK (its on the shopping list, but the riings will probably be more than enough light)

Test fitting parts and getting an idea for what I want to do with the build. This was about the time I got the idea to do a soundwave theme. Up until I started the build I was picturing Devestators purple/green theme in my head. What cinched the deal was seeing my old res/pump laying on top.

I knew before I even ordered the Air240 that my 1070 would not fit in the stock position so the plan from the start was for a vertical GPU. I ordered a pci bracket that was meant for some other case.

I decided the best way to do this would be to create my own backplate. I de-riveted the entire case, then I marked out where I would make my cuts, and cut the pci bracket down to dual slot.

I cut out the back panel with a dremel and a cutoff wheel. The steel plate was cut out with electric metal shears (fun tool!) and all holes were drilled with a drill press. I then riveted the back panel together with washers between the pci bracket and the steel plate to create a slot for the card bracket to sit in. You can also see the new Monsoon pump/res with purple fittings on (I returned them for blue). The white plastic cover is from the Core V1.

And the finished gpu mod. Thats a Thermal Take riser cable on the 1070. Got a lot more pics of this build coming, so stay tuned.

Edited August 5, 2019 by Neomuffins
Added pic heavy to title as warning

Neomuffins · August 4, 2019

More:

So I only needed one hdd slot, and I realized I could mount a 120mm fan inside the cage and have it aimed at the back of the motherboard. So thats what I did. Super simple, cut the side of the hdd cage with the dremel, and drilled screw holes for the fan.

But that was a little thing, the big mod I want to cover in this post is how I recessed my radiator.

This is how close the back of the gpu sat to the fans with the front panel stock. I wanted a little more room.

This is the stock fan/ radiator mount. The entire assembely is about 3 inches tall.

I cut out the fan mount, then made my own brackets. The new assembly comes in at a bit over 2 1/2 inches.

Oceans of room, lol.

I also mounted the pump/res and cut holes for that. Not to many pictures of that process though. Thats all for tonight. Let me know what you think.

Neomuffins · August 5, 2019

Some watercooling stuffs:

This was my first horrible idea to setup a drain valve. The colors are bad, it would have required a run of hardline, just weird looking...

This is what I decided to go with instead. Much cleaner, more symmetrical, and a shorter assembly.

The gpu is connected to the ram block using an extendable multilink adaptor. I measured, planned and cut for this, but I'm still shocked I got it dead on like that.

I am using 1/8" acrylic to make interior panels. You can see a 140mm TT riing installed on the backside of the mobo tray. This is where the exhaust fan is going to be...

And this is where the fan shroud/cable race will be. These are two paper mockups to get dimensions and fit. I put these together with cardstock and a roll of masking tape that was handy.

My original intention was to get the shape laid out in paper, then make it out of acrylic. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment. Using a table router is levels of dust and noise I can't really deal with. Trying to cut 45* edges on my scrollsaw was too problematic.

But I had some fiberglass and resin laying around, so I made a final cardstock version, this time using rubber cement instead of masking tape. I saturated the whole thing in resin, applied fiberglass and more resin, then one final layer of resin. The assembely is the main shroud, a cosmetic insert (will be painted different color), and the small piece will have a notch cut out so it can hole the 24pin, and 8pin coming off the mobo.

I'm currently applying bondo and sanding these pieces to get them ready for paint. I'm also cutting holes in the mobo tray and acrylic panel for the fan. It'll be a week until my next couple of days off though, so more coming soon.

I also cleaned my radiators and old blocks with a Mayhems 2 part kit. A LOT of red came off my old blocks haha.

Neomuffins · August 9, 2019

Interior mods today:

Acrylic cut to fit inside case, and holes marked out roughly.

Bondoed and filled the fan shroud pieces with resin for a more solid part. I need one more coat to get the last pinholes on the big piece, the small one is ready for paint.