Phantom Water-Cooled Build

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

Hi everyone!  :D

 

I'm quite new to this forum, so please do tell me if I can improve on anything or am doing anything wrong!

In any case, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share my custom build with you guys! hope you enjoy!  :)

 

 

Background information:

I had originally built this rig (my first rig) midway through 2012 and it was based on the NZXT white Phantom. Later in the year I decided to add water cooling as I wanted to dip my feet into the realms of overclocking. Naturally I became addicted and obsessed with the way my PC looked, and so upon upgrading the motherboard, I dismantled my water cooling loop and took a second shot for a more appealing look. Anyway you guys came here to see my PC, not to hear me talk!! 

 

 

Original Components:

• Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V
• CPU: 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 3770
• Case: NZXT Phantom (white)
• Video card: Nvidia Geforce GTX 670 (Inno3D)
• RAM: 16 GB DDR3 Kingston HyperX memory (1600 mhz) - Kingston HyperX fan (purely for aesthetics)
• PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower XT 775W  
• SSD: 240GB Intel 520 series SSD
• HDD: 2 TB WD Green
• Fans: Bitfenix Spectre Pro (blue). Radiator fans: 2 x Corsair SP120 
• Lighting: NZXT 2m blue LED strip, 2 x UV cathodes.
• ODD: Blu ray player

 

 

Water cooling components:

 

• Reservoir: Liquid Fusion 250mm
• CPU waterblock: XSPC raystorm
• GPU waterblock: XSPC Razer 670
• Pump: Swiftech MCP655
• Tubing: Masterkleer 1/2 ID - 3/4 OD UV blue/clear 
• Fittings: G1/4″ to 1/2″ ID, 3/4″ OD Compression Fitting (Chrome)
• Radiator: Alphacool Dual 120mm 
• coolant: Feser One UV purple

 

 

Original system Photos

 

 

My computer disassembled: 

 

Water cooling components

 

Component installation:

 

Completed (without tubing)

 

completed (with tubing)

 

Final piece: 

 

NOTE: please forgive the poor pictures of the build with the lighting, as my camera at the time did no justice for the lighting. The UV light in the case made it exceptionally difficult to expose the image accurately.

 

my intended aim was to have UV lighting on the top, and the blue LEDs on the bottom of the case such that the tubing appeared to have a 'frosted' look. Although this is evident in reality, the poor images (or my poor photography skills in this case) do not represent my intended purpose accurately. 

With that being said, there were many things that I was not happy with in the original build (which ultimately led me to try again)

• reservoir is at an angle (due to difficulties mounting it)
• the tubing that connects the radiator (top) to the CPU block 'droops'
• the razer barracuda sound card was redundant since i was using windows 8 at the time, and no drivers were available  :(
• reservoir was still in the process of bleeding out
• a few cable management issues

 

UPGRADES!!!

 

with the aforementioned issues in mind, I set out to improve on my build:

• Replaced the CPU with a Intel core i7 3770K (so I could make use of the liquid cooling) - overclocked to 4.6Ghz
• Upgraded the motherboard to an ASUS Sabertooth Z77

 

Final Build Photos!
NOTE: all of the following photos were taken with a Nikon D7100 - They seem to represent the true look of my case more accurately in relation to the previous photos!

 

 

 

Final Notes:
I am hoping to upgrade to the Phantom 820 in the near future. Stay tuned to see!! :D

 

My setup:

 

 

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to view my build!! If you have any advice or comments please feel free to post and let me know!

Have a wonderful day!

[crazydog2580]

looks sweet :)

[TicTac]

Whats your temps like with one rad??

[crazy_demon_01]

Very nice build, great clean cable management.

[Nicktrance]

Looks very cool :D. UV looks surprisingly good with the blue theme and it looks much better without the RAM cooler. If you plan to upgrade the case you should probably also add another rad.

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

Whats your temps like with one rad??

My GPU under load (either in games, or from benchmarking programs) reaches 46 degrees (the most I've ever seen it). On average it reaches about 40 degrees - this is with a slight overclock to the GPU.

My CPU in a prime95 torture test reaches about 80 degrees :) not the worst, nor the best temperatures but well within my acceptable limits :)

[Nit3Rid3R]

That looks really great. But I really like it without the UV lighting, that purple fluid looks really really good. 

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

Looks very cool :D. UV looks surprisingly good with the blue theme and it looks much better without the RAM cooler. If you plan to upgrade the case you should probably also add another rad.

THANKS! 

Yes I agree! The RAM cooler kind of over did it and it became too much! besides i knew it was redundant from the beginning and just had it in there because I thought it looked cool at the time. The UV looks much better in person, but unfortunately my photography skills are lacking and so I really didnt do it justice in taking those photos!

Yeah I had planned on adding another rad when I changed cases (I believe the Phantom 820 has room for 2 rads?)

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

That looks really great. But I really like it without the UV lighting, that purple fluid looks really really good. 

 

Thanks :) Haha one of the perks of this build is that the UV and all my interior lighting (except the fans) can be switched off at the back!

[Toasted Waffles]

Looks awesome, however I would feel unsafe having that type of rig sitting like it is. 1/2 on the table and 1/2 off the table.

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

Looks awesome, however I would feel unsafe having that type of rig sitting like it is. 1/2 on the table and 1/2 off the table.

Thanks :) and yes I was very wary of that at first, however the majority of the weight of  it is localised to the rear of the case, so it is actually quite stable. In fact I believe that i would actually have to have it out quite a bit further before gravity would have its way :) but i do certainly share your concern! haha

[TicTac]

My GPU under load (either in games, or from benchmarking programs) reaches 46 degrees (the most I've ever seen it). On average it reaches about 40 degrees - this is with a slight overclock to the GPU.

My CPU in a prime95 torture test reaches about 80 degrees :) not the worst, nor the best temperatures but well within my acceptable limits :)

fans on max?

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

fans on max?

My rad fans are always on max speed, since they are rather quiet. My pumps speed is also always on max.

however the rest of my chassis fans are on minimum  - although they are quiet they can still be noticeable when i set them to max.

I havent really been able to see a difference in temperature when changing the speed of the chassis fans, but there is a definite difference when i moderate the speed of my radiator fans as expected!

[AntarticCash]

Looks awesome! My Phantom is just used for my server and looks nothing as cool as yours

[edschofield15]

Very nice. All though for me changing to the sabre tooth spoils the colour scheme a bit

[Rvgrand]

I have an 820 and you can put a few rads in there, one at the top, one at the bottom, and another on the front (if the HDD bays are removed). 

[alif49]

That t virus reservoir is sex!

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

I have an 820 and you can put a few rads in there, one at the top, one at the bottom, and another on the front (if the HDD bays are removed). 

thats perfect! I will be upgrading within the next couple of months when im on holidays and am actually allowed time to breathe!

[NihKiller]

VERY SEXY!!! one of the best looking builds out there in my opinion!!!  :D

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

VERY SEXY!!! one of the best looking builds out there in my opinion!!!  :D

Thanks so much!! :D

[TryArch]

nice

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

nice

thanks :)

[Calavera]

Looking very clean - please put something heavy on the back, I know you said it's already heavier on that side, but do it for your own wallet :)

[Keeper_of_Precepts]

Looking very clean - please put something heavy on the back, I know you said it's already heavier on that side, but do it for your own wallet :)

Haha I appreciate the concern! But I assure you its quite safe where it is. the combined weight of the PSU, graphics card, Resevoir, Pump, Mobo, tubing/fluid etc quite easily off-balances a fan or two and the 3 drives! 

[FreyrGauti]

Very nice build!