Build Log: Corsair 250D Water Cooled "Blue Lagoon"

[Lavin]

Hello everyone! I'm back again with another build, but this time, it's for a client!

 

I'd like to introduce to you guys, the Blue Lagoon. A fully water cooled 250D that's packed with power, clean cable management and portability. My client wanted something he could run a 1440p monitor on while being able to pick it up and throw it into his car and not worry about anything. I'd also like to make it known that the client had items from a previous build and so I reused that, but applied all of the new water cooling gear along with it.

 

1. CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  
2. Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe
3. Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 CAS9
4. Storage: Corsair Force Series GT 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive x2
5. Storage: Western Digital WD Purple 3TB
6. Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 3GB DirectCU II 
7. Case: Corsair 250D Mini ITX
8. Power Supply: Corsair RM450
9. Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)
10. Bitspower AIZ77ITXD Nickel Plated - ICE Black ($119.95)
11. EK GeForce 780 GTX Ti DCII VGA Liquid Cooling Block - Nickel (EK-FC780 GTX Ti DCII - Nickel) ($122.99)
12. EK FC780 GTX Ti DCII VGA Liquid Cooling RAM Backplate (EK-FC780 GTX Ti DCII Backplate - Black) ($30.99)
13. EK DCP 4.0 X-Res Pump Reservoir Attachment w/ PWM Pump (EK-DCP 4.0 PWM X-RES (incl. pump)) ($112.99)
14. Alphacool NexXxoS ST30 Full Copper Slim Profile Dual 120mm Radiator ($44.99)

If you'd like to read my FULL review on this case and my experience with building it, head on over here and take a look! 

 

Enough talking, let's get with the pictures already!!!

 

 

Alternatively, you can view high quality pictures in this album.

 

I'd love to hear what you guys thought about my build, and if you get the chance, to read my review!

Thanks for looking and hope y'all have a great day.

 

[Erik4boss]

#DSLRMASTERRACE

[jn7507]

what are the temps

[o3871]

Nice work

[Lavin]

what are the temps

Temps:

CPU: 29C Idle | 59C Load

GPU: 31C Idle | 64C Load

[PassionFruit]

Holy poop.

[VSG]

Lol I should have realized you were likely here too. Great build as I said over the phone earlier today. Hopefully that helps figure out who I am

[connorpiper]

Nice little system

[d33g33]

very nice, and a feature on EK's FB page, well done.

 

Whats with the 2 extension adapters into tube? Any reason behind it?

 

[Lavin]

very nice, and a feature on EK's FB page, well done.

 

Whats with the 2 extension adapters into tube? Any reason behind it?

 

Hey there! Thanks for the heads up on FB page. I had to go in there and correct somethings.

 

As for the two adapters, if I had them still installed from the previous configuration and I just kind of left them there. The other configuration was that the pump was turned 180 degrees the other way and I needed two extensions there. Other than that, there's no real reason, just sort of left them.

 

Thanks by the way!

[Bagmup]

First class all the way, i love small form factor builds.  :wub:

[Darkstar101]

Nice build.

[CookieTheMonsta]

Much beautiful, very nice

[mikeeginger]

Very nice build 

Love those cable runs 

[Lavin]

Very nice build 

Love those cable runs 

 

Thank you! I absolutely love short and straight cable runs. I just have to have a clean interior before I'm satisfied with any of my builds. I'm glad someone else appreciates it.

[asquirrel]

-attention grab-

I've been pondering a build in the 250D for a while now. Something I'm really bad at is wrapping my head around all the spacings for things. How do you do it? Or did you just buy the case and take your own measurements?

 

Some specifics:

1. Do you believe it's possible to fit a 280mm radiator on the right side wall (where you have your 280mm rad) and still have the optical drive bay bracket installed, or is there simply not fitting in existence (that would be a good idea to use) which would allow clearance?
2. I see a pump top on top of a DDC pump, what's the black cube-ish thing next to it? Or is the cube the pump?
3. Every build I've seen shows a fairly large (maybe 20mm tall) section of the MOBO blocking/restricting the radiator (near the back-side of the case, about 140mm long, 20mm high). Is this just an angle problem, or am I really losing that much surface area?

Overall, this build looks visually stunning. I really love the look of individually braided cables. I just wish they didn't take up so much room.

[Lavin]

I've been pondering a build in the 250D for a while now. Something I'm really bad at is wrapping my head around all the spacings for things. How do you do it? Or did you just buy the case and take your own measurements?

 

Some specifics:

1. Do you believe it's possible to fit a 280mm radiator on the right side wall (where you have your 280mm rad) and still have the optical drive bay bracket installed, or is there simply not fitting in existence (that would be a good idea to use) which would allow clearance?
2. I see a pump top on top of a DDC pump, what's the black cube-ish thing next to it? Or is the cube the pump?
3. Every build I've seen shows a fairly large (maybe 20mm tall) section of the MOBO blocking/restricting the radiator (near the back-side of the case, about 140mm long, 20mm high). Is this just an angle problem, or am I really losing that much surface area?

Overall, this build looks visually stunning. I really love the look of individually braided cables. I just wish they didn't take up so much room.

Hello there!

 

1. I picked up the case and measured out all the cables myself. 
2. The radiator size is 240mm, not 280. Yes an optical disc drive will fit in this system with a 240mm radiator installed.
3. The black cube the pump itself. The reservoir is directly attached to it.
4. I'm not really sure what you're referring to, but maybe the ASUS daughter board? If so, that's not even an issue.
5. Just so you know, my sleeved cables aren't the typical "braided" solutions you've seen around. They are cut to length and take up significantly less area than typical stock cables. Since they're cut so short, there's no excess cable laying on the floor. If you'd like me to cut some custom length cables for your build, I'd be more than happy to help! I can provide you with an option of fully sleeved or bare wire. Bare wire cables are similar to stock, they don't need to be sleeved, but they're cut to the perfect length you need to prevent excess cable clutter. 

Thank you for your compliments! Have a great day.  

[VSG]

Hey Lavin, perhaps a mention on how to measure what length of wiring is needed will help potential customers. I know I want to be sure myself before I do anything.

[menendez1293]

Very nice build, did you sleeve your own cables or did you buy those? Looking for something similar for my RM750. 

[CJPowell27]

How do you store things with the satas not plugged in?

I love color schemes like this, they look so clean

[Lavin]

Hey Lavin, perhaps a mention on how to measure what length of wiring is needed will help potential customers. I know I want to be sure myself before I do anything.

 

Hey V! It's good to hear from you on here haha.

 

So the way I measure it out is I take a piece of wire, I start it off on the component, then I run the wire all around where I think I'm going to wire manage them following up to the PSU. For example, the video card, I took a single wire, inserted it into the PCI-E port (the outer box) and then made an arch and followed the wire down towards the floor. I then followed that wire, while hugging the metal, to the PSU port. I ended up with something like 15 inches altogether. As for the 24-Pin for this build, I ended up with like 10 inches on the outer layer and 9 inches on the inner, hence why I've got very clean arches on top and bottom of the extension. Basically that's my process for creating custom length wires, including fan extensions. I lay the stock wires down where I want them to sit, then make an extension.

 

Very nice build, did you sleeve your own cables or did you buy those? Looking for something similar for my RM750. 

 

Hey there! I sleeved every wire in this build, except for the SATA DATA cables. If you'd like me to do some sleeving for you, you can check out my website over at www.hexagonpc.com and you get can an idea of my pricing.

 

How do you store things with the satas not plugged in?

I love color schemes like this, they look so clean

 

I'm trying to get a hold of blue SATA DATA cables haha. I couldn't find any in time for pictures.

[VSG]

Hey V! It's good to hear from you on here haha.

 

So the way I measure it out is I take a piece of wire, I start it off on the component, then I run the wire all around where I think I'm going to wire manage them following up to the PSU. For example, the video card, I took a single wire, inserted it into the PCI-E port (the outer box) and then made an arch and followed the wire down towards the floor. I then followed that wire, while hugging the metal, to the PSU port. I ended up with something like 15 inches altogether. As for the 24-Pin for this build, I ended up with like 10 inches on the outer layer and 9 inches on the inner, hence why I've got very clean arches on top and bottom of the extension. Basically that's my process for creating custom length wires, including fan extensions. I lay the stock wires down where I want them to sit, then make an extension.

 

Great info man, thanks. I just got my 1600G2 and the 750G2 in the TX10 so I will go ahead and use this to see what kind of lengths I need. Speaking of, lemme know when you get your 1600G2

[notenoughtv]

This looks amazing, super compact and clean

[HexaGuy]

Oooh. Beautiful. Can't wait to see what you'll do with the M1.

[Guest]

These are some burning questions for me as I have a 250d and I really want to know how thick of a radiator can I put in the case. The radiator u said u used is a 30mm thick radiator. So how tight was the fit? Also, did the radiator end up touching the daughter-board? There was also a protective foam on the back of the daughter-board to prevent short-circuit (It came with my z77i deluxe). Did you have to remove that?

Thank you very much