Experiment 001: Never Settle

Bazerka · July 9, 2015

New ideas, new project. This motto isn't new to me, but posting it is. One of my friends suggested I put my builds online for people to check out, and since this one will take me at least 3 weeks, why not? I'm new to Linus Forums, but not to the computer scene. However, there is always room for ideas and growth. Let me know if you think something would be awesome and I'll take a look into it! Anyways onto the build:

Experiment 001: Never Settle.

HARDWARE

Case - Lian Li PC-05sx - Received

CPU - Intel i5 4690k - Received

MOBO - Maximus VI Impact Z87 mitx motherboard - Received

GPU - EVGA 770 Super Clocked - Received

RAM - Kingston Hyperx Fury (2x 4gigs) White - Received

Storage - 2x Adata 128gig SSD (Raid 0) - Received

PSU - Silverstone SFX 600w 80+ Gold PSU - Received

Cables - 16 gauge stiff wiring (yes I'm doing custom hardline PSU cabling for the system) - Received

WATERCOOLING

CPU Block - Bitspower Summit Clear Acrylic - Received

GPU Block - EK FC780ti - Received

Pump - Swiftech MCP 35x || Clear Acrylic Pump Top || White pump base - Received

Fittings - Monsoon Freecenter Hardline Fittings (white) - Received

Rad - Alpha cool 240mm slim radiator - Received

Tubing - PetG Clear tubing (hardline bending) - Received

Updates -

- July 11th - Received Ram & SSD's and bought paint and other supplies.

- July 13th - Received GPU waterblock & test fit

- July 15th - Received Watercooling Parts

- July 15th - Drainage Plan

- July 20th - Bending

- July 23rd - Leak testing and Problems

- July 24th - Waterloop done!

- July 25th - Lighting for res and CPU block done!

- August 9th - Done (step 1)

Hope yall enjoy the build! Im always open to ideas and thoughts.

Cheers,

Baz

Here are some initial photos of fitting and testing waterblock compatibility.

Me1z · July 9, 2015

"never settle"

*Doesn't use a single AMD component*

Bazerka · July 9, 2015

"never settle"

*Doesn't use a single AMD component*

I didn't use AMD for one simple reason. The PC05sx is an open air chassis. Almost all AMD cards I've ever used have MASSIVE coil whine. I would smash in my head before using an AMD card in an open air chassis. I have a 7970 in my current build (H440 case), but thats sound proof, so it can whine all it wants. So yea, I didn't settle for a subpar card just to have performance. I balanced performance with price and silence.

Suika · July 9, 2015

"never settle"

*Doesn't use a single AMD component*

He also isn't using Verizon or a OnePlus One in the build, so...

Me1z · July 9, 2015

I didn't use AMD for one simple reason. The PC05sx is an open air chassis. Almost all AMD cards I've ever used have MASSIVE coil whine. I would smash in my head before using an AMD card in an open air chassis. I have a 7970 in my current build (H440 case), but thats sound proof, so it can whine all it wants. So yea, I didn't settle for a subpar card just to have performance. I balanced performance with price and silence.

I've had some Nvidia cards that are some real screamers like my 970, but fair enough, everyone's prone to bad experiences when building computers. I just thought it was a bit funny you were sporting AMD's slogan.

Bazerka · July 9, 2015

He also isn't using Verizon or a OnePlus One in the build, so...

Almost, the build is based off the OnePlus company. I have a OPO and I know a few people who work there. They were the design inspiration for this build.

Bazerka · July 9, 2015

I've had some Nvidia cards that are some real screamers like my 970, but fair enough, everyone's prone to bad experiences when building computers. I just thought it was a bit funny you were sporting AMD's slogan.

Haha, cheers. Yea its kind of hit and miss, but I did some pretty thorough testing on my cards until I found my 770 that I'm using. All the AMD cards I tested screamed, even just a little bit. A few GTX cards screamed, but this 770 is dead silent even at overclock and over volting. Hence my choice

Bazerka · July 9, 2015

He also isn't using Verizon or a OnePlus One in the build, so...

OMG idea... Im switching as soon as I can to the OnePlus Two when its released. I should include a phone dock for my OnePlus One in the case that links with the ROG Overclocking and Monitoring Software somehow... Use my phone as a display / readout for the Hardware stats. Even possibly to control the PWM and Temp stats for the watercooling? Thoughts?

Bazerka · July 10, 2015

Update 7/10

In desperate need of an EK FC-770 Waterblock Original CSQ or Nick and Plexi. If anyone knows where to get one I'll <3 you forever. FrozenCPU is shut down, Performance PC is sold out, and EK themselves is having Paypal issues. Anyone know of any other options?

Bazerka · July 11, 2015

*Update 7/11*

Went out and bought plasti dip supplies, 14 gauge wire, and a wire bender. I also received the PSU, SSD's, and Ram. Im serious the Fury ram is so beautiful.

I also did some test painting on some random pieces of aluminium I had laying around. Plastidip works great! Im really excited to see how it turns out.

Lastly did a test fit of the Corsair sp120 led fans and tested how the lighting works with the smoked glass (im afriad it will dim the lights too much). I was right I need more leds than just the two fans.

Bazerka · July 14, 2015

*Update 07/13*
Received the GPU waterblock today. I had to order the EK waterblock for the GTX 780ti since they were out of stock of the 770, but it fits! Gotta love hours of staring at a PCB board. The motherboard and Watercooling gear should arrive on Wednesday so I'll have another update than. Cheers friends!

Bazerka · July 16, 2015

*Update 7/15*

Got a big box from Performance Pc today. Here's a summary of a slightly busy day:

Installed pump cooler and rez. Tested pump for shorts. Test booted Mobo and CPU (its all good). Painted CPU block white. Test filled block with Red to check color scheme (fyi don't do this, its so messy). Finally installed the cpu block. I'll do measurements tonight and begin bending tomorrow. Knowing me, it will be a long night cause I wont stop for sleep.

Bazerka · July 16, 2015

*Update July 15*

Realized I didn't include a drainage plan in my loop. Gonna hit a t fitting behind the graphics card and route it into the cabling area. From there I'll use a bitspower valve and some flex tubing I think I have laying around the house... Somewhere...

Bazerka · July 20, 2015

*Update July 20th*

I emerge battle worn and slightly scarred. Its been a long 3 days of pipe bending and testing. All the pipes are bent and the loop is complete (pictures of the full setup to come). I had to deal with 2 slow leaks in the fittings which tested my patience. Alongside that the motherboard that I bought turned out to be defective (it booted which is why I didn't catch it the first time). Im returning it to Newegg and I ordered another one which I know to be 100% functional. Hopefully it fixes my problem. Here are pictures I took during my bending spree.

HellaflushMcSwaggins · July 20, 2015

Those bends are gorgeous man.

Bazerka · July 20, 2015

Those bends are gorgeous man.

Thanks , it looks great when its all together, i just gotta get the mobo issue solved. Im really looking forwards to having it in with the pastel red fluid.

Bazerka · July 23, 2015

*Update July 23rd*

New Motherboard came in to fix RMA issues with other board, so thats 1/2 of my problems finished. Did a full leak and stress test on the system to check cooling capacity and potential. Everything is looking good so far on that front, but as I mentioned before 1/2 of the problem remains. So after fully updating drivers, software, and Windows my problem still remains.

-- The Problem --

So under load and stress testing (Heaven and Valley Benchmarks as well as Prime95 stress test) everything is fine. All the benchmarks can complete and nothing out of the ordinary occurs. However, randomly during normal usage (web browsing, copying files, even during a game of League the display driver will crash or the screen will go black and the system will reboot. I've tried rolling back display drivers (no dice), altering voltages on the ram etc. Currently I've dropped the PCIe slot to run at Gen 2 instead of Gen 3 which will hopefully eliminate the problem, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the PCIe riser card that comes with the Lian Li PC-05s is to blame. Any ideas or thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated!

^ a side note on this last pic. So the lock collar on my monsoon fitting cracked and was leaking. I tried to plug the leak using the glue, but it ended up catching the fitting itself. Basically I had to saw the fitting off the pipe and retro fit a short piece of pipe back onto the original. It actually looks and works really good if I do say so myself.

Bazerka · July 23, 2015

I should also mention I tested the graphics card with the PCIe riser on my server system and everything worked 100%. No restarts nothing. So that reduces my suspicion of the Riser card.

Homicidium · July 23, 2015

This thread seriously needs more attention, really liking you progress and the build so far! Looking amazing!

Bazerka · July 23, 2015

This thread seriously needs more attention, really liking you progress and the build so far! Looking amazing!

Thanks man, I really appreciate the love. Once I get this reboot issue figured out I'll move onto starting the psu cabling (hopefully this weekend).

Bazerka · July 24, 2015

*Update July 24th*

I got the issue figured out! The computer is stable now (woot). Also received the last fitting for the waterloop today. Tested and installed, and everything is running smoothly now. Also got myself an LG 34" ultrawide monitor (3440 x 1440). Its gorgeous. But because of this monitor Im looking to switch out the graphics card to a GTX 780 (its shipping right now). Should be an easy switch since the block is already a 780 block. Anyways onto the pictures:

TechyRod · July 24, 2015

WOW ! this is amazing!

Bazerka · July 25, 2015

WOW ! this is amazing!

Thanks! I appreciate it . Im not done though haha so keep checking in!

Bazerka · July 25, 2015

*Update July 25th*

Its the weekend and I'm in the mood to solder. Did some math to calculate voltages and capacitor need. Soldered and hooked everything up! Looks like I have a bunch of gunk in the cpu block (from the pipes I didnt clean them enough, bits of pipe after I cut them are still in there). Lastly an interesting find: So I had one extra 3mm led bulb and was looking for somewhere to put it. Turns out the backside of the Lian Li PC-05s has vent holes that are exactly 3 mm! Stuck it in and it works brilliantly. Anyways onto the pics.

Bazerka · August 9, 2015

*Update August 9th*

So I've been off the grid for a while (building a computer means I don't have a computer). But I'm done! Sorta. I have about 3 -5 more changes that need to happen, but they are relatively minor. Pulled together the first revision of the build and here are first looks. I still need to do a few decals and other plexi stuff, but that didnt stop me from getting the comp up and running. Onto the pics.