[Build Log] 5930k, Mercury s8s, Watercooling

[spacealiens]

I'm torn between these and these, currently.

[t_noob_]

I'm torn between these and these, currently.

The chrome might go better with the black blocks but then it might look weird with the orange 

black is a safe bet but you might be able to get something cooler looking 

are there any black chrome fittings that you like (bitspower black sparkle kind of stuff)?

Never mind that picture messed with me i didn't realize they were black...

so i would say these

[spacealiens]

so i would say these

Yeah, those were in the original "these or these" post.  Those dual tone anodized black fittings look really nice though.

[spacealiens]

So, bad news.  From what I've been reading on the overclock.net forums, the Gigabyte x99 boards have been having some horrible BIOS issues.  This would throw out my plans for the SOC Force orange theme.  I've come to peace with that.  I've been looking into the EVGA x99 Classified and the MSI x99s Mpower, both very high featured and still about a hundred dollars cheaper than the RVE.  I'm getting mixed reviews about Asus, though.  My Pro seems to be ok, but it also came out after the Deluxe.  The automated tuning programs, though, left me with an unstable overclock, however (but I wasnt planning on my final overclock to be through the AI suite anyway).  I may end up skipping the hassle and going with a black, gunmetal, white, silver theme with the Pro.  I know EK makes a mosfet block for the Mpower and MSI has had some generally good reviews regarding their x99 release.  The same goes for EVGA (Jayztwocents had some valid complaints regarding the board's layout) and the x99 Classified.  I'm in motherboard limbo, at the moment and I will keep doing research.

 

On another note, things are getting closer.  I ordered the second Lightning block, tubing, a second 360 UT60 and the first set of fittings yesterday.  I was considering tubing up the pedestal with flexible tubing.  In any case, I'm going to be working from the pedestal up as I assemble.  Having some kind of quick disconnect mechanism between them might end up being really handy down the line.   :huh:

[Jimstah87]

I doubt this could run Crisis though...

[spacealiens]

I doubt this could run Crisis though...

I'm hoping for some pretty good Minesweeper frame rates.

 

 

On another note, Gigabyte released a new bios that supposedly partially corrected some of the issues people were having.  I haven't seen anything on the overclock.net (where I first started noticing the complaints) forums indicating it has done anything to help.  I just noticed, too, that DazMode uploaded this video where he de-yellows the MSI x99s Xpower Ac with the EK water block and some red vinyl.  It doesn't look too hard at all, just some patience and a razor blade.  That makes an orange themed build still possible, actually any color possible.  We'll see.  Though yellow might look nice with the gunmetal and black, I don't want it to seem like I'm copying JayzTwoCents.

 

Also, probably sticking with just two way crossfire because my wife and I did our taxes... and we owe some money instead of getting a return.  :rolleyes:  Damn jobs.

 

Eventually I'll put my second lightning in my r4 and take some pictures.  I'm just worried about the current air flow.  These cards are 2.89 slots and it actually won't fit with the bottom hard drive cage installed.  I'd need to move all my drives to the 5.25" bays.... something I may do tonight... or tomorrow... or next Sunday... maybe.

[spacealiens]

 

Here's a crappy cell phone pic.  This is not something I recommend to anyone.  Valley for 5 minutes and the top card was hitting 90 C.  Lol.  I just wanted to see how many watts I'd pull from the wall and check to make sure the other card works.  I may just keep it in there with crossfire turned off so I only use one card at a time.  I'm getting antsy and want to start working on my loop so I can let these guys loose.  May end up just swapping the first card out entirely so I can bench the second lightning a bit.

[spacealiens]

Another small update:  

 

My Mercury S8S was delayed and is expected to ship early next week (I'm hoping Tuesday since Monday is a holiday).  It's a bummer, but not much I can do about it.  It's just been the longest 30 business days of my life.  I think I decided on going with the Rampage V Extreme, with something like EK blood red or the Mayhems equivalent coolant.  The red theme is overdone, but that's ok.  I'm really more concerned with clean cable management and tubing with the 3 windows in the top chamber.

 

I'm kind of glad I bought my Lightnings when I did (before the 3.5gb fiasco and the sales).  I could have picked up another, but it's probably not worth it in the end.  If I feel like it later, I can purchase a non-Lightning 290x and get the matching waterblock/back plate to match my other cards.  Plus, Performance-Pcs only has one more lightning block and I'm not sure EK is producing anymore.

 

Also, I purchased another 240 UT60 (second hand) and a second MCP655 (lightly used second hand).  So the current plan is to go one 240 in the front flexbay, one 240 in the right side compartment, the two pumps somehow managed in that same compartment with a tube reservoir (mounted either vertically or horizontally, I'm not quite sure yet), the two 360s in the pedestal.  If I have some time in the next couple days, I'll try to draw it out.

 

So, in total, I'll have 10x120mm of thick rad space for 2x290x, 5930k, and motherboard blocks.  Does that seem like overkill?  Or a reason to get another gpu?

 

Anyway, once the S8S arrives, I'll take more pictures and add them.

[spacealiens]

Case-Labs order was updated to... Shipped!  Hopefully it'll arrive on Saturday and I can get it together and take some pictures.  Purchased the EK dual pump top lightly used to save a few dollars.  I may pull the trigger and order the RVE today, but I've been looking at the EVGA X99 Classified, as well.  I think I should just go with the RVE, I have a feeling it won't leave me with any possible regrets and comes with wifi, in case I need it in the future.

[Blackie Sheen]

I'm torn between these and these, currently.

the black ones look better imo

[spacealiens]

Anyone have any opinions regarding motherboard waterblocks?  I already have my CPU waterblock and was wanting to get at least a vrm block.  I could keep with the EK theme and get this for a really clean look.  Something like this to show off my fluid a little bit.  Or be take a risk and get this Bitspower block, show liquid for the vrm block and black out the board a little bit.

 

RVE will be here tomorrow.  Mercury S8S will be here Monday.

 

the black ones look better imo

I think I agree.  I was also looking at the red version of those and I thought a bit about using two different colors of fittings.  Either way, I want to get a few 90 degree adapters and I think the best color for those is black.

[Ralphington]

Nice idea with the whole orange colour scheme and everything, orange and yellow seem to be the two up and coming colours for pc builds, you know other than the typical red, white, blue, black.

[Norman_the_Owl]

I think motherboard blocks are kind of silly.

They just make your loop look way more complicated than it needs to look, and imo is really hard to do right

[DildorTheDecent]

I think motherboard blocks are kind of silly.

They just make your loop look way more complicated than it needs to look, and imo is really hard to do right

cooler VRM > more OC. 

[Bussinateur]

Just a heads up in case you want to buy from FrozenCPU:

 

They had a falling out of some sort, and orders are not being shipped. 

[spacealiens]

I haven't updated in a while, I've been really busy with work, installing new flooring in our computer room and building a desk.  Once I get the pictures off my camera, I'll post them.  The Mercury S8S looks fantastic, I'm glad I went with the windowed top.  I was, however, a bit disappointed with quality control.  Some of my pedestal pieces had bent connecting tabs.  I didn't take pictures, and they bent back with a bit of muscle and some pliers, but I'd expect near perfect quality based on the cost.  I'm still satisfied, though.  As soon as I get my next package from Performance-Pcs, I'll begin mounting things in the pedestal.  I was also thinking about using flexible tubing in the base to make it a bit easier to disconnect.  We'll see, though.  Also, I bought the RVE and using my X99-Pro as a workstation PC for my Father as a birthday/father's day gift (he's a portrait photographer and is using an old first gen 4 core i7.

 

 

Just a heads up in case you want to buy from FrozenCPU:

 

They had a falling out of some sort, and orders are not being shipped. 

Yeah, it's sad, I had already purchased a few items from there previously.