Nostromo: X99 RVE, 5960X, 980ti 3-way SLI, CaseLabs STH10, Hardline [Update: FINAL VIDEO!]

[rarifiedbovine]

Hey all,

 

 

 

 

Well, this is it.  Likely the most extravagant computer I'll ever build.  I'll be painting the motherboard, installing an illuminated midplate, and generally making "no compromises," as Nils might say.

 

 

 

 

 

I have some cool ideas of where to take this thing, and can't wait to share them with you all.  I'll also be following along with videos, which I'll post here.  Hopefully y'all will find them helpful.  

 

 

 

 

 

But, first things first!  The parts:

 

 

 

 

 

Components

 

 

CPU: Intel i7 5960X

 

 

Motherboard: ASUS ROG Rampage V Extreme

 

 

GPU: 3x EVGA SuperClocked GTX 980Ti

 

 

RAM: 64 GB G.skill Ripjaws 3000 Mhz

 

 

OS Drive: Samsung SM951 256 GB m.2 SSD

 

 

Application Drive: Intel 750 400GB PCIe NVMe SSD

 

 

Data Drive: Intel 730 1TB SSD

 

 

PSU: Corsair AX 1500i  

 

 

 

 

 

Watercooling

 

 

CPU/RAM Loop:

 

 

ASUS Rampage V Monoblock

 

 

EK Monarch RAM Blocks with Clear Acrylic Tops

 

 

Aquacomputer Aqualis 800 Reservoir, Aquacomputer D5 Pump and Pump Top

 

 

HWLabs Black Ice GTX 560 Radiator w/ Noiseblocker BlackSilent Pro PL-2 PWM fans

 

 

Mayhems Pastel Ice White

 

 

 

 

 

GPU Loop Loop:

 

 

3x EK-FC Nickel (Original CSQ) GPU Waterblocks & Backplates

 

 

EK-FC Triple Serial SLI Block

 

 

Aquacomputer Aqualis 800 Reservoir, Aquacomputer D5 Pump and Pump Top

 

 

CPU 2x EK XE 480 Radiators w/ EK Vardar PWM fans

 

 

Mayhems Pastel Mint Greent

 

 

 

 

 

Other Parts

 

 

Aquacomputer Aquaero 6XT

 

 

Aquacomputer Farbwerk

 

 

PrimoFlex Advanced LRT Onyx Black Tubing

 

 

PrimoChill 1/2in Rigid PETG Tubing

 

 

Tons of fittings, mostly Bitspower

 

 

 

 

 

Without further ado, let's build this case!

 

 

 

 

 

So many parts.  Could not be happy with the build quality.  Not a single screw was missing, and everything is super sturdy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The indispensable manual: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just in time for Halloween, we have the skeleton.  Spooky!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the brackets for the radiators and fans--makes them super easy to install in the case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Must climb the summit of Aquacomputer mountain:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the pump installed in the pump-top:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sizing up the holes to drill in the reservoir:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's the test-fit in order to get the custom cable lengths and other necessary measurements:

 

 

 

[CydiaDash]

Nice, going to follow

[Commander_Z]

subbed.

 

Them Caselabs cases do look good

[Amazingasian]

[Interfectorem]

You know the build is awesome when just the pictures slow my browser to a crawl.

My browser slowed to a crawl and my fans ramped up.

[TheRandomness]

*Gets popcorn* Where are the next pictures?

[JamesHeaney]

That looks amazing! Which case are you using?

 

Best of luck! I am following!

[rarifiedbovine]

That looks amazing! Which case are you using?

 

Best of luck! I am following!

 

Thanks!  I'm using the CaseLabs STH10.  You can find it here: http://www.caselabs-store.com/magnum-sth10/

 

It ain't cheap, especially with all the trimmings, but I really think you get what you pay for in this case. (Haha, "case").

[rarifiedbovine]

Personally I'd get 2 Titan X Gpus instead of the 3 980ti's but nice job so far

 

Interesting.  Have you seen anyone make that comparison?

[starwarsguy99]

Damn this is cool!

This makes me want to get the SMA8 so much

Cant wait to see more pics!

[rarifiedbovine]

Damn this is cool!

This makes me want to get the SMA8 so much

Cant wait to see more pics!

 

That looks amazing! Which case are you using?

 

Best of luck! I am following!

 

*Gets popcorn* Where are the next pictures?

 

 

Nice, going to follow

 

You know the build is awesome when just the pictures slow my browser to a crawl.

 

Thanks so much for all the support so far!  New pictures coming up tomorrow or Monday, but for now, here's a video I put up to showcase the first part.  Really eager to hear your thoughts!

 

[rarifiedbovine]

What does one do when there's no such thing as an Asus Rampage V Black Edition?  Make your own, of course!

 

Before:

 

 

The red really doesn't go with my system, and is generally obnoxious.

 

 

 

Tools of the trade.  X-acto, tons of tape, acrylic paint, and brushes.

 

I also used a cheapo DDR4 stick of ram (as though there is such a thing!) and an old PCIe card to block each slot as I painted it.  There are other techniques out there of course.  Spraypaint, Plasti-Dip, etc.  But I felt like this would give me the nicest finish, precision, and a bit of texture to boot.  I'll post a video of the process this weekend but for now, here are the results...

 

 

 

 

 

Not too shabby.  You can still see a bit of red inside the slots, but none once they're plugged, and I'd rather have that then the chance of the contacts getting messed up.

[CydiaDash]

Looks sexy

[rarifiedbovine]

Looks sexy

Let's just hope it works well, too.

[skyress3000]

So many parts.  Could not be happy with the build quality.  Not a single screw was missing, and everything is super sturdy.

Huh, I've always heard that caselabs are great... Jk, I think you meant "could not be less happy".

[rarifiedbovine]

OK folks, got a few updates, comin' in hot!  Mostly for waterblocks placement.

 

First, a few shots of the motherboard block (EK's Full Cover Monoblock).  I really like it, and it wasn't too hard to put on.  

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I put on the EK full cover blocks for the GTX 980 Tis:

 

 

 

 

Finally, I did the RAM blocks.  Step one was removing the Ripjaws heatspreader with a heat gun and some old fashioned prying.  Be careful!  A friend (ahem) once ripped off one of the chips in this process.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the adhesive leaves some weird residue on the chips:

 

 

Normally, I use isopropyl alcohol or the specialized TIM remover for this task, but the TIM remover wasn't working well on the adhesive, and I was all out of alcohol.  Nail polish remover, while not recommended, will do the trick:

 

 

Now for the thermal pads:

 

 

And then putting on the Monarch heatspreaders.  Note that when you're putting the ram sticks into the heatspreaders, make sure they're in roughly the same position.  DIMMs on the board don't move, obviously, so you want the Monarch screw holes to all line up when the RAM is in so that you can properly attach the waterblock on top.

 

 

Now to see it all on the mobo:

 

 

 

 

Au revoir!  More details about the process and such in my video log, which will go up this weekend.

[CydiaDash]

Looks good, keep it up

[CaptainPebbleDash]

God this is something I've been dreaming about doing, just need the actual excuse to do so! Will follow as this looks promising, good luck and keep up the amazing work  

[mjKneafsey]

I forgot just how tall that case is. It look about as tall as a 10 year old.

[rarifiedbovine]

I forgot just how tall that case is. It look about as tall as a 10 year old.

I think it's more like a four-year-old, but yeah, basically.

 

 

Yeah the monoblock looks awesome on it

I totally agree!

 

Just put up the latest video for your viewing pleasure!  Would love your suggestions and feedback on the build and the video.

 

[Philz69]

Yeah a green build! Nice work, cant wait to see more!

[Quincy15]

This is one of the best builds I have seen !

 

I think that you are insane painting the Rampage 5 Extreme though. I was scared to touch mine when I was building my PC

[rarifiedbovine]

Yeah a green build! Nice work, cant wait to see more!

 

Many thanks!  Yeah, the sleeving will be green and gray, with some white!

 

This is one of the best builds I have seen !

 

I think that you are insane painting the Rampage 5 Extreme though. I was scared to touch mine when I was building my PC

 

Hah, like I said--not for the faint of heart.  But I think as you work with this stuff more, you get to learn what is very fragile and sensitive, and what isn't.  When it comes down to it, the plastic parts on the mobo are just that--plastic.  they were painted once, and they can be painted again.

[bmawn]

Dream build for sure! Have you been thinking of maybe polishing the blocks to make them clear?

Looks good so far

[Andrew Storlie]

Great build, just personally hate the look of ek blocks. Ruined it for me