Define R4 From Down Under [Custom Loop, 290x Crossfire]

[HoZy]

Hey all, Been watching the LinusTechTips YT channel for longer than I can remember, So thought I'd finally sign up since I had to upgrade my PC due to my old motherboard kicking the bucket. So, i7 3770k @ 4.4ghz 1.192v 16gb Gskill TridentX @ 2400mhz Asrock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional HD6970 Crossfire (From Old Rig) Samsung Pro 128gb Windows 8/Apps OCZ Vertex 4 256gb Games Drive WD Caviar Black 1tb Temp Drive WD 200gb Work Drive CoolerMaster 850w Silent Pro Power Supply Some bitfenix Extensions Now... I've decided to water cool her, Parts as followed: XSPC Raystorm Copper Waterblock EK DCP 4.0 Pump & Res Combo Hardware Labs SR1 280 XSPC EX280 Koolance Dual 140mm Shroud Cougar 140mm Fans Bitspower Compression Fittings Primochill Primoflex advance LRT bloodshed red tubing Planned Loop design: Will update as I go, Thanks :) Cheers Mat EDIT: What is holding me up is my pump is on back order until March 13th, So not long now. But I will start the case mod's before then like fitting the radiators etc.

[HoZy]

**Reserved**

[Parkway Drive]

Welcome fellow Aussie. I'll be keeping an eye out.

[Huntsman]

is it me, or did you pry out the ihs on the i7? and why?

[unidentical]

is it me, or did you pry out the ihs on the i7? and why?

Checking for spiders, probably.

[Reily]

is it me, or did you pry out the ihs on the i7? and why?

intel didn't put a very high end TIM in, and doing this on some of the chips actually allows for much better temperatures and therefore a higher overclock. It is a slightly risky mod, however if done properly it can be quite rewarding.

[nuhash]

is it me, or did you pry out the ihs on the i7? and why?

The TIM is adequate for the jobs its actually badly applied, it was applied to thick in the early production runs but it seems to have improved with time as my new 3570k did not have as much TIM as other peoples

[TheWookieWarrior]

**Reserved**

That's a gorgeous block! *Drools*

[HoZy]

The reasoning behind the delidding project, Replacing the TIM & not using an adhesive to hold the heat spreader down is because from factory there is to large a gap between the CPU DYE about .6 of a MM and yes as you can see in the images the thermal paste, Now. I purchased this CPU about 3weeks ago now, So it's not only early batches that suffered from this. Doing this, with a 4.4ghz O/C & H100. Using Noctua NT-H1 Compound I was able to drop the temperatures a whole 19celcius at full load. To me, That is a giant success but it is not for the faint of heart.

I will hopefully have a delivery of a bunch of my water cooling gear today, So I will update my 2nd post on this thread with more images. Currently 9:41am In Melbourne, Australia :)

Cheers

Mat

EDIT:

Two links to refer to when regarding delidding of the 3770k

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2261855

and

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=33789592#post33789592

[Wats]

Delidded and lapped? Yush :D

[HoZy]

Bunch of gear arrived from PCCG, So this is my current tally of gear.

Waiting on my pump from GAMMODS which is on back order until 13th march, And I need 2 more fans + 1 or 2 fittings.

Going to build/dummy up my rig then get the remaining fittings once I know if I want straight or angle etc.

Just dummied this together, Pretty sure how I'll be running top exhaust, Cougar 140mm in Pull with the XSPC EX280 inside the case.

Cheers

Mat

[Parkway Drive]

**Reserved**

Lovin that red raystorm. Dead sexy

[HoZy]

Update Update Update!!!

Front Radiator: Hardware labs Sr1-280

Top Radiator: XSPC EX280

Waterblock: XSPC Raystorm Copper

Reservoir/Pump: EK DCP 4.0 Pump & Reservoir combo

Fans: Cougar 140mm

Fittings: Bitspower 1/2" g1/4"

Hose: Primoflex LRT 1/2" ID 3/4" OD

Koolance Clear Coolant

Thank you for following my build thread of my watercooled Fractal Designs Define R4 with 2x 280mm radiators :)

[HoZy]

After bleeding & a 2hour leak test.

She has now been successfully been run for 12hours and so far so good :)

I'm pretty happy with this being my first loop :D

Cheers

Mat

Now, I just wait to upgrade my 6970's <3

[Dragonflare]

After bleeding & a 2hour leak test.

She has now been successfully been run for 12hours and so far so good :)

I'm pretty happy with this being my first loop :D

Cheers

Mat

Now, I just wait to upgrade my 6970's <3

That looks absolutely incredible. Nice work!

[Glaith]

Does look really nice, but I think I prefer the black tubing, there is alot of red now. But still looks damn sexy none the less

[josh_05]

Amazing job mate! Well done! Seeing rigs like this makes me want to go that little bit extra with mine, the attention to detail really shows :)

[Jimstah25]

This looks absolutely incredible mate! Gotta love watercooling your PC. Specially when your mates come over who know nothing about it and are just left in Awww lol.

[HoZy]

Thanks for the kind comments, I really cannot wait to upgrade my gfx cards. But To me, It's not worth upgrading my 6970's for 7970's. So I'll wait for a 8XXX range or whatever is next in the AMD lineup :)

Currently looking for a nice touchscreen/button style fan controller as with the Define R4 I can't have a fan controller with knobs on it. So if anyone could help with a suggestion that'd be amazing.

Cheers

Mat

[egibbys]

Wow this looks great. Love the color scheme.

[Whaler_99]

Looks good. And if you are happy with the fans, don't bother with a fan controller. To many times I have seen putting fans on a controller introduces motor whine on the fans themselves, unless running at full speed, 12v... Some controllers use a type of pulse control for the voltage, which most fans dislike. If you want to slow them down, look for some 7v downvolt adaptersor Low Noise Adapters. Work a lot better most of the time.

[andrevautour]

I really like the look of this. I think it all works really well. I've never seen those 6970's before and I love the look of the heatpipes and the clear plastic plus the glow of the clear plastic on the cards looks really nice too with the lighting.

[HoZy]

Looks good. And if you are happy with the fans' date=' don't bother with a fan controller. To many times I have seen putting fans on a controller introduces motor whine on the fans themselves, unless running at full speed, 12v... Some controllers use a type of pulse control for the voltage, which most fans dislike. If you want to slow them down, look for some 7v downvolt adaptersor Low Noise Adapters. Work a lot better most of the time.[/quote']

I actually have the LNA adapters with my Cougar HDB 140mm fans http://www.cougar-world.com/products/fans/vortex_hdb.html

They are pretty quiet and still move a TON of air. However...

The two top fans in pull on my ex280 don't like to startup in their horizontal position with the LNA on them. But if you ever so slightly touch the blade, They'll spin up.

Now, I also wanted to use a fan controller for the ability to completely turn off those top two fans unless I'm gaming, and need them as an exhaust.

I've started looking at a bitfenix recon http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_511&products_id=20290

But I'm just not sure...

Hmm :)

P.S- Yes I know I still need to upgrade my rear exhaust from the Fractal Designs 140mm to a Cougar 140mm HDB.

[Jimstah25]

Bunch of gear arrived from PCCG, So this is my current tally of gear.

Waiting on my pump from GAMMODS which is on back order until 13th march, And I need 2 more fans + 1 or 2 fittings.

Going to build/dummy up my rig then get the remaining fittings once I know if I want straight or angle etc.

Just dummied this together, Pretty sure how I'll be running top exhaust, Cougar 140mm in Pull with the XSPC EX280 inside the case.

Cheers

Mat

Isn't it just the best day when all your water-cooling gear arrives in the mail!

[Jimstah25]

After bleeding & a 2hour leak test.

She has now been successfully been run for 12hours and so far so good :)

I'm pretty happy with this being my first loop :D

Cheers

Mat

Now, I just wait to upgrade my 6970's <3

This looks friggin' Sweet mate! Love seeing how this turned out, you did a great job of fitting so much radiator performance in this case, well done!