Custom Waterloop - 900D, GTX780 - green themed Rig

[Denoxx]

Hey guys

I wanted to have a watercooled rig for a long time now, and now I finally started building one! This is my first buildlog ever, in which I wanted to share my experiences with you, because this is an awesome forum with even more awesome people. As I really love custom loops, I wanted to watercool my whole rig at once, so I went for a new case. My old one was the NZXT Phantom which really had plenty of room to put stuff in, but it was older and there weren’t that many rad-slots so I decided to get the Corsair Obsidian 900D, which is pretty much as big as it can get.
I’m really an esthetics-guy so the only choice for the reservoir was a tube-res. I chose the Phobya Balancer 250mm for, which I wanted to fill up with green liquid.
 
 
 
Hardware:
 
CPU: Intel 3770K
Mainboard: Asus Sabertooth Z77
RAM: Corsair Dominator 8GB (2x4)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 780
PSU: Corsair AX860i
SSD: Samsung 840 pro 128GB
HDD: 2x 1TB WD Cabiar Black in RAID0
 
I had to take the heatsink off the RAM, due to its ugly red color which would have just completely destroyed the green colorscheme. They really don’t look that bad without the heatsink, they’re just completely black.
 
Watercooling-Hardware:
 
CPU-block: Swiftech Apogee HD 4-port
GPU-block: Watercool Heatkiller GPU-X GTX780 “hole-edition”
Pump: Alphacool VPP655
Reservoir: Phobya Balancer 250mm
Rads: 2x Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 480mm
Fans: 8x Silverstone AP121 – green 120mm
Case: Corsair Obsidian 900D
Tubing: Masterkleer PVC 3/8’’
Fittings: Koolance G1/4 3/8’’ black
 
 
For the looks, I bought a GPU-backplate and the really sharp looking individually sleeved PSU-cables from Corsair.
 
Makeup:
 
GPU-backplate: Watercool Heatkiller GPU backplate GTX 7X0
PSU-cables: Professional individually sleeved DC cable kit Type3
Liquid: Mayhems Pastel – mint green
 
 
 And now what you actually want to see
Pictures:

 

 

I had to take out the HD-bays in the bottom to fit my rad and the pump down there.

 

 

I was really impressed when the custom sleeved cables came in from Corsair. They look so beautiful and the green really seems to glow 

 

 

 

 

 

I mounted the Phobya Balancer to the HD-cages. This way I didn't had to drill holes myself, I was able to screw in between the rails for the hd-bays.

 

The Silverstone AP's just look so good at night. I took of the "side-panel" that covered the bottom part of the 900D for better airflow. If it would still be there, you wouldn't be able to see much of the glow at all.

 

 

When mounting the CPU-block I accidentally managed to bend one of the MB-pins  :unsure: But as lucky as I am, I was able to bend it back successfully without damaging it. But for a moment I was really scared 

 

 

 

The cables go perfectly with the black background from the 900D

 

Please just ignore the red SATA cable  I'll have to change it but at the moment, I had no other laying around.

 

 

 

 

The filling actually went smoother than I thought it would. I was frightened to actually fill the loop up, but it turned out to be the easiest part of the whole project 

 

 

 

 

The bleeding takes longer than I thought. I got the machine running now for about 2 weeks and when I turn it off, sometimes I still see small bubbles around some fittings.

 

 

 

 

Thats about how far I am at the moment. I'm still waiting for the LED-strips (green) to be delivered. I'll take some glamour-shots when I've really finished everything, but I'm interested in what you think about my rig and I'm looking forward to reading your comments.  :lol:

 

Thanks for reading

[Samdb]

My favourite part of the entire build is the GPU backplate, I really want one now . One thing you could do is take the stickers off of your RAM, it really doesn't fit in.

[Hecknologist]

Love the green, can't wait to see it finished. One thing to add though is I think it will have a much better feel to it if you use white LED strips instead of green as it will make the green pop instead of making it overkill. OfC this is personal preference but something to think about.

[Cobiee]

This is awesome! Also it's in my favorite colour How much was all the water cooling equipment in total if you don't mind me asking, Quite interested in a custom loop my self.

[alpenwasser]

Nice system you have there.

One thing to add though is I think it will have a much better feel to it if you use white LED strips instead of green as it will make the green pop instead of making it overkill. OfC this is personal preference but something to think about.

I second that, I think white LEDs would probably look better (or: more catered

towards my taste ), but since you've already ordered them it doesn't matter

all that much now I suppose.

[Denoxx]

My favourite part of the entire build is the GPU backplate, I really want one now . One thing you could do is take the stickers off of your RAM, it really doesn't fit in.

Just took them off right now thanks for the tipp, they look awesome now 

 

 

Love the green, can't wait to see it finished. One thing to add though is I think it will have a much better feel to it if you use white LED strips instead of green as it will make the green pop instead of making it overkill. OfC this is personal preference but something to think about.

I thought exactly the same, but I was unsure if it will really help when I put white in instead of green. I think I'll just order some whites too, then I'd be able to swap it, if they dont look that great.

 

 

This is awesome! Also it's in my favorite colour How much was all the water cooling equipment in total if you don't mind me asking, Quite interested in a custom loop my self.

I live in Switzerland so I don't know, what these parts would cost somewhere else, but everything including the case was more than 1000.- in our currency, which is about the same as 1100$

[ANUPLUCIFERGAMER]

uhh! those sleeved green cables! so........ amazing! out now for buying now! amazing build though!

[Analog]

This build looks insane dude! That green fluid is amazing!

[Denoxx]

uhh! those sleeved green cables! so........ amazing! out now for buying now! amazing build though!

 

This build looks insane dude! That green fluid is amazing!

Thank you very much

[blindsighted26]

Wow love the look of this build nice on 

 

I love the coolant i wish the sunset yellow was that vibrant did you add anything to it to get it that vibrant if so what ?

 

anyhow very nice build   

[hiyayhi]

Very nice! I love green builds but they are hardly ever done well.

 

Yours is.

[AxelPeeters]

dat backplate  :wub:  alos , nice tubing runs !

[TicTac]

Love the coolant looks awesome nice job man

[LogicDeifying]

Man the S3 has a good camera,on a related note how was the lighting when you took the pictures.(myself having a s4 and going to do a build)

Btw,beautiful build.

[terrytek]

What M/B pin r u talking about?

[Frilo93]

Why did you go with the 3770k instead of the newer 4770k. The performance difference not worth the price?

[Quantum]

Love the green . 

[micedits]

I love the green man although I would take off the ram stickers as well and just to warn you adding more green leds into the top part of the case may make it look bad I personally would use white leds to bring of the colours. 

[Denoxx]

Wow love the look of this build nice on 

 

I love the coolant i wish the sunset yellow was that vibrant did you add anything to it to get it that vibrant if so what ?

 

anyhow very nice build   

Nope, the coolant is has not been customized

 

Why did you go with the 3770k instead of the newer 4770k. The performance difference not worth the price?

I already had the hardware, I just wanted to watercool it... I've had this cpu now for a long time

[Nicktrance]

Not a fan of LED fans or coloured LEDs (IMO it will just wash everything out) and I think the tubing could have been much better organised but great job otherwise and a nice choice of parts, looking forward to see the final product.

[Denoxx]

Not a fan of LED fans or coloured LEDs (IMO it will just wash everything out) and I think the tubing could have been much better organised but great job otherwise and a nice choice of parts, looking forward to see the final product.

I just ordered some white LED-strips too I'll try both out. 

 

What M/B pin r u talking about?

With Intel sockets, there are small pins on the motherboard. And i accidentally bent one of them.

[Toad Boy]

I really wouldn't go for green LED's in you build.

 

I have Mayhem's Pastel mint green, and used to have green LED's. They tended to make the fluid look yellow

[Ham1234]

That looks really nice

[Lays]

What coolant did you use? @Denoxx

[Inimigor]

Oh maaaaaaan that lime sleeve is just gorgeous! Really good work!