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MEKA - My First Watercooled Build

NerfThis
By NerfThis
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Hello guys,

A few weeks ago I decided to get a new PC and while I was at it to try some water cooling.

I play a lot of Overwatch and I wanted to do a D.VA themed build with a white/pink color theme.

I've run into so many problems during the process (currently at tubing) and I just wanted to share how stupid I am with you guys :D

 

My Parts List :
 

PC Components

CPU : Intel Core i7-7820X

Motherboard : MSI X299 GAMING PRO CARBON AC

Memory : G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR-3200

Storage : Samsung 960 EVO 500GB, Wester Digital Back 1TB

GPU : Asus Geforce GTX 1080 Ti Poseidon

Case : Corsair Crystal 570X RGB

 

Water Cooling Components

EKWB Supremacy Evo

EKWB D5 Pump

Singularity Protium Reservoir

Singularity Core Mounting Brackets

EKWB PETG Tubing

Bitspower Fittings

 

Problems I have faced into

So the components came one by one for a duration of about two weeks. I would have bought a lot of these things if I didn't live in NYC and I could actually go somewhere for these parts nearby.

First problem I ran into was the reservoir I was planning to mount next to my 360 rad. The Poseidon GPU was WAY bigger than I expected. While the res itself had enough clearance, the mounts were thicker than expected and I was forced to mount it horizontally on my 240 rad on top instead.

Second issue was I thought a d5 pump top was actually a d5 pump that attached to a reservoir. (Didn't think a cap made of acrylic could be worth $60 USD) So I had to buy an extra pump.. which was another problem because I couldn't find the one that stuck to my res, so I just got an EKWB pump and mounted it next to my 360 rad.

Third issue I am currently facing is dealing with rigid tubing and the crazy curves I need to make in order for everything to fit. I have 3 connections done right now, and that took me 6 tubes of PETG tubing... I thought it would be enough for me but being the first-timer I am I messed up about 2 packs of it. Most of my connections feel like I forced the tube into place.. not sure if this is what people usually do. I am also AMAZED by people being able to connect things in just 1 curve, my components would never be able to connect that way. (Bad planning by my part.)

 

Things I learned and suggestions for first-timers

For the love of god use soft tubing if its your first time. Yes rigid tubing looks better. It also takes a whole lot more time than you think. The videos you see online make things look so easy and clean cut because they are tutorials. (I might just be really bad at bending tubing though.. :/)

 

Buy a huge case. I thought the 570X would be enough and it wasn't.. not much space to work with. If you plan to use a small res/d5 combo then mid-tower is fine. But a bigger case would have definitely made things easier for me. Clearance was half of the headaches I have had during this venture.  Speaking of clearance..

 

Buy things from one company only. I thought my res would fit into the EKWB pump and I was wrong. Companies have different dimensions for how they build things, but they do make their own things work with each other. Buying tubing and matching fittings can be a headeache, and just sticking to one company can save some of the pain of having to deal with different sizes of tubing as well as mounting solutions, etc.

 

 

Overall, a great learning experience for me. Some frustration of having to wait for stuff to arrive since I can't finish my build until next week.This is personal preference, but I regret the hell out of choosing to go with rigid tubing, Things just seem so hard to put together.

 

I would like to end with one question to the pros. All my curves are pretty bad and they don't perfectly match my fittings. I sort of forced them in there and they are pretty snug but I just don't like the feeling. Will this cause a leak long term?
 

Thanks everyone :) I will post when I finish!

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Posted

il follow this in case you have any more tips, for Northern Bee(my first watercooling project) im going with soft tubeing and separate pump and res, should be fine because the res is tiny. good luck with the rest of this :) 

I spent $2500 on building my PC and all i do with it is play no games atm & watch anime at 1080p(finally) watch YT and write essays...  nothing, it just sits there collecting dust...

Builds:

The Toaster Project! Northern Bee!

 

The original LAN PC build log! (Old, dead and replaced by The Toaster Project & 5.0)

Spoiler

"Here is some advice that might have gotten lost somewhere along the way in your life. 

 

#1. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

#2. It's best to keep your mouth shut; and appear to be stupid, rather than open it and remove all doubt.

#3. There is nothing "wrong" with being wrong. Learning from a mistake can be more valuable than not making one in the first place.

 

Follow these simple rules in life, and I promise you, things magically get easier. " - MageTank 31-10-2016

 

 

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Posted

Despite the lack of tubing, it still looks fantastic! I have a friend that only plays dva so i'll share this build with him. Anyway, thanks for the tips and good luck

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1 hour ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

, should be fine because the res is tiny.

Good luck to you as well! :)

Hopefully 

 

1 hour ago, SCGazelle said:

Despite the lack of tubing, it still looks fantastic! I have a friend that only plays dva so i'll share this build with him. Anyway, thanks for the tips and good luck

Thanks! :D They really aren't tips though.. just personal things I want to slap my past self with haha

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
6 minutes ago, NerfThis said:

Finished! 

The Trident RGB Ram gave me a hard time configuring them but I got them to work with several reinstallations of the software.

 

 

that looks really cool

I spent $2500 on building my PC and all i do with it is play no games atm & watch anime at 1080p(finally) watch YT and write essays...  nothing, it just sits there collecting dust...

Builds:

The Toaster Project! Northern Bee!

 

The original LAN PC build log! (Old, dead and replaced by The Toaster Project & 5.0)

Spoiler

"Here is some advice that might have gotten lost somewhere along the way in your life. 

 

#1. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

#2. It's best to keep your mouth shut; and appear to be stupid, rather than open it and remove all doubt.

#3. There is nothing "wrong" with being wrong. Learning from a mistake can be more valuable than not making one in the first place.

 

Follow these simple rules in life, and I promise you, things magically get easier. " - MageTank 31-10-2016

 

 

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Posted

Haha, love the build. Definitely has character. xP

- Fresher than a fruit salad.

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