(Build Log) The Silent One

[brenan999]

Sometimes you have something that works just fine in the PC world but it needs to be changed because well; why not?

 

So what it's just a new case, lipstick on a pig. But is it?

That old build had some great stuff in there and the new one will provide some improvements and some probably unnecessary.

 

Parts:

To Be Removed:

-Gigabyte Z170N-Gaming 5 mobo

-LG Blu-ray drive
-Noctua LH-9i

-Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU

-Xigmatek Eris Case

-EVGA GTX960 SC GPU

 

The Silent One Parts list:

-Intel i7-6700k CPU

-Corsair 2x16GB DDR4

-Samsung 950 Pro m.2 256GB

-Samsung 850 Pro SSD 512GB

-ASUS Z270I ROG STRIX Mobo

-ASUS GTX1050Ti Dual GPU

-EK Vardar F3 Fan x2

-Corsair Obsidian 250D Case

-Corsair SF 450W PSU

-NZXT Sentry 3 Fan Controller

-Bit Fenix Spectre Pro 200mm Fan

-WD 1TB Red

-EKWB Z270I Monoblock

-EKWB DDC 3.2 Pump

-EKWB 240mm SE Radiator

-EKWB 140 Reservoir

-EKWB + SwiftTech Fittings

-Hardline Acrylic

-Barrows ASUS 1050ti Full Cover Waterblock

-Mayhem Coolant

-3d Printed Reservoir Holder

-Cablemod PSU Cables

 

Black: previous build

Green: in hand

Blue: shipped

Red: not ordered/shipped

 

So some of you are probably scratching your heads going umm..... what? No CPU upgrade and a lateral GPU move.

Well I'll break it down as an mITX build this sits on my desk and as such I don't want anything remotely loud. Which is why I'm water cooling. The EVGA card doesn't have the option to water cool like the new 1060 and with mining keeping those cards too expensive or out of stock a 1050TI which has almost identical performance was top billed. There are a couple more advantages of this as well. Lighter draw on the PSU and no 6pin cable which will help with an already cramped case. I realize this is probably the most controversial part of the build but meh.

The motherboard upgrade was for a couple of reasons. To get a heat sink for the m.2 drive. The other was aesthetics. I'll upgrade the CPU when coffeelake comes out.

This will be done with soft tubing first as I have nickel and black nickel colours and that way I can plan out how much acrylic, the colour of the fittings and placement.

 

First things first transplanting the old system into the new case and testing a few things and getting some measurements.

 

 

 Looks like everything will fit except that I'll have to shave a couple case tabs down to better fit the 200mm fan.

 

The reservoir mount being printed.

[19_blackie_73]

I'm hoping you are gaming not the entire time but use the cpu horsepower for sth. useful. Pretty inbalanced build imo and overkill watercooling a 1050ti, but i'm interested in how it turns out

[brenan999]

3 minutes ago, 19_blackie_73 said:

I'm hoping you are gaming not the entire time but use the cpu horsepower for sth. useful. Pretty inbalanced build imo and overkill watercooling a 1050ti, but i'm interested in how it turns out

It is unbalanced I agree but I primarily play Rocket League and Overwatch so anything more for the most part is overkill GPU wise. It's function is primarily for aesthetics and to kill 2 fans from the build. Besides a hardline water loop without the GPU done just looks silly. Even with the mining craze dying down I'll still get a healthy return on the 960 so cost wise it's not going to be a big deal.

I've been using the CPU more and more as well lately so it's definitely not going to waste and coffeelake won't be going in until it's been established well. Not in a rush for it.

[brenan999]

So being in the middle of a move and modding a PC is always fun. Finding time, space, tools is an interesting balancing act. But I feel I've made a bit of headway. Motherboard, Graphics Card and Monoblock have arrived. So naturally I have taken out the old hardware out now and the only thing left before the 1050ti can go in is the waterblock.

Removed those pesky tabs on the inside preventing the 200mm fan from fitting and verified fitment.

 

That also shows that the wiring can be wired pretty easily something I was a bit nervous about due to how little space I have in the front corner. 

Also started sleeving cables. I will be sleeving all but the 3.0 and PSU cables. Cablemod is shipping me a set of custom cables in the white/silver combo. This is mostly because I've done PSU before and they take forever! That and I can't get them to look as smooth as they can. The 3.0 will be unsleeved all together mostly because it doesn't look bad. Ordered a Barrow's Temp sensor that will get sleeved as well when it arrives. But initial results are looking good.

 

 

I'm still not 100% sure how to mount the fan controller but this guy on overclock did it, so I think I can too.

 

Also will not be using the 1TB WD Red drive. Going to be leaving that out in favour of just using my Unraid server. This is mostly to clean up space in the bottom of the unit and help with not having a giant pain in the rear when connecting the cables.

 

Also when mocking everything up discovered I'm going to have to chop a portion out of the F3 fan.

 

That area would normally interfere with the 8pin EPS cable. 

 

Assembled the pump and res as well as being the first water cooled build I've done which will have a proper drain. While the drain may look ugly it is hidden under the radiator and is very easily accessible.

 

Other notes; before it gets hardline I will also pick up a RAM water cooling block, and I will be modding the top of the case to have full Plexi view port. Still trying to find decent LED's to help illuminate the case as well.

See you in the next update.