Vermicella annulata - From air to water [Build Log] COMPLETED

[Random_her0]

Vermicella annulata - From air to water

 

Hey guys, this is going to be my second build log here on the Linus Tech Tips forum, my first being: Pseudechis porphyriacus which itself is still a work in progress

My plan for this build is turn my Corsair Air 540 rig from air cooling to an acrylic tubing water cooled rig. I have the basic plan in my mind, and will be slowly moving towards water cooling over the next 1-2 months, updating here as I go along.

FINAL BUILD:  

 

 

Initial Build Components

ASUS Rampage IV Extreme-Z
Intel i7-2600k
Power Color R9 290
12gb DDR3 2000MHz (2 DIMMS A-DATA, 2 G.Skill)
Intel SSD 520 series (120GB)
2x 1.5TB HDD
Corsair HX1000W PSU
Corsair SP and AF 120s + one AF 140
Corsair H100

Final Build Components

 

Asus Maximus VII Ranger 

Intel i5-4670k

2x AMD R9 290 in CF

16GB Kingston HyperX Fury

Samsung 840EVO 256GB SSD

2x WD Green 1.5TB HDD

Corsair HX1000W

2x Corsair SP120 High performance

3x  Noiseblocker BlackSilentPro PL-2 120mm

 

Watercooling Parts

 

EK-Supremacy Clean CSQ - Acetal+Nickel CPU block

EK-DDC 3.2 PWM X-RES /w multiport top and 204mm tube

EK-CoolStream 360 and 240 rads

EK-FC R9-290X - Acetal + Nickel GPU blocks

EK-HD Adapters + Bitspower matte black extenders

 

 

 

I will be installing water blocks on the GPU, CPU and memory (but not chipset).
I already have the custom cables up and running, but will need to tidy those up, and will also be getting my HDD wrapped in a nice, black material.

I expect this process to take around 1.5 - 2 months to complete as I buy/order pieces one by one, but if it results the way I have it in my mind's eye, it should look and perform well.

Here are some pics of the build as it is at the moment

Plenty of work to do, but it'll be fun!

[tpoar]

What's it like building with that case? Currently looking for one for my new build and that one has caught my eye a few times now

[Random_her0]

What's it like building with that case? Currently looking for one for my new build and that one has caught my eye a few times now

 

With the gear I have in at the moment it's stupidly easy. Don't even need to worry about cable management as it's all at the back. If you don't mind the increase width I'd recommend it. If you are asking about water cooling, then I'll let you know when that happens. But I can't imagine it will be too troubling, plenty of space. 

 

Of course I don't recommend it for people with more than 2 HDD

[Quantum]

Nice build so far  .  Can't wait for more pictures! I love the sleeving  

[JoshM6789]

Move it up to the top slots ~~ it looks ridiculous like that!

[Random_her0]

Move it up to the top slots ~~ it looks ridiculous like that!

 

There's actually a long and incredibly frustrating story to that.

I kept getting BSoD with the 290 (apparently not uncommon) and I was on the verge of RMAing when I thought, why not try all the different PCIe slots first ?(even though I knew the top one worked perfectly, as the previous card was in it).

It BSoD in slot 2, but so far, after 48 hours hasn't BSoD in slot three. Not sure if I seated it slightly differently or if it's some irritating compatibility issue, but I'll be moving it back to slot one tomorrow and seeing if it's fixed itself. If not, it'll live in slot three, and hopefully the tubing makes it less noticeable.

[NIC ROBERTOOO]

Just as a suggestion, why not put the fan colour on the corresponding radiator loop?

Eg, red fans on the red loop, white fans for the white loop?

[Random_her0]

Just as a suggestion, why not put the fan colour on the corresponding radiator loop?

Eg, red fans on the red loop, white fans for the white loop?

I have considered that and also considered painting the rads the corresponding colour as well, but am unsure if that will make it look like a red section and a white section, rather than the whole thing being mixed, just like the sleeving.

But I'll definitely think hard about it, thanks for the input!

[Random_her0]

Ok, some updates!

 

Finally back to working on this build and decided to make some changes in hardware before beginning the water cooling process.

 

I opted to change the MoBo to Maximus VII Ranger and upgrade the CPU as a result to the i5 4670k.

I have also added a second R9 290 and changed the RAM to 16GB of Kingston HyperX Fury.

The SSD is now the Samsung EVO 840 EVO (250GB) and I have wrapped both of 1.5TB HDDs as they were a MASSIVE eyesore.

 

I'm hoping to have all water cooling parts ready for the middle of August, when I will go ahead and dedicated a couple of days to putting the whole thing together. Should be fun!

 

Picture of the whole build at the moment

 

Some of the sleeving

 

Better view of the HDD wrapping 

 

The two R9 290s 

 

 

Hopefully will have more updates soon!

[Random_her0]

First piece of the water cooling puzzle is here: EK-coolstream PE 240 rad. It's a pretty thing.

[118killbill]

Awesome case. Check out what singularity did with the same case

Singularity Computers Client Build 13 Build Log: …:

[NIGHTSHADE0]

Nice colour scheme, look forward to seeing it looped.

[ericlee30]

I really like the colors you chose for this build, very nice.

[Random_her0]

Awesome case. Check out what singularity did with the same case

Singularity Computers Client Build 13 Build Log: …:

 

Been a long time fan of his work. Particularly looked for inspiration from him whilst making my prodigy build

 

Nice colour scheme, look forward to seeing it looped.

 

I really like the colors you chose for this build, very nice.

 

Thanks! Colours should work well together, just want to ensure I get the correct balance.

 

Installed the EK Monarch RAM modules today. Also made a reasonable size order for some more parts, ETA of about 2 weeks. Also picked up some Mayhem's Pastel Ice white.

 

 

Struggling with the dual loop idea, unfortunately. I probably will be switching to a single loop, with a larger tube res on display in the front (ala Singularity). Should adjust the thread title for legal reasons. 

I want some input! Do you guys prefer the aesthetics of minimal fittings, maximum tube lengths or minimal tubing, and fittings to make all routing straight? I currently am leaning towards minimising the number of fittings and bending all the tubing.

[Maki Role]

If I were you, I'd try and do a mix of both.  Personally I find builds with only bend tubing look a bit odd, it has a habit of undoing some of the benefits of using a rigid tube to begin with.  On the other hand, I don't think using only fittings looks good either.  It just has the effect (in my opinion anyway) of causing the tubes to look as if they have knobbly knees.  I've found a good idea is to turn the bends themselves into a feature, as such, only have one major bend in any one piece of tubing.  So if you were going to do a big, U-shaped piece, you would instead use 1 90° fitting and 1 bend.

[Random_her0]

If I were you, I'd try and do a mix of both.  Personally I find builds with only bend tubing look a bit odd, it has a habit of undoing some of the benefits of using a rigid tube to begin with.  On the other hand, I don't think using only fittings looks good either.  It just has the effect (in my opinion anyway) of causing the tubes to look as if they have knobbly knees.  I've found a good idea is to turn the bends themselves into a feature, as such, only have one major bend in any one piece of tubing.  So if you were going to do a big, U-shaped piece, you would instead use 1 90° fitting and 1 bend.

 

Interesting Idea, Will certainly consider that!

[79wjd]

It's a shame custom loops are so expensive....I'd love a nice custom loop

[Random_her0]

It's a shame custom loops are so expensive....I'd love a nice custom loop

 

Expensive indeed. Piecing mine together bit by bit so as not to completely break the bank. Hoping to have this completed by early September.

[OverachievingSnowfall]

I personally prefer fewer fittings and all bends in the acrylic.  I'd love to do a copper line build at some point, and that's how I'd do it - as few fittings as necessary.  too many fittings seem to clutter up the build, and break up the aesthetic "flow" of the loop.

 

I just need to settle on a system configuration before I jump in on it.

[Random_her0]

Some goodies arrived! Couldn't install any of them apart from the RAM block and I love the look. 

I have ordered ALL the parts, but unfortunately the two GPU blocks are on backlog until approximately the 8th. I'll be having Tuesday the 12th off from work, and will dedicate the whole day to putting it all together IF everything has arrived; can't wait!

 

Here are some pics of the RAM block installed:

 

 

[Random_her0]

The dissaembly process has begun! And just got a notification that everything has arrived in Thailand and is currently in customs.
Hurrah.

Yeah, I still have my 8800 box...

[Random_her0]

Everything has arrived, and so it begins...

First thing I did was install the GPU waterblocks and join them with some hard tubing.

Next I installed the CPU block (looks amazing next to the RAM block)

Then it was a matter of putting everything in to the chassis. All went smoother than expected. All cable management needs doing as does tubing (and some additional fittings are needed). More to follow soon! Until then, some glamour shots.

[Prokart2000]

NOICE

[MarQue98]

wow the combination of the stealth look of the blocks and the popynis (is that a word? it is now ) really looks awesome, excited to see more

[Trik'Stari]

An extremely excellent 540 build log from the corsair forums

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=121577

ERMAGERD it makes me look at my dinky build and

 

God I wish I had more money >.<