My First PC Build Keeps Growing

Wolfca · March 10, 2018

So, this was my first build, and my first build log. I've been tinkering for a long time and I'm finally happy enough with it to show it off

Background:

I graduated from college last may and wanted to use my nice new salary to build a gaming PC. I've been following computer hardware since before "i7" was a thing, but had never build a PC until now.

When I got stuff:

Prime day 2017:

Ryzen 7 1700X
Asus Prime B350 Plus
Sandisk SSD Pluys 512GB
WD Blue 7200PRM 1TB HDD
EVGA 600 B1 Bronze*
NZXT S340
Corsair Hydeo H100i*
EVGA GT 730*
16GB DDR4 3000

So, that seems like a super unbalanced build. Graphics prices (at the time) seemed high, so I figured I would wait and upgrade to a real graphics card later-likely Vega, as it was being hyped and hadn't come out yet. The H100i didn't come with a AM4 bracket. It said on their site that you could get one for free, but in reality they charged like $5 shipping. I was annoyed, so instead I returned the H100i and got a LEPA Aquachanger 120 at my local Frys since that had a AM4 bracket. The 730 was enough for things like CS:GO while I waited.

I build the PC, it turned on, I was super excited! It looked like crap though, so I ran to Frys to get some cable extenders since the PSU had ketchup and mustard on the ends of the cables.

24 Pin Extender
4+4 Pin Extender

Then, Vega dropped. I managed to grab the Vega 56 in a radeon pack at MSRP (with the two games. I was going to get Wolfenstein anyway so it was mostly worth it). I get the card, it comes, I turn the PC on, everything's dandy. Thing sounds like a blow dryer. When I played games, though, my PC would crash. I couldn't figure out why-I reseated all the cables, looked at reviews for the Vega, etc. Eventually, a forum post led me to believe it was my PSU. Classic "everyone always says not to skimp on a PSU but I ignore it anyway" kind of thing. I tried using seperate PCIE cables form the PSU (instead of the daisy chained), and grabbed a pair of 6+2pin extenders. Still didn't work. Time to replace my PSU. So I got a CollerMaster V750 fully modular PSU. Installed it, and it worked great. I was in business! I also grabbed a bunch of Noctua NF-12s and a NF F-14 to replace my case fans, to try to help with the noise.

At some point I also grabbed a 960 EVO 256Gb because I saw Linus's video on DRAM-less SSDs and got worried. Also, there is no ethernet to my desk. I had been running an old powerline kit that I've had for awhile, but it was only getting me ~30Mbps, whereas I pay for 100Mb internet. I grabbed a Rosewill AC wifi card to get those sweet 100Mb speeds.

The noise was still a problem on the Vega. I did a lot of research over what to do-replace thermal paste, more case fans, try to mount a CPU AiO on it (which doesn't work since none of the adapters fit on Vega). So, it's been awhile since I've done some work on my PC, and I started looking into a custom loop. Not worth the $6-700 that EK was estimating. Then I saw the A240R-one of their aluminum kits designed for Vega. I ordered it, a few (EK aluminum) angled fittings because I heard that was a complaint, and their 120mm fan mount for the pump. I also grabbed some Arctic Silver 5 since I heard it's better than the EK stock thermal paste. I also grabbed a USB 3 header extender because that cable is a pain in the a**.

Yesterday I installed the loop. Had to remove the cable management bar for space. Put a pseudo push-pull on the rad-as I used the top of the rad to mount the pump. Did some interesting curves in the tubing to prevent kinking. One of them is sort slightly bending/kinking, but not enough for me to worry (yet). I pump it full of liquid, and start running it with paper towels to test for leaks.

AND.. It worked! My GPU temps dropped from ~83 under load to ~52 under load. CPU stayed about the same as it did with the AiO (after I reseated it). I'm in business! I have a custom loop! It hasn't leaked yet (after ~6 hours of ontime). It's so much quieter under load! Maybe in the future I'll grab the 120mm rad extender and put it on the back, and maybe get their red fluid instead of the clear fluid.

I also grabbed an ifixit toolkit at Frys yesterday before making the loop. Would have probably taken me twice as long if I didn't have their toolkit, so yeah-it's as good as they say it is. I also found the s340 to be super flexible-was super worried about not being able to fit the pump AND a radiator AND a vega 56. Maybe I should have gotten a nicer/bigger case for this HW, but the s340 handled it like a champ.

I forgot to take pics along the way, but here are two after pics.