[Build Log] Project X

[gaoxing84]

Wassup guys! This is the first time i am posting a build log for my workstation for home office. Decided to go full custom water-cooling as it's the next logical step after playing with hardware and AIO cooling. Was poison by so many other sick water-cooling rig from different forums across the globe. All thanks to royfrosty (who poison and gian me to do water-cooling. Also helping me with my usual questions and LED needs), clon22 that always help me look for MSI stocks when they are out in SLS (nothing but thumbs up!) the sick project rampage II done by Congrade07, mr_voodoo, one of my good camp-mate from my NS days that re-ignite the thought of water-cooling and also shadow84 who answered most of my noob questions in his build log (cause we are using the same case for custom water-cooling loop)

Project X - inspire by the famous party movie (actually i just didn't have any nice inspiration of names for this build log and project)

I will going for the black/yellow theme (as per my MSI-MPower Max board colour scheme)

LATEST UPDATE 12/8/2016 (New Additions)
X99A MSI M-Power
Intel i7-5820K Haswell-E
Corsair Dominator Platinum 4x8gb (32gb) 3200Mhz
Samsung SM950Pro 256gb
2 x EVGA GTX-1080 F.T.W
Acer X34 Predator G-Sync WQHD Curved Monitor
Corsair Strafe RGD Cherry RED mechanical keyboard

TO

My loop order i already got it in my head, will draw it out later and post here.
Was thinking of getting those big items and measure in my case before getting the tubes and fittings. At least I know what i need after placing all the big items in.
Probably going full rigid tubing or half rigid, half flexible.


Full Set of Parts all in (Water Cooling)
EK Supremacy EVO Plexi/Nickel Original CSQ
EK GTX 970 MSI Gaming Full Nickel Water Block x2
EK GTX 970 Blackplate x2
EK FC Terminal for GPU
Alphacool UT60 240mm (Bottom Rad)
Alphacool XT45 360mm (Top Rad)
XSPC Photon 170 Glass Res + D5 Pump Combo
Mayhem Pastel Sunset Yellow
5 x Corsair SP120 Performance Fans
SwiftTech 8-way PWM splitter x2
White LED Strips 2m
EVGA 2 Way SLI Bridge

Barrows Fittings
Crystal Link Tubes 14 OD 10 ID
90 degree angled Rotary Fittings x6
45 degree angled Rotary Fittings x1
Compression fittings for rigid tubes x10
Male-to-male adapter x1
Ball Tap x1
Stop Plug x1

 

[gaoxing84]

Sneak peak of what I am up to.
Will upload high quality photos when I am ready.
From this

to

to

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[gaoxing84]

Finally all done up.

Going to write down all the challenges that I have faced so that I can prevent it from happening again and also allows people to take note if they want to work with a corsair 750D.
Overall experience, fun and engaging.

1. Wanted to get all straight tubes and rely on 90deg fittings to route them around. However, it's gonna make the entire rig damn heavy due to the amount of bends I need to fit into that case. Therefore decided to bend them to get the more "organic" look + save a load of money on fittings. Got a lighter rig in return too. Had a fun time bending and getting the right fit. Tons of sanding and sawing too!

2. Mounting holes for the bottom rad is slight off for the UT60 because of the port at the end. That's why I have to somehow "customise" the bend from the rad to the gpu bridge block. Had to do it 3 times before I get a solid one. Usually others will just be a normal right angle bend.

3. Mounting holes for fans may cause issues as the screw head provided by the rad is kinda small, gotta use spacers to work with.

4. The metal plate for xspc photon 170 is darn heavy. Together with pump and glass res, it weighs even more. I had to drill 2 holes, kinda off center, no choice due to the routing holes for cables. But using double nut to hold it, pretty snug.

First leak test - no major leaks except for bottom rad stopper never screw in tighter. quite lucky as i am first time WC building.

woohoo! after a long painful wait, it's finally done! haha super good temps (don't really game or do bench, just like the entire outlook of a wc pc). never regret going on this path.

haha maybe friends can pass me their rig, can help them with it. haha

 

[gaoxing84]

Reserved for Future posting 3

 

[gaoxing84]

Reserved for Future posting 4

 

[shadow84]

Nice start.. btw its congrade07, not 08.. lol.. hope u dun make the same mistakes as i did.

 

[GeForce]

Nice btw, was the upgrade to AX860i really necessary? :O
Love the size of the AX860i man..
AX860i 160mm
RM850 180mm

 

[gaoxing84]

Nice start.. btw its congrade07, not 08.. lol.. hope u dun make the same mistakes as i did.

Let's hope not! haha

Nice btw, was the upgrade to AX860i really necessary? :O
Love the size of the AX860i man..
AX860i 160mm
RM850 180mm

yea cause ax780i headroom not alot left after i SLI and OC.
I will be passing the PSU to my brother. lol anyway i got it cheap from last amazon sale.

wanted 1200i but too ex and huge

 

[gaoxing84]

btw, anyone here knows where can get acrylic tubing suitable for water-cooling in Singapore? what's the material suitable? PMMA? as used by primochill. if not have to really order from Primochill already.

Saw some from E22 hard tube. What congrade used in his project rampage II
OD 12mm, ID 10mm.
So fittings will be 1/2" OD , 3/8" ID
Rigid Fittings will be challenging!

Just collected today from a seller. let's hope the CAM software is as good as what Linus says

 

[gaoxing84]

Hooted 2m of LED strip (lighting the case up!) and received EVGA 2 Way SLI Bridge from amazon! amazing customer service from them! 1 for me 1 for my friend!

 

[gaoxing84]

Read up about Barrows Fittings in ocn. OEM for bitspower and at a fraction of the price. Haha probably going to hoot that from taobao.

 

[shadow84]

Just a suggestion, u might wanna ask the pros at OCN about other better alternatives for alphacool rads. Seems like recent batches dun have good cleaning of it internally. And there could have newer models which may beat the UT60/XT45 in terms of performance.

 

[gaoxing84]

Just a suggestion, u might wanna ask the pros at OCN about other better alternatives for alphacool rads. Seems like recent batches dun have good cleaning of it internally. And there could have newer models which may beat the UT60/XT45 in terms of performance.

Rally? New models from alpha cool? Or? I like alpha cool because of the multiple ports

 

[shadow84]

Rally? New models from alpha cool? Or? I like alpha cool because of the multiple ports

As in new models from other brands... Seems like many have been hit by the 'dirtiness'of the rad internally... Alphacool QC not that good?

 

[gaoxing84]

As in new models from other brands... Seems like many have been hit by the 'dirtiness'of the rad internally... Alphacool QC not that good?

Maybe need to rinse it before using. Haha.

 

[gaoxing84]

Finally some updates. Read up about Barrows Fittings. It's like a OEM for bitspower fittings but at a fraction the price. Bought these from Taobao and the quality is top notch. Very solid. Will use these for my entire watercooling loop.

Tested the 8mm ID, 12mm OD but it doesn't sit flush according to the g1/4. So I got the 10mm ID, 14mm ID. Sits flushed and I think the water will have smoother flow.

8MM ID, 12MM OD

10MM ID, 14MM OD

 

[sglords]

wad coolant r u planning to use?

 

[gaoxing84]

wad coolant r u planning to use?

Probably non-premix
Buy distilled water and mix myself with Mayhem X1
But i have seen set up such as Shadow84 and OCN forum, alot are using clear distilled water. quite nice also.

Now thinking using biocide or kill coil.
Kill coil put into Res? hahaha undecided.

any pointers from any water cooling expert?

 

[shadow84]

Probably non-premix
Buy distilled water and mix myself with Mayhem X1
But i have seen set up such as Shadow84 and OCN forum, alot are using clear distilled water. quite nice also.

Now thinking using biocide or kill coil.
Kill coil put into Res? hahaha undecided.

any pointers from any water cooling expert?

Im nt using distiled water. Using aqc clear coolant with kill coil.

Do add a kill coil in ur res. Whether to add biocide or nt is up to u, but since u using distilled, then jus add bah. Depend on jill coil alone isnt enough,unless u using coolant which have biocide added le.

 

[sglords]

I tok use pure distill water only or with kill coil or silver coil will cause ek nickel to flake?

Ytd chk wif scorpia pricing on coolant
first thing tell amargadon then ask gt ek or mayhem concentration price arnd $35-$39. Later chking wif other shops their pricing