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[Build Log] Project: Vanilla Cherries - COMPLETE

10K views 115 replies 19 participants last post by  Michalius 
#1 ·

Overview:

Since I really wanted to have a useful backup rig that I could use at lan parties, I decided to start building a new comp. I knew it was going to be based around an i5 2500k and two 6950s, but I didn't really know what else I'd include. Colour wise I was very distraught, as I wanted to make this look pretty enough to take pictures of as well as for it to perform well. After months of deciding, and by "months" I mean two, I finally decided what I was going to do with it. At first I thought I should make a cool form factor rig, but I chose not to do that, as the video cards and mods I was going to do to them required that I have an E-ATX motherboard. So, although it's not very small, and although that defeats the idea of a LAN rig, I'm still calling it one because it will be what I use it for. I will also, in the near future, be putting it under water, with mostly EK parts.

This ended up being so much more than I bargained for, it blew up into my first real build, and a real art project. I can't believe how well it turned out, and I will treasure the experience forever.

System Name: It was going to be White Phoenix, but when I asked a clanmate he said something involving cherries, so I came up with Vanilla Cherries.




Build Details:

Main Components:

Old Parts:
  • i5 2500k - attained
  • ASUS Maximus IV Extreme P67 - attained
  • 12GB (2 x 4GB & 2 x 2GB) Corsair Vengeance @ 1600MHz - attained
  • WD 500GB Caviar Black - attained
  • Crucial M4 80GB - unattained
  • MSI 6950 Frozr II x2 - attained -OLD
  • Sapphire 7970 - attained
  • Corsair HX850 - attained
  • NZXT Phantom (white w/ red trim) - attained
New Parts:
  • NZXT Hale90-1000-M
  • Sapphire 7970
  • 16GB Corsair Dominators @ 2133MHz
AC/Misc:
  • Arctic Cooling Accelero Twin Turbo II x2(will be painting white parts red) - unattained
  • Corsair H70 - attained
  • 4x CoolerMaster CycleFlow 120mms (red) - attained
  • Noctua NT-H1 - attained
  • NZXT Cold Cathodes in red x2 - attained
  • ASUS 22" Monitor - attained
Hydro Kit:

Loop One:
  • Bitspower Water Tank Z-Multi 150
  • Swiftech MCP355™ 12 VDC Pump - unattained
  • XSPC RS 240mm rad (up top, for CPU - could I fit a 360 in there if I didn't have a drive up top?) - unattained
  • EK Supreme HF- unattained
  • EK G1/4" Black Nickel (as many as I need)- unattained
  • Feser UV Red and Feser UV White 3/8" - unattained
  • Cooler Master Sickle Flows (red)x2 - attained
Loop 2:
  • XSPC X20 750 res/pump - unattained
  • XSPC RS 360mm rad (external) - unattained
  • EK FC6870 - Acetal + NIckel)x2 - unattained
  • EK G1/4" Black Nickel (as many as I need)- unattained
  • Feser UV Red and Feser UV White 3/8" - unattained
  • Lamptron Fan-Atic Controller- unattained
  • Cooler Master Sickle Flows (red)x3 - attained
Current Loop:
  • EK Supreme HF (copper/acetal)
  • EK FC7970 copper/acetal (w/ backplate)
  • XSPC EX240 x2
  • XSPC EX120
  • Yate Loon 120mm low speeds
  • Monsoon Compression Fittings (matte black) x12
  • Primochill LRT UV White 3/8"x5/8"
  • Primochill LRT UV Red 3/8"x5/8"
  • XSPC Dual bay res for DDCs
  • Koolance PMP400 (Laing DDC)
  • Distilled water + kill coil + PT Nuke
Side Notes:
Now that it's done I'm still looking for more stuff to do, and sometime soon I think I can manage asking for a sponsorship by some companies. Thanks for everyone who looked, I now it wasn't very interesting for a big part of it, but I didn't expect it to become what it was. Thanks all!
 
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#2 ·
*CURRENT PLANS*

Build is complete.
 
#3 ·
*Log 23/01/2012*

Only the Maximus IV came today, as I had ordered it at a different date because my case wasn't in stock at the time, and neither was the 2500k.






Looks very pretty. One little thing that struck me as odd, though, was that one of the locking mechanisms on the DIMM-B2 slots was open. I'm not going to worry about it, though, as it seems to happen to other people as well:



*Log 25/01/2012*

So, uh. Little bit of delay. I got onto my phone at school before my first period final today, checked UPS, and, apparently, my train got derailed. Yeah. Train derailment: Exception was the first thing I saw. However, there is no news about it, so I assume that the train left the station, didn't work, and then went back, and because UPS didn't have any way of describing that they just put "TRAIN DERAILMENT: EXCEPTION." The reason is because train derailments are serious things, and it's like a train flies off the tracks and everything is terrible. I'm hoping none of my stuff was damaged, and I have no idea when I will be getting it.

*Log 27/01/2012*

Will be updated when I get home.
 
#4 ·
*POST RESERVED*
 
#5 ·
Going to watch this one
wink.gif
 
#6 ·
*Log 25/01/2012*

So, uh. Little bit of delay. I got onto my phone at school before my first period final today, checked UPS, and, apparently, my train got derailed. Yeah. Train derailment: Exception was the first thing I saw. However, there is no news about it, so I assume that the train left the station, didn't work, and then went back, and because UPS didn't have any way of describing that they just put "TRAIN DERAILMENT: EXCEPTION." The reason is because train derailments are serious things, and it's like a train flies off the tracks and everything is terrible. I'm hoping none of my stuff was damaged, and I have no idea when I will be getting it.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemesis158 View Post

Going to watch this one
wink.gif
Thanks Alex.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HypnotiK View Post

Best of luck to you, hope it wasn't in fact a real derailment (because in my book, as you said, train derailment = fly off rails and everything is wrecked). Looking forward to seeing more on this log.
thumb.gif
Yeah, I hope not.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazy Bear View Post

Thanks Alex.
Yeah, I hope not.
Surely even if it was it'd be under insurance by either the company transporting it or the actual train driver, or did you not get the insurance option?
Still.. Surely in something so insane you shouldn't be made pay up.
 
#10 ·
I did not, assuming a train derailment, which are events I can't imagine happen every other day, would not occur. However, if the stuff is at all damaged I am sending it back, and if they blame me I'm going to have to make a big deal out of it with both UPS and/or Newegg.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazy Bear View Post

I did not, assuming a train derailment, which are events I can't imagine happen every other day, would not occur. However, if the stuff is at all damaged I am sending it back, and if they blame me I'm going to have to make a big deal out of it with both UPS and/or Newegg.
That's the way to go about it!
thumb.gif
 
#12 ·
Little update:

Checked UPS this morning and it says my parts will be here today. I'm thinking that there wasn't any derailment, just a stalled train or something along those lines, and so, with luck, all the parts will be functional.

Another update:

As of right now I will get the parts tomorrow, as UPS is dumb and changed my shipping times.
frown.gif
 
#13 ·
*Log Update 27/01/2012*

Everything is in, everything is working! I'll post pics up tomorrow.

I just am having some problems with case fans running
tongue.gif
 
#14 ·
*Log 28/01/2012*/

Got everything working, and I got some pics in as well. I'll post up more about all the boxes and that fun stuff tomorrow when I can clean up!

sdc10080new.jpg

sdc10085new.jpg

Photo editing credit goes to Nemesis158!
 
#15 ·
Looks awesome dude. Thanks for the cred.
Now just get some Lutro0 Sleeved cables and it'll be killer
wheee.gif
 
#16 ·
Just for an idea of specs, I took a screen of stuff. My voltage appeared to have gone up, and I didn't look at that. It HAD been at 1.32, but I suppose the board pushed it up a bit.
Proofs.png
 
#17 ·
At school today I set up the hydro system I was planning, and I've altered the hydro kit accordingly. I am going to do a dual loop system, one loop for the CPU and one for the GPUs. I am pretty tentative on the fittings, as I'm unsure how much bending I want to go on with the tubes, but I'll get to that eventually. Both kits are going to go: reservoir-pump-radiator-blocks, as that makes the most sense. I may change it up based on how the case acts with the parts. The RS rads are purely to take places as radiators until I get RX rads, as I am cheap and the RS are half as expensive as the RX.

New hydro set up:

Loop One: CPU
  • Bitspower Water Tank Z-Multi 150
  • Swiftech MCP355™ 12 VDC Pump - unattained
  • XSPC RX240mm rad (up top, for CPU - could I fit a 360 in there if I didn't have a drive up top?) - unattained
  • EK Supreme HF- unattained
  • EK G1/4" Black Nickel (as many as I need)- unattained
  • Feser UV Red and Feser UV White 3/8" - unattained
  • Cooler Master Sickle Flows (red)x2 - attained
Loop 2: GPUs
  • XSPC X20 750 res/pump - unattained
  • XSPC RS 360mm rad (external) - unattained
  • EK FC6870 - Acetal + NIckel)x2 - unattained
  • EK FC Bridge Dual
  • EK G1/4" Black Nickel (as many as I need)- unattained
  • Feser UV Red and Feser UV White 3/8" - unattained
  • Lamptron Fan-Atic Controller- unattained
  • Cooler Master Sickle Flows (red)x3 - attained
 
#18 ·
Update:

Got my rig's GPUs up, although I think one of my six pins in the top is having issues. So right now I'm just on one card, but that's OK for now. I think my pump is broken, as it stopped working when I was turning it on today after the entire rig randomly turned off. I'll get some professional pictures up later tonight.
 
#19 ·
IMG_0186.jpg

Got replacement pump in, and everything is running strong.
 
#20 ·
UPDATES!

So I am going to be changing some stuff around. New parts will be ordered soon, including, but not limited to:
CPU Loop:
-EK Supreme HF copper
-Monsoon fittings
-XSPC EX120 and EX240
-Primochill white tubes
New GPU:
-Sapphire 7970
-EK FC7970 copper
Misc:
-UV lights bars
-Bitfenix sleeved cables, since Lutr0 won't be doing anything for a while : (

I'll keep whoever is still watching this posted!
 
#21 ·
Thanks to the 7970 price drop I'll be ordering a Gigabyte or Visiontek reference model in eight days!

After I have made sure I have my hands on one, I will get to ordering the rest of my parts, including some Bitfenix sleeved extesnsions. Rig SHOULD be done in the next two weeks! Stay tuned guys.
 
#22 ·
*BIG UPDATE!*

Parts are all ordered!

From Newegg:
Sapphire Dual X 7970 (11197-01-40G) for $459.99 shipped. This is a reference PCB, just without a reference fan. If you check on EK's coolingconfigurator site this card's PCB is approved and cleared to take their FC7970 blocks. I got the non reference fan card mostly because it was, for some reason, $20 cheaper, and because Nemesis needs a new fan/heatsink for his 7970, as his reference Sapphire has a pretty bad one, and he's experiencing OCing issues because of it. According to Newegg, this is shipped and will arrive Thursday.

From eBay:
EK FC7970 (copper/acetal), EK 7970 backplate, EK single I/O bracket for $87shipped. I know this may be sketchy, and I haven't got the block yet, but it was a great deal, and if it doesn't arrive I can just have eBay sort it out. According to the person I ordered it from, it has been shipped.

From PerformancePCs:
3 x PrimoFlex Pro LRT White Tubing -3/8in. ID X 5/8in. OD $6.00
3 x Yate Loon CLEAR 120mm Low Speed Silent Case Fan with Red LED - D12SL-124R - Sleeved
- Cable: Convert to 3-Pin only (Cut off extra connectors) - Sleeved
- Sleeve Color: Red
- Heatshrink Color: Black $20.85
1 x EK-Supreme HF High Flow - CPU Water Block "Easy Mount" - Copper/Acetal
- Fitting Size: 3/8" Barb for 3/8" ID tube $72.95
1 x IandH Silver KillCoils - Antimicrobial .999 Fine Silver Tubing / Reservoir Strip $6.99
1 x BitFenix 4-pin ATX Extension Cable - 45 cm - Red Sleeve $5.99
1 x BitFenix ATX 24pin Extension Cable - 30cm - Red Sleeve $9.99
1 x XSPC EX120 Copper Single-Fan Radiator
- Fitting Size: No Fittings $39.95
1 x XSPC EX240 Copper Dual-Fan Radiator
- Fitting Size: No Fittings $49.95
1 x Monsoon Free Center Compression Fittings, 3/8" x 5/8" Six Pack - Matte Black $35.99
For a grand total of, plus shipping, $267.13
According to PPCs, this is still being processed.

From FrozenCPU:
-Bitfenix Alchemy Multisleeve 6-Pin PCI-E Extension Cable - 45cm - Red (BFA-MSC-6PEG45RK-RP) $8.99
-Bitfenix Alchemy Multisleeve 8-Pin PCI-E Extension Cable - 45cm - White Sleeve / White Conenctor (BFA-MSC-8PEG45WW-RP) $9.99
Plus shipping, the total was: $27.31Yeah, a bit pricey, but whatever. According to FrozenCPU, this is being packaged, and should be shipped by today.

I'll have you guys updated with pictures when it all gets here! Stay tuned.
 
#23 ·
*Small update*

FrozenCPU emailed me saying my cables were shipped. Tracking number has yet to work with USPS, and so I can just hope that it'll be here within three days, so probably Thursday, the same day as the 7970.
 
#24 ·
*UPDATE!*
Got the 7970, here are some pics, I have some more of the card when it was finished but I need to paint the bracket black before I can post them without it looking bad! Here you go: (56k warning)
IMG_0511.jpg

IMG_0503.jpg

IMG_0502.jpg

IMG_0501.jpg

IMG_0500.jpg

IMG_0499.jpg

IMG_0498.jpg
IMG_0489.jpg
IMG_0504.jpg
 
#25 ·
So, after a while of working, here we go!

IMG_0536.jpg

IMG_0537.jpg

IMG_0535.jpg

IMG_0531.jpg

IMG_0530.jpg

IMG_0529.jpg

IMG_0518.jpg


Sorry for huge images, but what do you guys think? I will post the rest later!
 
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