[2x Corsair C70 Military Green]

Hi everyone!

I have been asked to post this worklog here, and so I did!

The gamer had a Fractal Design ARC which I was tired of. The quality was not what I wanted for traveling to and from LAN parties. The server was in a not very optimal Silverstone TJ07. I saw the new C70 and bought a couple of them.


Codename: A10 Thunderbolt [Primary PC / Gaming rig]


HARDWARE

Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth P67
CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz (4x4GB)
GPU: Zotac GTX 680
Storage: 6x OCZ Agility 3 on a RocketRAID 2720SGL
PSU: Corsair AX750

WATERCOOLING

I am thinking of running two loops here.

Loop 1:

Res-Pump-VRM-GTX680-Radiator-Res

Parts:

GPU BLOCK: EK GTX680 CSQ Nickel/Plexi
RADIATOR: AquaComputer Airplex 240mm Aluminium (Loop 1 70%)
RAM BLOCK: EK RAM COOLER CSQ Nickel/Plexi
TANK/TOP: Koolance RP-401X2 (Chamber 1)
PUMP: Laing DDC

Loop 2:

Res-Pump-CPU-RAM-Radiator-Res

Parts:

CPU BLOCK: EK Supremacy CSQ Nickel/Plexi
RADIATOR: AquaComputer Airplex 240mm Aluminium (Loop 2 30%)
HK BLOCK: EK-MOSFET Sabertooth P67 Nickel
TANK/TOP: Koolance RP-401X2 (Chamber 2)
PUMP: Laing DDC

MODS/PLANS:

-Mount watercooling.
-Print the codename letters in Stencil font. Print it with my 3D printer that is.
-Divide the case into 2 compartments. I will bends acrylic glass sheets to make a divider right over the CPU.
-Use my 3D printer to make a holder for the 6 SSDs
-Fabricate cable clamps and other small parts.
-Sleeve all cables in military colors.
-Paint the motherboard cover (TUF Armor)
-Add lightning to the case with a 64-LED controller with USB support.
-Hide all the cables in a neat and tidy way.
-Make a switch panel in the front with key/flip cover for starting the PC.
-Switch out all the pop rivets with countersunk screws.
-Get new SAS to SATA cables with Molex power.
-Switch out side window for one not ruined by fan holes.
-Make Jet engine fans in the front.



Codename: C-130 Hercules [Server/NAS/Subsonic streaming]


HARDWARE

Hovedkort: ASUS P7H55
CPU: Intel Core i5 760
RAM: Corsair 1600Mhz 2x4GB
GPU: None. I access the server by RDP.
System disk: OCZ Vertex 2
Storage: 8x 1,5TB in RAID 5.
RAID-Controller: RocketRAID 2720SGL
PSU: Corsair AX750

MODS/PLANS

-Print the codename letters in Stencil font. Print it with my 3D printer that is.
-Sleeve all cables in military colors.
-Improve air flow and lower noise.
-Mount noise insulation if needed.
-New CPU cooler. (Corsair H- series)
-Hide all the cables in a neat and tidy way.
-Switch out side window for one not ruined by fan holes.

Update #1 Disassembly/Radiator fitment

I have taken off the front which is in steel I think. (I was suprised it wasnt plastic!!) I removed all the rivets and then the optical drive bay. I later found this part to be crucial to the rigidity of the case, so I have to make it fit in the case together with the rad.

Picture the case after removing the front and optical drive bay.



Rad test




Gotten the needed screws to mount the radiator. Screws where too long, but the dremel got the work done. Mounted some cheap Sickleflows on there. I have been wondering about moving the rad out ehere the fans are located and make them pull the air instead. Time will show.




Done bending the acrylic glass. This will be cut to fit around the edges of the motherboard and also to cover the cable holes for the ATX24pin. I am thinking of drilling out individual holes for every single cable.




And a small teaser of some light in the dark paracord





Update #2 Watercooling mounting.

Went to a friends place for the yearly late summer LAN party. I brought all my watercooling parts, my dremel, a wrench and two Corsair C70s. All this in order to maybe have the watercooling mounted before I had to go home.

I started by mounting the optical drive bay and then marking where the hole should be cut. I had to be careful not to ruin the rigidity of the bay unit. I eventually got this to fit after a few (7-8) times of assembly and disassembly. I have no pictures of this process as I was swearing and cutting most of the time.

Then I started assembly of the pump/res unit. The pumps had mounting "ears" on the sides which had to be cut away. Picture of the finished result:





And mounted in the case. I got tired of the fittings not fitting properly, so I did bend the bay till it did:



A picture of what is about to be installed.




The hardware is installed in the new case, which leaves the stock C70 free so I can move the server hardware to it. Sadly I had to remove the thermal cape to fit the VRM block. I will fit the cape later on in the build.



This is all I got done since the ram blocks from MIPS didnt match well with the EK block for Dominator RAM. I then ordered a Corsair Dominator 4GB 1866Mhz kit. I did`nt get to mount the GPU block either since I could`nt find so small torx bits. The temperature of the CPU at 4,2GHz is never higher than 45 degress.




UPDATE #3 Complete watercooling

The RAM arrived so I could finally mount the block and I have found the right tool for the screws on the GPU.

Blocks mounted and now testing for leaks like a baws. Towels are for p*****s What do you think of the sleeving combo?




The mounting process got so exciting that I forgot to take pictures of it. I will be better at this from now on!



The front looks really cool! Easiest res I ever filled and drained! Flip the case 90 degrees CCW and open the screw with a penny and then top it up.




All in all I am very happy with the result, but with all the parts watercooled, I found that overclocking was generating "some" heat. CPU temp of over 60 degrees. At the next payday, a second radiator will be ordered along with colored fluids for a darker look.

An update for the server is soon to be posted.

UPDATE #4

Now it is time for my server to get some love!

My new disks! Bought used for CHEAP


My new raid controller!


And a picture before we start!


Testing is going on! RAID 5. All drives detects!




I will transfer all my files to my new RAID 5 set with 8x1,5TB disks. 10,5TB of useable space!

Then I will install Server 2012 on the new system disks. The new system disks will be 2x60GB SSD in RAID1 for safety.

UPDATE #5

The server is now stable. I have been working about a month to find the problem causing blue screens. It was bad RAM, so now the server has been up for 5 days without hassle. Server 2012 is kind on RAM too! I have built the cages into the server and now I only need to drill holes for the connectors in the motherboard tray.

I also mounted the H60! Experimenting with my DSLR





I work in the dark so the colors and brightness may be way off. As you see, the bottom left tray is sticking out. Its crashing in the motherboard tray. Tomorrow I will dremel it away!

Edited by Teejay187 - 10/19/12 at 9:55am

Thanks! Re-arranging the desktop tomorrow. Alligning the two cases on a shelf by themselves. Gonna look cool

Also: The red stains on the wall is Mayhems Red dye.

I also bought 200 meters of 18AWG. Thinking of sleeving without heatshrink!

Got 100 meters of camo paracord! Gonna be nice!

No updates in a while, but I have been busy learning the features of my new 3D printer. Here is some teaser photos of what it will be used for.

A little update.

Tried some camo paracord without shrinks:





And I also sanded down my gamer PC:

Which one looks better? I will mount overkill fan grills in the front to get rid of the badge that is sunk into the front.