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Yet Another ROG [Build Log], Custom Phantom 820, ASUS MVE, Water Coooler 7950's and 3770k

18K views 312 replies 23 participants last post by  seross69 
#1 ·
04/30/2013

Hey guys, so I decided I'll just throw this build log up to update every now and then as I get closer towards my goal of a full custom water loop. My appetite started a couple months ago after I bought my H100i and was scrolling around the water cooling club looking at pictures. The sense of personality of some of these loops really tickled my brain and started making me want to do something to express myself. Luckily a member of this forum lives close to me so I got to go visit him today and check out some of his work (and his work is AWESOME by the way). I'm trying to keep this loop as cheap as possible, but not so cheap that I actually "cheap out" on components. I will be starting out small and working my way up towards something amazing.

Here is my current component list:
ASUS Maximus V Extreme
Intel Core i7 3770k Delidded and OC'd to 4800Mhz
Avexir Core Series 2000Mhz OC'd to 2400Mhz
MSI Twin Frozr III 7950
Sapphire Dual-x 7950
Dual Kingston HyperX 120Gb SSD's
Enermax Maxrevo 1500w
Swiftech Apogee HD CPU Block
Swiftech MWC82 GPU Block
Front Phobya Xreme 200mm Radiator in P/P
Bottom Alphacool UT60 280mm Radiator in P/P
Top Black Ice GTX 360mm Radiator in P/P
Phobya Balancer Reservoir
Swiftech MCP655b Pump
EK D5 X Top Rev. 2
Aquacomputer Filter
Monsoon Black Chrome Free Center Compression Fittings
Matte Black Bitspower Angled Fittings and Y-Fitting
Phobya TPC 4-Channel Fan Controller
Prolimatech Vortex 12 & 14 Fans
Corsair SP140's
NZXT 200mm

Things I still need:
(2x) Alphacool NexXxoS ATXP ATI 7970/50 Series V2 in Black
(2x) Alphacool NexXxoS ATXP Backplate - ATI 7970/50 V2 Series in Black
Rear Alphacool NexXxoS ST30 Full Copper 120mm
Top Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 Full Copper 360mm

To start off my adventure I traded a delidded 3570k with non-functional dual-channel memory (scraped the PCB with the blade) and a 120Gb Kingston HyperX for:
Phobya Xtreme 200mm Radiator

Bitspower Water Tank Z-Multi 250 Inline Reservoir


6-pack Monsoon Black Chrome Carbon Fiber Compression Fitting - 3/8"ID x 5/8"OD


Jingway Technologies DP600P Pump

EK-Supreme LTX Nickel Plexi CPU Block

Not a bad start if I do say myself!!! Especially since it was all FREE

05/01/2013

Alright guys time for an UPDATE! No comments on this thread yet..... just wait until I get further into the build. THEN I won't be talking to myself anymore!!!!
biggrin.gif


So I had a very eventful day. Decided to do some custom painting to my case. Also, took a ride over a buddy's house and he surprised me with an NZXT Switch 810 panel (been trying find one for two months now) and all he wants is my 820 side panel for a trade. Awesome. Got some quality work done today and the grand total is STILL 0$

Boo ya

Decided to paint the trim and the side of the door panel red.




Then I thought of painting the screens on the case red so I popped those out of the black border and just painted them the same color red as the trim.


Wanted to get some contrast along the front of the case so I took that curved part off of the top of the front of the panel and painted that black.


and HERE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT after lots of coats of paint and lots of waiting.

and here is a quick shot of the switch 810 side panel

Thanks guys and I hope you enjoyed my update. Tomorrow I'm going caseless and am going to set up the CPU loop with my board on a box so I can get some drilling and modding done while I wait for the money to roll in to order the GPU blocks and other rads.

05/02/2013

Ok yet another update guys. So I took everything out of the Phantom to do some work on it and setup my CPU loop today. I have everything running gracefully on boxes. Everything is working well and I am extremely happy that today I *officially* setup my first custom loop. This is just the beginning though! There is SO MUCH more to come. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure
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Hope someone is getting some pleasure out of me doing this build log. I am mostly doing it for myself though so I can look back on it a couple years ago and see where I was. Even if I helped one person come up with some ideas for modding or a loop from looking at this build log it would all be worth it. Now I can go ahead and sell my H100i to save up some more money for my GPU blocks.

Alright here is another update for today. Decided to start painting the bottom fan filter, USB cluster, and the fan controller. Still have to put a couple more coats on today.






I'll post some pictures of everything put back together when it's finished. Enjoy!

Here is the list of parts that I am going to be buying next:

(2x) Alphacool NexXxoS ATXP ATI 7970/50 Series V2 - Polished Stainless Steel - Black - $208
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_971_240_580&products_id=36088
(2x) Alphacool NexXxoS ATXP Back Plate - ATI 7970/50 - Black $42
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_971_1018_1042&products_id=36087
Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 Full Copper 280mm
http://www.alphacool.com/product_info.php/info/p989_Alphacool-NexXxoS-XT45-Full-Copper-280mm.html
Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 Full Copper 360mm
http://www.alphacool.com/product_info.php/info/p973_Alphacool-NexXxoS-XT45-Full-Copper-360mm.html
Alphacool NexXxoS ST30 Full Copper 120mm
http://www.alphacool.com/product_info.php/info/p971_Alphacool-NexXxoS-ST30-Full-Copper-120mm.html
PrimoChill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT Tubing 3/8"ID x 5/8" OD - 10ft Retail Pack - Onyx Black
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17891/ex-tub-1624/PrimoChill_PrimoFlex_Advanced_LRT_Tubing_38ID_x_58_OD_-_10ft_Retail_Pack_-_Onyx_Black_PFLEXA10-58-BK_w_Free_Sys_Prep.html?tl=g30c99s1615#blank

Along with some fittings and other things that I still haven't decided on.

05/03/2012

So I did a number of things today, but first here are a couple more pictures of my loop. Added some more fans to try to direct the airflow.



and here is what I got done today:
Drilled out the final HDD cage from my case

Started drilling out the rivets to replace them with screws and to obtain access to some parts within the case

Decided to paint the PCI slot covers red



Also, drilling out the rivets let me gain access to the IO/PCI panel to paint it black so I could get some contrast between it and the red PCI slot covers

I also traded my H100i for a nice set of fans that I can use on my rads, a bitspower y connector for a drain, and a lapped IHS for my 3770k



So I got a lot done today and the grand total is STILL 0$!!!

05/06/2013

So I'm just finishing painting the IO/PCI panel black, the PCI slot covers are done, and I'm dropping my cables off at a buddy's house tonight to get sleeved while I'm away at the cape next week.. They are going to black, white, and red. If anyone needs their cables sleeved be sure to message chino1974 ( http://www.overclock.net/u/278504/chino1974 ) because he does absolutely AMAZING quality work. He produces a finished product that screams quality. Also, finished the paint job, mounted the front radiator which was a pain in the butt trying to drill the holes correctly and to keep enough space for my bottom rad. Decided to put it a little higher so I can fit a UT60 in push pull config and it will be almost resting on the bottom of the front rad and I will be able to rest the pump on top of it. That way I could achieve a really clean look. I was able to get the whole case put back together and I ziptied the different cables together to make them neater and installed the motherboard and graphics cards and also attached the resevoir. Sadly, no pictures for you guys just yet because all of my PSU cables are at my buddies house being sleeved so I will try to post pictures tomorrow from the girlfriends laptop once we get all settled at the house. I absolutely LOVE how this is turning out. It really looks fantastic!

















05/08/2013

Alright guys, so I got another 6-pack of black chrome monsoon fittings, a male to male connector, a bitspower 45 degree angle fitting, and a bitspower 90 degree fitting today. I havent put them in yet, but here is couple pictures of the loop as it is.

Enjoy!

05/10/2013

Alright so time for a quick update. Like I said before I got some new fittings so I have just been playing around with those and getting all the tubing the perfect length. I also mounted my SSD's behind the motherboard since I got rid of all my drive bays. Enjoy the pics!








I actually just realized that I can't use a UT60 280mm rad in push/pull because the resevoir sits about 40mm too high and prevents me from being able to use a 360mm rad up top so I am just going to have a 280 rad that is 45mm thick with a set of fans pushing cold air into the case. That way I can still use the 360mm rad up top.

05/11/2013

Hey time for an update. I'm currently leak testing and bleeding while waiting for my cables to finish being sleeved. I just did a little cable management today and painted my rear fan filter black. Looks like I'm done painting and now it is time to completely focus on the hardware aspect of the build.
Here are some pics with the Switch 810 side panel on

Next update will probably be when I get the sleeved cables back.

05/12/2013

Here are a couple more pictures guys
thumb.gif

Successful leak test

Rear fan filter painted

05/13/2013

So I've been hating how my crossfire bridge just throws off the entire color scheme of the case so I decided to spray paint it today. I was very careful of what type of spray paint to use because I didn't want it cracking when the crossfire bridge was bent. I ended up deciding on some vinyl and fabric paint. Luckily I had it in black! So here is how it turned out!
Crossfire Bridge Before

Vinyl & Fabric Spray Paint

Right After First Coat of Paint

Right After Last Coat of Paint

In Case


I

EDIT:

The flat back looked wayy too boring so I spiced it up a little. NOW I'm happy


05/14/2013

Alight guys, so I couldn't stand sitting around staring at my computer and not being able to use it so I started another project. I'm painting the side panel that covers back of the case. It's going to be really hard to accomplish this, but if done right it will look awesome. I am painting the bottom bubble black and the top one red. The red is going to be the border around the entire bubble of the panel.







Purposely painted the black a little too far so that I had a reference of how far to put the painters tape. Didn't want to have to perfectly follow the black line and end up putting a piece of tape over the edge and have some white show up when I took it all off.




Here is some pictures of the completed case. I'm pretty sure I'm done painting and now I can focus completely on the component aspect of this build!




Here's some high quality pictures for you guys!












05/21/2013

Got my Phobya TCP 4x Fan or Pump Controller in today. Here is a review video I made of it. This thing is awesome!!


Be sure to watch in HD!

Also got my Alphacool red LED stop plug today. It sucks. I was hoping to have it light up the water a little bit, but nope! Just the cap. Too bad the red monsoon stop plugs have been out of stock forever!


05/23/2013

Today was a very successful day for me. I got my Enermax Maxrevo in along with a box packed to the brim with Prolimatech fans.
This PSU is absolutely amazing. All together everything has to weigh around 40lbs. The box is so nice. It has a sleeve that slides off and the box under it has a pop out panel and let's you gain access to the boxes inside of that box. There are three total. One holds two carrying cases, and all 5 of your dual PCI-E cables along with a sticker and a power cord lock. Yes, a power cord lock. The middle one holds a user manual that has instructions for every language ever invented, you PSU cable, and the amazingly amazing PSU itself. The last one holds a ton of other cables. A TON. Going to be doing a video review on this so stay tuned for that. Here is a teaser pic for now.
It looks like it says "500w", but it is 1500w !!

The Prolimatech fans are absolutely incredible also. SO impressed with this company. They are quiet, extremely effective, and the LED's are incredibly bright. PERFECT. The Vortex 12 & 14's are really quiet, but push a surprising amount of air. They have a very sexy transparent black casing and awesome looking fins that are shaped in an aggressive style. The USV14 is unlike anything I've ever seen. It is technically a 140mm fan, but has 120mm mounting holes which make it able to mount in a much wider variety of areas. The Aluminum Vortex 140mm is my favorite of all. I have never seen a fan push so much air and not sound like a jet liner. It is audible at full speed, but surprisingly not annoying. The fins are perfectly crafted aluminum and there is even a shield so you don't cut your fingers off!! I love the way the LED looks on the spinning aluminum fins. It is a look that could never be replicated with plastic fans. I have used more than one aluminum fan in my time, but this is by far my favorite! Here is a video review that shows you what is in the box along with noise testing of every fan I got. The blue and green fans are for a future build.




I also got some Avexir 2000Mhz RAM from a friend today.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ST08P6217
Already OC'd it to 2400Mhz. Love it! It has blue LED's so it throws the theme off, but I just needed new RAM to replace my 1600Mhz Corsair Vengeance that I have hated so I will by some nice TridentX 2400Mhz after I buy all my blocks and radiators unless I can find this RAM in red. Here is a picture of it in my rig along with the Prolimatech fans.

05/24/2013
Met up with my buddy Chino1974 today and gave him the Enermax cables to sleeve in black, white, and red. After he is done them I am going to sell him my Seasonic for use in his upcoming "Michael Jordan" rig and then I will finally be able to pop in the Maxrevo. DAMN it's going to look so sexy in my case
biggrin.gif


05/25/2013

So in light of me getting the UT60 rad for the bottom I had to get a smaller reservoir so I could still fit a 360mm rad up top. Luckily Chino keeps surprising me with parts so I got this Phobya reservoir from him. I like it!!

05/26/2013

So here is my little mod that I did today. Since the Phantom doesn't support a front 200mm rad and I needed it high enough to fit a UT60 in push/pull I haven't been able to use my bays. Now that I have the fan controller, I needed to be able to mount it, but I can't mount it in the very top 5.25" bay because the knob hits the hinge and the door won't close. So here is my very basic bay mod. I just cut a third of the bay off and now it fits in their like a glove and I can finally get that controller in there. Most likely going to wrap it in acrylic and paint it black.


05/29/2013

Spent a little time working on my reservoir today. Decided to just use a piece of tubing instead of my male to male so I can hang the pump without worrying about the male to male disconnecting from the weight (It is two pieces held together by a couple of O-Rings. I think it looks pretty good with the monsoon black chrome compression fittings. Also stuck a Phobya temperature sensor in there. I've had it since I got my fan controller, but didn't want to tear down my loop just to stick it in. I'm going to be installing the Alphacool UT60 280mm rad, Swiftech MCP655-b with EK D5 X-top Rev.2, and my reservoir on the week of the 9th.

06/10/2013

Hey guys, so I am getting my Alphacool UT60 280mm rad, Swiftech MCP655b, and EK D5 X Pump Top this week. I sent out my Seasonic x-850 for the trade today so I am officially without a rig until my cables are finished being sleeved. I flushed my rad with water and vinegar and cleaned my EK CPU block with a tooth brush a little while ago so everything is clean and ready to go. Here are a couple pictures of my Maxrevo in my rig.


06/13/2013

Alright guys, here is the update. Finally. So I'm going to have to do some modding to move the PSU back since the end caps on this Alphacool rad are bigger than I expected (don't say a word Feznz!!!
biggrin.gif
). I think it looks pretty awesome!!!





06/14/2013

Hey guys, so I whipped out the dremel and cut out the space for the PSU to slide through. Drilled some new holes on the front radiator grill for the NZXT 200mm fan, and installed the new Swiftech Apogee HD CPU block. Everything is looking good!




06/15/2013

Here's some more pics guys.






06/18/2013

Got my Monsoon Silver Bullet & Red LED Premium Stop Plug. I hear amazing things about these. Got it to light up my reservoir. It comes with two LED's. One is optimized for a light port fitting and the other is optimized for reservoirs. I'm going to attach the reservoir one to the stop plug that comes with it and use the other one on a Bitspower 5mm LED stop plug fitting on the bottom of the res. Hopefully that will allow me to have an even distribution of light throughout the reservoir. I can't wait to see how it looks. I also attached the silver bullet stop plug in on of my radiators.


06/26/2013

So I modded the top of my Phantom 820 to allow me to fit my new Black Ice GTX 360mm in push/pull. What I did is cut out the middle of the top radiator mount just leaving the outside of the mount, making sure to not touch the 200mm fan holes. I then used a combination of washers and nuts on a screw to "jack" up the radiator through the hole. I placed the middle part of the bracket that I cut out on the top of the radiator and then screwed in the fans to clamp the radiator down and lock it into place. I'm pretty tired and feel that I'm not explaining it that well, but the pictures will tell you everything you need to know. Now I just need to somehow mod the top panel to fit on.






 
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  • Rep+
Reactions: Ramzinho
#2 ·
*Reserved*
 
#3 ·
*Reserved*
 
#4 ·
First Update!
WOOT WOOT
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#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by sadeter View Post

Lookin good so far!
Thanks man! Enjoy todays update
thumb.gif
 
#9 ·
You will most definetly see more modding. Going to take out the top HDD cages next and just mount my SSD's behind the motherboard. Have some other plans too, but they are still a secret
biggrin.gif
 
#10 ·
Subscibed.

Great paint work so far.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by KaRLiToS View Post

Subscibed.

Great paint work so far.
Hey thanks man! That means a lot coming from you!
 
#14 ·
Looks good so far, diggin the color combo. Making me want to paint mines too
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#15 ·
Thanks guys! Tomorrow I'm going to drill out the last remaining HDD cage and then use my ginormous compressor to blow out all the dust and metal fragments. Applied a final coat to the controller and USB cluster so I'm going to let it dry overnight and re-attach them tomorrow. Also going to drill some holes for my front 200mm rad. Stay tuned!
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by justanoldman View Post

Good luck with the build.
smile.gif
Hey thanks a lot man!

Had a problem with the Fan Controller where the paint kept chipping off so I'm re-painting it right now. Just drilled out the last remaining HDD cage so now my case is all free space
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#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by stickg1 View Post

Might want to put a sealer or clear coat over it to keep it from chipping when it gets bumped or touched.
Yea that is exactly what I've been doing. Clear coat FTW!
 
#20 ·
Looks SEXY
smile.gif
 
#21 ·
Alright guys so I'm going to just update here and then add it to the first post just to make things easier so you guys don't have to search through the posts to find each update.

05/03/2012

So I did a number of things today, but first here are a couple more pictures of my loop. Added some more fans to try to direct the airflow.




and here is what I got done today:

Drilled out the final HDD cage from my case

Started drilling out the rivets to replace them with screws and to obtain access to some parts within the case

Decided to paint the PCI slot covers red



Also, drilling out the rivets let me gain access to the IO/PCI panel to paint it black so I could get some contrast between it and the red PCI slot covers

I also traded my H100i for a nice set of fans that I can use on my rads, a bitspower y connector for a drain, and a lapped IHS for my 3770k




So I got a lot done today and the grand total is STILL 0$!!!
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: chino1974
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by DawnBladeDN View Post

Did you have the Switch 810 side panel from a previous build? If not, can you link me to whereI can get one? O_O
No a buddy of mine randomly pulled one out and asked me if I needed it and I almost crapped my pants because I have been waiting for it to come back in stock for a while now. Keep your eyes peeled on this link and when they come back in stock pull the trigger quick because they will go fast. Good luck man!

http://store.nzxt.com/product_p/pa-swi-810-wi.htm
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: chino1974
#25 ·
This build is interesting.. Subbed
 
#26 ·
Thanks!!
 
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