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[Build Log] Midnight Express - Mercury S8

42K views 296 replies 36 participants last post by  faheemrazzaq 
#1 ·
Final pictures here

Midnight Express on IMDB
The infamous Giorgio Moroder track CHASE, from the soundtrack

So I fractured my spine in a couple of places, other bits of back related damage here and there, spent some time in hospital and have been on and off work for months. Finally I was fully signed off not so long ago, at least until Feb next year. I've always wanted to build a boutique style PC but never had the time to do it right, but now I do, when I can tolerate the pain.

So what have I been doing with all that free time, apart from feeling sorry for myself? Learning about watercooling of course! Buying bits and bobs, designing and ordering my dream case from CL. I have a long way to go, fair warning that this one will go on for quite some time but here's how things look so far.

The Spec

Colour Scheme
The colour theme is navy blue (the custom painted Caselabs case), red and white (internals and fittings)



Case - Mercury S8 with Pedestal, Two tone white and misty midnight blue:





The flexbay will be replaced with a 120.2 flexbay to make room for an Aquaero 6.

Rads - 4x Alphacool UT60 matte white - 2 for the roof, 2 for the basement. I considered some monstahs but felt that the 60s left pushpull as an option whereas things would get complicated and impact the aesthetics. Will be purchasing Blitz Pro kit to prep the rads. Since each UT60 is 450-500ml, Mick at Mayhems has sent me some extra Blitz Part 1 so I can get these rads prepped.




Fans - Gentle Typhoons AP15 spec from Coolerguys



CPU 5930K

Motherboard - Asus x99 Deluxe - going with the white theme



Memory - Corsair Dominator Platinum 16GB DDR4 Quad kit

Storage - Plextor M6e PCIe m.2 256GB, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB, WD Green 6TB

GPU - 2x GALAX GeForce GTX 980 "Hall of Fame Edition"



PSU - Cosair AX1500i



Blocks
CPU - EK Supremacy EVO, Red Acrylic



GPU - Diamond Cooling blocks - natural finish copper, white acetal, fully custom backplate, custom red caphead screws











Aquaero 6 Pro with Red heatsink and Black faceplate





Pumps/tops

2x Aqua Computer D5 with USB and Aquabus interface
Bitspower Dual D5 Mod top - acrylic, bracket set and abrasive red dress kits (block extensively polished)



Reservoir
Primochill 120mm CTR Phase II in Blood Red (straight knurled white compression rings)



Fan control / monitoring
Aqua Computers Aquaero 6 Pro


Flow meter - AQ High Flow usb MPS flow sensor

Fluid temperature sensor - AQ

LEDs

Aqua Computer's new product or modified Tingkam led controller and RGB reel

Fittings and tubing
13/16mm hardline - Monsoon



Presentation fittings - Monsoon Hardlock - Matte white



Utility fittings - Bitspower and Alphacool fittings for bulkheads, drains and other under-the-hood (unseen) purposes.

Cabling and sleeving
Planning to build myself courtesy of Lutro0's excellent youtube series

Chosen sleeving - LC Telios Black/Dark Red, Dark Red, Red/Dark Red, White



Wiring harnesses - all custom built from scratch to match exact fan configuration.



Cable training
I have both e22 and Modbunker combs. Will probably go with stealth Modbunker combs.

Component placement -
Floating reservoir (as in no reservoir bracket, it will hang off the Monsoon fitting as its a small res) sitting center of front viewing window
Dual pump and top combo sitting below, using full length side window
Two rads in the roof, push fans in extended top:



Two rads in the pedestal, both pushpull into the pedestal and naturally aspirated through front and rear of pedestal.

Dual drainage using the drain ports on the UT60s running out the bottom of the case via a bulkhead:




Flexbay fan configuration - 2 Gentle Typhoon



Exhausts - None. Entirely naturally aspirated.

Final pictures here
 
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#3 ·
Today working on the PSU mount and getting a feel for the internal space with the mobo tray, psu and stealth tray all in place.

The PSU frame partially covers the PSU side fan cage.







The PSU feels very sturdy in position, and for this size of PSU I am glad I went with the support mount.





In case it's of use to anyone, here's the measurement from floor (NOT PSU tray) to a fat hard drive with a AX1500i in a PSU mount:





The alignment between the PSU and mobo ATX sockets is near-parallel, but unfortunately the connectors are reversed. I don't know how I'm going to build the custom cable for this:



Note the twist in the cable.



I might build the pedestal later today if I can manage it.
 
#7 ·
Sweet another s8 build! I love seeing what other people come up with, i spent weeks re-planning and re-planning my build as i went, LOL..
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbz View Post

The alignment between the PSU and mobo ATX sockets is near-parallel, but unfortunately the connectors are reversed. I don't know how I'm going to build the custom cable for this:

Note the twist in the cable.
cpachris has a brilliant solution to your problem in his own S8 build log: http://www.overclock.net/t/1477162/the-powerful-pretty-pink-processor-aka-the-pppp/910#post_22453446

...I did the mod myself using his example, it's an excellent idea.
 
#11 ·
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbz View Post

Thank you, looks like this solution will be the first cable/sleeving job to pop my cherry on! Bought plenty of spare pins
biggrin.gif
Good luck! If you give up, like I did check out Ensourced. Amazing work
 
#13 ·
Pedestal built late last night, with some wonky rad mounts discovered.









Went for the jumbo feet, glad I did considering the weight these four will be bearing!


Floor clearance with the big feet, for anyone that might need it in the future:






A couple of the rad mounts are wonky, I will have a go at bending them back into position before calling CS. There have been a few pieces that have had the same issue but not quite so extreme, and I just gradually bent them back with no problem.

GPUs are out for delivery today... I'm like a kid at Christmas
smile.gif
 
#18 ·
I am so jealous my man
tongue.gif

I understand your pain man. I was hit by a car a few years back. Not what I used to be but I was able to walk again.
Keep up the awesome build!
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by GrimDoctor View Post

I am so jealous my man
tongue.gif

I understand your pain man. I was hit by a car a few years back. Not what I used to be but I was able to walk again.
Keep up the awesome build!
Thanks
smile.gif
I have respect and understanding for people who live on with chronic pain and back problems, something I was ignorant to beforehand. As with most things in life until you experience it, you don't understand how much a setback can impact your life.

Anyway moving on, I have fixed the wonky rad mounts so the pedestal is complete.



Starting to get all my tools and tiny components organised... I wish I had a workshop but the dining table/coffee table will have to do! Being in the uk I have had to go to multiple places to get what i need including E22, Modbunker, Specialtech, WatercoolingUK, Performance PCs, FrozenCPU, Scan, Overclockers... the list goes on.



I also have the monsoon bending kit and heat gun, new cordless drill and a dremel. Spent a fortune on tools alone but it's about time I had a decent set of tools
smile.gif


Last night I jumped on Performance PCs and purchased Monsoon's hardpline pro fittings in matte white, despite my concerns about the finish, monsoon blood red acrylic and a red acrylic EK Supremacy EVO cpu block from Scan, which I may go pick up today if I can manage it. I decided if I didn't just make a decision now I might never make one!

edit: Would you guys recommend that I use the thermal paste that comes with the cpu block or buy something else? Ideally something that could be used with the cpu and gpus.
 
#20 ·
Some more items arrived today. Sorry about photo quality, made a mistake with the camera settings.

From Performance PCs, 13/16mm blood red Monsoon hardline:





Monsoon hardline fittings, matte white. They are of a higher quality finish than the endcap I posted previously.





And here is what the combination looks like:





Also some supplies from @Mayhem via Overclockers.

Blitz Pro to prep those four brand new but filthy Alphacool UT60s



And 5L of X1 Clear, which will be the host fluid once the loop is cleaned and ready for action. 5L so I never run out
thumb.gif




I still have to pick up the cpu block from Scan, at which point I may also pick up a m.2 pcie ssd for the OS. The FrozenCPU order is stuck with customs, I suspect I'll get a letter about charges I need to pay before delivery.
 
#23 ·
I took out the big boy camera to try and take some shots while playing with basic fitting.















m.2 drive is an eyesore. I may try to use the black pcie m.2 expansion board that came with the mobo instead, once I have GPU blocks because look at it - it's appalling!



GPUs currently sitting in the recommended slots for sli. May change when m.2 is moved/blocks are installed.





 
#24 ·
Everything looks great! Would love a link to what blocks you are going to be using.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ragsters View Post

Everything looks great! Would love a link to what blocks you are going to be using.
@DiamondCooling full cover blocks, assuming they come out in a reasonable timeframe
smile.gif


http://www.diamondcooling.co.uk/product/dc-980-hof-waterblock-nickel-acetal/

I don't think there is any full cover solution at the moment, although EK do cover for some of the 980 Galax cards I haven't looked into them in terms of compatability. I fell in love with the Diamond Cooling prototype - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ni01GJHVPA&list=UUabB1jkhqCyUr_F3NJBFhLg&feature=share
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbz View Post

@DiamondCooling full cover blocks, assuming they come out in a reasonable timeframe
smile.gif


http://www.diamondcooling.co.uk/product/dc-980-hof-waterblock-nickel-acetal/

I don't think there is any full cover solution at the moment, although EK do cover for some of the 980 Galax cards I haven't looked into them in terms of compatability. I fell in love with the Diamond Cooling prototype - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ni01GJHVPA&list=UUabB1jkhqCyUr_F3NJBFhLg&feature=share
Yeah I saw that. Makes me want a Galax even more
tongue.gif

The build is looking soooo good with those HOFs man, so damn good, and that case is perfect for showing them off
smile.gif
 
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