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[Build log] The Fast Learner - CaseLabs SMA8 Sober Data science - Machine learning rig

22K views 285 replies 26 participants last post by  Jubijub 
#1 ·
Hello everyone,

Here is my build log for my new rig dedicated to Data science and Machine learning (hence the name), and also a bit of Programming, Photo editing and gaming.

Design orientations
This build is optimized for silence while allowing overclocking of the CPU. I will leave the GPUs @ stock as I want to ensure there won't be any throttling for long computation activities.

I aimed for rather sober components, as this will be under my desk anyway (or more next to it given the size of the case), so no lighting, no fancy coolant colors, etc... This being said, as my fans have red light, I might have let myself go a little
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. I have also decided to do custom wiring, because it's fun
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I chose good quality component with the idea that most should survive new iterations of the build if I change the motherboard/CPU/Ram/GPU.

The cooling is overdimensionned for 2 reasons : good cooling performance in silence, and also because I have room to add a 3 GPU in the future if needed without changing anything in the loop apart from the GPU block bridge. I also chose rads that are good performers at low fan speed, for silence again. I also decided to go push only for the same reason, but I have space to revise this should I need the extra cooling performance of push/pull.

I went with Aquaero fan controlling as I want fan control to work independantly of the OS, as I will use this rig under both Windows and Linux. And I chose this over motherboard/bios fan control because the Aquaero brings more flexibility (virtual sensors like water deltaT°, etc...).

Being my first loop, I am going on the cautious side with sensors, etc... and with soft tubing which is more flexible and quicker to setup.

Components
Bill of material, on Google docs (too tedious to maintain it here as well
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)

Build status
2017.03.29 : creation of the build log, first components ordered (marked as ✔)
2017.03.30 : changed bottom mount to 120.2 size, and medium plate to 120.3 mount
2017.03.31 : CaseLabs order
2017.04.08 : EVGA order placed, mobo + CPU + ram received.
2017.04.14 : new EVGA order placed, and WaterCooling.co.uk order placed
2017.04.20 : EVGA, Aquacomputer orders received
2017.04.21 : Watercooling.co.uk partial order received
2017.04.29 : Ordered AquaComputer Aqualis res (instead of the EKWB, to enjoy the fill sensor.
2017.05 : ordered the Corsair fans, as well as some sleeving / wiring material and samples
2017.10.31 : first run of the loop
2017.11 : rebuild of the loop using, moving some components around, and using ZMT
2017.12.31 : second run of the loop, everything done except some PSU custom cables
 
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#4 ·
Heads up, I have a HWLabs GTS 360 rad for my front flexbay with ports facing down. My fittings will not clear with the GTX 560 rad in the bottom compartment. I am ordering a GTS 30mm 560 rad to test fitment.
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by chibi View Post

Heads up, I have a HWLabs GTS 360 rad for my front flexbay with ports facing down. My fittings will not clear with the GTX 560 rad in the bottom compartment. I am ordering a GTS 30mm 560 rad to test fitment.
Argh, getting the clearance right is difficult
Alternatively I would go with a 240 or a 280 on front, as I prefer to ensure the 560 has full space since it's almost half the cooling surface.

Many thanks for the heads up!
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jubijub View Post

Argh, getting the clearance right is difficult
Alternatively I would go with a 240 or a 280 on front, as I prefer to ensure the 560 has full space since it's almost half the cooling surface.

Many thanks for the heads up!
Here's a few pics to help visualize the troubles I'm currently facing.



 
#9 ·
It looks like you have already drilled the plate, but...could you put 2x 45s before the 90s on the end of the front 480? This would bring everything a bit more center over the floor, and also a bit further from the front. You would need a new plate
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Oh, and subbed.
 
#12 ·
Few changes in the build :
- I will go with one GPU for the time being. According to Tim Dettmers, parallelism is not achievable in every situation, and I prefer to see how things go. This being said, I keep the same PSU, cooling, etc... so that adding extra CPU should be easy.
- Went with EVGA for the 1080 Ti
- Went with EVGA for the PSU as well, which has an even better rep than the Corsair.
- Decided it was time to upgrade my 27"screen for 32" 4K awesomeness
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I have 2 big orders left :
- The rads
- The EKWB stuff
 
#13 ·
YOLO, I decided to take 2 cards still
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Screen received and installed, this thing kicks ass so badly
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Watercooling.co.uk order placed

I guess I will wait to receive the case and install the components inside before I place the EKWB order, as I would need to see where I need 45 and 90° adaptors
 
#15 ·
This is really good looking
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I've never seen someone do a draft like this for the eletrical wiring in a pc
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But there is a mistake: you can either use Aquabus OR USB for the D5 pumps. If you choose Aquabus you have to configurate the pump via USB and give them an Aquabus ID. Then you can unplug the USB and connect the pump via Aquabus to the Aquaero.
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drizztly View Post

This is really good looking
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I've never seen someone do a draft like this for the eletrical wiring in a pc
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But there is a mistake: you can either use Aquabus OR USB for the D5 pumps. If you choose Aquabus you have to configurate the pump via USB and give them an Aquabus ID. Then you can unplug the USB and connect the pump via Aquabus to the Aquaero.
They told me on the Aquaero topic
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I was wondering though : does it harm if I keep both plugged? So I don't have to change anything to the wiring if I need to change anything to the pump configuration?
 
#19 ·
2 orders received today : AquaComputer, and EVGA.

Of course, as I am a huge tool, I realize I ordered the wrong pumps (PWM instead of USB/Aquabus), so I will need to exchange them (not a biggie, my case is probably still 2-3 weeks from arriving). This will also allow me to order to damn sensor cable that I forgot on my first order.
The flow sensor had a bended pin (as you can see below), but support told me this is robust so I could bend it back myself.



For EVGA everything looked pristine.

I reached a point where I can test the components off a case, the only problem would be on cooling the CPU, I have no spare cooler I could use.

All my rads except one on back order should arrive tomorrow.

I also bought a nice Manfrotto background system and a dark background (been pondering on this a long time, I also do photo and had no background to do studio) https://www.manfrotto.us/photo-stand-support-bag-and-spring-complete-set

So nice photos should be coming out soon.
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by 0ldChicken View Post

enough said, I'm subbed
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It seems this is not usual to do this kind of thing...I wonder how people handle the AQ6 wiring without this, this was invaluable just to make sure I had all the cables.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rolandos582 View Post

When is more progress gonna happen? Like when do you expect your caselabs order to arrive?
I just emailed CaseLabs to get confirmation.

I ordered 31.03.2017, and I seem to recall it was a "order before mid april for shipping early may"
I think I will buy a cheap CPU rad, and at least start testing the hardware out of the case, as I have all the rest.

I was kinda waiting for the case before I would order the pipes / WC blocks, so I would get an idea of the orientation of the pipes, and thus the type of fitting I would need.
 
#25 ·
Permalinks to the source files :
Updates :
- added Aqualis reservoir to the logical wiring (new MPS device with AQ bus and USB 2.0 connectivity)
- Excel from-to (will be used during build, and was used during purchase phase to ensure I won't miss a cable during assembly). Also added the watercooling part, to evaluate the number of fittings / plugs I will require (the exact type of the fittings will be determined once I have the case I guess, unless I muster the courage to spin Sketchup and do a 3D model of the case)
I now know the build will require 30 different cables
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, probably more once I'll salvage SSDs from my current rig.
- Watercooling loop diagram : early draft, with just components in place.

 
#26 ·
The loop itself
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Feedback welcome, this is my first one, so I may have missed crucial points. Worries / pending questions in bold

Rationale :
  • Reservoir, above the pumps with direct connecting, for pump self-feeding. I have not put any fill port, I guess I will have a spare fitting with some pipe that I would plug ad hoc for big filling operations. Topping up would be made using a fill bottle.
  • 2 D5 pumps so I guess I should not care about restriction, etc...
  • GPU blocks linked by an EKWB bridge, in serial mode
  • CPU or motherboard block, still on the fence
  • 1 water temp sensor, because I assume this will be the place where the water should be the warmest
  • Top block, I may put the ports near the front to get the closer from the other rad...not sure. Ports will be facing down I guess, which worries me a bit for clearing air bubbles
  • front block with ports up, for air bleeding
  • Y splitter, near the bottom, to allow for circuit drain. I put the Y in the sense of the flow, I hope there will be no reflow this way
  • 3rd block, the largest
  • Flow sensor : this is the furthest away from the pumps, so if I have a good flow there, this means I should have good flow everywhere
  • I'll use the return port of the rez to put the second water temp sensor, in the place where water should be the coolest. This way I will finally be able to see what is the maximum amplitude of water temp on a circuit, knowing it should be super minimal. In the end I put 2 sensors just so I have a spare one (since I will be using Water / air delta T° for regulation)
 
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