[Cind3r]

Just getting back into modding after 8 years. Funny how getting a wife and buying a house can stop your hobbies dead in their tracks.

Well anyway im back into it and man have things changed, When i was watercooling RADs had builting in fittings lol.

Im really keen to get your input, after all we are always learning.

The Planish
I will be using my 4 year old CPU, Mobo and RAM for this rig incase the whole thing explodes but i have upgraded my graphics cards for folding and mining. Also its a socket 1366 so the CPU block is easily upgradeable to 2011 later down the track.

Ill watercool the CPU and 3 GPUs. At this point i would like to keep EVERYTHING inside the case, i will do some testing and if its not running as well as i would like i think i may externaly mount a RAD or 2.I do think im quite short on RAD real estate but we will see.

Where i intend to put the pump in the HAF XB case would make it not visable when the side panel is on so i will put a window in the case.

Ill be updating as i go and as parts arrive.

Spec:
CPU: Intel i7 920
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-EX58-DS4
Ram: 3x 2gb G.Skill 12800 DDR3
Graphics: 3x Gigabyte OC 7970's Rev2.1 (Blue PCB) - Im hoping as this build log gets completed i can save people a lot of trouble if you are thinking of watercooling a NON reference graphic card as i have had no end of trouble but can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING 3 GRAPHIC CARDS!!!

Cooling Equipment:
CPU: HEATKILLER® CPU Rev3.0 1366/2011 Ni-BL
GPU: 3x HEATKILLER® GPU-X³ Core 60 DIY & GPU-X Multi-Link
RADs: Hardware Labs Black Ice GTX Xtreme 240mm, 120mm and 160mm (80mm x2)
RAD Fans: 3x Scythe 120mm SlipStream 1900rpm and 2x Fractal Design Silent Series R2 80mm
RES: XSPC Acrylic Single 5.25" Bay Reservoir
Tubing: PrimoChill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT Tubing Clear 1/2ID 3/4OD
Fittings: Bitspower G1/4 Deep Blood Red Rotary Compression Fittings
Pump: Koolance PMP-450 12V Variable Speed Pump with a Bitspower D5 Mod Top and a Bitspower D5/MCP655 Pump Mod Kit Red

The Loop:
RES -> Pump -> RAD160 -> GPUs -> RAD120 -> CPU -> RAD240 -> RES

Before I take it apart:


2 of the RADs installed and the pump in ready to be mounted. Also needed to put the PSU and CD drive in for space testing....I love the HAF XB (these are not the fans im using, i just needed to make sure the rads fit, still waiting on the order to be delivered):


Taped,marked and ready to cut.:


Went and bought a $29 drill and $35 Rotary tool. I think after this ill invest in a Dremel.


Window is complete (Should have dusted it off before taking a photo oops):

 

[andygoyap]

this is awesome! great work on the side panel mod.. been looking around for haf xb watercooled rigs.. this is the first i found

 

[Cind3r]

Thanks

, If your looking for some more HAF XB's there a great club with heaps of info Official Cooler Master HAF XB Club

 

[Cind3r]

Latest update:
Still waiting on postage for some fittings, RAD number 3 and GPU spacer

Seems that South Australia may as well be on the moon when it comes to water cooling parts availability.
I thought I had planed this build to the T but things always change.

I had to change the orientation of my pump to better suit the loop. Also the 160mm RAD will be installed on the bottom as soon as it arrives.


Due to the thickness of the tubing I'm using I could not allow enough slack to allow my drive bay RES to move in and out to use the fill port so I added a T junction for a fill and drain pipe.
Parts:


Put together:


In the loop: (Note: minimal cable management has been applied)


Fill/Drain Tube


More to come as i get parts

.......

 

[kcuestag]

I'm definitely subscribing, this looks amazing.

Also hope you upgrade your CPU platform soon, that i7 920 will bottleneck even 2x HD7970's quite a bit in some games.

 

[Cind3r]

Thanks KcuestaG for your advice. Im just waiting for my cash flow to improve then ill be looking at the i7 3930K on a ASRock X79 Extreme 11 Motherboard if it will fit in the case

I just bought my wife a DSLR so hopefuly soon (once she is done playing with it) i will have some better quality pics

Update:

Only waiting on the GPU spaces to arive then i will be able to finish.

I got my 160mm RAD which was the last component i was waiting on to complete the bottom level.


Im a bit iffy about the bend from RAD to CPU-in but i did a flow test and it should be fine i hope


Installed some hidden LED strips


This is one heavy box! already without liquid it weighs 21kg!

 

[Cind3r]

Update:

!!!FAILED!!!FAILED!!!FAILED!!!FAILED!!!FAILED!!!
The first and second fill and flow attempt FAILED!!!!

First i had a big split in a tube!!! i dont know how i missed it
The fill valve may be in the wrong spot or on the wrong angle cause it doesnt fill very much at all.

Second the pump would not pump the water to the upper level. I noticed that the speed setting was set to 2 of 5 but when i went to change it the dial is broken so its stuck on 2 even though the dial moves. I contacted the supplier and they will not take it back because i drilled holes in the mounting bracket

Action: I have order even more part like a new pump and a pump controller to step up the voltage to 24 anf get a few more L/min.

I am just about to throw this whole system out and go back to air cooling

Looking for other uses for RADs like cooling my beer

 

[Cind3r]

Update

!!!PASSED!!!PASSED!!!PASSED!!!PASSED!!!

After many pull aparts and late nights i got it working!!!

I put only 1 GPU in and tested with water


So now after i was happy that the first card worked i rigged the whole thing up with all 3 cards and added coolant.


This is the DIY60 kit from Watercool. I had to cut the copper to fit the VRMs. Real easy job if you use the heatsink that is on the card as a guide. If you bought a graphics card that is not a ref board and full cover blocks dont fit i would recommend this setup.



Next mission is to learn how to cable sleeve. I have done some shocking sleeve jobs in the past but thanks to the helpful guides i have found on this forum i may give it a go when i change power supply

I bought my wife a DLSR so ill be putting up some better quality pics when i have finished testing

Tests so far: Room temp 32c
I have only done minimal testing so far as the current temp in my town is way above average. We hit 35c yesterday and its forecast for 39c today. I want to run the test when the room is a little cooler.

GPU: Overclocked 1000mhz to 1100mhz via Catalyst software
1. Ran Bitcoin miner app for 8 hours on 3 GPUs
Temp before test: 36c
Temp after test: 55c

CPU No overclock yet
1. Prime95 ran for 4 hours
Temp before test: 42c
Temp after test: 56c

 

[Cind3r]

Almost Finished

So close to finishing!!!

I have put a 200mm fan on top on the cards to see if i can get better temps, if the temps are better then i will mod the top panel to fit one off center.




I was hoping i could get the flow meter low enough to be seen through the window but the dimentions on paper didnt convert in my head when i planned this loop




Lastly what would a internet forum post be with out a cat?!?

 

[kcuestag]

Wouldn't it be better for that fan above the GPU's to actually pull the heat away instead of pushing the heat into GPU's and mobo?

 

[Cind3r]

Yep

thanks for that. A build excitement oversight on my part.

 

[kcuestag]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cind3r

Yep

thanks for that. A build excitement oversight on my part.

It's all looking great though!!

Also, don't think that fan will help GPU temps at all, might help cool your motherboard a bit, but don't think it'll do anything to the GPU's.

 

[Cind3r]

how much airflow do you think i need on the ram heatsinks on the cards?

 

[Quasimojo]

Great work. I really like the HAF XB, but it looks like it presents some challenges in keeping the bottom from looking cluttered. Yours is looking good.

 

[demonunicorn]

Nice setup. I may be using the same GPU waterblock and as my new Gigabyte HD 7950 is using the same pcb. Do you have heatsinks under the waterblock on the memory or not. Also did you us the ek shim for the 7900 seires.

 

[Cind3r]

The heatsinks are a combo of passive cooler for VGA RAM (10-pack) that are 4mm in hight to fit under the GPU waterblock and the rest are from a GTX480 VGA cooler pack

 

[Cind3r]

more pics to come tomorrow

i forgot to load them to dropbox from home....

 

[dsmwookie]

What fans did you end up using for the 160mm rad?

 

[dsmwookie]

Did you end up running a copper GPU shim for the 7950/7970?