[skkhai]

Name & Explanation: Kuro, in Japanese it means the color black or dark. What I want for this project is to make a sleeper tower. I used to be in the whole window mod/cathodes/led fans/etc... but now I want simple and clean tower, which led me to build this:

I have been wanting to paint interior black but because I've also been wanting to get my feet wet in water cooling, I decided to hold off until after I build my first loop.

Recently, I was able to pick up a used kit locally for a good price. His kit consisted of the, now old, Apogee GT CPU block, original MCR220 (3/8" threading), a nasty looking Micro-Res v1, and the old faithful MCP655 pump. It is an ok starting point for me, but I wanted more...

Planned Parts: (I now have everything I need

).
Apogee GT CPU block Heatkiller 3.0
MCR220 Radiator
MCR320 Radiator (thanks borito4)
2x MCW60 GPU blocks EK full cover blocks
MCP655 Pump + Detroit top
7/16" ID 5/8" OD Tubing
UN 3G Pump Bracket (thanks utnorris)

Here's the plan:

1: I will try my best to find someway to mount the MCR320 internally to the roof. I will most likely have clearance issues and may be forced to have the radiator mounted flush on top of the case while the fans sit inside. We'll see when I have the 320 physically in my hands to play with.

2: The smaller rad will be placed where the HDD bay currently is. Obviously I will have to remove the bay but this should give me a massive amount of space to work with for the MCR220 and I will most likely have push/pull setup and maybe able to get some shroud action too!

3: It was really hard for me to decide where to put the reservoir. I know the ideal place would be to have it at the highest point in the loop, but this is hard considering the limited space I have to work with and because I don't want any parts mounted externally (especially tubing). I decided to go with a floor mounted reservoir... It will have enough tubing for it to pop out of the case for easy draining. Filling will be the hard part... I plan to just flip the case upside down and pop the reservoir out facing up normally; this will then make it so it is at the highest part of the loop

.

I want the coldest water possible hitting the CPU first, so my loop is:
Reservoir > Pump > MCR220 > MCR320 > Apogee GT > MCW60 > MCW60 > Reservoir

Water color will not be red, I just used red to provide contrast and visibility in the plan.

// Updates //

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tEFVFgurqCWmr5MQ0GcOHmQ&w=54&h=370 Google Spreadsheet

 

[Random\/]

Sounds like a good plan, I have the MCR320 in the top of my case, mounted the way you are talking about, I couldn't fit it inside so I put it on top and have fans below sucking in. I have a pretty similar setup to yours, here's a pic so you can get an idea (it's not perfect but it works pretty well)

Can't wait to see it!

 

[skkhai]

Do you have a top shot of your case? If the 320 isn't too noticeable, I think I might just end up doing it exactly like you did with the barbs on the other end.

 

[Random\/]

Well the way I have it (very noticeable) but I kinda like it. Ignore the black tape and bad mount (old picture) If your case has room you could drop it into the case and have it hang (my mobo was the way) Looks like you have a little more clearance than I do.

 

[I_dalder_I]

Dam your cable management for ANY case never the less a antec 300, is truly epic wow.

 

[skkhai]

Thanks

. The 300 really makes it easy though, I just threw all the cables into little nook behind the HDD bays. I will have to find a new way to cable manage since I'm removing it...

 

[oliverw92]

nice plan! i hope to see a worklog of this. just watch out for cutting your cables where you made a hole there. get some c-strip or something. even electrical tape. just to stop the cables getting snagged

 

[skkhai]

That was an older picture... before I got my video cards. They've been filed down smooth since then

.

 

[Random\/]

In response to your question: I don't currently have any work log pictures, I'm adding new fans to my rad and might be able to get a few pics so you can actually see how it's in there. I'll post them if I can get them, let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Rick Arter]

Looking forward to more of this project sweet!

 

[fedex1993]

Man all in side of a A300 defently subbed. The loop looks good.

 

[skkhai]

Sorry for no updates. I've been busy finishing up my summer courses. I've also been waiting for my 320 rad to come in before I start doing any real heavy measurements. I was bored with my parts just sitting so I put some of it together and leak tested + did a few other things.

Ignore the cheapo Link Depot fans, those will be spray painted and turned into shrouds. And ignore the dirty/cloudy res, already have a new one waiting.

Lapped the block a little bit. It's not super mirror polished, but it'll do. That's my TIM applicator btw

.

New bracket pump thanks to utnorris

. Only problem I had with it was that it made the pump ridiculously tall, soo I had to modify the bracket a little bit and make it a little more low profile.

The pump is showing it's age. It looks old but it still runs like a champ and I got it dirt cheap. I'll either spray it black or apply some black car trim restoration products to it.

Here's a picture of the original bracket. I bent it up a little and reduced its height by an inch.

 

[I_dalder_I]

Subbed this is looking good

if this works i might copy and do it in my 300

 

[skkhai]

One more teaser picture. Rad came in this morning (thanks borito4), I can start measuring and taking things apart. Also, I'm going to be using a brand new 300 I bought when Fry's had a sale (stored away in closet and almost forgot I had it).

 

[skkhai]

Dad currently has the power drill in his truck but I didn't want to wait so I grabbed a dremel and started drilling rivets.

Dremeling took WAY too long per rivet... So what do you do when power tools fail you? MAN UP, use hand tools!

These rivets weren't accessible without taking apart most of the case panels, so I turned to my trusty vice grips and ripped the whole thing out. Yeah, I'm a beast

.

Aftermath

Test fitted 240. Perfect fit, it mounts on via screws to the original fan holes in first slot.

Here you can see my dilemma. Even after modifying the bracket, the pump outlet is still a little too tall for the barbs on the rad. I might have to do without the bracket and just let the pump sit on the floor.

 

[fedex1993]

Well i bought another a300 there much cheaper then newegg. I must find a mod to do to it.

 

[skkhai]

Another teaser for what's on tomorrow's agenda

 

[[email protected]'D]

That front mount looks familiar

good work soo far I really can't wait to see this top mounted 360mm rad (Y)

sub'd

 

[skkhai]

Today was a busy day, I didn't get to much done except cut the top. I was planning on cutting wire management holes and fan grills but didn't have the time to...

.

Ok so after measuring, double and triple checking. I couldn't have the top radiator + fans mounted internally. Mounting the middle fan would prevent me from having any ram in my ram slots. So radiator is getting mounted on top flushed with the case. Also, the rear case fan prevents me from having the barbs at the back side of the case, so now it'll be in front.

Aftermath

Test fitting. The rad is a little beat up with paint chips, but I'm planning on repainting everything when the temperatures outside drop a little. IE this Fall...

BAM, untaped. The cut around the original fan grill ruins it for me

. I'll have to figure out something to hide it when I put the finishing touches on everything. But for now everything fits perfect.

Also, a little surprise came to me this morning. I was expecting to get it next week, but it came in today.

It's Dopamin3's unlockable Phenom II 550 which will replace my 9850

.

 

[skkhai]

For anyone still following this. I got all of my cuts done today. Sorry for bad pictures, camera was dying so I had to rush.

10:1 vinegar mix to clean out my pump and rads. Again, ignore the the dirty stained res, previous owner was a chain smoker

I plan to have the main cable group lay flat against the lower tier of the backside where it says "wire route" (removed the little hills). The main grouping will have cables side to side starting from the bottom one going straight up through the top and spilling into the far side of the case. (ribbon-cable-style) and will be zip tied across the smaller rectangles. Cables will break away from from the main grouping when needed.

All holes are filed and smooth and cable ready. Sorry, this is the only picture of the cuts that I have, my camera died after taking this shot.

I plan to have a bigger update tomorrow. Pretty much everything that needed to be done in order to get the loop running has been done, so I will attempt to have it up and running with water tomorrow. This will NOT be the end of this project... My classes start Thursday and I have to put off any major mods for the case until the holidays.

After tomorrow's update, I still plan on:
-Painting the interior black.
-Repainting the outside and rads. Piano black maybe?
-Finding some way to clean up the honeycomb leftovers at the top where the original 140mm fan was. I already have something in mind, could use a few leftover pieces of black acrylic if anybody has some.
-Replacing side fan with 140mm + add another 140mm to blow over the upper portion of the motherboard (NB, Mosfets area).