Liquidfox R2
Specs:
Case - Fractal Design Arc Midi R2
PSU - Corsair AX860i (individually sleeved)
Mobo - Asus P8Z68V/Gen3
CPU - Intel Core i7 2600K
RAM - Corsair XMS3 1600MHz (16 GB)
GPU - AMD 7970 GHz edition
Storage:
- OCZ Vector 256GB (Primary)
- Crucial C300 RealSSD 128GB (Secondary)
- WD Caviar Black 1TB (Backups)
Cooling:
- Swiftech MCP655 (Laing D5) pump
- XSPC Raystorm CPU block
- EK 7970 Acetal CSQ GPU block + backplate
- EK CoolStream RAD XT 240 w/ Noctua F12
- Swiftech Rad (from H220)
- EK x3 150 res
- Feser 10/13 light blue tubing
- Distilled water w/ silver coils
- NF-P12/14 case fans
Photos
Getting started
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-001.jpg)
Test fitting and making sure it's all functioning correctly
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-002.jpg)
And laced
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-003.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-004.jpg)
And installed
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-005.jpg)
First batch of items arrive!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00474.jpg)
Radiator installed/testfitted with the NF-F12's (I turned it around in between shots).
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00485.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00514.jpg)
Noctua P14, The fan filter I used was fairly inefficient and tons of dust was still sucked in - I fixed this by adding some foam from an older case to it.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00487.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00488.jpg)
Initial shots of the case and installation of the first few components:
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00512.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00515.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00519.jpg)
As seen in the above photo, the reservoir has arrived. I also got some individually sleeved cables which I've laced by myself.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00528.jpg)
Forgot to photograph the main components before installing but it's starting to get somewhere now with the cables!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00529.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00533.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/DSC00531.jpg)
Initial tubing cut and test-fitted
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/13.jpg)
Time to mount the res! To do so I first need to a hole in the case.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/14.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/15.jpg)
And it's mounted! I think it'll look great here! Had to use custom screws to make it work as the supplied ones were too short.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/16.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/17.jpg)
Flipped the top radiator around and got all the tubing done. I cannot connect the graphics card yet as I'm waiting still for the EK FC-Bridge to arrive.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/18.jpg)
And now it's time for a little break and get something to eat whilst waiting for dinner.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/19.jpg)
More painting things black!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-025.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-026.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-027.jpg)
And installed...
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-028.jpg)
Finally the FC-Bridge arrived!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-029.jpg)
And now to install the noise dampening foam I got as well, it looks great!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-030.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-031.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-032.jpg)
Change of plan, look at this sexiness~
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-033.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-034.jpg)
Hope this shouldn't affect anything, it seems half of my EK compressions had blemishes like this. Good thing it's only on the parts not visible.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-035.jpg)
What is looks like so far!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-036.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-037.jpg)
And now for the final part, the heart of the loop - The pump.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-038.jpg)
Filled it up, now to let it leak test over the evening, night and whilst I'm in school. Once I get home it should be almost 24 hours non-stop.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-039.jpg)
Here I'll post updates of each milestone in the building process, I don't like to consider anything ever finished since there's always some tweaks to be done down the road.
Original build (September 2013)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-040.jpg)
MK II (May 2014)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-008.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-006.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Sleeving-007.jpg)
Updates:
2013
Aug 29: Added initial photos and progress info
Aug 31: Added more photos and updated progress
Sep 04: Modded fans
Sep 14: It is more or less finished, laptop broke so haven't been able to update this thread until now.
Sep 15: The last batch of progress photos and documentation is up! The spec sheet has also been updated to reflect the few changes.
2014
May 14: New PSU, sleeved cables, new plans/ideas etc..
May 15: Posted photos of progress
Current progress:
Updated a bunch of things in the time that's been since my last post, I should have some photos and further status updates up in a few hours when I get back from school. I have several new ideas I wanna do in the coming months if my budget allows.
Whoo! An update!
This time I'll void the warranty of my fans~
Just getting started!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/20.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/21.jpg)
Paint it black~
I think they came out really nicely!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/22.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/23.jpg)
The finished product, put an untouched one next to them for reference..
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/WCRad%20Buildlog/24.jpg)
Let's finish this up shall we?
More painting things black!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-025.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-026.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-027.jpg)
And installed...
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-028.jpg)
Finally the FC-Bridge arrived!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-029.jpg)
And now to install the noise dampening foam I got as well, it looks great!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-030.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-031.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-032.jpg)
Change of plan, look at this sexiness~
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-033.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-034.jpg)
Hope this shouldn't affect anything, it seems half of my EK compressions had blemishes like this. Good thing it's only on the parts not visible.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-035.jpg)
What is looks like so far!
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-036.jpg)
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-037.jpg)
And now for the final part, the heart of the loop - The pump.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-038.jpg)
Filled it up, now to let it leak test over the evening, night and whilst I'm in school. Once I get home it should be almost 24 hours non-stop.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-039.jpg)
And it's alive! It's all up and running, everything seems to be working just fine! I love how the res looks with the LED shining through it.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr192/coolmannen05/Buildlog-040.jpg)
This has certainly been a fun project. Hope y'all like it!
EDIT: I've updated the first post to incorporate the changes and made a spoiler for dropping some more photos of the finished product for everyones viewing pleasure!
You are extremely brave for using water cooling, the last time I tried it i ended up with a very soggy motherboard and an extremely expensive fireworks show.
It does look amazing though, and the water cooling plus the sound foam will definitely make it near silent.
I see, well, I've been very careful about it and as you can see I did a leak test for 24 hours to make sure everything was in order.