Hello!

This will be my first worklog for my first water cooled PC. I've already got most of my parts in, and have been waiting a long time to do something like this, so here goes.

The Specifications,

AMD's 955 BE
Gigabyte's 890GPA UD3H MSI Z77 MPower!
8 GB Corsair Memory 16 GB Patriot Intel Extreme Masters Memory Kit
MSI's R7950, reference edition
WD's 500 GB Green OCZ 128 GB Vector and WD 500 GB Scorpio Black
WD's 1 TB Green
Corsair's TX 650M
Lian Li's A05NB

The Loop,

Laing's DDC 1T Plus + Phobya light black top Aqua Computer's DDC Delrin Top + Swiftech MCP 35X
Alphacool's NexXxoS XT45 240mm radiator
Alphacool's NexXxoS XT45 360mm radiator
Koolance 370 CPU block

Noiseblocker's XL2s

*more to come

The Aesthetics,

Bitspower 360mm Radiator Grill Watercool Heatkiller 360mm Stainless Steel Hex Guard
Vandal resistant switches, blue dot + ring LED, stainless steel
Clear acrylic panel for side window

Just two photos to kick off this post. "Project: Rebirth" begins next week!

The case that I will be cutting up, already removed the USB + 3.5mm headers to make way for the 360mm radiator!



Just got these goodies today!



This post has been edited by pristine: Jan 23 2013, 12:08 AM

I intend to stuff one there!

hopefully I didn't miss any measurements.

definitely planning on painting it up, later on when I'm finish cutting it up. haha

This post has been edited by pristine: Sep 8 2012, 01:35 AM

any tips on how to remove the anodizing?

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Added on September 9, 2012, 1:37 am08/09/12
Issue:

Bitspower 360mm Radiator grill won't accommodate my 360mm XT45. Seems that the Bitspower grill is meant for radiators with wider fan spacing.

This post has been edited by pristine: Sep 9 2012, 01:37 AM

won't affect the progress of my build but I want to put just so it looks more polished. haha

This post has been edited by pristine: Sep 10 2012, 07:11 PM

Project: Rebirth begins today!

Did a test fit for the 240mm radiator at the bottom of the A05NB,



Hardly any space left! Just enough to seal the ports at the end.



Top panel ready for cutting, to accommodate a 360mm radiator.



Weapon of choice:



Fin!



Only used one regular cutting disc (small) for the panel. Didn't break till when I finished and wanted to remove it.

Will properly finish it and pop the fan holes tomorrow when my drill comes in.

Thanks bro!

This post has been edited by pristine: Sep 11 2012, 10:19 PM

Update!

Popped some M3 holes in the chassis today, with this!


And made the 240mm radiator opening, with a dremel.


You'd think it'll be less work than yesterday, but for some weird reason, I broke two discs, changed two discs, totalling FIVE discs. I think the chassis aluminium is different from the panels. I'll find out tomorrow when I cut my side panel.

As you can see the dust from cutting the 240mm hole. It's more than yesterday!


Also cut out a hole for CPU mounting plate change.


Took a break from all the cutting and drilling, made measurements and drawings for tomorrow's session:

Going to swap out the power and reset switches for delrin switches.


And make a windowed side panel! Still haven't drawn out the design. Have to make a few more measurements.

Had to make more measurements yesterday for the side panel,

I got inked.


Worked on cutting up the front and side panels today, along with cutting out an acrylic sheet for side window.

Front panel:


Issue with the hole I made, not big enough. Gotta go file it down some more tomorrow.

Side panel, complete with acrylic window!


Perfect fit when fixed back on the chassis! Quite literally. And I need to get more screws. HAHA!

Cutting the acrylic was ridiculous. Did it with a dremel, got showered with acrylic dust. I was covered with acrylic dust.


After that everything I saw had blur spots.

Should be able to put everything together soon. And file down/finish the cut sections if required.

This post has been edited by pristine: Sep 29 2012, 09:45 PM

The 360mm? definitely not on the first bay. Maybe on the second 5.25" bay. I'm not using an ODD. .

Will post a photo for you when I test fit!

Just did a test fit since I just realise I haven't test fit the 360mm rad after I cut the top panel!


and it works! holes all properly aligned and spacings estimated/measured are correct! I just need to do some finishing for the top panel.

Here's your answer!



It fits! Just don't go using deltas/push-pull (maybe if thinner rad can).

The space left is JUST NICE for an ODD or whatever you wanna stuff in. Also, depends on how you mod your case, you might still be able to use the top bay for something, depending on how big that something is.

OR the new NZXT Hue.

but have to take measurements first.

Thanks bro! the switches I got them from PPC when they were on offer. You can get them locally as well, from lamptron (ask niclasteoh/lingloong). I think limhongwoon has as well.

The ones I got are delrin blue dot LED momentary switches.

thanks!

Current running costs or cumulative?

If cumulative then I think past 6k already.

If current then I think about...2k? and I still have more parts to get.

Just get a dremel with the extension, seriously. BRILLIANT tool. And a corded drill with speed control. and safety gear, if you're that kind of person.

Personally I got glasses, mask and foam plugs.

Depends what you wanna do with your WC really. Get in touch with ezzy or cyntrix. Pretty sure they'd be happy to help you out.

Can't do any more cutting for the time being. lost my mandrel screw. . Currently waiting/searching for a replacement.

In the meant time, I've made some more drawings so I can finish the panels properly with straight edges(!)

Also, selling off the Bitspower 3x120mm radiator grill. Anyone interested?

Bitspower 3x120mm mesh grill

Such a sad waste. Gotta go find a replacement now.

Still hunting for that damn mandrel, so still no cutting.

Spent the day filing down and finishing the panels.

Got the switches to fit!


Don't even need to remove the original LED acrylic thingy.


But had to cut out the chassis, where the original power/reset switchboard was. Small matter


Did a test fit of radiators with the PSU I'll be using. FIT.


Resuming semester tomorrow, so log might slow down.

But will be actively procuring more parts to stuff in, since I still need:

Tubing
Fittings
Reservoir
7950 FC
Sleeving
Lighting
Odds and ends

just starting out only la bro. haha. but thanks!

sure! why not. if you're serious, shoot me a pm.

This post has been edited by pristine: Oct 11 2012, 11:41 PM

Sorry for the lack of updates you guys. Will be posting some photos in the coming days as my package from Aquatuning arrived yesterday! Got some new switches, a pump top and radiator grill.

Also, I'm thinking of selling off the current switches I have, 22/19mm(depending how you measure) Black Delrin/Acetal blue dot LED switches. Perfect condition. Haven't put up the sales thread yet, but if anyone is interested, shoot me a PM!

OKAY! an update, of new parts I just got over the last week.

I managed to trade off my Bitspower grill that I couldn't use 'cause of the fan spacing. Paid a visit to PPTEK in Subang Permai and got this(!) :



Thanks vlad and ezzy for the help and time!

A couple days later, a box arrived all the way from Germany, courtesy of DHL and PosLaju.



They sent me gummy bears, German gummy bears!



And other stuff, of course.

Got a new radiator grill, which fits!



Watercool's 360mm HEXX grill, 15mm spaced, stainless steel! So shiny.

This, from Aquacomputer



Inside is:



Aquacomputer's delrin DDC top. Very nice. Phobya has one which is full nickel! Tad more ex.

Also bought new switches to match what I have in mind.



Phobya stainless steel switches, blue dot and blue ring LEDs.

So much stainless steel.

A couple weeks back, got a pair of fillports from Pargon:



and today, APES.my sent me 2 units of this:



Thanks G.Bonez and Vlad/Ezzy!

Can get back to cutting up my case this weekend.

Going to riddle it with more holes.

This post has been edited by pristine: Oct 16 2012, 12:36 PM

Didn't manage to do any cutting over the weekend. Having difficulty sketching out the location. Will probably wait for a few more fittings to arrive then I'll try again.

In the mean time, I've opened up a group buy from Performance PCs. Anyone interested can check here!