I have always dreamed of building my own water cooled PC, and finally I have a chance to build it. I am doing this as a hobby and it will be a long term project, estimated around a year of building (maybe more) .

Here is my animated build (not 100% accurate):



My item list (Have not obtained everything yet):

Case - Bitfenix Prodigy Jap Ver. Black/Red

PC Hardware
Motherboard - Asus Maximus VI Impact
Processor - Intel i7 4770k
Ram - 2 x 8gb Corsair Vengence Pro (RED) 2400Mhz
Storage - NGFF 256gb SSD (hopefully intel brand) (unavailable at time of writing)
Power Supply - Corsair AX850
Graphic Card- Nvidia GTX780 (undecided)

Watercooling Stuff
CPU Block - EK Supremacy Nickel Acetal + EK Naked Ivy Precise Mount.
GPU Block - EK-VGA Supremacy BE Nickel Acetal
Radiator - Alphacool NexXxoS (ST30 240mm x 2) + (ST30 140mm x 1)
Pump - Swifttech MCP35x
Pump Top (Reservoir Combo) - EK-DDC X-Res 140 CSQ - Acetal
Fans - Corsair [SP120 PWM x 4pcs] + [AF140 x 1pcs]
Tubing - Primochill Advance LRT Onyx Black 1/2" x 3/4"
Compression Fittings - Monsoon Free Center Compression Fittings 1/2" x 3/4" x 10pcs
Extender & Angle Fittings - G1/4 Bitspower Black Matte [90 degree rotary x 13] + [15mm Extemder x 3] + [7.5mm Extender x 3]
Drain/Fill Port - Swiftech 1/2 in. Barb Remote Fill-port, High Polish Chrome Plated Brass Body x 2

Building Stages (Currently Stage 1)
Stage 1 - Case Modification
Stage 2 - Assembly
Stage 3 - Wiring
Stage 4 - Boot-up and Testing
Stage 5 - Overclocking

This post has been edited by Oretega: Nov 10 2013, 02:04 PM

Stage 1 - Case Modification


It is finally time to cut my PC case. Kinna sad, cause it is a brand new virgin case. Haha

Drilling all the rivets out



All the pieces are separated



With a grinder and stuff, cut and cut and cut.



This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:04 PM

This gonna be good. I hope the acrylic window will not be tinted red, smoked black will look way better.

This post has been edited by Lucassss: Nov 10 2013, 01:25 PM

I agree with you bro, i would prefer smoked black too:) Coming soon.

Can't wait to see the finish product.

Cutting Continued. I am removing a big piece at the bottom of the case. This is where fresh air is going to enter. "The Intake"


There will be an air filter below, no worries. This case will be a fully negative pressure case, and yes, i know there will be a giant dust build up inside of the case, but I like my design the way it is.


Cutting holes for the power supply modular cables.


This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:05 PM

Modular cable hole done.


The motherboard backplate will be cut, and the power supply will be used upside down of the bitfenix recommended power supply facing.


Walla, this is how it is done, the power supply will draw air from the bottom of the motherboard.


This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:05 PM

Now for the fill/drain port.


Drilled using a 16mm hole saw


Fits perfectly


This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:06 PM

Super perfect fitting with the plastic cover. I planned to hide the fill/drain port, and some other electronic ports (coming soon) behind the front plastic plate.


Top for fill, bottom for drain. Haha


This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:06 PM

can't wait to see the finished product..

Shaving a little of at the bottom of the front case panel to fit the 240mm radiator


Cutting the side window. I will maintain the power button at the side as it is a perfect access location when i put it on my table


Cutting done. Don't mind my room, its under construction too. Haha


This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:07 PM

looks good so far

more please

Soon, soon. Now i am designing some simple electronic circuits for the case. Will be revealed soon:)

Build update:
Since I have cut out a large piece at the bottom of the case for a custom filter, I need something to support the power supply and the pump. I decided to use fiberglass as its flexible and crack resistant. I got the material from an empty circuit board. The circuit board have copper and fiberglass layer. I just want the fiberglass layer, thus I used a popular etching solution (ferric chloride) to remove the copper layer.



Mix ferric chloride powder in warm water to make a solution (honestly I do not know the proper ratio of powder and warm water, I just see the color based on experience ), and soak the board inside it (after wet sanding the copper surface). After that, wait for a few hours.



This is what it looks like after 30 minutes. I don't have a proper tools to heat up the solution, if I have, it would have etched a lot faster.



This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:07 PM

After 3 hours.... long wait... But worth it. (night shot with my iPhone full of noise. haha)



After 4 hours, done. Rinse with water, and I have a fiberglass plate. Using a ...... I am not sure what its called... a pcb cutter? (its like a razor blade, but with some sort of a hook to scratch the pcb) and cut the fiberglass plate into strips.



vVv fiberglass strips success



This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:08 PM

I like to visit hardware shops for source of inspiration. This time, I am looking for a mount for the custom filter. This is what I found.



I only want the Aluminum holder, as for the brush... I am just going to use it as a .... brush



This is how it is going to look like, below the prodigy.



This post has been edited by Oretega: Dec 7 2013, 07:08 PM

keep up good work!

Its called acrylic cutter / plastic cutter