WARMACHINE 1.5 - Design Phase!

[Skippman]

Ok, I tried backspacing the drive cage this morning.





As you can see I gain about 3 inches of clearnace in front of the cage by moving the front screw holes of the cage to the rear mounting position of the drive rack. The drive cage feels WICKED solid still with only 4 of the 8 case screws holding it in place. Height wise I could easily get the 16" I need for the tripple if I remove the "water cooling shelf". That would leave me with two 5 1/4 bays free at the top of the case, of which I only need one. This leaves me with two concerns.

1.) I don't know where I'm going to mount the pump. To the top of the hard drive cage maybe?
2.) Will my power supply still clear?

Here's how I'm visualizing the setup looking installed if I backspace the hard drive cage.

[DMB2000uk]

I think your PSU will still fit.

Grab the tape measure again, you know fans are about an inch and you should know how long your PSU is...

As for pump location, I think on top of the HDD cage would work well with the cpu/mobo/graphics return going into the pump, and the top output going into the rad.

Dan

[Skippman]

I measured my OCZ GamerXStream at 5 1/2" in depth. Measuring from the back plane of the case to the rear of the hard drive cage I have exactly 9" of clearnace giving me 3 1/2" of room between the rear hard drive cage fan enclosure and the PSU. If I pull the fan shroud and fan off the back of the hard drive cage I can increase that to 5".

It's times like this that I wish I had a modular power supply.

I've also been trying to think of a way to shoe horn in this bad boy:



It takes two 5 1/2" bays which means the bottom part of it will be in the way of the radiator mount. I want some kind of active fan monitoring on the front of the case. I might just have to settle for a single 5 1/4" solution if I can find one I like.

[DMB2000uk]

Are the holes at the bottom of the mobo tray big enough to have *all* of the cables under the tray? That way you can hide them at the back rather than have to bunch them where they would mess with the fan on the hard drive cage.

I don't know how feasable this is, but maybe to cram in the fan controller, you could remove and turn the mounting tray upside down, so that the main securing thing can screw into the free bay and the rather open bit will just be where the back part of the rad where the barbs would fit. Like this:



Edit: I've looked at the pics from a couple of reviews of that fan controller, and am convinced that the upsidedown mounting thing would work.

Dan

[Skippman]

This picture here gives the impression that you can remove or at least MOVE that controller board. Unfortunatly that side, unlike Legit, doesn't post any way to contact the reviewer to find out if this is true, or just a photo preassembly.

This picture here appears to show there's nothing on the "bottom" of the device.



If that's the case, I can cut thatsupport backet out and the radiator should fit right in as that display can't be any thicker than the fans in front of the radiator. Plus, judging by the photo, I might not even have to cut the bracked out and I could use it to support the water lines to the radiator.

[Skippman]

Ordered my first phase of parts:

NZXT Sentry LX fan controller

Lite-On LH-20A1L05 SATA DVD Buner

2 x Link Depot 1.5 ft. SATA II Cables, Blue UV Reactive

1 x Link Depot 3 ft. SATA II Cable, Blue UV Reactive

and

A set of UV Black Light CCT's

Once I get the fan controller and optical drive in there I'll know how I'm going to mount the radiator. I've already got a pretty good idea how this is going to work. It's dremel time!

[Skippman]

I've been looking for that Swiftech tripple radiator and the only place I can find that sells it is Swiftech themselves. There's got to be a cheaper vendor that them though. Where do you guys get your water cooling stuff?

[DMB2000uk]

Sidewinder is the cheapest, but I don't know how shipping works out.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcqupo3xbl.html

Some other places that have it:

http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcqposerab1.html

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5795/ ... -QP-K.html

http://www.jab-tech.com/product.php?productid=3320

http://www.xoxide.com/swiftech-quiet-po ... iator.html

Dan

[Skippman]

I was looking at Xoxide. Never done business with them or Frozen CPU but I've heard good things about them. Guess I'll just have to put together the same kit on both sites and see who's cheapest. Doesn't make sense to pay for shipping twice.

**EDIT**

I just found out Performance PCS sells them. Just ordered some cables from them. If the cables are decent quality I'll likely order from them again.

Is there a big diffrence between the Swiftech 3x120 and the Black Ice Compact? I'm guessing I want the 1/2" ID barbs?

[Bio-Hazard]

Go with Sidewinder Computers, they are about the cheapest and they are very dependable, I shop there all the time. Jab-Tech is also a good place to get your water cooling gear, cheaper than Frozen CPU, Xoxide and Performance PCS normally.

[martini161]

dont forget petra's, they have a lot of specialty stuff but there not always the cheapest. jab-tech is where i currently buy all my fans though 4 bucks for a 120mm yateloon highspeed cant be beat

[Skippman]

I think I'll stick to the stock fans for the front of the radiator. Trying to decide if I should go ahead with the pull fans on the back side of the radiator. I could control them and the two rear ones with the NZXT and leave the fronts controlled directly by the knobs.

[Skippman]

WATER KIT PARTS LIST
10 x Breeze Miniature Hose Clamp 7/32 in. to 5/8 in. $7.20
Swiftech MCR320-QP Quiet Power 3X120mm w/ 1/2" fittings $52.95
Swiftech MCP655 Pump - w/ Speed Controller $77.95
Swiftech Apogee GTZ Extreme Performance Waterblock $64.95
10' Tygon® Silver Antimicrobial Tubing 3/8in. ID 1/2in. $25.00
Shipping $10.58

TOTAL: $238.63


That's from Sidewinder. Am I missing anything? Other than the GPU block?

[martini161]

i would recomend 1/2 inch tubing. and DONT get the adjustable speed pump. no point, there quite enough at full speeds that you probably wont hear it

[Skippman]

I picked 3/8" ID tubing on that list? BOTHER! That's a mistake. As you can see from the barb size on my radiator I had intended to use the 1/2" tubing the whole way through. And you're probably right about the pump.

Guys, I know I'm asking a TON of questions and I appreciate your guys answering them on this thread and the others. I've build, without exageration, 2000+ PCs (Figure 3 a day for 4 years) in my career but never anything water cooled. To many questions, and no on-site help. :D

That's the great thing about the internet, ton's of people who've been-there/done-that to pick thier brains. The only down side is we all can't sit down and share a pint in the process!

[DMB2000uk]

I picked 3/8" ID tubing on that list? BOTHER! That's a mistake. As you can see from the barb size on my radiator I had intended to use the 1/2" tubing the whole way through. And you're probably right about the pump.

Guys, I know I'm asking a TON of questions and I appreciate your guys answering them on this thread and the others. I've build, without exageration, 2000+ PCs (Figure 3 a day for 4 years) in my career but never anything water cooled. To many questions, and no on-site help. :D

That's the great thing about the internet, ton's of people who've been-there/done-that to pick thier brains. The only down side is we all can't sit down and share a pint in the process!

We'd rather you ask so we can point you in the right direction, than you not ask and make mistakes on your own.

Besides, we all like to help people out for that feel good factor around here

Dan

[DaIceMan]

That's the great thing about the internet, ton's of people who've been-there/done-that to pick thier brains. The only down side is we all can't sit down and share a pint in the process!

Sure we can. I'm going to be in StL for work in December. Once I get specific dates I'm going to try to work something out for a little LR dinner if we can find a spot central to all.

[Skippman]

That's the great thing about the internet, ton's of people who've been-there/done-that to pick thier brains. The only down side is we all can't sit down and share a pint in the process!

Sure we can. I'm going to be in StL for work in December. Once I get specific dates I'm going to try to work something out for a little LR dinner if we can find a spot central to all.

I'm down with that! Get Nate and Shane to show up. Dan... well, Dan's a bit out there being across the pond and all. :D

[DMB2000uk]

If I could stay at someone's, and everyone chipped in for the plane fare to get me over there I could make it over

Dan

[Skippman]

If I could stay at someone's, and everyone chipped in for the plane fare to get me over there I could make it over

Dan

Listen, I like ya and all mate but I already imported one Limey this year. It was for ZS's annual camping trip. Maybe next year? ;)