Project: Monolith. Updated October 22nd 2005 Comments Log Ok.. let's get one thing straight.... I'm about to break no new ground here.. there's nothing original, or seminal about to be revealed in this log. What I intend it to be however, is well executed, precise, and of benefit to anyone who wants to build a high-end water cooled PC. This is my first real computer build that involves cutting, modding, painting, sanding, or indeed anything more involved than assembling components. I'm not really into heavily styled, themed mods, although I can, and indeed do appreciate the work that goes into them. What I intend to do here is build a very, very powerful, greatly overclocked games machine, and by default that means cuttng holes in a brand new Lian Li PC71, painting various parts, finding ingenious ways to reduce the amount of visible wiring, and to then share the fruits of my hard work with anyone who cares to drop by and have a look. I also welcome comments here , and advice in the project discussion forum, so hopefully, those more experienced, who can see a disaster looming, will stop me before I make any expensive mistakes. If the moderators don't think this is "modded" enough to be a modding log, then feel free to move it elsewhere. Ok.... first things first. The spec. AMD Athlon FX57 XFX 7800 GTX Extreme 2Gb Ballistix DFI NF4 SLI DR Lian Li PC71 That's the meat of it... other specs will no doubt change as I go along. The first thing that struck me when I got the rather large PC71 out of the box was "OMG... it's the monilith from 2001".... so I guess that will do for a name. The bare bones are below: DFI NF4 SLI-DR Athlon 64 FX57 XFX 7800GTX Extreme Gamer's Edition Hiper Type R 580 watt PSU Crucial ballistix z503 2x 1Gb This set up has been running on air as a quick build for over a week now, and I've been steadily upping the FSB and multipliers. It's reached 3GHz on air, but temps were high. The GPU has reached 560, again on air, and again with high temps. Water cooling is the answer.. read on. Currently at 220MHz x 13 (2860) 3D Mark05 of 8997 ---------------------------- First off... a window. I hate the stock Lian Li windows... I hate the rivets, and I hate the way it goes all the way to the top of the case, showing nothing but empty space. Even with a nice rad installed, there's not much to look at up there, and it's a good place to hide wiring, so I mapped out a window that leaves everything from the top of the PSU covered. I still maintain that a jigsaw is teh best for cutting straight lines, so that's what I'm using. As the blade cuts on the return stroke, then I'll cut from the back. The outer face was covered with tape to prevent scratching, then pilit holes were drilled in each corner of the window dimentions. I want a great big window.. no designs.. just a big window to show off the sexy hardware! Once the pilot holes were drilled, then it's jigsaw time! The key to straight lines is to go slow.. let the momentum of the jigsaw do the cutting... don;t force it. Once the raw cut is made (be careful on teh final stages to ensure the window is supported from beneath to prevent tearing of the alluminium), then it's time to smooth the edges, and final straightening of any wavy lines. The best way is to use a simple, flat file to cut back the edges. once the edges are straight and smooth, go over the edges of your cut with some 120 grade wet and dry paper to make it smooth. Turn it over, and remove the protective tape. Remove the tape to reveal your sexy new window panel. Without plexi, it's just a hole.... so... You can do it when you B&Q it!! £9 from B&Q for a 1200x600mm sheet This stuff is not the easiest to cut tho... my first cut shattered it, so I sandwiched it between 2 pieces of wood, and it's fine to jigsaw if you do that... either that or use a fine tooth blade instead. Window panel cut to size. Attaching it to the panel is so simple you don;t really need a pic... you cut it a bit larger than your panel hole, and then you glue the sucker in!! I used quick drying epoxy Make sure all 4 corners are held down firmly while it cures. Peel off the protective film, and VOILA! Ignore the messy interior... it's just a test set up. Ok.. so I have a Lian Li 71 with some nice hardware inside... but it's running on air, and not a great deal above stock speeds.... time to break out the credit card. First up, a nice rad! Black Ice Extreme III anyone? I'm in two mids about using that grille yet, so we'll wait and see. Ok.. let's cool that 7800... Danger Den time... ....and that chip with a TDX block sealed from factory, and warrant stickers still in place.. bonus. Need to move some air thru that rad now.... These should do the trick... 3x papst 120mm. So.. next up is the top hole for the rad... grill and rad installation, and a respray of the case interior... black case with silver interior??? I think not!! Work has stopped for a few days, as I forgot to order a PUMP!!!! Doh!! Also the reservoir has not arrived yet. Will update this weekend if the new parts have arrived. **************************************
Comments welcome... advice appreciated. This is my first water cooled rig, so comments are welcome, especially when I start to cut the case some more, install hardware, and connect all the plumbing. Cheers
Looking good! What colour is the inside going? And what pump did you opt for? Also, as far as the watercooling goes, don't worry about it, just take things slow And use cable ties or something to clamp the hoses, otherwise bring on the abuse Bare in mind, I've just built a first system myself just over a fortnight ago!
I think black for the inside... I like the idea of as much blackness as poss.... then bits of red and blue.. was thinking of drilling the waterblocks to add a LED to each. Has anyone mixed UV dye colours before? I was gonna mix blue and red to make sort of a purple colour for the piping.. Yeah dont worry... got proper hose clips Can't decide whether to use a fan shroud around the rad, or just mount teh fans straight on, and seal around all the edges. I opted for the Danger Den D5 pump.
I know... put 'em on, and you can't hear anything outside... great.. until you're in a really spooky part of HL2, and someon eyou didn'#t hear approach taps you on the shoulder!!!
This is just teh start.... watercooling parts on order, hopefully here by weekend, then the water should be in by next week. Then the cosmetics start, although I'm doing no major cutting after the water is in... will mainly be electronic mods... VFD displays, possibly a PSOne screen.. custom LED/perspex lighting etc. I'll update the log when there's more to report.
True.... well.. LEDs ordered.. pink ones Dont laught.. will look good. Pink blocks, purple water, and the odd splash of blue here and there.
Interesting choice of colour VFDs too... Excellent, perhaps a pink filter? EDIT: USB vfd I presume, considering I don't think the DFI has a parrallel or serial port , when you get it, can you please do some nice shots of it, and more. I'm really considering one, but not sure which to get yet Thanks.
Will do... all depends on where I end up mounting the pump now. I was gonna get the D5 pump, but now getting the eheim 1250, so may not have as much room as I thought I had.
No sh*t! The damned thing is even bigger than me!!! Then again, some might argue it's not the case that's big, but that I'm small...But seriously, when David took the case out of the box it came in, I stepped in it, and could actually close the lids of the box over my head (I was, obviously, in crouching position). Hey! He could post me to Singapore in it next year, and save the price of one return flight...seeing as we've already spent so much on this glorified suitcase!!! I am dreading the weekend... Don't you disappear into the garage so quickly (Was it something I said? ) ...I've got some stuff I need you to do Saturday morning before you start tinkering with your new toys...*Whips out mile-long checklist* Erm...You didn't tell me that?! Why pink? I thought we were going for purple? PS - Oh, and guess who's inherited his old PC? Why am I always stuck with your hand-me-downs??? I want a new one tiu!!!!! *Pout*
Indeed. All the other watercooling parts arrived today, plus bits and pieces. Eheim 1250 pump & 1/2 barb kit. More clips and stuff SLeeving kits, shrink, and molex tools New Rad grille cathodes LEDs IDE cables fan cables switching relays and circuits for the Eheim other various non-exciting essential pieces Too tired to take pics now.. jyst got in from work after a 14 hour day!!! Will start taking pics tomorrow when work begins on the watercooling and case mods. Also need to buy paint, and a few other parts, as I'm going to try and squeeze a 120mm fan into the PC71 where there are 2x 80mm fans now. Should be a full weekend job, so I'll stripping it all down in teh morning, and rigging up the ol' 3400+ for Charmain to use while I'm camped out in the garage
Hand me downs??? I wouldn't call a A64 3400+ housed in a nice Lian Li PC65 a hand me down... you make it sound so rubbish!! There are people who'd pay good money for that, and you are getting if for free... you ungrateful whelp!!
Hehe...David's in the garage messing about with the plumbing now, and last I heard, he was a bit stuck...I saw a drawing of his 'masterplan', and had a fit of the giggles...I'll get him to post it later on... Anyhow, it's all too much for my poor female brain, so I have wisely decided to stay out of it. So? Spank me! That's not what you were calling baby pooter the other night!!! I believe 'crap' featured somewhere in your description... Point is, I'd still be stuck with it even if your last PC was a P2 450 Mhz 10.1gb 128 MB RAM...See...it's the 'for free' bit that I have a problem with...Does this mean it's my Birthday, Christmas and V-day prezzie all rolled into one?!!! Cheeky git!
