Aqua Fortis

[ChuckleBrother]

Hello all! Things are finally starting to come in and I figured it's as good a time as any to get my log started.

First off my parts-list:

Internal Parts:

Case: Silverstone TJ07 *new*
CPU: Intel i7 920 C0 *reused*
Motherboard: eVGA x58 SLI LE *new*
Videocard: eVGA 470 *new*
HDD: WD Velociraptor 300GB *reused*
PSU: Silverstone Strider 850watt *new*

Watercooling Parts:

Pump: Laing 355 w/ EK top
Radiators: EK 4x120mm & Thermochill 3x120mm
Reservoir: EK 150ml
CPU Block: Heatkiller rev 3
GPU Block: Bitspower Blackfreezer
Control: BigNG and MiniNG controlling pump, fans and lighting

Theme

I'm going with my favourite colour scheme, black and green with orange accenting with soft white lighting, hopefully I can strike a nice balance and not make the green too overwhelming:D


My hope for this build is to correct the mistakes I made last time, doing a better job on the sleeving(#1 priority) and getting some custom parts made for my case.


Time to get this busted up old Thermochill ready for prime time:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4838038987_397b2bede2.jpg
Old and busted
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4838651638_0f956ef22c.jpg
Making progress
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4838652588_1c8d9132df.jpg
Nearly done, not sure if I need to remove more paint

If anyone has painted one of these, please chip in, I'm not sure if I got enough of it off or if I need to do more(my fingers plead with me that I'm done, but perfection doesn't listen to such weakness:D)

Next update will arrive in time to demonstrate how badly I'm messing with the layout of the case to fit these radiators in there, stay tuned!

[MomijiTMO]

Black, green and orange. This should be interesting :D.

[Baleful]

Take a shop rag and some paint thinner, then rub that rad down to remove any debris. Go over it a couple times, make sure it's clean, then prime away.

[Overclocking101]

:popcorn:

[ChuckleBrother]

Take a shop rag and some paint thinner, then rub that rad down to remove any debris. Go over it a couple times, make sure it's clean, then prime away.

Thanks for the advice! I should have some somewhere....Any recommendations for a paint? I was quoted Krylon a few times but I'm looking for the best possible black or orange matte finish....


Black, green and orange. This should be interesting :D.

I hope so, I'm still playing with the balance between tubes, paint, sleeving and blocks....I think I have it down though

[Karbon Killa]

Gonna be fun to watch this.

As for paint, I've never gone wrong with Rustoleum. I've had a lot of issues with orange peel using krylon.

[jacobroufa]

What Karbon said. Looking forward to seeing this come out! :)

[ChuckleBrother]

Gonna be fun to watch this.

As for paint, I've never gone wrong with Rustoleum. I've had a lot of issues with orange peel using krylon.

Alright, thanks for the advice! I'll be taking a shopping trip tomorrow, need to find a few key items and tools. Also need to find a source of project boxes, 3.8" or bigger(square). I have some plans for my BigNG;)

[Septim]

i would make sure to have 1000 to 2000 grit sandpaper to use after every application hardens, to make for smoother finish and less orange peel...

i also filled out those round holes in the side panel, hehe, flat side PA rad looks better than with those 2 round holes...

then, i somewhat cheated the heating, with 2 100watts bulbs to cook it after application.

bah last year's project...

[ChuckleBrother]

i would make sure to have 1000 to 2000 grit sandpaper to use after every application hardens, to make for smoother finish and less orange peel...

i also filled out those round holes in the side panel, hehe, flat side PA rad looks better than with those 2 round holes...

then, i somewhat cheated the heating, with 2 100watts bulbs to cook it after application.

bah last year's project...

How did you fill the holes, something like JB Weld?

[ChuckleBrother]

Finally got some work done yesterday, I worked up the courage to start in on the radiator fans. My ideal was to have 3 cables, one for each bank of fans, outer left, middle and outer right.

Here they are complete, I am coming to REALLY love crimping cables down to a length, it really frees you up to set up a case the way you really want. Not terribly happy with how they turned out but not sure if I really want to waste all the effort and sleeve/heatshrink.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4895226141_ce249b28dc.jpg
And a terrible closeup of the Thermochill, 6 fans in a push-pull config, not so fun to sleeve.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4895225785_4595a99eaa.jpg

Visiting a metal working shop tomorrow to see what the deal will be for my parts, the other place is giving me the runaround, so fuck those guys:moon:, I'm voting with my wallet

[Kuri]

I just finished painting my thermochill last night lol

[Dark-Raider]

Can't wait to see more! Subscribed:-p

[ChuckleBrother]

Big decision time, not sure which look for the front I prefer:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4900273628_0239826c5b.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4899682217_34ceecc8f7.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4899682491_0f3a6e585a.jpg

I'm leaning towards the last, if anyone has any suggestions and improvements to offer, please do! Whatever it is will be cut out and backed with acrylic, lit a nice light white(probably)

[Floyd]

I like the last one also. Its clean and simple.

[ChuckleBrother]

I like the last one also. Its clean and simple.

Exact reason why I like it as well. Thanks for the feedback Floyd:)

I've decided that to hide the huge ugly hole in the new TJ07 tray I'm going to put a piece of acrylic under the motherboard, lit from several angles. If it works out the way I hope it *should* look like the motherboard is floating on white light.

Now I need to figure out what generates nicer light,
1) green LEDs into frosted white
2) white LEDs into frosted green
3) white LEDs into frosted white

Decisions decisions....