Prometheus
New member
Hi there ,
I wanted to share with you my first water cooling and modding project:
I was not really happy how my 780T case looked, first of all the red led, that did not match my color scheme, second the mesh inside the case and the fan controller with only one channel prevented me to reach a proper positive pressure. Also the more I had it the more I felt that black was not the right color for the case.
Here's the list of component I used
Build:
- Case: Custom Corsair 780T
- CPU: Intel Core i7 2600k@4.8ghz
- GPU: Nvidia gtx 980ti Gigabyte G1 Gaming
- Memory 32gb Corsair Dominator 2133
- Soundcard Ausus Xonar u7+ Bravo Audio V1 as preamp and headphone amp
- Powersupply: Corsair HX1000i
- SSD Samsung 950PRO 512GB, OCZ Vector 256GB
- HDD Western Digital Caviar Black 4TB + Himuro SCH-1000
- Fan Controller: Lamptron FC9
- XSPC LCD Display Temperature Sensor
Watercooling:
- Radiators: 1x 360mm EKWB coolstream XE + 1x120mm EKWB coolstream XE
- CPU block: XSPC Raystorm V3
- GPU block: EK-FC980 GTX Ti WF3 – Nickel
- GPU backplate: EK-FC980 GTX Ti WF3 Backplate - Black
- Pump and Res Combo: EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 PWM
- Tubing: EK-HD PETG Tube 12/16mm
- Fittings: EK-HDC Fitting 16mm- Elox Black
- Coolant: EK-Ekoolant Pastel BLUE
Here’s the picture of the case before starting to mod. The fan above is attached to a 140mm benchmark table bracket that I installed to help the VGA. The tubes look yellow because I did not used any addictive and due to the fact that thanks to university’s assignments I was unable to change the water for 8 months…
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jSlU1Z213TGJudW8/view?usp=sharing
First of all I removed all the plastic and side panels from the case and brought them to a local car painter, since I do not have enough space at the moment to paint and I wanted the paint to be perfectly smooth and even.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jSjRhbkRhaWg3Y3M/view?usp=sharing
Than I tried to change the power button led, as you can see the result is not so clean, I did not have a proper tool and it was my first time soldering
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jX1NvTlZRQ2FSczA/view?usp=sharing
After the long process of sleeving the fans, at first I felt a bit clumsy but after I while it became easy and the result were nice
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jQnllbjhfRGZ6Nmc/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jVTZWbjVud3JQQTQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jSnUzLVU5bXhnVTQ/view?usp=sharing
Than it was time to start modifying the case frame in order to make room for the side panel that would support the pump+res combo
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jX3djU0EwNTI0Nkk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jVWM2a1A2aEhhbjQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jYXBjV29vTjFrUDQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jRTlZWkU5UzNJMXM/view?usp=sharing
I did a little mockup to see how the panel would fit (if you’re wondering whose hand is it, it’s my girlfriend, she helped me with measurements double checking them for me <3)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jaUF3cUszdHZUM1U/view?usp=sharing
After the mockup it was fairly easy to cut the synthetic glass
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jM2t2dHVTOU84aDA/view?usp=sharing
I also did another mockup for a double hard disk + SSD box
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jWjgxMTl5cXFfMkk/view?usp=sharing
I made the box, put it over another box for the PSU, and a little cover to hold the thermometer for the water.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jS1ZHaDBDWVlSakE/view?usp=sharing
After that was time to drill few holes to the side panel in order to mount the pass-through for the pump. (pls don’t mind that hello kitty ruler…)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jZERWYy1aeVhnSlU/view?usp=sharing
Fitting test
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jWWR1TGFDTTJVaGc/view?usp=sharing
Time to start wrapping
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jVVlxM2s4U0VLTk0/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jemxjS1dtdkh6Zlk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMzNrb2xIcS1XbzQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60janVKdGlzRDgzUnc/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60janVKdGlzRDgzUnc/view?usp=sharing
…And mount the Pump, also wrapped.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jZDE3TUNWLVlIZjg/view?usp=sharing
I also decided to peel off the corsair logo from the fans and substitute it with the carbon wrap I had left.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jZm9MaEtvdzNxazQ/view?usp=sharing
It was finally time to mount the MOBO and painted panels again, change the rest of the front LEDs…and to discover that I choose a radiator too thick to fit inside on the rear part…luckily I was able to mount it on the back.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jV1E1b1ZhU2tlOFk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jUk1RUjExU3locEU/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60ja19CLUlhRV9CY1E/view?usp=sharing
Time to start bending the tubes
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jTXFXQ3ZvMmo3bHM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jdWQ0eUY2enhuajg/view?usp=sharing
…And finishing the loop
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jeTd0VklEdlJMVzQ/view?usp=sharing
When I filled the loop and put the hard drives inside the box I discovered that the box did not leave enough room to make the HDD breath, so I scratched it and searched for a HDD heatsink.
Here’s the final pictures.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jaTNjU1dWWnpXZjQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jS1lqWnl2VEpYOTA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMHhZakxEMV9UdzA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jd0dZSl80M2d3UHM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMGE1a1B5UlMyZzg/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMGE1a1B5UlMyZzg/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jRl9YRWRWSVV3S3M/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jS194eXlMVjRmeHM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jLTFYenNual9rTXM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jejdnV1pZUngwQlk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jRXE5MFp1bURSNVE/view?usp=sharing
Abig thanks to highflow.net for the radiator gaskets and all the support along the way, that’s why you deserve to stay in my favorite spot
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jQ3BqQ0RXSmtfUjQ/view?usp=sharing
I wanted to share with you my first water cooling and modding project:
I was not really happy how my 780T case looked, first of all the red led, that did not match my color scheme, second the mesh inside the case and the fan controller with only one channel prevented me to reach a proper positive pressure. Also the more I had it the more I felt that black was not the right color for the case.
Here's the list of component I used
Build:
- Case: Custom Corsair 780T
- CPU: Intel Core i7 2600k@4.8ghz
- GPU: Nvidia gtx 980ti Gigabyte G1 Gaming
- Memory 32gb Corsair Dominator 2133
- Soundcard Ausus Xonar u7+ Bravo Audio V1 as preamp and headphone amp
- Powersupply: Corsair HX1000i
- SSD Samsung 950PRO 512GB, OCZ Vector 256GB
- HDD Western Digital Caviar Black 4TB + Himuro SCH-1000
- Fan Controller: Lamptron FC9
- XSPC LCD Display Temperature Sensor
Watercooling:
- Radiators: 1x 360mm EKWB coolstream XE + 1x120mm EKWB coolstream XE
- CPU block: XSPC Raystorm V3
- GPU block: EK-FC980 GTX Ti WF3 – Nickel
- GPU backplate: EK-FC980 GTX Ti WF3 Backplate - Black
- Pump and Res Combo: EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 PWM
- Tubing: EK-HD PETG Tube 12/16mm
- Fittings: EK-HDC Fitting 16mm- Elox Black
- Coolant: EK-Ekoolant Pastel BLUE
Here’s the picture of the case before starting to mod. The fan above is attached to a 140mm benchmark table bracket that I installed to help the VGA. The tubes look yellow because I did not used any addictive and due to the fact that thanks to university’s assignments I was unable to change the water for 8 months…
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jSlU1Z213TGJudW8/view?usp=sharing
First of all I removed all the plastic and side panels from the case and brought them to a local car painter, since I do not have enough space at the moment to paint and I wanted the paint to be perfectly smooth and even.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jSjRhbkRhaWg3Y3M/view?usp=sharing
Than I tried to change the power button led, as you can see the result is not so clean, I did not have a proper tool and it was my first time soldering
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jX1NvTlZRQ2FSczA/view?usp=sharing
After the long process of sleeving the fans, at first I felt a bit clumsy but after I while it became easy and the result were nice
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jQnllbjhfRGZ6Nmc/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jVTZWbjVud3JQQTQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jSnUzLVU5bXhnVTQ/view?usp=sharing
Than it was time to start modifying the case frame in order to make room for the side panel that would support the pump+res combo
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jX3djU0EwNTI0Nkk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jVWM2a1A2aEhhbjQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jYXBjV29vTjFrUDQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jRTlZWkU5UzNJMXM/view?usp=sharing
I did a little mockup to see how the panel would fit (if you’re wondering whose hand is it, it’s my girlfriend, she helped me with measurements double checking them for me <3)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jaUF3cUszdHZUM1U/view?usp=sharing
After the mockup it was fairly easy to cut the synthetic glass
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jM2t2dHVTOU84aDA/view?usp=sharing
I also did another mockup for a double hard disk + SSD box
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jWjgxMTl5cXFfMkk/view?usp=sharing
I made the box, put it over another box for the PSU, and a little cover to hold the thermometer for the water.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jS1ZHaDBDWVlSakE/view?usp=sharing
After that was time to drill few holes to the side panel in order to mount the pass-through for the pump. (pls don’t mind that hello kitty ruler…)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jZERWYy1aeVhnSlU/view?usp=sharing
Fitting test
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jWWR1TGFDTTJVaGc/view?usp=sharing
Time to start wrapping
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jVVlxM2s4U0VLTk0/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jemxjS1dtdkh6Zlk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMzNrb2xIcS1XbzQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60janVKdGlzRDgzUnc/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60janVKdGlzRDgzUnc/view?usp=sharing
…And mount the Pump, also wrapped.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jZDE3TUNWLVlIZjg/view?usp=sharing
I also decided to peel off the corsair logo from the fans and substitute it with the carbon wrap I had left.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jZm9MaEtvdzNxazQ/view?usp=sharing
It was finally time to mount the MOBO and painted panels again, change the rest of the front LEDs…and to discover that I choose a radiator too thick to fit inside on the rear part…luckily I was able to mount it on the back.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jV1E1b1ZhU2tlOFk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jUk1RUjExU3locEU/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60ja19CLUlhRV9CY1E/view?usp=sharing
Time to start bending the tubes
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jTXFXQ3ZvMmo3bHM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jdWQ0eUY2enhuajg/view?usp=sharing
…And finishing the loop
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jeTd0VklEdlJMVzQ/view?usp=sharing
When I filled the loop and put the hard drives inside the box I discovered that the box did not leave enough room to make the HDD breath, so I scratched it and searched for a HDD heatsink.
Here’s the final pictures.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jaTNjU1dWWnpXZjQ/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jS1lqWnl2VEpYOTA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMHhZakxEMV9UdzA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jd0dZSl80M2d3UHM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMGE1a1B5UlMyZzg/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jMGE1a1B5UlMyZzg/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jRl9YRWRWSVV3S3M/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jS194eXlMVjRmeHM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jLTFYenNual9rTXM/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jejdnV1pZUngwQlk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jRXE5MFp1bURSNVE/view?usp=sharing
Abig thanks to highflow.net for the radiator gaskets and all the support along the way, that’s why you deserve to stay in my favorite spot
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-3nj2Uzc60jQ3BqQ0RXSmtfUjQ/view?usp=sharing