Worklog: Project Thief - Fully Watercooled Dual PC

[stren]

Here it is fitted - the size actually works because the D5 top is so bulky:

Obviously the ftting at the top of the pump top would need to be removed and moved to the side inlet port. One thing I don't like is that this means you have to use the top port of the reservoir as your return line. I prefer to have that as the fill port.

They also sent a PMP500 for review. This is their all new design that is much more powerful than a D5 or DDC pump:

Came with no instructions:

A mounting bracket and some screws but nothing else:

Integrated heatsink and nice looking top, but the two halves do clash a little in style:

It is however very compact for a more powerful pump. A D5 with a top is considerably larger:

I'll also be reviewing the new QDC's. I'd used the VL4N and VL3N's for a while and my main complaint was that the female connectors were sensitive to being bent out of shape when dropped. The new design should be more robust:

The QD4 series is the larger size that is more designed for industry than us guys. It is marketed as a direct replacement to the VL4N. It's larger and lower restriction than the QD3 and has fewer useful connection options. They do however come better packed:

No way these things will be damaged in transport. The business ends:

 

[stren]

Connected - you simply push the two together:

Disconnected - you simply pull the ring labelled pull:

I have to admit I prefer the new mechanism - there's less time in the zone of being partially open, these really snap on and snap off quickly. No rotation is also a good thing as it lowers the risk of the other end of the tube becoming unscrewed.

The QD4 comes with two options for the other end - either 1/2" ID 3/4" OD compression fitting or a male g 3/8" fitting. Note that this is not a standard g 1/4 like 99% of computer water cooling components.

However Koolance have an adapter ready for you if you do wish to use these:

It barely adds anything to the length unlike the alphacool adapters that I've used in the past. I also like that they've included wrench flats on the threaded version:

Because these are lower restriction they are more bulky and will not fit on a block even with widely spaced ports like their own CPU-380:

The QD3 series on the other hand is designed for computer enthusiasts. It's smaller and replaces the VL3N line up. These instead get packaged like normal fittings but with a protective rubber.... sheath on the quick disconnect end:

Those were the 1/2" ID 3/4" OD compression fitting ends. These are the male g1/4 threaded:

One of each with their rubber... booties on:

The quick disconnect part is much smaller:

 

[stren]

Unlike the QD4's these can be directly mounted on most blocks that can fit 3/4" OD compression fittings as the compression fitting lock ring is the widest part of the QDC:

QDD3 vs QD4:

EK are sponsoring the build so a big thanks to them but also sent some stuff for review in the upcoming pump/res/top roundup:

The RP452x2 I have will actually be removed and replaced with the 400mm reservoirs that EK already sent me earlier in the year:

That RP452x2 will be part of the roundup though lol. EK sent me lots of coolant:

I was trying to take a cooler shot - but it kinda looks like I'm bragging about my car so :shrug:

DDC top - this replaced the XSPC acrylic one that I have so that all my pumps/reservoirs are consistently EK:

Unboxing -

I do love EK's packaging, the best out there to be honest and it makes you feel like you bought a quality product:

Individual baggies:

 

[stren]

Sealed with a logo:

There's been a lot of hate on those circles, but EK are changing their designs now thanks to the thinkcell voting:

I have to admit I'm a sucker for the details though:

Not much detail on the inside:

You can see the slight angle upwards to the port:

White D5 top - this replaces my old style EK Black D5 top:

Taking it's shirt off:

White on white is hard to see:

So let's see it on a metallic grey background:

 

[stren]

I think this one unlike the DDC has a few too many circles

Do you spot the white theme:

These will be on the workstation side representing the public "light" image of the thief, vs the gaming side representing the hidden "dark" side of the thief. There is some variation in the white acetal color but it's pretty minor. Hopefully it won't be noticeable:

Lovely detail on the inside though it's hard to see:

Now for that white reservoir that I posted an unedited version of this pic:

Well let's do it properly now:

Comes bubble wrapped and with an optional filter

All the accessories - sadly the mounting clips are still black:

The base has 5 ports on all versions. The difference between the basic and advanced is instead the top. On the basic it only has one port. That's ok for me. I like to use the top as a fill port only and have the return in the base:

 

[stren]

The anti cyclone works, however bleeding is slightly faster if you use a long tube instead to prevent the bubbles getting back in the outlet:

Dual D5 top - this replaces the bitspower one that I have, but never got to put in build. This will actually replace the Koolance RP452x2 that I'm using right now. Anything pump/top/reservoir will be reviewed in the upcoming roundup lol:

Underside of the top:

Top of the top, only a few circles:

With the clamp plate that holds the D5 on added:

 

[stren]

This one is just for review not the build:

2 bay res with integrated DCP 2.2 pump:

Lots of circles:

The bottom bay of the res is actually pretty useless, it's really just filling up the space around the pump:

Lutro0's sponsorship package arrived so that I can finish my sleeving. Got a fancy wire stripper:

It was a bit dusty in the box but who cares about that:

Lutro0's crimper. Supposedly the same as MDPC's but with a bit of milling to make it usable with AWG16. I need to get my MDPC one out to compare:

Comes with two example crimps just like Nils sends:

Flush edge cutters for cutting sleeve *not* wire:

 

[stren]

though you can use them for wire, you'll want a 2nd pair for that so they stay sharp:

Molex pin extractor:

Crimps and connectors:

Lots of wire - each one is one spool, I'm not sure why it wasn't left on the spool? Maybe so it is easier to train? I'm going to ask Lutro0 when I get some time.

Also picked up this fan as a test to see how quiet it can go. I'm thinking of changing out all the fans now and running uber silent now that my long term plan is to use the front bays for 4x360 rads

Goes down to ~400rpm and Martin recommended it as being very quiet:

Also got this as a tester because to be honest LED fans are cooler than white ones:

PWM but only goes to 600rpm and is allegedly a bit buzzy

Has a switch for the LEDs

 

[stren]

Also figured I should try PWM control of the existing gentle typhoons and yates in case it's the same volume and I can make my life easier, so I got one of these. Also recommended by Martin:

I got the smallest one that fits in a 3.5 bay but there is a 6 channel one that takes up one 5 1/4" bay:

If I end up using it I will be hiding it because it is pretty ugly:

Welcome to Alphacool also who are sponsoring the build. They sent me some rads as well as other stuff for review:

The monsta'st monsta:

Hard to photo because it's so big:

It's big. Next to an XSPC RX360 with push pull fans:

Comes with copper accessories which sadly don't match my build:

Also the sexy full copper UT60 in white:

Get ready:

 

[stren]

Cause it's hot:

And it makes me want to take off all my clothes:

Also the full copper 45mm thick 560 known as the XT45:

Still bubble wrapped - I spot a pattern:

A 45mm rad doesn't normally look thin, but 560's are so big that it does:

Next to the monsta:

Also a thin 360mm, thin is useful for the side mount next to the PSUs where I don't have much room:

This puppy is 30mm thick:

Looks skinny next to a 60mm UT60 which itself is skinny compared to the monsta...

 

[stren]

They also sent some stuff for review in the pump roundup:

This is a single bay res with dual pumps:

It takes these tiny DC-LT pumps from alphacool also, they're not included with the res:

But they sent me some too:

Box not up to the usual alphacool standard:

Tiny DC-LT pumps, we'll have to see what they can do:

No kidding they sent me more stuff for review:

Well we know it's a pump/res of some kind:

 

[stren]

It's a 2 bay res that can mount 2 D5s. It's a similar setup to the RP452x2 that I have:

Alphacool's black/copper theme is very consistent:

This one won't go in the build:

But it did come with 2 D5's which I may end up using to replace the DDC or Iwaki:

Alphacool's VPP655 is just a bare D5 vario with tach wire:

Spotswood had also sent me an update for the tech bench after I had some feedback for him:

A new "open" top tray:

 

[stren]

Taller posts so that the PSU can be mounted vertically, enabling a 2nd PSU to be fitted:

And a HDD rack:

This is the old one:

Getting taken apart:

Now with more rotation:

I tried the HDD rack at the back:

(I have the case rotated on my bench so that the back is easily accessible). The HDDs slide in on rubber grommets:

Adding the new top:

With boards and gpu:

Nearly done:

 

[stren]

In the end I moved the HDDs to the front and mounted the crystalfontz data logger in the back:

This gives me space to get my hands under the motherboard for fitting backplates. I tried mounting a 360 to the side, but had to offset it a little for easy tube routing:

Now you can see the datalogger next to the PSU:

You can also see the GT that I mounted on a sliding arm under the CPU. This cools the VRM's on the back of the board that will cause CPU throttling if they over heat. The sliding makes it easy to move out the way if needed:

More views:

I'll be using this just for controlling PWM in the upcoming pump testing lol. Talk about overkill. I have a couple of new cpu blocks to test though and then a titan waterblock roundup to do afterwards so it'll be more useful for that:

The schmexies:

Close up of how Spotswood builds up the frame from all the extrusion pieces:

That's it for now!

 

[Rubycon]

None of your pictures are showing up here. 🙁

 

[stren]

None of your pictures are showing up here. 🙁

hmmm that's weird, I see them, but it might be cause they're in my cache. Or Imgur maybe acting up... if you're on any of the other forums I post to evga, bit-tech, overclock.net, rog, overclockers.com, xtremesystems.org, hardforum.com

 

[PCTC2]

hmmm that's weird, I see them, but it might be cause they're in my cache. Or Imgur maybe acting up... if you're on any of the other forums I post to evga, bit-tech, overclock.net, rog, overclockers.com, xtremesystems.org, hardforum.com

I see them just fine... :drool

Seriously jealous over here. Sure, I get to play with cool hardware, but not watercooling. Nice MEGAPOST stren!

 

[stren]

Been a while, so here's kind of a dump of what I've been up to.

Just playing with ideas:

because it's really a lie:

Also

Also

 

[stren]

So the 9500GT in mini thief died last night, thinking about swapping out my 8800GT from the project thief workstation into that rig and getting a low end kepler for the workstation can drive three screens. The workstation uses linux and I'm thinking to switch my U3011 for 3 1080p lightboost monitors in portrait. When I've run multiple screens across multiple GPUs in linux before with Xinerama then X gets a bit laggy, so this would help with that as twinview on a single card works great, and I've read that twinview can have three screens with Kepler. The cheapest kepler with a block would be a 650 ti boost, but the block is a CSQ while the rest of the workstation uses non-csq blocks. Any thoughts? I'm reluctant to try AMD for a workstation GPU because even with nouveau drivers my tools become way more laggy than the official nvidia drivers.

I'm also debating paint and fittings for the 990x/R3E motherboard/RAM loop on the gaming rig. The idea is that the workstation half would be "white" (e.g. white blocks, dt sniper white, EK white D5 top, EK white reservoir, nickel/plexi memory block and copper/plexi gpu painted white and maybe even the motherboard nickel plexi block painted white too). The gaming rig would be the "dark side" acetal cpu and gpu blocks (although I just sold the GPUs). However the motherboard is nickel/plexi and the ram block is copper/plexi (not shown here):

Originally I thought to paint these black, but then you won't even see the dye in that loop. So I was thinking maybe a black chrome finish instead just for the memory block? I could paint the motherboard block stainless steel cover plate in the middle of that block black to fit the theme. Should I then use black chrome fittings or just straight black? Also that 120 radiator is getting swapped for a black one and that fan is getting swapped for a black/red fan. Also those QDCs will be hidden away.

So to summarize I want your thoughts on these questions:

Stick with light/dark theme?

 

[stren]

Workstation

Paint the metal parts of the workstation plexi blocks white?

Use 2x8800GTs and suck up any lag if present or switch to a 650 Ti Boost with a CSQ block?

Stick with the plan for white fittings?

Use a silver painted radiator with a silver/red fan?

Gaming Rig

Paint the RAM block black or black chrome to hide dat copper?

Paint the Motherboard block fully or only the cover plate and if so black or black chrome?

Use black fittings or black chrome?

End of questions - did this any of this make sense?

Current hardware plan (very subject to change) is to eventually add two titans or titan LEs and if I upgrade the workstation to the 4930K then the gaming rig will get the 3930K from the workstation and an X79 Dark board :thumb:

Also random shot from the mini-thief build - one thing i love about the M5Gene board is that glowing LED strip they put into the board - super cool:

I'd love to see them do something similar on a real R4E BE board not that promotional 3 board run crap they did 😉

 

[stren]

I upgraded the bios to avoid throttling and increased the power limit of the card so that I could try and seperate the results from the error as much as possible. I'm running Naennon's 145% Max Power bios. My max clocks were around 1150-1175 @1.212V (not the best card), so I downclocked to 1123MHz and tried a few benchmarks/stress tests to see what power levels I could get. Furmark was giving me a nice solid 120% level so I decided to go with that. I'm logging card temps with precision-x and the water/ambient temps with WinTest. I took some baseline measurements on air, with the fan at max (85%) the card was running about 50C over ambient which is not bad at all even if the fan is super noisy. First block on the testing rig is EK:

I also had time to unbox the hydrocopper card. The matt block contrasts with the shine of the EVGA sticker:

I feel like the sticker takes away from the classyness. I would have preferred it to be cut out of the plastic just like the swiftech logo is:

Maybe even make it consistent with the style of the top and maybe even light up some text there too:

The base is nickel plated:

And it's kind of nice that they preattach the thermal pads for you:

 

[stren]

Had the hydrocopper on the testing bench. Results can be found on the interwebz.

Also spent the whole of saturday running flow/restriction curves on 17 waterblocks 🙄

I'd planned to disassemble the TX10 today because I'd found that if you rely on your rig that you're currently building for your day job and need a high percentage of uptime on that same rig, then it becomes very hard to get anything done. So I'd planning to run a bench setup for a while until I finish Thief. However on saturday just before I was about to process the restriction curves, my D5 on the motherboard loop started making horrible noises. I shut down the rig, but my gaming rig still wasn't functioning as the PSU died last week and the warranty replacement wasn't here yet. So it was time to strip them both out and make a frankenstein rig out of working parts. Hopefully parts that I wouldn't use in the final thief build. So here's the dissasembling which was very quick due to the TX10 design (quick release side mounts and motherboard trays FTW) as well as many QDCs. Photos aren't that great because I wasn't spending time to setup the tripod. I needed my workstation running for monday morning. I used the "bench mount" kit for the CL tray and used an old fan cut into a shroud to mount the radiator to the back of the tray. To support the weight of the rad on the far end I also have a piece of wood lulz

Yuck dust!

 

[stren]

Parts:

Draining the windows rig - this will become the linux workstation temporarily, I was rolling with the old 460 after selling my 580s and before the titan/780 transition:

Stripping

Nearly naked:

I painted this RX360 for the build before I decided to change to a light/dark theme and before I got sponsored by alphacool:

Still rocking the sniper:

 

[stren]

And of course EK still sponsor many other parts:

Now if only ROG would sponsor me too 🙄

I love nickel plexi

Luckily Corsair does sponsor me too, I love GTs, who wants anything else:

And I still choose GTs over platinums because I love those red tops. And they're waterblock compatible. You know if I ever get around to that....

Decided to run the monsoon lightports. I might switch to the carbon fiber ones though in the final build:

 

[stren]

nd it's about time to use some of that dye:

Ready to fill up:

XSPC don't sponsor so this one's a freebie 🙄

Get that dye in there!

Masterkleer tubing hooked up, I was out of primochill clear so I was going to use this up, already turning a bit yellow after 6months of sitting in a dark box :/ :

Forgot to tighten that middle compression, luckily it didn't leak: