View Full Version : Building log:external setup(pics)
Well I started building my water cooling setup today, Im going external on account of my case being far to small. So anyways got my stuff cut tonight on the table saw and it looks pretty tight dimension wise. heres some pics.
Top view
http://img6.exs.cx/img6/8867/m8sbox.jpg
Front view
http://img6.exs.cx/img6/9916/r4jbox2.jpg
http://img6.exs.cx/img6/4323/c5qbox3.jpg
So tonight Im going to figure out where al the holes are going and hit the drill press and scroll saw tomorrow. I wouldn't be suprised its assembled by tomorrow night.
Theres a a fan controller thats going to be mounted in the front so there will be very little wasted space in the case.
For those who might say something, yes theres no shroud, with 2 fans on either side the air flow and direction should be more then sufficient.
Anyways tips tricks and crits welcome. Can't wait to have it running!!!!1 :attn:
is that an eheim (1048) pump? where did you get those barbs for it, what size and what prices?
For the barb on the intake of the pump did you just find a barb that had the same od as id of the pumps intake and thread it in? Just a small suggestion maybe drill a hole in the side to run the pump cord out of the box so it doesnt run over the top. A top/lid might be pretty cool for it too and some cc's for color (if you have room).
That looks more like a Mag3 then an Eheim to me.
Looks like a mag3 to me as well.
That looks more like a Mag3 then an Eheim to me.
Correct
For the barb on the intake of the pump did you just find a barb that had the same od as id of the pumps intake and thread it in? Just a small suggestion maybe drill a hole in the side to run the pump cord out of the box so it doesnt run over the top. A top/lid might be pretty cool for it too and some cc's for color (if you have room).
Ya thats just a mock up, its not glued or anything yet, I wanted to put eveything in and make sure I measured right. Im going to cut the holes tommrow and ya there will be a hole made for electrical wires including the pump cord.
And for the barb I just got a 1/2" one from lowes, its a pain in the ass threading on since the threads on the barb are sharp so it just cuts into the plasic threads, I managed to get it on with just a bit of eating the plastic threads.
Before anyone asks, I did take the pump housing off and lubed up around the o-ring, I ran a test of the pump before I did this and there was laot of water around the ring, it was submerged so Im not sure it was leaking or not.
Anymore pics?
YES :)
Well got most of it done today, Im going to run the piping tomorrow and leak test it for a day or so.
http://img127.exs.cx/img127/1794/s6epicture030.jpg
http://img127.exs.cx/img127/7502/x7wpicture029.jpg
http://img127.exs.cx/img127/1641/a3cpicture028.jpg
also I need fan guards with the chrome circle edge thing, Im not sure what to call it, but basically it will cover up the uneven hole cuts for the fans, I had to use a drill press and a dremel to cut the damn holes out as the scroll saw was just melting the plastic back together and a hole saw that size cost 40USD.
Due to the ackward angles the box presents I have to bring the hoses out and back in to avoid using elbow fittings.
magick_man
12-06-04, 11:14 PM
one suggestion but it might be too late, have all 4 fans blowing into the case and move the rad onto the back wall, cut a hole for it and mount it on with some weatherstriping or something so the 4 fans will blow air into the box and the air will have no place to go but out through the rad.
and you could avoid having the tubing go out of the case this way.
but it looks pretty tite just like it is.
i just wanted to throw that idea out there.
~Magick_Man~
another thing that might come just a little too late. if you dont want a shroud, you can just cut one more piece of plexi and epoxy or caulk it in right next to the heatercore. i've seen this done in actual cases, but theres no reason you can't do it in an external setup. the object is to divide the core from the rest and effectively make a shroud out of the box. if i am being unclear about this let me know. i definately think that it would be a good idea though. only downside would be little to no air circulation around the pump, but i dont think thats too big a deal. it will prob dump most of its heat into the loop anyway.
jungle
Cytomax
12-06-04, 11:53 PM
Man that looks pretty nice man... that is the exact idea i had over 1 year ago... problem is im not too handy lol... i was going to try to make the box out of wood first and see what i liked about my design and what i didnt etc.. then when i was finished i was going to make it outa polycarbonate plastic or something like that.. btw what plastic did you use. The funny part is it even has the fan controller thing just like my idea... one thing i was going to do different was that i bought a AC to DC converter so i could power the Fan controller independently so you wouldnt have to be have those power cables hanging out the computer but it still looks nice the way you have it... Congrats on the project at least i could see what my project woulda looked like lol.. kinda makes me want to start mine up again.. Thanks for the inspiration!
Eddie
Looks really nice for only a two day job. Is this what youre lookin for?
http://www.xoxide.com/12blfangr.html
I also second the idea of cutting another piece and putting it against the edge of the rad between the pump and rad. This way most of the air you have flowing through the box will be concentrated on the rad not the whole box. I also think that 4 CC's one vert. in each cornor would look pretty sweet.
One more thing...About how much did it cost you to build?
Ya I have tons of plexi glass left over so i was thinking of cuttinga divider to seperate the rad area from the pump. Ill see what kinda temps Im getting and decide then wether I need a more efficient setup of not.
thanks for the link Creepy but Im thinking of just getting the fan filters since they will cover the holes completely. Ill probably remove there the filters though so I dont restrict the air flow to much.
Overall Im pretty happy with it, Im sure anyone that has worked with plexi glass can vouch that its a pain in the ass to work with. Its hard to cut because it melts from the heat of the tools and glueing it together straight can be messy...and dangerous to your fingers":P
Man that looks pretty nice man... that is the exact idea i had over 1 year ago... problem is im not too handy lol... i was going to try to make the box out of wood first and see what i liked about my design and what i didnt etc.. then when i was finished i was going to make it outa polycarbonate plastic or something like that.. btw what plastic did you use. The funny part is it even has the fan controller thing just like my idea... one thing i was going to do different was that i bought a AC to DC converter so i could power the Fan controller independently so you wouldnt have to be have those power cables hanging out the computer but it still looks nice the way you have it... Congrats on the project at least i could see what my project woulda looked like lol.. kinda makes me want to start mine up again.. Thanks for the inspiration!
Eddie
Thanks man, ya the design is pretty straight forward and keeps the size of the box down. I love building stuff, like Ive never done anything like this, but reading up on lit and having some convidence in what Im doing goes a long way.
Yup. Sure is a pain in the ___ to cut. I cut mine using a dremal and SMALL drillbit having the little melting pieces fly onto my arms wasnt so pleasing :(. You inspired me to start my own work log haha. Below is a link if youre interested in lookin at some stuff.
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?p=3270559#post3270559
Yup. Sure is a pain in the ___ to cut. I cut mine using a dremal and SMALL drillbit having the little melting pieces fly onto my arms wasnt so pleasing :(. You inspired me to start my own work log haha. Below is a link if youre interested in lookin at some stuff.
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?p=3270559#post3270559
Haha yup I was just looking through it. I burned myself alot today on hot plastic. My fingers are just chewed up from picking off the hard melted bits. Im glad Im inspiring people to get up and work on there stuff. As long as you have the tools its pretty easy, can be time consuming though, I was in the garage for about 5 or 6 hours cutting and stuff. Then maybe another hour glueing and assembling.
I feel ya. I spent atleast a good 13 hours so far in the garage most of it being sanding fiberglass and fiberglassing a shroud.....No fun at all. That acrylic sure is a pain though.
this might be a little crude, but i found that a jigsaw worked pretty well for cutting my plexi. it was 1/4" thick. kinda hard to cut straight lines, but as i recall most of the stuff flies away from you. i guess a better tool might be a ban-saw (sp?), since it's basically an automatic jigsaw. might go a little too fast though. my jigsaw varied the speed with the trigger pressure.
jungle
capmuffin
12-07-04, 09:21 AM
Thats nice! I like the idea and was going to consider plexi. However I think i am going wood and making plexi windows and hinges :D
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