New system finally under way!

[Deathknight]

I originally ordered parts for this rig last fall, but real life has a way of altering the best of plans so I have not had the chance to get started until now. I have made alot of progress this weekend though!

System Specs:
================

Motherboard: DFI SLI-DR (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136157)
CPU: AMD64 X2 4400+
Memory: G.Skill LE 512x2
Video Card: XFX GeForce 7800 GTX 256mb
PSU: OCZ Powerstream 520w
HD: 36gb WD Raptor x 2 RAID 0

Case: Mountain Mods U2-UFO
CPU Waterblock: Swiftech Storm
GPU Waterblock: Maze4
Pump: Swiftech MCP655
Radiator: ThermoChill HE 120.3
Tubing: Tygon R-3603

I will be using 2 sunbeam rheobus to control fans and I have a 2 bay matrix orbital LCD (this is my second matrix orbital, I highly recommend them).

I am going for a blue look for my loop, so I went with pentosin coolant. The color doesn't look too bad, I may look for a dye to try and darken it a little.

I have an assortment of fans to work with. I decided to try 3 Sanyo Denki fans pushing through the rad. If I feel nutty I have 3 more to do a push pull. I opted for Mechatronics fans for the rest of the case. I haven't had a chance to fire up all the fans at once yet to see if the volume is acceptable with these fans.

Order of the loop is pump > rad > CPU > GPU > pump.

Install so far has gone pretty smooth. I have the loop completed and I have been leak testing for almost a full day now. No sign of leaks at all :D I still have some air left to bleed, but that is going fairly well too. I am using a T line so I didn't expect instant results.

I still have alot of work left. I am fairly anal so I am sure I will be tweaking the wiring for a long time (what a great case for that, there is soo much room and some nice hiding spots to tuck wires away from sight). Also I have some sleeving on the way, but I don't expect to get to that until I perfect my cable routing and I have had some time to enjoy the new cooling :)

Some pics:

http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/MotherboardInstalled(Large).jpg

http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/BleedingMotherboardSide(Large).jpg

http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/BleedingPumpSide(Large).jpg

http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/BleedingCPUBlockCloseup(Large).jpg

[Flip-Mode]

Nice so far.

[Holy Diver]

You definitely get what you pay for, great job. Those sunbeams and orbitals are going to look awesome.

[Deathknight]

Well the build is complete, everything is up and running. I have some tweaking to do with wire management and sleeving of cables etc, but I imagine that will be going on for some time :) Also my cold cathods still need to be installed.

Temps are fantastic, and the noise level fine (my laptop is still FAR more annoying).

As I am getting more familiar with the dimensions of the case I feel like I could make some improvements for the next time I tear her down and reroute my tubing. I have a bit more length than what I needed.

I did run into two problems with my Matrix Orbital, that I never encountered with my previous model. It is in the case, but it may have to go back :(

A couple more pics:
http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/MoboSide(Large).jpg

http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/Finished1(Large).jpg

[Flip-Mode]

Love that case...
Your cabling is decent BTW.

[R B Customs]

Wow nice build
that is one beast of a case, thats what id have if i didnt have my aurora !!

[Deathknight]

Yeah I am loving the case big time. My only complaint is the casters. I wish they had wheel locks. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with them. It makes working on this thing a breeze as you can spin it around on a table to get at anything you need to, but when you have this thing running on your desk and you want to push a button on the front, it can easily slide backwards.

I have kept it on the floor most of the time due to that, but really I would prefer it up where I can see it and see the lcd on the front.

[updawg]

The case looks so clean with the mobo being black as well, I really like this setup! Too bad the wheels don't have locks. Nice Job! hope when I go underway with my project this weekend it turns out well.

[SiGfever]

Yeah I am loving the case big time. My only complaint is the casters. I wish they had wheel locks. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with them. It makes working on this thing a breeze as you can spin it around on a table to get at anything you need to, but when you have this thing running on your desk and you want to push a button on the front, it can easily slide backwards.

I have kept it on the floor most of the time due to that, but really I would prefer it up where I can see it and see the lcd on the front.
Fantastic looking setup! :beer: :drool:
That will be my next case, I want the original top without the top window but with the two blow-holes. Have you considered getting some table leg cups that you install under table legs to keep from marring the floor?

[Deathknight]

I went with the top that has the half window and two blow holes. I was a bit worried if it would be a pain taking the roof off with the windows, but I have it rigged halfway decent so that I can take off the right side panel and then disconnect the roof fans without too much trouble.

I hadn't considered anything like feet for this, but that is something I am definitly going to look into to. I was considering some kind of tray, something with a lip basically, that I could set it in while up on my desk. It would keep it from sliding around basically, but still let me use the casters while on the floor etc.

[Alchemy1]

VERY nice! I had talked myself out of buying a UFO, but now that I look at your case I am thinking about it again. I just wish they would create a BTX mobo tray upon request(at an extra cost of course), but I was told by MM this is not an option. I guess that wheel lock thing could be a pain as well.

[SiGfever]

I went with the top that has the half window and two blow holes. I was a bit worried if it would be a pain taking the roof off with the windows, but I have it rigged halfway decent so that I can take off the right side panel and then disconnect the roof fans without too much trouble.

I hadn't considered anything like feet for this, but that is something I am definitly going to look into to. I was considering some kind of tray, something with a lip basically, that I could set it in while up on my desk. It would keep it from sliding around basically, but still let me use the casters while on the floor etc.
I am talking about the small square rubber cups that would go under your casters to prevent movement without scratching your desk.

[Deathknight]

Yeah I figured that is what you meant and started searching for some after you posted that :) Let me know if you ever come across any.

[SiGfever]

Yeah I figured that is what you meant and started searching for some after you posted that :) Let me know if you ever come across any.
Lowes and Home Depot sell them. :beer:

[SiGfever]

How do you have your fans set-up as in intake and exhaust? I will be buying the original top with the two blow-holes only hopefully minus the top window.

I am also buying the PA120.3 and will be doing a "push" configuration.

[Deathknight]

All 4 fan mounts in front are intake, the top 2 fans and the 3 fans in back are exhaust.

[Enzf1]

Aw man I shouldve just payed a few extra bucks and gone with a UFO.
Nice setup btw, very clean. Jealous.

[SiGfever]

What is the lead time from Mountain Mods on that case?

[ziggo0]

Your setup is very toight like a toight toiger. Nice :D

[Deathknight]

What is the lead time from Mountain Mods on that case?

The case was the first item I bought for this rig, way back last August, so I cannot remember exactly, but it shipped fairly quickly from what I recall. The black powder coat is a standard color for them. I would imagine a custom request would take longer.

[Alchemy1]

Custom powder coating costs $125 over the standard aluminum case. Just to let you know.

[SiGfever]

Custom powder coating costs $125 over the standard aluminum case. Just to let you know.
Yea but when I looked around at my options like the TJ07, the cost was right in line.

[Alchemy1]

I wasn't trying to discourage you...I way trying to inform you. I don't think I can spend $400+ on a case, but I think I am going to end up buying a black UFO once I get a conroe mobo and an E6600 or E6700 cornroe. It is a damn fine case, but I can't pay $400...personally.

[Enzf1]

So they can mix a color for you? No matter what it is? Like lets say if I wanted Chamelon like paint or something?

[Alchemy1]

I don't think they do paint...they do powder coating. If they make chameleon powder coat then MM should be able to do it for you. It is funny that you had that idea, that is one of the colors that came to my mind for my case. Let me know f you ar successful at finding chameleon powder coat and getting your case coated with it.
As for custom powder coating – yes we can match a color/texture. For the most part custom powder coat is $125 abo ve the brushed aluminum case cost.


Regards,



Mountain Mods

3400B Guignard Dr

Hood River, OR 97031

www.mountainmods.com

541-386-0086

[Deathknight]

Well I have made a little bit more progress on this rig. I have begun sleeving some of the cables and have been working out some better routing. This is progressing rather well.

I have run into a couple of snags that have slowed me down on finalizing things however :( First of all, my Matrix Orbital lcd is not working properly and needs to be sent back. I don't have enough contrast to read text clearly. This is a bummer since I love the functionality of these LCDs and I think it was the perfect finishing touch. I may end up using my single bay MX212 for a while. This is the first time I had to deal with them for support issues. They have given me no trouble in terms of agreeing to fix it, but the turn around time on emails is VERY slow (minimum of one day per email).

Also I had the inverters blow out on my UV cold cathods. I am a bit puzzled why, as they were working properly. I just the replacements today and all seems to be in working order, but I have not sleeved them yet.

The last thing I am waiting to come in is a piece of sample foam to sit my pump on.

My PWMIC temps are fairly high and are playing a factor in my OC troubles right now. I am considering flipping the fan on the roof above it to blow in instead of out. I think if I added my other 3 fans onto the rad that I may get a little more airflow from that, I am not sure I want to deal with the sound though...

A couple more pics:
http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/UVMoboSide(Large).JPG

http://www.jimmysoft.net/jimmysoft/images/BuildLogs/Widowmaker/CloseupMoboSide(Large).JPG