Torture Rack Build Log (Image Heavy)

[RAID]

Current Components (Subject to change at any time without warning)

CPU - Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 @ 3.5GHz 1.46V
Mobo - Asus Striker II Formula nForce 780i NEW
GPU - EVGA 8800 Ultra @ 700MHz Core Clock
RAM - Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066 4GB @ 1150MHz
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB 32MB Cache NEW
DVD - LiteOn 20x Burner w/ Lightscribe
PSU - PC Power & Cooling 750 Silencer Quad
Case - Danger Den Torture Rack NEW
Fan Controller - Scythe Kaze Master NEW
HDD Cooler - Sytrin KuFormula SHF1 Ultra

Water Cooling Loops

CPU Block - Dtek Fuzion w/ Pro Mount & Quad Nozzle
GPU Block - Swiftech Stealth
Pumps - Two Swiftech MCP 655 (D5) Pumps w/ UN Desgns 360 Bracket
Radiators - Two Thermochill PA 120.3 Radiators
Reservoirs - Two EK Res400 Multi-Option Reservoirs NEW
Fans - Yate Loon D12SL-12 Blue LED 120mm PT Fans
Tubing - Tygon R-3400 1/2" ID NEW
Coolant - Distilled Water w/ PT Nuke






The latest revision to my main rig actually started in December. Wifey was nice enough to get me a DD Torture Rack for Christmas. I wanted to get a different case because I was spending way too much time underneath my desk, in awkward positions, messing around with my components. The Torture Rack fit the bill. Here you can see I did not use the alloted position for the power supply on the lower level of the case. Two reasons: positioning the PSU this way allows for more bay drives to be added later on and frees up the bottom fan of the radiator locataed on the right side of the case.







My 500GB Barracuda was almost full and I decided to grab a 1TB Barracuda (I download a lot of.... stuff). A lot more room, now I can stretch my legs! It went directly into the Sytrin HDD cooler which is pretty neat. It kind of reminds me of a car amplifier. And of course the loud and fast LiteOn DVD burner. I see a Blue-Ray drive in my future....






Next to get installed were the radiators. It got a little tricky at this step. I had to attach the fans at the ends of the radiator (top and bottom) first. Then I carefully mounted the rad onto the middle fan which was on the side of the case. If that doesn't make any sense, just know it was kind of hard to mount the rads the way I wanted but the end result was met.

Using the UN Designs 360 pump bracket, I was able to mount the pumps at this spot. I spent a lot of time brainstorming on where to place the pump. I toyed with the idea of mounting them to the side of the rads but in the end, I settled for this. I might still go with a different pump down the line but for now, the D5's are quiet and do their job well.





Next up were the reservoirs. In my previous build, I used a bay reservoir but I decided to try out the tube style res, which has become very popular. As you can see, its a long res about the same length of the rads.



After both loops were mounted, I was able to install my new motherboard, the Striker II Formula. My previous mobo, the P5N32-E SLI, died and I went with the latest nVidia board from Asus. I might go another direction soon as I have not been very satisfied with this board's OC ability.






Check out that sexy Fuzion block! I added the nozzle and pro mount for the fuzion which I highly recommend for all Fuzion owners. The pro mount evenly distributes the pressure on the CPU and has a set stopping/tightening point where the stock mounting method left it up to you on when to stop turning the screws. This could lead to bad things... so in other words, go buy the pro mount for your Fuzion! Its only $11 bucks.

After you install the back plate for the Fuzion, you no longer need to remove the mobo to install the block. Just set it on and screw it down. Oh and I didn't take a picture but I'm now going with ICD7 as my TIM. Good stuff.






I installed the Dominators and the Ultra. I need to get a fan for my memory.









I love Tygon R-3400 tubing. I had the clear Tygon which will eventually cloud up and doesn't look as good after awhile, even after you clean it. Now I don't have to deal with that issue! But I may go with 3/8 ID down the road. We will see....

[polobunny]

Wow looking amazing.
Can't help but think the thing is probably doing too much noise for my taste though. 6 fans + pumps + HDD cooler. Oh and price. :P

[Capper]

Beautiful setup.

As to the noise, mine is very similar, although a single loop and 5 fans (and not nearly as attractive).....its very quiet.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Capper

Beautiful setup.

As to the noise, mine is very similar, although a single loop and 5 fans (and not nearly as attractive).....its very quiet.

I just sleep in the same room as my computer, so I still want to silence my 900 haha. :P

[Parker]

Wow, very nice Mat! It looks sweet

For a second though, I didn't think that was your 27" in the pic.... but then I came to realisation
The torture rack is bigger than I though

Great job!

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

Freekin' sweet setup!

[halutzparilla]

that thing is a beauty... nice work there Matt...

[gvblake22]

Incredible system you've cooked up there Man, looks great! Thanks for sharing more of your great pictures too. I can't wait to feature this in the Spotlight System!

EDIT:
Just noticed you have your fans configured to pull air through the rads, not blow/push it through. Have you tried both configurations? Is this a standard procedure for watercooling? I'm just always used to having fans blow into the heatsink or radiator, not pull air through it...

[Parker]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

EDIT:
Just noticed you have your fans configured to pull air through the rads, not blow/push it through. Have you tried both configurations? Is this a standard procedure for watercooling? I'm just always used to having fans blow into the heatsink or radiator, not pull air through it...

Well, either way works. But with certain fans it's best to have them pulling air throught the rad, but with others it's different. It really depends on the fan and your preference.
It's really only a 1-2c difference in temps anyhow.

[RAID]

thanks for the great comments fellas! i started putting this thread together inbetween classes and ran out of time so i just posted the pictures instead of starting all over again. i'll edit the original post with more info on how the build went...

as far as noise is concerned, that was a focus of this build since it would my main rig as well as an open test bed so i chose low speed fans for the radiators. all 6 are low speed yate loons and they honestly are very quiet. the system is about a foot away from my ear and almost inaudible. and the scythe kaze master has full control of fan speed/noise so its as quiet as i want it to be. in the future, i do plan on grabbing high speed fans to see how they perform but for now i'm happy.

in the last picture, i was also surprised at how small the monitor seems. maybe its just the angle of the shot. i'll post a couple more pics of the setup tonight.

i know i should have taken temp readings for concrete proof but i 'believe' these particular fans perform better in a pull configuration. i had them set in the push configuration at first and could not feel very much airflow getting through the radiator. after setting them up to pull, i can feel the air being pulled into the radiator. hopefully that makes sense.

again, thanks for the comments. let me know if you have more questions on any other aspect of the build.