[Project Medusa] Silverdusk's Build

[Silverdusk]

What I hoped to accomplish with this build was to:

1). To create a watercooling platform that will outlive many generations of new parts and builds.

2). Challenge myself with new ideas, primarily watercooling and overclocking.

3). Put together a system that puts an emphasis on function over form, however with a few bells and whistles.

Basically, I'd like to make this my build thread once I have the last component. It's actually based off of HardwareLogic's very own Raid's build, in form and design. What is the saying "imitation is the biggest form of flattery."

But of course it won't be identical to Raid's. My wife selected a Medusa theme for this build, since it's based off of Raid's design and she thought it looked like Medusa with all of the tubes coming out of it.

Here's a list of parts so far.

CASE - Custom Danger Den Torture Rack ((DD now has a pattern for Thermochill Rads :) I'll have a front panel engraved with a Medusa this week
CPU - Intel QC2Q6600 -w/GO
VIDEO - BFG 8800 GTS G92
RAM - 4GB Muskin XP2 8000 Redline
MOBO - Asus Rampage Formula
PSU - Corsair 620HX
DVD - Asus
DVDR - Asus 20x w/ Lightscribe
Speakers - Klipsch
Monitor - Samsung 193P 19" - Will upgrade to a 24" soon
Mouse - Logitech MX Revolutiion
Keyboard - Logitech Wave


Air Cooling:

2 Scythe Fans
Scythe Fan Controller w/ Temp Sensors
6 Yate Loon Blue LED Fans


Water Cooling

CPU Block - D-Tek FuZion w/ Quad Nozzle kit & Pro Mount
NB Block - EK S-MAX Acetal
GPU Block - EK (G92) Nickel Plated
Pump - 2 Swiftech Mp655
Radiator - 2 Thermochill PA120.3's
Resrvoir - (2) EK 400 Multi-option
Tubing - Tygon 3/8" ID by 5/8" OD black tubing.
Fittings - D-Tek and Bitspower compression fittings 3/8" ID by 5/8" OD

First time stripping a MOBO like this. Lot's of fun, even if a lil scary.


Here's a closeup of the new X48 Chipset. Bigger than I thought.

Blocks Installed

Another view of the blocks

Ready for some leak testing now.

And a Completed Shot

[azianai]

looks great
wish i had the patience for WCing lol

[Parker]

Whoa man that looks pretty cool!! (haha, pun intended... )

good job m8!! I like it I like it!

BTW, maybe clean up the wires a bit?

[Silverdusk]

Yeah I did some, but I need to go back in and really clean it up. I do have a custom panel on order at DD to cover the bottom and front panels up. That should help greatly.

[theburan]

That looks really nice! I really want that ram though.... lol. Like, alot.

[Silverdusk]

This seems strange to me. My very first water cooling system, but these temps seem high for these rads. Am I mistaken?

[Yellowhello]

What's the ambient temp? That may be a little high, maybe try remounting CPU block?

[Silverdusk]

Well, about 65 degrees in my room. Am I looking at the Cpu temp or each core? The 22 seems great to me but the 28, 31, 34 and 36 seem high at idle no?

I'm really new to this, I'm delving in with both feet, but I see the only way to learn is read, ask questions and tinker with it.

[Yellowhello]

I'm looking at the individual core temps. One would think temps would stay around ambient at idle... I'd try a remount. Maybe download Core Temp and Real Temp to see what they say.

[Silverdusk]

Tooo frackin funny ... So the last few days have been a true learning experience. While tearing apart and putting back together I was on the edge of my seat .. Being that this my first ever watercooling system. Everything I did was careful and calculated. I checked everything twice .....except

Soooo I can tell you from experience now that the plastic protective sticky on the Fuzion is not a very good thermal conductor :) lol. I left the damn thin on.

My Idle temps are now. This is not overclocked .. soon though.