Project "Eight" - m-itx - water cooled

T

Tesco

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Oct 12, 2010
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My First M-ITX Build Log​


I've been lurking this forum for about a month now, and after hours of research, it's time to start my m-itx build!


With the purchase of the first part to my new computer, I thought it would be a good idea to start my build log.

Don't bother posting yet, because nothing (much at all) is happening.



All parts will be disclosed for this until I get them and post pictures of that item.

I expect this to be semi-finished in January/February

Lots of photos will be taken!

​



Component List Disclosed:

HDD - OCZ Vertex 2E 60gb
CPU - Intel I3-530
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3
RAM - Corsair XMS3 1600mhz 2x2gb
Case / Power Supply - Silverstone SG-05B
OS - Windows 7 Home Premium
Storage Drive - WD MyPassport USB3

Undisclosed:


Upgraded PSU
Mods
GPU
Optical

Water cooling parts

Black Ice GT Stealth Lite 120mm
 
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The SSD.

OcUK were selling 20 of these for £99.99[$158US], which is £10-15 under normal! So I bought one.

Today I see that OcUK are selling 15 of the 120gb ones for £158[$250US]! Wish I had waited now!

DSC07348.jpg
 
If you don't expect the build to be finished by february. I wouldn't buy any of the components right now.

Just buy the case and the WC-stuff. There are a lot of nice releases untill february.
 
Already researched into that, ie graphics will be bought at 6xxx series or nvidias next series.

Case is specifically measure(hopefully) to fit all the beast going inside it, so I won't be changing that either.

Possibly buying a new power supply in Q1 2011 though, if anyone decides to release new SFX sized ones.

processor/motherboard will have to be h55/p55 because even though intel may release on Q1 2011, it will be by Q2/Q3 before any mini-itx motherboards come out.
 
What's this?
P1030926.jpg


I had a chance to sell my old PC., so I bought the basic parts for my project.

P1030927.jpg

P1030928.jpg


Quick shot of the freshly opened case. I read on another forum they are releasing an all black, 450watt PSU version. I died. But that will be a few months from now so not to worry!
P1030931.jpg


Motherboard
P1030933.jpg


RAM + CPU + Motherboard
P1030934.jpg



RAM
P1030936.jpg



Current setup to get me by:
P1030941.jpg



More pictures to come when I get more parts/ when I will mod it. (I believe this may be a while)

That's it for now, I am quite happy with it, but there is still alot more to do! (alot!)

Also got my new job, so hopefully It shouldn't be too long before things start falling into place.

Any questions/ More pictures please ask me, I know I needed alot of pictures before my first build.

See you soon - I'm going to do some measuring up now. =P
 
Don't those subwoofers have large magnets in them? Is it safe to put your PC on top of the sub.?
 
I wouldn't be concerned with the vibrations as much as I would the unshielded magnetic effects on the computer.
 
I would also not put the PC on a subwoofer. Subs vibrate a lot and that can not be good. something might come loose. Probably not too good for fans either.
 
Yes fair do - but don't assume that I have my sub on 24/7, I hardly ever have it on.

I can assure you it's fine until I get a proper desk.=)
 
As far as the magnet goes, subs like that have... well, pitiful magnets. Not too much to worry about even if they aren't shielded (though the magnetic field is there even when the sub is off, of course). I had my external HDDs pretty much right next to my Logitech Z-4 sub on my desk for a year with zero adverse effects. Vibration would be more of an issue, but these aren't exactly earth-shaking subs anyways. Not that much vibration at normal volumes (and the SSD won't be bothered regardless, dunno if the storage drive made it in yet?).
 
A suprise!


Finally bought some stuff.

3 more packages to come!

This is one from Germany:

I will give you 1 guess before I will tell you what Radiator this is =P

I think it's the smallest 120mm radiator on the planet.

P1040120.jpg


P1040121.jpg


P1040123.jpg
 
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Why not just use an H50?

That single 120 radiator is not enough to cool all the components :S.
 
I'm not attempting to cool All the components... lol...


And H50 just isn't custom enough for this build. I want to give an insight to people who want to watercool components in this case. Like GPU. Or CPU/NB. And now you know it may possibly be done with no modding.
 
Great start, Lots of pictures. got to love it :D

And H50 cant be compared to proper watercooling
 
Looks like a Koolance rad. This one, specifically. The Black Ice Pro is actually 1mm thinner, but 13mm wider across its face. I think the rads in the H50 and some of the CoolIT kits are just 25mm thick, which would make them smaller than that Koolance, but of course you can't get them by themselves.
 
Strange that hwlabs doesn't list the GTS Lite on their site... I have a feeling hwlabs builds that rad for Koolance since the dimensions and appearance seem to be identical
 
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