first WC, CM Stacker internal setup

[black_b[ ]x]

After waiting since Far Cry came out (because new video cards were just around the corner ), my new PC is finally together. Clock speeds are currently stock until this weekend probably. Also, load temps may not be maxed.

With a case temp of 32C:
Athlon64 3200+ 1MB w/ DD brass TDX waterblock @ 36C idle, 42-43 load
eVGA 6800 Ultra w/ DD maze4, 2 new holes drilled to fit @ 53C idle, 57 load
2x512MB Crucial Ballistix on a K8N neo platinum. Also a 74GB raptor and sony DVD/cdrw, powered by a fortron 550W psu.

1/2" ID clearflex tubing, DD liang D4 pump (older loud model?), DD dual 120mm heatercore w/ shroud, all "crammed" into a coolermaster stacker. 4oz of Water Wetter and 1 algae destroyer tab.

Fitting the heatercore only took 3 cuts with a jigsaw on the case, the stock grill on the bottom comes out easily. I pulled off the grills behind the front drive bay 120mm fan (and actually used these to mount my home-made 2" PVC reservoir).

The WC loop runs pump->rad->graphics->CPU->res->pump. Can't really see it in the pic, but the output barb on the res points straight down, then a slight bend into the pump. Outlet from the pump goes up and over to the radiator, the rest is easy to see. IThe res is filled within about 2" of the top, and has a bit of froth on top. The DD pump has plenty of power for this loop, so I'll plan to make/buy a rheobus for that and the two 120mm fans on the radiator. Thanks to Myzhi for providing the info on the Maze4 fitment.

The stock fans on the Stacker are near silent. Not much flow on the top exhaust, but the 120's seem to be a good compromise. It has good airflow, I'm quite happy with my case temp of 32C compared to my last case (i'm not positive what ambient really is, probably 26-27C). I'm not sure how good my radiator fans are, they were sourced from an old server (they pull .44 amps though, kinda loud too).

Learning experiences: drilling a hole in your new 6800U is nerve-racking. So is breaking off a screw in your $50 maze4 (thank you needle-nose vise-grips). Clearflex is worth the extra money over standard vinyl hose sold in home depot/ace hardware, much more flexible without kinking. the DD pump flows a lot of water, but its kind of loud (first gen pump I believe). Don't forget to plan a way to drain your system (my res would be a pain to take out, not much slack in the tubing). Maybe I'll think of more later... here's a pic w/ a D3 box instead of the ruler that i can't seem to find:

 

[SelRahc]

nice I ordered 2 of that very same case. I can see where getting to your res could be a pain later... hopefully you won't hafta anytime soon IS that blue uv dye in there, or the coloring of the tubes / waterwetter?

 

[Scroatdog]

Nice!

Can you post some more pics?? I'm getting this case in a couple weeks and need to formulate mounting ideas. The more pics I see, the more I can decide how to blow all my money!

 

[Ariste]

That looks nice. I'm going to be building a WC setup with the same case in a few days, but I'm too scared to start cutting holes in my $160 case on my first computer build I'm going to have a pretty simple loop with just a CPU block and a reservoir. I'm going to mount a double heater core and the reservoir externally and will probably pass the tubing through those punch-out fan holes in the bottom. Wish me luck... I'll need it

Anyway, yours looks very nice. Hopefully I'll get some more confidence and try to get everything internally later on, but for now, external will have to do.

Good luck with your system,

 

[black_b[ ]x]

The pink color of the water is due to the Water Wetter, if you see a bottle of it you'll know why Cutting the case is quite easy with a jigsaw and a decent blade for metal, I used a nice Bosch saw with a Bosch 123x blade (IIRC). I did have to drill a hole in one of the corners to make the right-angle cut though and then double back to smooth it out/finish the cut, you shouldnt make curves in metal with a jigsaw. Just move slowly and let the saw do the work, you shouldnt be pushing hard on it.

One thing I don't like about the case is that the drive bay covers are a bit of a pain to take off and put back on again. It looks like that will be difficult with a full case.

 

[black_b[ ]x]

Oh yeah.. My opinion of the danger den equipment that I've purchased:

TDX block: Looks nice, but did not come with installation instructions. The only instructions I found for this were on the 11MB video on their website, under the RBX section. Sucked for me trying to download that on 56k. FYI: the correct order is Backing plate (from your motherboard), nut, water block, washer, spacer, spring (fits over spacer), washer, thumbscrew. Compress the spring up to the spacer, but do not actually touch the spacer.

Maze4: also looks nice. I drilled two new 7/64" holes near the original mounting locations and used (IIRC, ask me if you're doing this) 4-40x1.5" machine screws from Ace Hardware.

Clearflex tubing: worth the money, very good flexibility without kinking.

L4 pump: somewhat loud, high pitched whine to it, but I think i have the earlier version. More than enough flow rate though, so I'll decrease the voltage and see how it does.

Dual heatercore: I had a couple flecks of solder on the inside that were rattling around when I got it. After a few minutes of shaking it, they fell out. Mounting hardware sucks, I didn't like the idea of using pointed screws. For piece of mind though, $35 isnt bad.

Heatercore shroud: Unless you want the clear acrylic look, make your own. If I had seen pictures of it, I would have done that instead. Mounting hardware sucks again: long nylon threaded posts and nylon nuts... not so easy to put together because the ends of some posts were soft and poorly formed. The posts bend very easily, and probably also stretch if overtightened. Also, the holes for mounting the fans are small, it would be difficult to find something small enough to fit through the holes, yet long enough to pass through the heatercore and the fans. I'm afraid to drill larger holes into the acylic shroud, not sure if it would crack (i believe they laser cut their holes).

I will try to take more pics this weekend.

 

[black_b[ ]x]

more pics. CPU block, opposite side of the res mounting, closeup of lower mounting, space left on the bottom (thats a quarter for size comparison), tight space on top of the case, looking forward into the drive bays, and two shots of the pump mounting/tubing.

 

[black_dante]

is it possible to mount a thermochill or DD heatercore upright in the drive bays?

 

[black_b[ ]x]

The DD dual heatercore will not fit vertically in the drive bays, its too wide. That probably would have been my first choice. I think the 120mm fan just barely fits in there. If you can find a heatercore that is less than 5.25" wide and put barb's on it yourself, I would do that. If you need measurements of the case, let me know.

 

[Scroatdog]

The DD dual heatercore will not fit vertically in the drive bays, its too wide. That probably would have been my first choice. I think the 120mm fan just barely fits in there. If you can find a heatercore that is less than 5.25" wide and put barb's on it yourself, I would do that. If you need measurements of the case, let me know.

Yes, if you could, can you measure the inside of the bays?? I'm thinking of a dual heatercore in there, not the DD one, but a Bonneville dual core. It's exactly 5 3/4 inches. There are no stores around here with the Stacker so I can't do my own measurements.

Thanks!

 

[black_b[ ]x]

that would be close, but should fit with just less than 3/16" to spare.

 

[Giblet Plus!]

is it possible to mount a thermochill or DD heatercore upright in the drive bays?

yes

cut them out