Silverstone TJ07 build - t_ski style

[t_ski]

Parts have been ordered for the next phase of this project, and some of them have arrived...

[t_ski]

Got the parts in the system over the past few days. I need to put the pics up for you guys - hopefull this weekend?

[t_ski]

Here's the update of the work done this week. First, the new parts:





Another two things I bought were an LCD Temp display and a Bitspower plug temp sensor. I didn't take any before pics, but here you can see the two spliced together and the power wires sleeved.



A major oversight I had when building a loop that fits this tightly inside the case was that there was no easy way to drain the loop for maintenance and upgrades. I corrected that oversight by adding a T-line and a plug. I went simple on this as the funds were a little tight trying to buy everything I wanted for this system and another, but I figured this would be well hidden anyway.



Supporting three monitors in Eyefinity puts a higher load on the video cards, and I was tired of seeing idle temps at 65 degrees C and above. I chose to resolve that with two Koolance VID-AR697 waterblocks.











My matching Sapphire 6970's.



Mounting the blocks was rather easy. The hardest part was getting the stock heatsink off the second card.















Unfortunately, the water in the previous loop had turned brown, possibly due to adding too much biocide. I had to disassemble the loop to drain it and got this:



I put in the T-line and flushed the loop with some white vinegar. After it was running for an hour I went to drain it again and found the water had turned a greenish-blue.



I assume that meant it was working. I rinsed it two more times and drained it again so I could add the video cards and blocks.



I am very pleased with the design of the loop, and the Bitspower Crystal Links were down-right simple. They do look out of place though.



I decided to cut two small pieces of tubing and split them open. I was able to wrap them around the Crystal Links like this:



That part of the update is complete. I have some more things in mind to do, and I need to find a permanent place to mount the LCD temp display. Oh, I forgot to mention: I put the temp sensor in one of the spare holes in the reservoir, and moved the Criystal Fitting (blue LED plug) to the top of the res.

[PopcornMachine]

Originally Posted by t_ski

That part of the update is complete. I have some more things in mind to do, and I need to find a permanent place to mount the LCD temp display. Oh, I forgot to mention: I put the temp sensor in one of the spare holes in the reservoir, and moved the Criystal Fitting (blue LED plug) to the top of the res.

Congrats. It looks great. Cool water blocks on the 6970s. Thanks for all the great pictures.

Question about video card cooling. I guess you have the hoses set up parallel, but is there an advantage over having the hoses connected serially? It seems that the water might not flow throughout each card that way, but I must be wrong.

Thanks.

[t_ski]

Basically, the water will flow where there is the least restriction (resistance). When you are using two blocks that are the same, the resistance is the same. By running parallel, I was able to not restrict the flow through one small tube (each of the Crystal Links are smaller in ID than the hose), and it allowed me to exit the blocks on the opposite side than the entry (top left in to bottom right out), which worked very well for my loop design.

[n0tiert]

Beautiful Build m8,

you should color the CD/DVD drive black...... for given the final touch.

[specks]

Damn it!

Every build here makes me feel even poorer and makes my pc even worse than pond scum!

If you guys have some spare parts you wont mind giving them away I would be very glad to accept them.



Oh, and while I was viewing this thread me and my pc are crapping

[t_ski]

Originally Posted by n0tiert

Beautiful Build m8,

you should color the CD/DVD drive black...... for given the final touch.

One of the things I was contemplating was removing the white lettering from the drive, except for maybe the BR logo in the middle.

[t_ski]

UPDATE: My rig is currently being torn apart. I have the CPU and ram sold, and have the three SSD's and the motherboard w/waterblock listed for sale (at awesome prices, BTW). I have new parts on order that will hopefully be here this week. I need to sell either all three SSD's or the motherboard to pay for the one final part I need to take this rig to the next level...

[(FIH) The Don]

you going x79 or?

[t_ski]

Yes, X79. I have a new CPU, mobo, ram and one of two SSD's on the way

[t_ski]

Some parts have arrived this week. I'll let the pictures do the talking...

[t_ski]

It's been a while since I updated this. Lots of new stuff:

[johnnyfiive]

badass

[copenhagen69]

pictures are amazing!!!

nice little setup you got running now ..

[t_ski]

Thanks. I actually have some new fans installed on my rad, but I'm having some issues with them not wanting to start up. When I hit the power button on the rig they start to twitch, but then I have to give them a spin with my finger to get them going. For some reason they are only getting ~4.9V off each channel of the fan controller. I either need one of these:

http://www.jab-tech.com/BitsPower-X-...L-pr-4267.html

...or one of these:

http://www.jab-tech.com/Scythe-Kaze-...K-pr-4841.html

[t_ski]

Originally Posted by t_ski

I actually have some new fans installed on my rad, but I'm having some issues with them not wanting to start up. When I hit the power button on the rig they start to twitch, but then I have to give them a spin with my finger to get them going. For some reason they are only getting ~4.9V off each channel of the fan controller.

I figured this one out. A bonehead move on my part, but when I made the power cable for the Lamptron fan controller I accidentally wired it to 5V instead of 12V. I swapped the wires around tonight and now they are roaring away at full speed.

[micropage7]

if the ram fins in blue too (anodized blue) or make it silver it would be much better.
red and blue aint match

[t_ski]

If I get some nice nickel/acetal blocks for the video cards, then I might look into buying the optional black fins that Corsair sells for these.

[tamw]

Cool rig! =D

Really nice water system, you plan on puttin those 7970 on water too?

What speed are you running your cpu at? 2011 overclock well?

Always wanted Tj07 =) is there room for 2 waterloops in that case?

[t_ski]

I would love to watercooler the 7970's, but I still have a few things to straighten out. I was hoping to get a third 7970, but I've heard there are issues with three cards and Eyefinity, which I'm using. Funding is also a problem, especially if I need to get three waterblocks.

I honestly have not done a lot of overclocking on this CPU. The one thing I did do was use the built-in AutoTune, which netted me an overclock to 4.8GHz. I imigine with time, patience and more tweaking it could easily do 5.0GHz.

There's definitely room for dual loops, but I find them messy.

[nathantrumpet]

Hey, this is a great build log!! Have any new updates?

Also, would you be able to comment on the overall system performance? Seeing as how you've gone through the past 3 generations of Radeon video cards, which configuration was the most enjoyable for gaming? Which SSD setup seemed the fastest? I'm just curious to know if you can notice a difference with each subsequent upgrade. Thanks.

[t_ski]

Since I last posted, I have added a third 7970. Everything is running fine and smooth, but I have not bothered to OC anything now. So much power and I don't use it to its full extent most of the time...



3DMVantage

Dual 7970's|925/1375|45183|i7 3930K @3.8Ghz



Three 7970's|925/1375|50619|i7 3930K @ 3.8Ghz (stock run)



3DM11

Dual 7970's|925/1375|14023|3930K @ 3.8GHz



Three 7970's|925/1375|18006|i7-3930K@stock



I noticed a HUGE difference going from the 6970's to the 7970's. Not so much going from 5970's to 6970's. As far as SSD raid arrays, there was not a huge difference in "feel" between the three 60GB SATA2 SSDs in Raid 0 and two 120GB SATA3 SSDs in Raid 0, but I like the simplicity of two drives over three and also the extra space from the increased drive size.

[Chicken Patty]

Originally Posted by t_ski

Since I last posted, I have added a third 7970. Everything is running fine and smooth, but I have not bothered to OC anything now. So much power and I don't use it to its full extent most of the time...

http://img.techpowerup.org/120529/triple7970.jpg

3DMVantage

Dual 7970's|925/1375|45183|i7 3930K @3.8Ghz

http://img.techpowerup.org/120405/45183.png

Three 7970's|925/1375|50619|i7 3930K @ 3.8Ghz (stock run)

http://img.techpowerup.org/120610/50619.png

3DM11

Dual 7970's|925/1375|14023|3930K @ 3.8GHz

http://img.techpowerup.org/120408/14023.png

Three 7970's|925/1375|18006|i7-3930K@stock

http://img.techpowerup.org/120528/Stock-18006.png

I noticed a HUGE difference going from the 6970's to the 7970's. Not so much going from 5970's to 6970's. As far as SSD raid arrays, there was not a huge difference in "feel" between the three 60GB SATA2 SSDs in Raid 0 and two 120GB SATA3 SSDs in Raid 0, but I like the simplicity of two drives over three and also the extra space from the increased drive size.

Got any better pictures of the internals with all the cards in there? Looks great though!

[t_ski]

Originally Posted by Chicken Patty

Got any better pictures of the internals with all the cards in there? Looks great though!

Anything in particular you're looking for? I'll have to take some for you.