Project WaterFall -- A water cooling project log by Phenom

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Coming along nicely!

[MT Alex]

Originally Posted by MxPhenom 216

This is what it looks like. The card before would bend slightly from the middle because of the EVGA shitty cooler that only had 4 screws around the GPU and none to the GPU I/O backplate etc so it would just pull it down from the middle. And I think the PCB has kind of just taken that form from getting hot and sagging because of it. But take a look at this picture, as thats what it looks like currently


http://img.techpowerup.org/121029/DSCN2394.jpg

Other then that. Ive decided to complete all the system cabling now before getting the res/pump all connected so that none of it is in the way. Just got to connect fan cabling and DVD drive.

Don't sweat things so much. You can reduce a bunch of your card sag by using the tubing that goes to the res to hold it up, and maybe even shorten your run to your rad. Most people don't notice the sag as much because the card doesn't sit in the case for days not fully plumbed. In a pinch, you can even fix your cabling to help hold your card up. You can see examples of both methods in my case, the tubing from the cpu, and making sure my cables aren't pulling down on the card.

You're off to a good start, and are gonna be stoked before you know it.

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by MT Alex

Don't sweat things so much. You can reduce a bunch of your card sag by using the tubing that goes to the res to hold it up, and maybe even shorten your run to your rad. Most people don't notice the sag as much because the card doesn't sit in the case for days not fully plumbed. In a pinch, you can even fix your cabling to help hold your card up. You can see examples of both methods in my case, the tubing from the cpu, and making sure my cables aren't pulling down on the card.

You're off to a good start, and are gonna be stoked before you know it.

ah Alex, the person I wanted to talk too. So if you look at the picture again, look at the fitting of the GPU. See the gap in the fitting there. Is that okay, it won't screw on any further. Its the same way with the other fittings that have tubing running. I figured it was suppose to be like that and if its hard to screw on it means is pushing on the tubing and making it secure.

[MT Alex]

The fitting looks fine, there is usually a stripe that shows, they don't go completely tight. It looks like, however, that there is a gap between your front thermal pad and the vram, or there threatens to be one. I'd cut a piece of dowel, or the outside of a ball point pen and shim the card for the time being.

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by MT Alex

The fitting looks fine, there is usually a stripe that shows, they don't go completely tight. It looks like, however, that there is a gap between your front thermal pad and the vram, or there threatens to be one. I'd cut a piece of dowel, or the outside of a ball point pen and shim the card for the time being.

yeah, I know what your seeing, but its nothing. If I squeeze the block and card together they don't come together much more in that area. And its not a vram under there. its the 2 power regulators for the memory. Has a thicker thermal pad then the rest too.

[MxPhenom 216]

here are some pictures of the last 2 days of work ive done. nothing too drastic at all, but just finished all the cabling. Only thing left is connecting the tubing to the pump/res assembly and picking up some water.



Cabling for the fan controller and drive is much cleaner this time around compared to before Ill improve it even more when I go at it again when I get single braided sleeving. Im am VERY OCD about cable management. Nothing is good enough haha. I always think of better ways to route cables.

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Almost there! Keep it up!

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by [H]@RD5TUFF

Almost there! Keep it up!

Im starting to get pretty stoked!

[MT Alex]

Not stoked enough to finish it.

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by MT Alex

Not stoked enough to finish it.

No I am, just busy with school. Ive been stressing over my math class. Calculus is a bitch.

[de.das.dude]

sub

[MxPhenom 216]

I think if I like water cooling enough, next year im going to get a Switch 810 case or a Corsair Full tower.

[james888]

Originally Posted by MxPhenom 216

I think if I like water cooling enough, next year im going to get a Switch 810 case or a Corsair Full tower.

You could put an alphacool monster where your hdd's are and it you will have plenty of cooling power.

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by james888

You could put an alphacool monster where your hdd's are and it you will have plenty of cooling power.

yeahhhhh, then where do the HDD go, and Id have to dremel away some of te 5.25" bay at the bottom.

[james888]

Originally Posted by MxPhenom 216

yeahhhhh, then where do the HDD go, and Id have to dremel away some of te 5.25" bay at the bottom.

I thought it would fit. Hmm... I measured wrong. I myself have 1 hdd and could fit it in the 5.25 bay. The ssd could be velcroed behind the motherboard tray or elsewhere too.

[HammerON]

Looking good
Now connect your last hose, leak test and get her running!!!

[Irony]

Originally Posted by MxPhenom 216

I think if I like water cooling enough, next year im going to get a Switch 810 case or a Corsair Full tower.

I say switch 810. Its an awesome case, so mush room for rads. And it comes in lots of awesome colors too

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by Irony

I say switch 810. Its an awesome case, so mush room for rads. And it comes in lots of awesome colors too

Yeah I know. Only thing I don't like about it is the mass amount of Plastic on the outside.

[MxPhenom 216]

With compression fittings is is mandatory to have the hose go all the way on to point its flush to the end of the fitting? Because the line from the res to the top rad isn't flush all the way at the top because of the angle. im hoping it wont cause a leak and that the screw on part is pushing on the tubing enough so it won't.

[erocker]

Originally Posted by MxPhenom 216

With compression fittings is is mandatory to have the hose go all the way on to point its flush to the end of the fitting?

That is the way it should be. As long as there is enough tubing that goes over the barb and it's sealed, it's ok. Obviously you will want to do a leak test first with supplying your pump with power and running it a while. Just stuff towels/paper towels everywhere.

[brandonwh64]

Phenom, You are doing a great job. What all you have left?

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by brandonwh64

Phenom, You are doing a great job. What all you have left?

Connecting the last 2 hoses to the res/pump assembly. Then getting distilled water, hopefully doing that tomorrow and running the leak tests then I should be completely done. Im going to take a video with my phone during the leak tests and post it.

What im getting at is fill the res fully power on the pump and keep the res full till you don't see the level of water drop anymore?

[erocker]

Originally Posted by MxPhenom 216

Connecting the last 2 hoses to the res/pump assembly. Then getting distilled water, hopefully doing that tomorrow and running the leak tests then I should be completely done. Im going to take a video with my phone during the leak tests and post it.

What im getting at is fill the res fully power on the pump and keep the res full till you don't see the level of water drop anymore?

Pretty much! Just don't let the pump run dry, it's not good for them.

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by erocker

Pretty much! Just don't let the pump run dry, it's not good for them.

just like firing weapons without ammunition

[MxPhenom 216]

Originally Posted by erocker

Pretty much! Just don't let the pump run dry, it's not good for them.

I can keep the little fill hole cap off the res during this process right so I can poor water in quickly if need be. Do the pumps suck the water very fast?