My first attempt at watercooling (PICS) FRACTAL R3 INTERNAL

SPONSORED BY: SKILL


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Hello guys. I recently embarked upon a project to watercool my computer. This has cost me too much money, but I am somewhat happy with the finished product. I still need to spend a lot of time redoing the tubing, cable management, I need a new fan controller (I currently have 2 in there atm, the fractal one and a cheap scythe 3.5" Kaze). Probably will get a dremel to the case sometime in the near future. Following on from my previous pathetic attempt at social interaction: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=945702

Okay, to give you guys a background on myself and my computing:

I play some games, namely tf2, bc2 and quakelive (You might know me). I was previously using an i3 in an mATX box (my nsk3480<3) and basically did an impulse buy on some watercooling gear in the FS section of this very site. I basically thought I could watercool on the cheap. Haha. How wrong I was. So, approximately $1k later, I now have 2 working computers (My old i3 mATX is going to my parents who somehow use a 2.4ghz p4), and i'm enjoying getting great framerates on my games. At a reasonable overclock. At low noise

THE GOALS OF MY BUILD WERE/ARE
1. Silence
2. Simplicity (Hahaha)
3. Reasonable upgrade from my previous pc (i3 + 6850), nothing stellar, as i'll probably upgrade again in 9 months or so.

I am happy with my build currently, however I will need to purchase some more stuff to go in it and give it some more polish.

Note: I have never watercooled prior to this.

Please don't compare my build to Bundymanias. His is professional with lots of polish, mine is an adventure of a newcomer to watercooling.

HARDWARE LIST

i5 750
4GB ddr3
4870x2
Seasonic X-750 GOLD (Awesome PSU, my 'dream' psu. Dying alone.jpeg)
Fractal R3 Arctic White (Something different!)
p7p55d board
Vertex 2 60gb
2tb x1
1tb x1

Primochill white 1/2ID 3/4 OD
Phobya compression fittings (Compact)
Koolance PMP450 D5 Pump cover / top
d5 Vario w/ above top
2x 90degree fittings.
Swiftech Microres
240 Rad x1
120 Rad x1
Noiseblocker 1400RPM x3 (I want silence)
Nexus Value Silent x2 (As above
Fractal Fan x1 (need to sub for Nexus, but still acceptably quiet)
Scythe Kaze FC (Need to replace this in future)
Fractal FC (As above, need to consolidate my FC's)
Titanium HD

Note: My overall impressions with the Fractal r3 are not positive. The case is cheaply made. The paint is subpar, it scratches easily. The case I initially thought was well designed, although as time went along it was obvious it was badly designed by a team of monkeys. I had major difficulties fitting everything in, something I thought I wouldn't have coming from an mATX case (at 100% capacity, with no space and zip tied HDDs). I was not impressed with the was the case was designed, and the only positive things I can say is that it hasn't fallen apart. I guess for $160 or so you get what you pay for. My next case is going to be Lian-li or something.


Package arrived today Thanks to Stelios at TKR. This was not the only package I recieved from these guys, I ended up needing some 90degree fittings, and a pump top. I havn't really got any pictures of these, but I've got the Koolance pumptop and sleeve cover. It looks awesome.

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These are the goodies held within. As stated above, there are some things I've omitted, as I was in a hurry to get my PC up and running

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Most of the build was pretty standard, I won't upload any pictures of my "putting components into case" stage, but here's a picture of my 4870x2 for no specified reason. I like this card, and have not had any issues with it yet, even though I had water spill on it (somewhat).

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Components assembled and leaktested. I was using the nearby computer (My sisters) as the power source, basically just jerry rigged the pump up to the PSU on hers, and booted hers up. It worked well, especially considering the circumstances.

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FAILURE! It turns out that the compression fittings I bought were too wide, so I had to substitute one for a barb (FFS!). I will get an extender in the near future, and keep my compression fitting theme going.

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Here is a picture of my phenomenal cable management at the rear of the case (Much swearing and agony occured over the 25 minute period it took to somehow get the back cover on. Horrible. I really don't think this case was designed well in some aspects. The door system is really terrible. Really, my nsk3480 was much better in this regard.

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This is the finished product. I am happy with it, but it got to the stage in which I just wanted everything to work. I was ecstatic when the PC booted up. For some reason, when I had assembled everything it utterly refused to post. It wouldn't show anything on screen, and I thought I'd killed my GFX card. I was literally ready to cry/rage/scream/etc. After about 20 minutes of utter indescribable stress I reseated the ram, and the beast booted.

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Outside case (Note the holes at the top, rad wouldn't fit in my initial location!
I initially didn't want to mod this case, but it was much easier than somehow getting it to fit in an impossible location. Didn't want external rads either.

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Here is a picture of my mancave if anyone wants to have a gander. I enjoy looking at the workspaces on lifehacker and maybe someone else would like to see mine

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Of course, I upload these photos individually. As i'm finished uploading them all i realise there is an option to upload multiple simultanously. MEH!

Please give tips, hints or ask questions

Notable posts
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showpost.php?p=13077275&postcount=27
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showpost.php?p=13077335&postcount=29

 

highly recommend hundreds of diff models to choose from, all quality.

i had same prob, fixed that one with a temp sensor, just coz i can
but used an extender to avoid 2 comps touching on the small nb/sb blocks

you can multi upload pics

love the final look of the tubes, esp the routing to the bottom rad
would love to see black tube in a white case one day
only neg for me is that res, they just look wrong in a pc IMHO
subd

 

That looks pretty good for a first effort.

Kudos!

 

Thanks!

Totally agree. Do you have any suggestions? I'll be getting a different res sometime, hopefully I can reclaim some of the drive bays! I'm thinking of mounting a res next to the expansion slots on the mobo, but it would mess up my tubing. Ideas?

 

Hey mate that looks awesome! Glad to see my old gear is being used in an awesome setup. In case anyone is wondering, the motherboard actually looks a lot darker IRL, I don't think they used a very strong black stain on the mobo

 

with that colour scheme, only 1 option for me,
well 2
Black

White


i have the nickel one,

this res is pure winrar!
5 ports
window
led mounts IN the white one

 

Nice neat job there well done

bet thats tamed the 4870X2 temps eh?

that white res would look GR8!

 

Thanks!
I never had the 4870x2 on air, but it idles at 34/35 or so, and only goes to mid 40's under load It's the best card i've ever owned!

 

Glad you took my suggestion of the tubing - looks mint.

Watch those leaks, I didnt have one appear on my waterblock until about 3 days later.

 

It's been about a week and a bit since i've finished the system, no problems at all

The tubing is pretty decent, glad I heeded your advice!
Cheers!

 

Very well done....

Curious about the top rad was the issue clearence of the fans on the mobo or was the rad an issue there as well?

 

There's a heatsink on the mobo that was blocking the location of the rad in the regular position. Also, the 8pin plug is just behind and contributes to the blocking of the rad =[

 

wow that looks awesome for your first go

im attempting my first real watercooling system for the first time myself and if it came out like yours i would be VERY happy

thumbs up - great work

 

nice one man, i did my first w/cooling on the fractal case aswell, its not an ideal case for w/c.

I started off with 1/2" ID and it was a pain to work with, especially with the fractal is you dont have room and you need to bend the bajesus out of the tubes.

3/8" was much better to work with.

Looks tops. good job for your first attemp.

 

For a first attempt at w/c, I think that you have done pretty well.
I like the white theme (case, tubing) you have used, Good Job.

 

Would you consider a tube res ala EK Multioption or maybe the new Koolance 80 OD reservoirs.

Either of those could be be installed on the motherboard tray or the HDD cage.

 

the ek res options are so darn easy to use mate.. i have the 150 advanced and the options are staggering super easy to fill and bleed ..

 

Yeah, i probably would to reclaim some space from my drive bays, what are you offering? PM me if you're trying to sell something

 

I've got two of the older version EK tube reservoirs (250 & 150) and an iandh 225. I suppose I should sell them, they're just sitting here taking up space.

 

Looks great I love the white tubing. The white or black res that creekin pointed out would be awesome